arecordofki's reviews
189 reviews

Reign & Ruin by J.D. Evans

adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective tense 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

5.0

Absolutely adored this book! The writing style was great and the plot plus the chemistry between the two characters were fantastic as well. You know a book is splendid when I also like a side character, Tareck they could never make me hate you.
I love that Naime remained a strong FMC until the very end and wasn't described in contradictory ways as some fantasy books tend to make their protagonists. I also appreciated the balance between Markam and Naime, the hot headed and calm temperament pair is perfect!
The politics didn't make my head hurt and was pretty solid in explanation too.

My only gripe is the concept of Cha'rah was a bit fumbled in explanation and I still don't fully follow it, but it didn't diminish my experience reading at all.

Daughter of the Drowned Empire by Frankie Diane Mallis

adventurous funny tense medium-paced

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

2.5

It's alright. I still find it stupid that Lyriana

doesnt seperatr fron Tristan despite knowing he hates Vorakh and supported her cousins death, AND after knowing his grandmother doesnt approve of their marriage after she was demoted 🤷‍♀️

Like at that point you're already

training to be a soturion, why would you let this bumhead hold you back on your training and distract you?? And the audacity to get upset with Tristan and Naria when she is also two-timing with Rhyan? Yes they didnt do anything but you already lust for him bro whats the double standards for

This was Meh, it wasn't satisfying, it was rather infuriating to read tbh 

Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan
Did not finish book. Stopped at 69%.

• Male love interests don't really love her. Where's the actual progression of their romance? It's all just timeskips, some platonic friendship and then BAM two years later "haven't you realised? I'm in love with you" ummm okay buddy 
• Ends up just being some kind of pissing contest between the two dudes over this girl which is so stupid because one of them shouldn't even be in the running anymore
• Storyline was interesting but the method of conveying it was flat and not engaging. It was telling, not showing

A Crown of Ivy and Glass by Claire Legrand

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

This was a very complex read and also super novel concept. I really enjoyed the story and was hooked on it the entire time. I do think that it was a bit fast how Gemma and Talan became enamoured by each other but I felt that the pacing of each arc of their journey was done quite well and not rushed at all. I dont think I fully grasp the situation of their world and what is really at stake here, but I am curious to know more about the story!

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik

informative mysterious medium-paced

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

2.5

I hate how this book feels like an endless ramble. Usually providing world building is fine but this is done at horrible timings like in between interactions, and it's not a simple paragraph or two about the world but it's like those recipes that give you the entire childhood backstory before you can actually learn how to bake an apple pie. Because of that, I don't feel attached to any of the characters, lose myself in the time that's supposed to have passed, and hard to keep track of emotions any character  is feeling.
It's a charming story that I still managed to finish because it was interesting but I really had to push myself through that info dumping that always happens. Also not much is known about Orion to us which is such a shame because suddenly

him and El are dating? But wtf do you mean he thought he was dating her but never asked her and she didnt know ??

It feels like a brain dump all put into one book.

A Fire in the Sky by Sophie Jordan

relaxing medium-paced

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

3.25

I'm conflicted with this book because yes, I ate it up and it was addictive to read but the story took turns i didn't expect it to nor liked. The love triangle felt super forced and the entire journey back to her husbands land was so lacklustre too. It felt like it was going to deliver something satisfying but I'd be anticipating and then left to fall flat on my face

A Crane Among Wolves by June Hur

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring sad tense 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

4.0

The aspect I loved the most was how utterly unliveable Iseul was in the very beginning. She knows it, you know it, her own sister knows it. And yet the ability to make her into someone you fervently root for to succeed, and watching her grow into a completely different character from how she started as she encounters troubles along the way is the perfect character development I have ever seen.
I really enjoyed the yearning and painful love between her and Daehyun, to love each other while amidst a upcoming revolution and protecting each other with whatever little they had was so nice to read. Literally what I've been looking for when I read any historical book set in a revolution timeline tbh.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death

Moderate: Incest, Rape, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence

Together We Burn by Isabel Ibañez

adventurous hopeful lighthearted tense medium-paced

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

4.0

A very solid read! I wasn't 100% sure of the plot before going in so it was a read and find out thing but I enjoyed the book, it was paced well and kept always entertaining, plus I love how involved all the characters were in the story even if they didn't seem like they would be.
Ngl I thought this was a YA book until I realised OH it was not a YA book LMAO 

Ten Thousand Stitches by Olivia Atwater

emotional inspiring lighthearted reflective 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? Yes

4.25

Half a Soul will always have a special place in my heart, so seeing the characters make a reappearance was exciting! 
I like that Olivia Atwater's books always contain a bit of lessons, they're short in length but the story feels so incredibly well-paced and complete than books with more than 400 pages that I've read before. I loved the chemistry between Effie and Blackthorn, the fact that he reminds me of a golden retriever is quite endearing too! 

Silver Under Nightfall by Rin Chupeco

adventurous dark emotional funny lighthearted relaxing sad medium-paced

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

4.75

This was pretty amazing to read! I love the polyamorous coupling in this and the way both Zidan and Xiaodan made sure to always keep Remy comfortable and never do anything he didn't want to, and I couldn't stop laughing at how hilarious and out of pocket both Remy and Xiaodan are, where they just start swearing in the middle of battle (the cào ni má made me LAUGH SO HARD) It's like these two are rabid chihuahuas and Zidan is the tired owner holding them on a leash. I also adored the duality of Zidan, him appearing calm and stoic but is actually more passionate than Xiaodan in terms of his feelings towards Remy, I just love these three so so much.

My only qualm with this book was that the second half of the book, where they

return to Elouve was pretty redundant? I dont understand why they went back and the reason why the Night Court attempts to attack the kingdom, and the sudden twist in mood between Zidan, Xiaodan and Remy. It makes sense plotwise but was there a need for it? I dont feel too inclined to read the second book because of it

and also, Remy's

father is REAL FUCKED UP like what??? Hes giving me whiplash from praising his son to insulting him and then using his blood ?? Like what is literally going on here just die already arent you a crusty old man at this point why you wanna live so badly

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Blood, Death of parent, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail