alicia_ann_reads's reviews
481 reviews

The Framed Women of Ardemore House by Brandy Schillace

funny hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I really appreciated the autism rep in this book, and I loved that we had a few neurodivergent characters as well. 

The mystery was okay... I guessed early on who the murderer was but the true mystery of the painting was where the story was actually really good. 

It feels left open for a sequel, etc would be good because there are a few are characters that kind if just disappear towards the end of the book and funny feel complete. 

A slow start, but enjoyable.

Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

It was so interesting to read a book set in this year, that was written in the early 90's. Scary how it's not inconceivable to occur yet.. 

I liked the diary like fictional autobiography storytelling but wished there was more to the hyper empathy than there was. 

It really picked up halfway through and while I don't love books that speak to God a lot I appreciated how this one was different in that regard. 

It was a pretty tough read at times, but was still good. 

Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Really liked the follow up to Ninth House! Slightly slower start but then it was all action, twists, and full of demonic challenges. 

Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley

mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I liked this book, it was a great story with belonging, indigenous culture, mystery and intrigue.

While fiction is explores themes that are highly relevant today. 

TW for drug overdose and rape. 

Princes and Pawns by Kate Sparkes

adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Gah!! This is the 4th book in the All the Queen's Knaves series, each book is a standalone fairytale retelling in the same world but the characters from each of the books haslve made an appearance in the othet stories.

This one was a doozy in length and was a 2 parter, based on East of the Sun West of the Moon (a fairytale I had never heard before)

Features magically blessed sisters and a talking bear, and then the quest begins to find a long lost castle and it's Goblin Queen 

This quest had surprises and I thought it was really well executed! I thought I'd figured everything out and I was wrong!

The biggest downfall of this book is that I have to wait for her to write the last one! This has been one of my favourite series! 

Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Listened via audio and really enjoyed this! It took me a bit to get the hang of which POV I was in especially at the beginning but when they converged it really took off.

I loved the magic system and how you could either be a spell writer, or user but not both and I just feel like that's so unique. 

The story was also interesting and had some twists I quite enjoyed. 

The Severed Thread by Leslie Vedder

adventurous challenging mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Great follow up to book 1, this one also had multiple POVs and a sort of dual timeline.

I kind of like when magic takes control and does crazy shit so looking forward to book 3. 

All He Wants for Christmas is a Fingerling by J.P. Sayle

funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

I don't really know what I just read, or why I read it. Highly recommend buddy reading this with a friend.

Late night texts over wine are really what made this book enjoyable. 

Coal Gets in Your Veins by Cat Rector

challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

This book is generational trauma manifest as a physical monster. It explores deep seeded hatred of others and self, domestic abuse, love, friendship and acceptance. 

The story is told through 2 main POVs, a human and vampire, and peppered throughout is the POV of the town itself, through the stories of various townspeople and how the trauma seeped into their bones..

The beginning really set the tone of the town and it's people, the story of Laurel and Spencer was a slow but necessary build and the book really takes off halfway through as it culminates into this horrorscape.

While the surface story features a human vampire love story, the deeper story is one of healing trauma, new beginnings and the massive sacrifices one needs to make (and continue to make) in order to achieve it.

I absolutely loved the metaphor of vampire for to showcase just how much work goes in to combating trauma forever. 

Blood Debts by Terry J. Benton-Walker

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

So I first started to read this book as an ARC and DNF'd at 9%. At that time I couldn't get past the one MC POV.

This time I read the audiobook and once I got to about 14% I knew I was going to enjoy it. (Guess I should have kept going!) 

I loved the use of magic and family and ancestral powers, the character development and the many threaded story. 

Definitely looking forward to book 2!