apenguinkeeper's reviews
483 reviews

To Kill a Shadow by Katherine Quinn

4.0

The beginning was quite slow, and I wasn't sure I was going to be able to get into it at all.

Fortunately it picked up and I got into it really fast.

Really good book. I don't have much else to add.

The Counselors by Jessica Goodman

4.5

In the beginning of the book, I definitely felt like the writing style wasn't going to work for me. It almost felt childish, and for  while I thought I wouldn't get past it. BUT I DID. And it was worth it.

I was so ready to kill Meg but then like... what??? I trusted them and they betrayed me.

Also is it bad I was praying for Goldie to date either Imogen or Ava because I think that would've been fun, the trauma bonding would have been awesome

It definitely got good for me around the halfway mark and I'm glad I didn't DNF!

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

2.75

It was alright.

Only a few moments stood out,

like the whole Merity or whatever it was called plot, I picked up pieces of that and it was cool.

I also enjoyed the Alex possession murder scene. That was cool.

Otherwise, it just didn’t match my Leigh Bardugo expectations from Six of Crows, unfortunately.

These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

3.75

The beginning was definitely slow, and that might be more on my part still coming out of a reading slump

BUT... as soon as I got into it, it was amazing

I live for the moral dilemmas of Juliette and Roma collectively they're such great and complex characters and I live for it in every way

Is it bad that my favorite part was when Roma pretty much almost died because he was busy clawing his throat out I think that was iconic

But seriously the romance between Roma and Juliette had me on the floor sobbing, I feel like she forgave him too quick but at the same time I can't really blame her

A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab

5.0

THIS SERIES. I LOVE IT SO MUCH.

I don’t even really know how to explain my love because I want to rant about all the characters and all the scenes 

I want to pick a favorite character but like… I CANT

This whole book is a masterpiece, this whole trilogy is even more, and I can’t wait to come back for a reread

I also can’t wait to reread Fragile Threads of Power now that I actually have a huge emotional attachment to each of them

The amount of quotable things, both serious and hilarious in this book is astronomical and I need to tab it on my reread

Also…

that scene where Rhy was pretty much crucified?? Wtf VE Schwab??? You can’t do this????

read this. read it now. please.

A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab

5.0

When it ended I didn’t think it actually ended. 

Because what.

How was this book better than the first one??? I didn’t know that was possible???

Kell and Lila are my favorite people and I couldn’t decide how I felt about Alucard… I was always between high giving the guy or punching him in the face

anyway I fear I will never recover from this series, especially not the next book. I live in fear now.

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

5.0

I KNEW THIS BOOK WAS GOING TO BE GOOD

The drama, the intrigue

The blood bond?? What??? That was unbelievable

The world is amazing, the characters are somehow even better, the writing is BEAUTIFUL

Idk how this book has everything, it’s literally perfect and I’m moving right on to the next one

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

4.5

The romance in this story ATEEEEE

I will admit, there were a few holes that confused me(pun both intended and unintended), and I got lost sometimes with the world elements, but everything else made up for it

This book also reminds me of All the Young Dudes in the best ways possible, if that’s intriguing in any way

A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal

4.0

I thought this book was really good! The stakes were pretty high most of the book, and

the BETRAYALS MAN.

The reason for 4 is mostly that I’m in a reading slump still, I think I would seriously enjoy this book a lot more if I didn’t keep zoning out while reading.

Regardless, I did absolutely love the characters in this book, especially Flick.

”No, don’t use that name. Use the one I gave myself.” The quote went something like that and I SCREAMED I LOVE HER.

All This Twisted Glory by Tahereh Mafi

2.25

I mean, could I tell you what happened?

Kinda?

This just felt like a stockpile of setup but there wasn’t a climax or anything that I could tell, and if there was it wasn’t played out enough

I think this just could’ve been merged with another book, though Tahereh Mafi seems to be notorious for this, likely writing a whole lot of scenes and having to separate them into books without considering each book individually

There were certain parts that were good but I found myself skimming nearly the entire thing

Hopefully the next one is better, I guess?