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ameliaveganreader's reviews
423 reviews
Powerless by Jacqueline Pretty
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
5.0
SUPERBOOK! I loved it so much! Superpowers have always been interesting to me and there was no way I wouldn't enjoy this book, but I ended up loving it way more than I thought I would. The dynamic between the siblings and their father sometimes reminded me of the Umbrella Academy and while I don't usually compare things to eachother, I hope that this comparison will spike interest of some of the people I know might also find the story captivating.
It's so fast paced and intense the whole duration of the book, I couldn't put it down, I read it in half a day.
That twist in the end was so good! I was grinning the whole time and couldn't believe how quickly it ended. I need next book to be born soon so that I can devour it as well.
I love the cover art, it's gorgeous and after finishing the book, it's twice as much interesting with all the details and hints.
I'm part Russian and loved all the Russkie words and names throughout the story. I also appreciated that one death scene of that character, very satisfying.
I'm powerless when it comes to books with superpowers, I wish we had seen more people with powers, hopefully next book will be more powerful.
I'm so grateful to the author for providing the E-ARC, this review is my honest opinion.
I will get my hands on physical copy because I truly loved "Powerless" and it needs to be in my life.
It's so fast paced and intense the whole duration of the book, I couldn't put it down, I read it in half a day.
That twist in the end was so good! I was grinning the whole time and couldn't believe how quickly it ended. I need next book to be born soon so that I can devour it as well.
I love the cover art, it's gorgeous and after finishing the book, it's twice as much interesting with all the details and hints.
I'm part Russian and loved all the Russkie words and names throughout the story. I also appreciated that one death scene of that character, very satisfying.
I'm powerless when it comes to books with superpowers, I wish we had seen more people with powers, hopefully next book will be more powerful.
I'm so grateful to the author for providing the E-ARC, this review is my honest opinion.
I will get my hands on physical copy because I truly loved "Powerless" and it needs to be in my life.
Threads That Bind by Kika Hatzopoulou
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
"...she cuts the thread
and the world ends."
🧵
THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD! I know I keep saying that about all my recent reads but I do pick the best ones to devour and they all are phenomenal!
Imagine if Veronica Mars and Greek mythology were combined, it would be this book! Okay it's not exactly that, but definitely has Mars vibes and sleuthing around the city with your fate does seem like something Veronica would do.
I'm not doing the book justice by describing it only with that analogy, it was everything I wanted from a modern world with mythical creatures and I will not shut about it.
If the edit looks like it was done in paint, in my defense I was editing it at 4am, so I tried to salvage it by making a video edit, and it's not too bad, scroll to admire my smartphone skills(pats myself on the head)
🧵
"There is violence in
kindness, and kindness in violence." Well that quote made me disassociate and stare into the nothingness and realise I don't know if I'm getting it, but I know it to be true on some level.
🧵
"whenever three children were birthed in their
family line, they inherited their powers. Sisters, brothers,
people outside the gender binary, it didn’t matter—only the
number remained unchanged: always three."
It's urban fantasy with some romance and mystery, and a lot of mythology woven into it(see what I did there?)
And that ending! Gods I can not wait to hear about sequel and get more information about it 😻
Also, look how gorgeous the cover art is!
and the world ends."
🧵
THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD! I know I keep saying that about all my recent reads but I do pick the best ones to devour and they all are phenomenal!
Imagine if Veronica Mars and Greek mythology were combined, it would be this book! Okay it's not exactly that, but definitely has Mars vibes and sleuthing around the city with your fate does seem like something Veronica would do.
I'm not doing the book justice by describing it only with that analogy, it was everything I wanted from a modern world with mythical creatures and I will not shut about it.
If the edit looks like it was done in paint, in my defense I was editing it at 4am, so I tried to salvage it by making a video edit, and it's not too bad, scroll to admire my smartphone skills(pats myself on the head)
🧵
"There is violence in
kindness, and kindness in violence." Well that quote made me disassociate and stare into the nothingness and realise I don't know if I'm getting it, but I know it to be true on some level.
🧵
"whenever three children were birthed in their
family line, they inherited their powers. Sisters, brothers,
people outside the gender binary, it didn’t matter—only the
number remained unchanged: always three."
It's urban fantasy with some romance and mystery, and a lot of mythology woven into it(see what I did there?)
And that ending! Gods I can not wait to hear about sequel and get more information about it 😻
Also, look how gorgeous the cover art is!
The Magic Man by LaShane Arnett
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
"Two skulls.
Two torsos.
Gutted and tossed.
The Magic Man drained them of all that they were. Their beauty, their light, their purpose, gone, forever."
💀💀💀💀💀
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
All the skulls and all the stars for my new favourite series! If I thought I loved first book, Pain Eater by LaShane Arnett, then I can't say the same about the Magic Man because I LOVED IT SO MUCH MORE!
It's mysterious, dark, full with light and love among the layers of evil. This book is about heartless and powerful creature taking kind and loving people from their families, just so he can have some fun and then drain them from their light and leave their lifeless bodies when he's done taking.
But this book is also about a Pain Eater, Sadie, who is the narrator and was a fresh breath from all the dark thoughts that we have to endure with the magic man. I loved Sadie and her kindness, who always helps others whenever she can, and I hated the Magic Man with his brutal and remorseless acts towards animals and humans, and still I couldn't get enough of him, he was twisted and perverted, always hurting and enjoying the pain he inflicted. I wanted to know more about him, what made him the way he was, why would he only use his powers for cruelty and never for something good. This book is way darker than Pain Eater was, and it also has more answers and while we still were in dark about most of the book, we got to find out the truth about the magic man alongside Sadie and Adrian.
I love how every power was depicted, I kept imagining the books as movies, they will make really good supernatural mysteries and I hope it happens, because I would love to see this beautiful and twisted story on the big screen.
I will be manifesting it into existence. I will also manifest the third book because I need more, I'm hungry for more Pain Eater and Magic Man!
I started bookstagram years ago because of the series with similar supernatural powers and good vs. evil, and I've been looking for more books like this and I am so grateful that I found it.
Two torsos.
Gutted and tossed.
The Magic Man drained them of all that they were. Their beauty, their light, their purpose, gone, forever."
💀💀💀💀💀
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
All the skulls and all the stars for my new favourite series! If I thought I loved first book, Pain Eater by LaShane Arnett, then I can't say the same about the Magic Man because I LOVED IT SO MUCH MORE!
It's mysterious, dark, full with light and love among the layers of evil. This book is about heartless and powerful creature taking kind and loving people from their families, just so he can have some fun and then drain them from their light and leave their lifeless bodies when he's done taking.
But this book is also about a Pain Eater, Sadie, who is the narrator and was a fresh breath from all the dark thoughts that we have to endure with the magic man. I loved Sadie and her kindness, who always helps others whenever she can, and I hated the Magic Man with his brutal and remorseless acts towards animals and humans, and still I couldn't get enough of him, he was twisted and perverted, always hurting and enjoying the pain he inflicted. I wanted to know more about him, what made him the way he was, why would he only use his powers for cruelty and never for something good. This book is way darker than Pain Eater was, and it also has more answers and while we still were in dark about most of the book, we got to find out the truth about the magic man alongside Sadie and Adrian.
I love how every power was depicted, I kept imagining the books as movies, they will make really good supernatural mysteries and I hope it happens, because I would love to see this beautiful and twisted story on the big screen.
I will be manifesting it into existence. I will also manifest the third book because I need more, I'm hungry for more Pain Eater and Magic Man!
I started bookstagram years ago because of the series with similar supernatural powers and good vs. evil, and I've been looking for more books like this and I am so grateful that I found it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Stalking, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, Animal cruelty, Sexism, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Animal death, Rape, Violence, Toxic relationship, and Sexual violence
Running into You by K.M. Gillis
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
5.0
🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻♂️Once in a while I want to read something cute and sweet and maybe spicy and this book definitely was all of those things and more.
I used to have a crush on my best friend's brother in high school, and reading this made me nostalgic and also realize that I'm glad those relationships are in the past because I'd rather read about them than live through it 😅
Running into you is a debut novel and will be published on June 5th. If you want to pick up something with positive friendships and funny interactions, some spice and I hope it's not a spoiler, but also with a happy ending, then I recommend this book.
I couldn't stop laughing and blushing reading about Betty and Josh running into eachother 🥰
I used to have a crush on my best friend's brother in high school, and reading this made me nostalgic and also realize that I'm glad those relationships are in the past because I'd rather read about them than live through it 😅
Running into you is a debut novel and will be published on June 5th. If you want to pick up something with positive friendships and funny interactions, some spice and I hope it's not a spoiler, but also with a happy ending, then I recommend this book.
I couldn't stop laughing and blushing reading about Betty and Josh running into eachother 🥰
A Case of Madness by Yvonne Knop
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
"Without you, I would only be
a figure pressed between yellowed pages."
📚
If you are Sherlocked like me, you will love this book! It's queer and sweet and relatable and sad and uplifting, everything you'd want from a book, and a bonus: character who is obsessed with Sherlock Holmes.
My whole life I was only once attending a party, I wasn't having fun because it wasn't my thing, but I found a bookshelf and while I was browsing I noticed Arthur Conan Doyle section and spent the whole evening reading in that room, that's when my obsession started.
I am obsessed with everything Sherlock Holmes too, not on the same level as main character, Andrew, but I've read and watched most of the books and shows/movies about him and can never have enough!
I'm just like the MC, I'd rather avoid all interactions altogether and read at home.
"Introverts have rechargeable batteries and
mine is empty." He was exactly describing me when he said that about himself.
And the found family 🥹 the best queer found family! They all were so different and so loving and supportive, I wished I had that too.
And the love interest is the cutest cat dad who deserves everything best and I would hug him if I could.
I was devoured this book and left no crumbs, I even loved the acknowledgement section, especially the last part 🥹
This book is a little bit madness, little bit awkwardness and a whole lot of captivating and lovable story with diverse cast of characters and a cat named Hercules!(I love that cat!)
Also while Andrew was thinking about writing a book, I got so excited, he was right, Dracula Holmes is definitely a bestseller material, I'd read that.
I loved this book and will definitely reread again, and will look forward to new books from the author 🥰
a figure pressed between yellowed pages."
📚
If you are Sherlocked like me, you will love this book! It's queer and sweet and relatable and sad and uplifting, everything you'd want from a book, and a bonus: character who is obsessed with Sherlock Holmes.
My whole life I was only once attending a party, I wasn't having fun because it wasn't my thing, but I found a bookshelf and while I was browsing I noticed Arthur Conan Doyle section and spent the whole evening reading in that room, that's when my obsession started.
I am obsessed with everything Sherlock Holmes too, not on the same level as main character, Andrew, but I've read and watched most of the books and shows/movies about him and can never have enough!
I'm just like the MC, I'd rather avoid all interactions altogether and read at home.
"Introverts have rechargeable batteries and
mine is empty." He was exactly describing me when he said that about himself.
And the found family 🥹 the best queer found family! They all were so different and so loving and supportive, I wished I had that too.
And the love interest is the cutest cat dad who deserves everything best and I would hug him if I could.
I was devoured this book and left no crumbs, I even loved the acknowledgement section, especially the last part 🥹
This book is a little bit madness, little bit awkwardness and a whole lot of captivating and lovable story with diverse cast of characters and a cat named Hercules!(I love that cat!)
Also while Andrew was thinking about writing a book, I got so excited, he was right, Dracula Holmes is definitely a bestseller material, I'd read that.
I loved this book and will definitely reread again, and will look forward to new books from the author 🥰
The Pain Eater: A Sadie Reed Story by Lashane Arnett
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
"I was hopeful Angel was all-knowing and had a Psychic handbook or something that could guide me and explain the etiquettes of being a Psychic, if there was such a thing."
🔮
This book was beautiful, sad, emotional and truly thrilling. I couldn't stop reading it and when I had to, I was looking forward to continuing it.
It's a supernatural thriller/mystery with sweet and kind main character Sadie who has psychic powers and when she learns about them, she wants to do everything to help those people she's seeing. Her best friend is the best sidekick a psychic could wish for, he helps her figure out her visions, even if he doesn't always understand what's going on around them.
And Angel! I loved her! She sometimes reminded me of my grandma and I was so emotional during most of her scenes.
There's always more to say, but I don't like giving out too much info about the book.
Paranormal story with murder mystery and lots of different characters with interesting powers and maybe even little bit of freakshow somewhere in there.
Not everyone is all kindness and sunshine, there's darkness and terrible creatures in every corner, and the end definitely makes you scared and also anticipate the second book The Magic Man.
I will be reading that next and posting about it next week.
🔮
This book was beautiful, sad, emotional and truly thrilling. I couldn't stop reading it and when I had to, I was looking forward to continuing it.
It's a supernatural thriller/mystery with sweet and kind main character Sadie who has psychic powers and when she learns about them, she wants to do everything to help those people she's seeing. Her best friend is the best sidekick a psychic could wish for, he helps her figure out her visions, even if he doesn't always understand what's going on around them.
And Angel! I loved her! She sometimes reminded me of my grandma and I was so emotional during most of her scenes.
There's always more to say, but I don't like giving out too much info about the book.
Paranormal story with murder mystery and lots of different characters with interesting powers and maybe even little bit of freakshow somewhere in there.
Not everyone is all kindness and sunshine, there's darkness and terrible creatures in every corner, and the end definitely makes you scared and also anticipate the second book The Magic Man.
I will be reading that next and posting about it next week.
ReInception by Sarena Straus
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
"Funny, for all the fears and predictions about wars, terrorism, and nuclear weapons, it was the weather and microscopic organisms that had gotten human being; taken down by their own progress."
I READ THIS BOOK UNTIL 2 AM AND WHOLE DAY WHEN I WOKE UP WITHOUT EVEN EATING SOMETHING FIRST! Then my cat demanded sustenance and my stomach remembered we were hungry too.
Do you remember movie total recall? Because I had the vague vibes while reading the book and then the acknowledgements confirmed I wasn't imagining it. Picture that movie, but more fun and with diverse characters and strong queer messages all over the story. It's an adult sci-fi, they're are mostly 20 & 18, so not really YA but it's everything the most popular YA books should have had.
If the government and parents could control kids, reshape their minds and make them just the way they want them to be, it would make a perfect world. Or would it? Honestly, that was a terrifying thing to think about, parents having that power over a child, it's scary, because homophobic ones would erase their whole being and nobody should have that power.
“Just because it’s not happening to me doesn’t mean that it doesn’t affect me."
I kept saving quotes because damn they were on point!
I like to keep my reviews vague, just hyping up the book but not giving away too much because you need to find that on your own.
It's strange how I read two sci-fi books back to back, about futuristic dystopian worlds with brain modifications, and yet, they have nothing in common. This was also pitched as red rising+total recall and I haven't read red rising yet but now I want to.
"You didn’t get to be a hero for feeling bad and doing nothing."
So many good quotes! I have one more because I love those parts in books when they describe someone's shelves, and reinception didn't disappoint:
"The only hint of personality was the tall pile of books, stacked in a corner. Real books made of paper."
I READ THIS BOOK UNTIL 2 AM AND WHOLE DAY WHEN I WOKE UP WITHOUT EVEN EATING SOMETHING FIRST! Then my cat demanded sustenance and my stomach remembered we were hungry too.
Do you remember movie total recall? Because I had the vague vibes while reading the book and then the acknowledgements confirmed I wasn't imagining it. Picture that movie, but more fun and with diverse characters and strong queer messages all over the story. It's an adult sci-fi, they're are mostly 20 & 18, so not really YA but it's everything the most popular YA books should have had.
If the government and parents could control kids, reshape their minds and make them just the way they want them to be, it would make a perfect world. Or would it? Honestly, that was a terrifying thing to think about, parents having that power over a child, it's scary, because homophobic ones would erase their whole being and nobody should have that power.
“Just because it’s not happening to me doesn’t mean that it doesn’t affect me."
I kept saving quotes because damn they were on point!
I like to keep my reviews vague, just hyping up the book but not giving away too much because you need to find that on your own.
It's strange how I read two sci-fi books back to back, about futuristic dystopian worlds with brain modifications, and yet, they have nothing in common. This was also pitched as red rising+total recall and I haven't read red rising yet but now I want to.
"You didn’t get to be a hero for feeling bad and doing nothing."
So many good quotes! I have one more because I love those parts in books when they describe someone's shelves, and reinception didn't disappoint:
"The only hint of personality was the tall pile of books, stacked in a corner. Real books made of paper."
Life Ceremony by Sayaka Murata
dark
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
I loved this crazy fever dream of a book from the first several pages, it's weird, it has normalised cannibalism and that's all that
there needs to be to hook me. I'm in love with amazing brain of Sayaka Murata. Can't wait to read earthlings too.
there needs to be to hook me. I'm in love with amazing brain of Sayaka Murata. Can't wait to read earthlings too.
Push by Sapphire
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
This book is definitely not mesmerising and uplifting for me, it was devastating and I wish I could forget it, and I wish nobody ever had to go through what Precious went through.
I don't usually read books like this, because I'd rather escape in fantasy world or with aliens in space, than read about earthly things horrible people do to each other and especially to children.
This is gut wrenching, terrifying and one of the most disturbing books I've read, and I do read horror, so I'm not easily disgusted.
I've seen good and bad things about this book, I can see how someone could be inspired by how brave and strong Precious was throughout the whole book, but for me it only shows how cruel people are and how easily they take advantage of innocent beings.
I don't think a suicidal person like me, who already hates their father, should read this, but maybe it was needed and I'm just not strong enough. I cried, a lot. My heart was shattered.
I hope this doesn't happen to anyone else.
I don't usually read books like this, because I'd rather escape in fantasy world or with aliens in space, than read about earthly things horrible people do to each other and especially to children.
This is gut wrenching, terrifying and one of the most disturbing books I've read, and I do read horror, so I'm not easily disgusted.
I've seen good and bad things about this book, I can see how someone could be inspired by how brave and strong Precious was throughout the whole book, but for me it only shows how cruel people are and how easily they take advantage of innocent beings.
I don't think a suicidal person like me, who already hates their father, should read this, but maybe it was needed and I'm just not strong enough. I cried, a lot. My heart was shattered.
I hope this doesn't happen to anyone else.
Promises Stronger Than Darkness by Charlie Jane Anders
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
"This is the beginning of something beautiful.”
This trilogy is something beautiful, it's so much more than I could have expected and I was on edge until the very end. I know it's a lot, it's chaotic and nonstop action in space, but I loved every second of it and teared up several times. It's beautiful and emotional, it's an adventure you can only dream about and it's so full of references to pop culture that I'm sure some of them might have flown over my head. I want to soon reread them again to fully enjoy everything that I already loved about these books.
This trilogy is something beautiful, it's so much more than I could have expected and I was on edge until the very end. I know it's a lot, it's chaotic and nonstop action in space, but I loved every second of it and teared up several times. It's beautiful and emotional, it's an adventure you can only dream about and it's so full of references to pop culture that I'm sure some of them might have flown over my head. I want to soon reread them again to fully enjoy everything that I already loved about these books.