Good but not great. I do like it though. But I don't know, it doesn't fit to me to rate it 5 stars. It wasn't that remarkable for me. And the books I've rated 5 are the ones that are engraved to my memory and my heart (so cheesy bleh). And this isn't really the type of book that'd stick to me until I die. Additionally, the twists didn't really incite a shock from me. I didn't expect nor theorize anything (I wasn't even trying to guess) and so I just read the whole tome. I just wanted to finish and find out who's who.

But despite of that, this is a good mystery book to read especially if you're just getting started to reading. If you like something thrilling, fast, cozy, convoluted, and intriguing, then this book is for you. It is very famous on booktok and I can see why. But I don't think it deserves that much hype. It is quite like any mystery books I've read (the mystery part at least. Not the "context" or "story." If that makes sense). But also, this is unlike the mysteries I've acquainted myself with. I've always read mysteries where the characters themselves are involved with the crime or mystery, and not the ones who are solving it. So I guess it's a new perspective for me. And it's quite refreshing I guess.

Overall, I didn't waste my time reading this book and everyone should read it. It's good but not the best of the sort.

Vicious by V.E. Schwab

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adventurous dark tense fast-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

4.75

The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

4.75
Sheesh, it took my some time to finish this book. To be frank, I was bored of it when I started it. The intro was boring for me and the pacing was slow. But it does get exciting and engaging as you progress with your reading.

My expectations were completely thrown out the window when I found out that this was magical realism. I thought it'd be just fiction and mysery but I never expected magical realism out of all genres. But still, I loved the book. I literally had to fight my eyes from drifting off to finally finish this. My head ached on the last day I was reading this and the pain was worth it.

The idea or concept was unlike anything I've read before. I have even developed some ideas that are similar to this book's concept that I could experiment with and turn into a story. But I wouldn't worry about that for now. What's important is that I adored the concept behind it. It's unique and fresh (because as I've mentioned, I had never encountered such an idea).

A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced