annikashake's reviews
29 reviews

Golden Son by Pierce Brown

adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

this book absolutely crushed my soul in a meat grinder. i couldn’t even write a review because i was so upset. but that says a lot about the connection you grow with the characters throughout the book and how much you care for their victories. i will say that the major plot points in this book were the best part about it, they made you feel so awesome for your favorite characters. however the last like 1-2 pages absolutely destroyed my mind. i would have rated it 5 stars if i was not so distraught by the ending. i am hoping that morning star will bring my passion back that i had through reading the entire rest of the book.

The Searcher by Tana French

adventurous dark reflective sad 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

4.0

i really liked this book, and i’m a little slow so i didn’t pick up on who done it until the end. i really liked cals relationship with trey and how he learned from his previous mistakes. i also was not expecting to feel bad for a recently divorced man by the end.

Red Rising by Pierce Brown

adventurous dark emotional inspiring tense medium-paced

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

4.25

this was a thoroughly enjoyable book. could not put it down from start to finish, that’s how you know it was good. i’ve enjoyed the dystopian or chaotic books so far this year. i’m excited to see what else comes from this book. what to remember after reading: thrilling because of the tense plot that never ceases, emotional because of the connection you grow to the main character and the alliances he makes, and the thrill of constantly wondering what crazy plan the main character will whip out of his pocket next. definitely worth a read.

Billy Summers by Stephen King

adventurous emotional sad tense 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

4.0

I really enjoyed reading this book. I have never read steven king before, and this was a great way to start. he does an excellent job at writing a believable story with characters who are flawed but you still grow to love. i like thrillers, and this one was the perfect mix of heart pounding, yet at the same time emotional. i loved the messages portrayed.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Rape

Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson

emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

3.25

This book was an excellent nonfiction read. I am not super into nonfiction and this was my first time trying it out. Stevenson did a very good job at doing a combination of storytelling and teaching in this book and so many of the themes rang true to my own personal beliefs. I just think as someone who reads more for enjoyment because I am in school where I often have to read to learn, I had a hard time focusing and staying engaged. If I was at a different time of life I would have definitely had an easier time staying engaged. Still a great read!

None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell

dark tense medium-paced

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

3.0

I was not really impressed with the flow/build up of this book. I have read other books by lisa jewell and this one felt very slow, confusing, and repetitive. I get the foreshadowing is necessary but it was honestly quite annoying in this book because I just wanted them to tell me what happened instead of saying “oh yeah i never expected it to turn out like that” like one hundred times. plus the main antagonist’s actions to me made no sense, and although i do enjoy an ending that is open for interpretation this one just did not work for me.

Shark Heart: A Love Story by Emily Habeck

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

4.75

this book was truly beautiful. the writing was so moving and really put on a little movie in my head. the most powerful part of the book however was the overall themes, which make you tear up and reconsider many aspects of your own life. this deserves a second read just to tab all of my favorite parts.

Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide by Rupert Holmes
Did not finish book. Stopped at 34%.

it just was too slow and hard to get into. i couldn’t really get hooked like i normally can.

The Will of the Many by James Islington

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

this book was so thrilling. my first real fantasy book i’ve read and it had me on my toes the entire time. the beginning is slow, but not slow enough to keep you uninterested. can’t wait for the next book!

Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0