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amelianotthepilot's reviews
822 reviews
Graveyard Shift by M.L. Rio
3.0
Five smokers hang out in the cemetery every night by chance, it's the only place to smoke on campus. Together they become a rag-tag scooby doo mystery-solving gang by witnessing a sus midnight grave digging.
Together Edie a student journalist, Tuck a mushroom-obsessed nerd living in the abandoned church, Theo the local dive bar bartender, Tamar a hotel receptionist, and Hanah ?a chaotic friend? solve the mystery.
Overall it was fun and spooky but seemed a bit too short so it wasn't satisfying. (it's a short story)
Together Edie a student journalist, Tuck a mushroom-obsessed nerd living in the abandoned church, Theo the local dive bar bartender, Tamar a hotel receptionist, and Hanah ?a chaotic friend? solve the mystery.
Overall it was fun and spooky but seemed a bit too short so it wasn't satisfying. (it's a short story)
The Fine Print by Lauren Asher
3.0
448 pages is too long for a silly rom com, there I said it.
Zahra works at the equivalent of the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique (all the location names in the book are changed for copyright reasons lol) and comes from a Disney Cast Member family. She's always dreamed of being an Imagineer but has no schooling only ideas and enthusiasm.
Rowan is one of Walt Disney's grandsons (the youngest grandson of three) and as Walt has died he has now owed his inheritance but only if he complies to his grandfather's last wish. The oldest brother must finally marry and have a kid, the middle brother ?has to do something we're never told?, and Rowan has to work in WDW Florida for 6 months and discover the park's weakness and solve it.
Cue a meet cute and a HR meltdown worthy CEO and employee relationship.
Rowan is controlling and aggressively rich and protective and Zahra is a sunshine happy-go-lucky dreamer, together they make each other better but I also do not believe for a second that Rowan is not a walking red flag with the amount of mistakes he makes in this book. Zahra should never take him back is all I'm saying.
However the two epilogues were indeed cute for the fantasy of it all.
All in all not the worst romcom I've read but also not that good imo, and certainly entirely too long.
Zahra works at the equivalent of the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique (all the location names in the book are changed for copyright reasons lol) and comes from a Disney Cast Member family. She's always dreamed of being an Imagineer but has no schooling only ideas and enthusiasm.
Rowan is one of Walt Disney's grandsons (the youngest grandson of three) and as Walt has died he has now owed his inheritance but only if he complies to his grandfather's last wish. The oldest brother must finally marry and have a kid, the middle brother ?has to do something we're never told?, and Rowan has to work in WDW Florida for 6 months and discover the park's weakness and solve it.
Cue a meet cute and a HR meltdown worthy CEO and employee relationship.
Rowan is controlling and aggressively rich and protective and Zahra is a sunshine happy-go-lucky dreamer, together they make each other better but I also do not believe for a second that Rowan is not a walking red flag with the amount of mistakes he makes in this book. Zahra should never take him back is all I'm saying.
However the two epilogues were indeed cute for the fantasy of it all.
All in all not the worst romcom I've read but also not that good imo, and certainly entirely too long.
Squire by Nadia Shammas
3.0
comic exploring racism and whose side your fighting for when joining the arm (knights)
Breaking Time by Sasha Alsberg
2.5
a self insert Outlander knock off
I've followed Sasha for years so when I saw she'd finally written a solo book I wanted to support. In general, it's a fine fantasy novel if you don't want to think and just want a silly book.
The plot follows Klara, a red-headed American living in Scotland with her dad who runs a Bnb, and Callum, a 1500s Scotsman who just watched his best friend Thomas die and has fallen through time to the present day. Klara and Callum meet and then inevitably go on an adventure around Scotland to save the world. I will say I'm not a big fan of chosen one tropes and Klara is indeed a chosen one golden child. The whole plot revolves around her being the one and only left in the entire space and time to have magical blood.
My main problems with the story revolve around the magic and the plot. The plot easily jumps from location to location without a real reason or rhyme, the author wants the characters in Skye so now they are. But the main character also immediately becomes a natural at her magic and also becomes an amazing sword fighter in two pages. It's just not believable. The magic system is also never really explained and there are a few random magical characters that are unexplained and just plot devices (Aion the shopkeeper, the deer man god, and the bean nighe).
I also found the romance really dull. They both are instantly attracted to each other and find each other hot but that's basically it. They spend three days together and decide they're deeply in love after having one maybe two weird kissing scenes. I don't believe their romance nor do I think Callum is particularly swoon-worthy, he's literally just hot and has not other positive factors.
My biggest problem though was with the locations. The story mostly takes place in three places: Edinburgh + a surrounding suburb, Skye, and Orkney. Every time they go anywhere it's described as 5 hours away. The beginning of the distance problems for me was when they went from Skye to Orkney, it seemed like they hadn't even gotten off Skye before going to an inn but then they discussed missing the ferry to Orkney-Skye to Orkney would be a good 7hrs (including a 1hr ferry). Meanwhile, the Dad visits them in Orkney in 5hrs? I also think that describing the fairy glen as 'Castle Ewan' is confusing for readers, although that's one of its names that paints a picture of a medieval castle where in reality it's more of a geological structure. There was also a bit in Edinburgh where they're in 'the tunnels' referring to the vaults under Old Town. All in all, not a very accurate picture of Scotland. In general I think there could've been more description of the setting, clothing, appearances, and actions in the whole book.
All this to say, by the end of the book I literally didn't care about the climax or characters. It wasn't shocking and it wrapped up super quickly and easily (as everything did).
But if you like Outlander you'll like this. It references: the skye boat song, Jamie standing outside of Claire's window alla S1Ep1, a knockoff Jamie (tough protective gentleman Scotsman), falling through time via mystic centers.
I've followed Sasha for years so when I saw she'd finally written a solo book I wanted to support. In general, it's a fine fantasy novel if you don't want to think and just want a silly book.
The plot follows Klara, a red-headed American living in Scotland with her dad who runs a Bnb, and Callum, a 1500s Scotsman who just watched his best friend Thomas die and has fallen through time to the present day. Klara and Callum meet and then inevitably go on an adventure around Scotland to save the world. I will say I'm not a big fan of chosen one tropes and Klara is indeed a chosen one golden child. The whole plot revolves around her being the one and only left in the entire space and time to have magical blood.
My main problems with the story revolve around the magic and the plot. The plot easily jumps from location to location without a real reason or rhyme, the author wants the characters in Skye so now they are. But the main character also immediately becomes a natural at her magic and also becomes an amazing sword fighter in two pages. It's just not believable. The magic system is also never really explained and there are a few random magical characters that are unexplained and just plot devices (Aion the shopkeeper, the deer man god, and the bean nighe).
I also found the romance really dull. They both are instantly attracted to each other and find each other hot but that's basically it. They spend three days together and decide they're deeply in love after having one maybe two weird kissing scenes. I don't believe their romance nor do I think Callum is particularly swoon-worthy, he's literally just hot and has not other positive factors.
My biggest problem though was with the locations. The story mostly takes place in three places: Edinburgh + a surrounding suburb, Skye, and Orkney. Every time they go anywhere it's described as 5 hours away. The beginning of the distance problems for me was when they went from Skye to Orkney, it seemed like they hadn't even gotten off Skye before going to an inn but then they discussed missing the ferry to Orkney-Skye to Orkney would be a good 7hrs (including a 1hr ferry). Meanwhile, the Dad visits them in Orkney in 5hrs? I also think that describing the fairy glen as 'Castle Ewan' is confusing for readers, although that's one of its names that paints a picture of a medieval castle where in reality it's more of a geological structure. There was also a bit in Edinburgh where they're in 'the tunnels' referring to the vaults under Old Town. All in all, not a very accurate picture of Scotland. In general I think there could've been more description of the setting, clothing, appearances, and actions in the whole book.
All this to say, by the end of the book I literally didn't care about the climax or characters. It wasn't shocking and it wrapped up super quickly and easily (as everything did).
But if you like Outlander you'll like this. It references: the skye boat song, Jamie standing outside of Claire's window alla S1Ep1, a knockoff Jamie (tough protective gentleman Scotsman), falling through time via mystic centers.
Don't Let the Forest In (B&N Exclusive Edition) by C.G. Drews
5.0
Andrew attends a private school in Virginia with his twin sister, Dove, and best friend, Thomas but what the prestigious rich school doesn't know is that the forest has come to life and is trying to kill them.
An ace love story set amongst thorny vines and woodsy murderous fable creatures. Andrew writes macbre forest stories and Thomas draws them, are they the cause of these disturbances? Could they give up their hobbies and passions? Is it real or is it all happening in Andrew's head?
I loved this book and the ending was delicioussss. The ace rep was beautiful. It was a bit young (but it is a kids fiction).
An ace love story set amongst thorny vines and woodsy murderous fable creatures. Andrew writes macbre forest stories and Thomas draws them, are they the cause of these disturbances? Could they give up their hobbies and passions? Is it real or is it all happening in Andrew's head?
I loved this book and the ending was delicioussss. The ace rep was beautiful. It was a bit young (but it is a kids fiction).
Bravely by Maggie Stiefvater
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
this was a great sequel to the Brave movie but also was so clearly trying to hit the 'Rise of the Brave Tangled Dragons' fandom back in the day lol. I think the boy in this is very Jack Frost-coded, he's not a winter ice god but he is a forgotten boy god who struggles with his task and loneliness.
The story is a bit slow at times but the ending was wonderful. I love Maggie Stiefvater's writing.
The story is a bit slow at times but the ending was wonderful. I love Maggie Stiefvater's writing.
Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead
1.0
(2024): wow this sucked. this is the one where Rose is imprisoned for killing the monarch and Lissa grapples for the throne. The Dashkov brothers break her out and show her that strigoi can be healed by being staked with a spirit infused stake. She works with Dimitri and Sonya to free kidnapped Jill who is Lissa's half sister and in the process Rose looses control of Spirit and kills Victor. Rose has sex with Dimitri and breaks up with Adrian. The dramatic end court scene Rose reveals Jill as a Draghomir allowing Lissa to be on the throne but Tasha shoots at Lissa but Rose jumps in front and almost dies. Rose and Dimitri are restored as guardians to Lissa and Christian but Rose and Lissa's bond is gone now that Rose died and came back on her own. Adrian is bitter and super attached and Rose insists none of it his fault lol. Lissa is crowned.
(2014 review): This conclusion wrapped the series up very nicely and was still exciting was always.
i love the POV through the bond cause thats a really cool way to show to POVs with only one person though.
SO SAD tho! aaaa Adrian <3333
read the book its good
(2014 review): This conclusion wrapped the series up very nicely and was still exciting was always.
i love the POV through the bond cause thats a really cool way to show to POVs with only one person though.
SO SAD tho! aaaa Adrian <3333
read the book its good