arecordofki's reviews
189 reviews

Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood

reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This book definitely felt infinitely heavier than any of Ali Hazelwood's other books. There wasn't much fluff, and two incredibly flawed characters that did nothing to hide it and instead embraced each other as is. It's not an easily understandable dynamic, and maybe that's the point, that no one needs to understand them, but themselves. 

The heavy atmosphere of the book was rolling off the pages and I felt like it was hard to breathe at times. I enjoyed this in a much different way than her other works and can't wait to see the various characters Ali Hazelwood drafts up in the future

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Eating disorder

Minor: Death of parent

The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden

challenging dark mysterious sad tense 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

4.0

The Warm Hands of Ghosts is a haunting tale about the Battle of Paschendaele and a mix of World War One. It revolves around the battle between the Canadians and the German before the Allied forces came to assist in the battle. 
I'm not sure I fully understand the story, but it was haunting and gripping entirely the same. The book has a sliver of fantasy, where amidst the war, there is a being known as the fiddler, called Faland. Some refer to him as the devil, but he equips a violin and grants your wishes in exchange for a story. 
The subplot of romance was very unexpected for me, the way the story makes you slowly realise when a character is falling in love, just like how the character comes to the same conclusion.
The side characters never really feel like side characters, they all are complex and hard to understand and yet you can't help but root for them all the same. 
This was very different from the books I usually read, but captivating and haunting all the same.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, War, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Suicide attempt

The Crimson Moth by Kristen Ciccarelli

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.5

I didn't hate it, it was a pretty quick read but something about the chemistry between Gideon and Rune doesn't seem very convincing to me. 

Freeing Luka by Victoria Aveline

medium-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? No

3.75

Same issue as the first book where there's the whole world building spiel again, but this one started more interesting than Jade's story and Alice is so badass for that we love to see it. Also Luka is so cute 

Choosing Theo by Victoria Aveline

fast-paced

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

3.5

I hate the info dumping in the beginning and the writing style when trying to introduce the world to the readers but the rest of the story when focused on Jade and Theo was really fun to read after because it wasnt holding your hand afterwards

Captive of the Horde King by Zoey Draven

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? It's complicated

3.75

Craving in His Blood by Zoey Draven

emotional funny lighthearted reflective 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

Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller

funny medium-paced

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

3.0

It felt like there was very poor background and setting and more just a lot of romance thrown into it. The monologue of the Alosa was kind of irritating, it was too much "xx happened, but of course i know how to solve it, but I have to hold back". It's like her just bragging about how powerful she is and strong and smart but being forced to hold back, and it got repetitive and pretty annoying after a while.

Desire in His Blood by Zoey Draven

adventurous emotional lighthearted 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? No

4.5

Married to the Alien Cowboy by Ursa Dax

funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Minor: Blood