amirxhs13's reviews
111 reviews

💔

SPOILERS AHEAD!!!
Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, despite how absolutely devastating it was.

People often say that the pain Jude went through was “too much” and while I agree it was hard to read through and cope with, I think that declaring someone’s trauma as “too much” is dismissive of real life victims. There are people out there with stories like Jude, or similar to his, who live with those thoughts, feelings and memories daily. By saying what has happened to them too much, and unbelievable, it takes away from what they’ve gone through, and reinforces the idea that they are “too much” and the world would be better off without them. It is this thinking, by Jude, that perpetuates his issues.

The writing was incredibly beautiful, and I do not understand those who said it was slow or boring. It allowed true and deep insight into the minds of all the characters, and they definitely felt real, which makes it all the more devastating. The descriptions of the setting were perfect and incredibly immersive, and I sped through the novel, despite its enormous length.

While this book does not have a clear message or moral, and the authors purpose was simply to write someone who was so incredible broken there was no coming back from it or “fixing” them, I still find a point. This book has ultimately made me a better person. Throughout the novel Jude struggles, and yet, he puts up a brave front consistently in his work life, and as much as he can in his personal life. This book has demonstrated that you truly do not know what ANYONE has gone through, and that everyone should be initially met with kindness, love, and, basic respect. While I, and hopefully anyone reading this, already knew that, I truly feel it in a much deeper sense now.

Nonetheless, I do not think I would recommend this book. As much as I love it, the contents were so incredibly triggering that I cannot, in any good conscience, tell someone to read it without extensive prior knowledge. I went into the book knowing that both Jude and Willem would die. I was aware of the trigger warnings, and knew that I would be fine. This is not the same for everyone.

Finally, I think the ending was perfect and almost ideal. We all knew there was no recovery for Jude, simply existence with Willem. His dependence on Willem, while accepted by Willem, was extreme. There was no chance of Jude leading a happy life without him, and I am pleased with the ending. The only alternative would them both be living happily ever after, and I think that fairytale ending would have been unrealistic and diminishing.

Overall, it was absolutely devastating, and amazing. 5/5.

Content Warnings

The Grandest Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

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adventurous lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.0

While an enjoyable read, it was lacking in plot. The puzzles were confusing and lacklustre, and we really didn’t learn that much more about the characters. It ended with most mysterious remaining unsolved, which will hopefully lead to a riveting finale.

I will say that the characters are extremely enjoyable, and they really lifted the book significantly. I did NOT expect to love Rohan as much as I do now. Savannah makes for a great villain, and Lyra and Grayson are cute together.

Will definitely be anticipating the next one.

The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson

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adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced