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andreia's reviews
114 reviews
Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You about Being Creative by Austin Kleon
informative
inspiring
The Night Swim by Megan Goldin
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
i'm not really sure how to rate this because i can't exactly say i enjoyed it, this was very hard to read at certain points, especially with the audiobook, because of how explicit and vivid the theme of rape is... i'll stick with 3 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Bluets by Maggie Nelson
reflective
3.5
i highlighted many passages of this that i believe i'll be coming back to in the future, either because they were beautifully written or just because they hit me really hard and got me thinking. as it is now, there were quite a few parts that lost me a bit, although i will admit this is also my first time reading a book like this (sort of like poetry) so maybe i'll appreciate it more on a reread once i'm more familiar with this type of writing
The Maidens by Alex Michaelides
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
somehow even worse than the silent patient...
subtle hints ahead
i thought it was so painfully obvious who did it from the very beginning, i literally thought about it less than 100 pages in. maybe that's because i never focus on the main suspect when reading thrillers (i mean, it's usually never the main suspect right??). to make matters worse, the second twist / reasoning behind the murder is so ludicrous and inappropriate that it just felt very unsatisfying
i've decided i probably won't read another book by alex michaelides because this one has really solidified the fact that i don't think he's very good at writing interesting characters and the way they go about solving these mysteries requires large amounts of suspension of disbelief that i just don't have
subtle hints ahead
i thought it was so painfully obvious who did it from the very beginning, i literally thought about it less than 100 pages in. maybe that's because i never focus on the main suspect when reading thrillers (i mean, it's usually never the main suspect right??). to make matters worse, the second twist / reasoning behind the murder is so ludicrous and inappropriate that it just felt very unsatisfying
i've decided i probably won't read another book by alex michaelides because this one has really solidified the fact that i don't think he's very good at writing interesting characters and the way they go about solving these mysteries requires large amounts of suspension of disbelief that i just don't have
Masters of Death by Olivie Blake
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
once again left in awe at olivie blake's imagination... i mean, how?? she actually gathered all sorts of supernatural creatures, gods and mythology, mixed them all in a world where somehow it works that all these immortal beings exist at the same time, and then created an addictive (and really interesting) fictional game that has the power to save or destroy the world. i know i certainly wouldn't be able to pull this off and yet, somehow she does!
this was not an immediate favorite, although i suspect i'll still be rereading it in the future. it's a quick fun read, the characters are all great (though some definitely shine more than others), it's got some humour to it which is delightful, and a little bit of mystery. i have to admit i was kinda confused during the first half of it, as there's a lot of characters and information to take in, plus it's not clear what 'the game' is until the very end so that was probably the most confusing part
still, the writing (the dialogue omg) and the characters are what really shines in all of olivie's books, this was no exception. overall had a great time!!
this was not an immediate favorite, although i suspect i'll still be rereading it in the future. it's a quick fun read, the characters are all great (though some definitely shine more than others), it's got some humour to it which is delightful, and a little bit of mystery. i have to admit i was kinda confused during the first half of it, as there's a lot of characters and information to take in, plus it's not clear what 'the game' is until the very end so that was probably the most confusing part
still, the writing (the dialogue omg) and the characters are what really shines in all of olivie's books, this was no exception. overall had a great time!!
The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
i'll be honest, i was bored and underwhelmed during the first 65% of the book and it took me so long to get through it, which had me really begging for an ending that would make it all worth it. thankfully, brandon sanderson DELIVERED.
i understand this is just sanderson's way of writing, most of the book is very slow and then BOOM the most mind-blowing things happen in the last 100 or so pages and it completely twists things around. i get it. but i don't love it. in fact, i would very much loathe it if his endings weren't so damn good.
i mean, the ending of hero of ages is one i'll probably never forget. IT'S TRULY BRILLIANT. i loved every second of it. it definitely makes it worth it to suffer through 400+ pages of very slow pacing, jumping between dozens of different POVs, characters making non-sensical decisions and being fed crumbs of foreshadowing that you can't possibly make sense of until the very end.
overall quick thoughts on the characters:
- sazed remains the best character in this series and now, after THOA, possibly one of my favorite fictional characters ever because his arc was JUST. SO. PERFECTLY PLANNED. AND. GOOD!
- tensoon, an absolute sweetheart, i love him so much and his growth
- elend and vin.. uh, i don't know. elend was very off to me the whole time and vin, except for the ending (where she was obviously phenomenal), was very passive and barely stood out as the main character to me
- there was obviously an attempt to make spook more interesting and essential to the plot, which i felt very meh about as i don't particularly like his character
i understand this is just sanderson's way of writing, most of the book is very slow and then BOOM the most mind-blowing things happen in the last 100 or so pages and it completely twists things around. i get it. but i don't love it. in fact, i would very much loathe it if his endings weren't so damn good.
i mean, the ending of hero of ages is one i'll probably never forget. IT'S TRULY BRILLIANT. i loved every second of it. it definitely makes it worth it to suffer through 400+ pages of very slow pacing, jumping between dozens of different POVs, characters making non-sensical decisions and being fed crumbs of foreshadowing that you can't possibly make sense of until the very end.
overall quick thoughts on the characters:
- sazed remains the best character in this series and now, after THOA, possibly one of my favorite fictional characters ever because his arc was JUST. SO. PERFECTLY PLANNED. AND. GOOD!
- tensoon, an absolute sweetheart, i love him so much and his growth
- elend and vin.. uh, i don't know. elend was very off to me the whole time and vin, except for the ending (where she was obviously phenomenal), was very passive and barely stood out as the main character to me
- there was obviously an attempt to make spook more interesting and essential to the plot, which i felt very meh about as i don't particularly like his character
Alone With You in the Ether by Olivie Blake
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
if i were to properly describe the way this book has touched me and how much i needed to read it at this moment, i would have to basically lay out my life story and treat this review as a therapist, which i know nobody wants. so.
i’ll stick to saying that olivie blake has very quickly become one of my favorite writers and if any of her works have just a fraction of the brilliance this one has, i’ll devour all of it. her prose is unbelievable, i don’t understand how you can have the mind to describe everything so beautifully and yet so casually at the same time. she comprehends human emotion and is able to put it into words in a level that’s just unexplainable, you have to read it for yourself to know what i mean.
pretty sure there’s no more words in my brain that i could use to talk about this and the many messages it has for me, i’m kind of focusing more on not crying again
i’m absolutely certain i’ll be returning to this book many times in the future and regan & aldo have now a permanent place in my heart
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
this is not an easy book to follow and definitely requires full attention to understand what's going on with all the characters, but you do get a sense of payoff at the end that is very fulfilling and yet difficult to explain at the same time
i believe now that gabriel garcía márquez might be the only person on earth who could accurately look into my mind and put into words exactly how i felt throughout this book. i got the sense he understands human beings better than most of us, particularly the way our lives are often more controlled by our flaws and stubbornness than our qualities and rationality. the characters in this book feel so painfully real and it's because gabriel garcía márquez is not afraid to put their flaws at the forefront of who they are. strangely, they start to become loveable precisely because of that and the way you start to care about this family is very subtle but it'll probably hit you all at once throughout one important event or another
this was also a great reminder that magical realism remains the superior literary genre, there's just something about it that makes the whole thing much more interesting!
i also have to point out that there's not much dialogue throughout the book, but when there is, it's absolutely hilarious. i'm not sure how to explain it. i read this in portuguese, which is very similar to spanish, so i believe there wasn't much lost in translation. it probably doesn't translate as well to a language like english. but it's just certain mannerisms and expressions that hit very close to home and feel very comical
what stops me from giving it 5 stars is mostly that i'm not sure i'll ever read it again? it's quite a long journey to get through. maybe some time in the very distant future. also, the incest is really uncomfortable to read at times, though i have to say at least it's not just incest for the sake of shock value (as i've unfortunately seen a few times in the other books). the story would not be the same without that plot point and it also "fits" the setting of the story, as painful as it is to witness sometimes
i believe now that gabriel garcía márquez might be the only person on earth who could accurately look into my mind and put into words exactly how i felt throughout this book. i got the sense he understands human beings better than most of us, particularly the way our lives are often more controlled by our flaws and stubbornness than our qualities and rationality. the characters in this book feel so painfully real and it's because gabriel garcía márquez is not afraid to put their flaws at the forefront of who they are. strangely, they start to become loveable precisely because of that and the way you start to care about this family is very subtle but it'll probably hit you all at once throughout one important event or another
this was also a great reminder that magical realism remains the superior literary genre, there's just something about it that makes the whole thing much more interesting!
i also have to point out that there's not much dialogue throughout the book, but when there is, it's absolutely hilarious. i'm not sure how to explain it. i read this in portuguese, which is very similar to spanish, so i believe there wasn't much lost in translation. it probably doesn't translate as well to a language like english. but it's just certain mannerisms and expressions that hit very close to home and feel very comical
what stops me from giving it 5 stars is mostly that i'm not sure i'll ever read it again? it's quite a long journey to get through. maybe some time in the very distant future. also, the incest is really uncomfortable to read at times, though i have to say at least it's not just incest for the sake of shock value (as i've unfortunately seen a few times in the other books). the story would not be the same without that plot point and it also "fits" the setting of the story, as painful as it is to witness sometimes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest
The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
SAZED BEST MAN BEST CHARACTER GET BEHIND ME I'LL PROTECT YOU
and uh.. how is sanderson just gonna drop that bomb with elend at the end and expect me to go about my life the same way as before??
wow that ending was GOOD
similarly to the first book, the main thing that holds me back from giving this 5 stars is the pacing, which is way too slow for me at times (mostly in the middle). i wouldn't expect a book with ~600 pages to not have some slow moments, but i still think there's a lot instances / character monologues / interactions that feel repetitive and could be cut short
but, on the bright side, all the other criticism i had in the final empire was improved here! vin was definitely a more solid character, her actions less contradictory and overall she seemed more sure of herself (despite her struggles with elend). the side characters were a lot more present here as well - as much as i'm still in pain about kelsier being gone, i think it has given the rest of the crew a chance to stand out. i still wish there were more predominant / fleshed out female characters though (we had tindwyln and allrianne but... at what cost)
again, that ending was SO GOOD. i'm not sure if i wasn't paying enough attention but i didn't see it coming at all and looking back i think it was set up so well plus the execution was incredible !!!!
and uh.. how is sanderson just gonna drop that bomb with elend at the end and expect me to go about my life the same way as before??
wow that ending was GOOD
similarly to the first book, the main thing that holds me back from giving this 5 stars is the pacing, which is way too slow for me at times (mostly in the middle). i wouldn't expect a book with ~600 pages to not have some slow moments, but i still think there's a lot instances / character monologues / interactions that feel repetitive and could be cut short
but, on the bright side, all the other criticism i had in the final empire was improved here! vin was definitely a more solid character, her actions less contradictory and overall she seemed more sure of herself (despite her struggles with elend). the side characters were a lot more present here as well - as much as i'm still in pain about kelsier being gone, i think it has given the rest of the crew a chance to stand out. i still wish there were more predominant / fleshed out female characters though (we had tindwyln and allrianne but... at what cost)
again, that ending was SO GOOD. i'm not sure if i wasn't paying enough attention but i didn't see it coming at all and looking back i think it was set up so well plus the execution was incredible !!!!
The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
i did it! finally! i've had this book sitting in my shelf for a while, i was afraid to pick it up because i thought it wouldn't live up to the hype. i think it did, although it definitely wasn't perfect.
this is one of sanderson's earlier works, published in 2006, which is now a long time ago when we consider how the fantasy genre has evolved in recent years. in the context that this was published in, i'd say this is a pretty great story, with a very satisfying progression of events, interesting enough characters, and it even holds up well as a standalone book. in short, it's understandable why it's one of sanderson's most beloved works. the complexity of the world-building is fascinating and i know there's still so much more to discover about this world in the next books.
although i haven't read anything else by him, i'm sure sanderson has improved a lot as a writer since publishing this, as he's claimed himself. so for now i guess i can excuse the things i didn't love about this. i also know that most people seem to prefer his more recent books, so i'm excited to keep reading!
things i didn't love so much (with some mild spoilers):
- vin's character was infuriating at times and the worst part was how painfully clear it was that some of her actions / thoughts were just poor writing choices and not actually a reflection of her character. how is it believable that someone who suffered so much all her life, is constantly battling her instinct to not trust anyone (not even people who clearly want to help her), suddenly goes to a ball, has some meaningless superficial conversations with people who would literally kill her without batting an eye, and decides that the nobility are good and deserve redemption? just because they have pretty dresses and houses? it's just so contradicting to the basis of her character that reading her inner monologues when it comes to the nobility feels like a completely different character.
- in general, the other characters don't really stand out much aside from kelsier and sazed. and this is a big cast of characters. the rest of the crew, although lovable, were honestly very forgettable at times. also, the fact that vin is basically the only significant female character in a cast of 8+ important characters is very, well, 2006-fantasy-written-by-a-man, i guess. not to mention the only other women (2) who occasionally make an appearance, are all antagonists.
- this definitely didn't need to be 600+ pages long. it was a little repetitive at times, with the characters having the same inner monologues time and time again. also, i didn't feel that there was much info-dumping, but there were definitely moments way past half of the book where we were revisiting concepts of this fantasy world for the second, third time, as if to make sure the reader didn't forget it.
- some small cliche moments likethe villain turning in his chair to face the protagonist, the villain being defeated and having one last speech about how he was "saving everyone" and "you don't know what you've done"
i'm hoping these are all aspects that will be improved in the next books or, at least, in other sanderson series. other than that, i'm very excited to read the next one since i have no clue where it's going!
this is one of sanderson's earlier works, published in 2006, which is now a long time ago when we consider how the fantasy genre has evolved in recent years. in the context that this was published in, i'd say this is a pretty great story, with a very satisfying progression of events, interesting enough characters, and it even holds up well as a standalone book. in short, it's understandable why it's one of sanderson's most beloved works. the complexity of the world-building is fascinating and i know there's still so much more to discover about this world in the next books.
although i haven't read anything else by him, i'm sure sanderson has improved a lot as a writer since publishing this, as he's claimed himself. so for now i guess i can excuse the things i didn't love about this. i also know that most people seem to prefer his more recent books, so i'm excited to keep reading!
things i didn't love so much (with some mild spoilers):
- vin's character was infuriating at times and the worst part was how painfully clear it was that some of her actions / thoughts were just poor writing choices and not actually a reflection of her character. how is it believable that someone who suffered so much all her life, is constantly battling her instinct to not trust anyone (not even people who clearly want to help her), suddenly goes to a ball, has some meaningless superficial conversations with people who would literally kill her without batting an eye, and decides that the nobility are good and deserve redemption? just because they have pretty dresses and houses? it's just so contradicting to the basis of her character that reading her inner monologues when it comes to the nobility feels like a completely different character.
- in general, the other characters don't really stand out much aside from kelsier and sazed. and this is a big cast of characters. the rest of the crew, although lovable, were honestly very forgettable at times. also, the fact that vin is basically the only significant female character in a cast of 8+ important characters is very, well, 2006-fantasy-written-by-a-man, i guess. not to mention the only other women (2) who occasionally make an appearance, are all antagonists.
- this definitely didn't need to be 600+ pages long. it was a little repetitive at times, with the characters having the same inner monologues time and time again. also, i didn't feel that there was much info-dumping, but there were definitely moments way past half of the book where we were revisiting concepts of this fantasy world for the second, third time, as if to make sure the reader didn't forget it.
- some small cliche moments like
i'm hoping these are all aspects that will be improved in the next books or, at least, in other sanderson series. other than that, i'm very excited to read the next one since i have no clue where it's going!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Toxic relationship, Murder, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Death, and Abandonment