anisyrah's reviews
88 reviews

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

Heartstopper Volume 4 by Alice Oseman

emotional hopeful lighthearted 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

Cosmoknights: Book One by Hannah Templer

adventurous medium-paced

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

3.0

The Christmas Swap by Talia Samuels

emotional funny slow-paced

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

4.75

Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner

emotional funny hopeful 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

4.75

This Spells Disaster by Tori Anne Martin

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

3.75

Kiss Her Once for Me by Alison Cochrun

emotional hopeful reflective slow-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

4.75

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.5

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

adventurous emotional funny mysterious tense fast-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 fully understand why everyone is loving this book. And you know what? There were times I was kicking my little feet too. But the amount of pure horniness in this book when the stakes are SO high feels out of place and, if anything, diminishes the incredibly well-crafted tension. Like, we're really going to want to bang right after she wakes up from being unconscious for three days?? Bye.

Am I going to read the second one? Yeah, of course. And I'm happy for all the TikTok girlies who are having a field day with it. Lowkey wish I could like it *that* much too.

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

adventurous medium-paced

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

3.75

Feyre was a really enjoyable narrator to explore the world of Prythian, but the world-building fell to the side often to instead be blacked out with Feyre somehow being too intoxicated or inebriated to fully explore it. Her loss of will became an uncomfy plot device to end scenes sooner than I would’ve liked to be able to learn more about SJM’s world or her characters. Very little felt revealed about them beyond trope-like development.

I did greatly enjoy Feyre’s need to recall during the final challenge. As a reader, it felt very full circle. But the answer to the world-saving riddle felt a little too Disney and childish for my personal preference, especially for how high the stakes were. 

Overall, SJM seems to be good at characters interacting together in a scene. The dialogue was incredibly fun to read. But I wish some of that wittiness was expanded elsewhere in the novel.