ashleyreads88's reviews
593 reviews

Lore Olympus: Volume Four by Rachel Smythe

adventurous dark emotional funny lighthearted tense fast-paced

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

I hate Apollo, how Persephone is made to feel by her classmates, and how others meddle in things that shouldn't be meddled in.  I loved Persephone's growth and the growth of her relationship with Hades.  I also love how the story is developing and progressing.  I can't wait to read more!

Galatea by Madeline Miller

emotional fast-paced

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

Galatea is a fresh take on the tale of Pygmalion in which Galatea wants to be free.  Galatea is constantly told what to do, which is heartbreaking. 

Eventually Galatea does get free.

  This story is heartbreaking but I'm glad I read it.

Rust in the Root by Justina Ireland

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious tense medium-paced

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

This is the first book by Justina Ireland that I have read but it won't be the last.  First, Rust In The Root has photographs, journal entries, and newspaper articles that add to the story uniquely and help tell the story.  Rust In The Root follows

Laura leaving her home to go to New York to become a licensed Mage so she can eventually open a bakery.

. The thing is, licenses are required to legally practice magic, a system that favors "white, rich people," and Mages can't get licenses without sponsorships.  At first, the magic system was confusing but as the story progressed things were explained and explained well.  There was also quite a bit of terminology that was introduced and that terminology was well-defined.  Rust In The Root is an action-packed book with twists, turns, diverse characters, power and racial imbalances, adventure, discovering who you are, and history.  I loved the photos, journal entries, and newspaper articles.  I also love how the story ended, and how there were no loose ends.  Rust In The Root was a fresh, unique historical-fiction novel that I enjoyed reading.

Powerless: Special Edition by Elsie Silver

emotional funny lighthearted 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

Elsie Silver writes badass female characters.  I loved Powerless.  I loved Jasper and Sloane, the banter between them was great and I love how they were always honest with each other. 

I loved it when Sloane told off her dad and ex-fiancé, how Jasper showed up to the restaurant and had Sloane's back.

  Sloane and Jasper went through a lot in this book but it only made them stronger, and while it wasn't easy for them, I loved

how they eventually got their happily ever after.

Reckless by Elsie Silver

emotional hopeful lighthearted 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

I loved this book.  Reckless had a great mix of drama, angst, and lightheartedness.  I loved Winter and Theo as a couple and as individuals.  I loved how strong, and sassy she was.  I loved how Theo was with Vivvi, his daughter.  I loved Summer and Rhett and how Summer and Winter rebuilt their relationship.  Rob was horrible but written well.  I loved seeing Winter, Theo, and Vivvi grow as a family.  The only thing I was hoping for was

Winter and Theo's wedding,

other than that, I love how the story ended.

Library by Neil Farber, Michael Dumontier

funny lighthearted fast-paced

Library was a great mix of humor and seriousness.  The sayings on the books will have you both laughing out loud and thinking about things.  Library was a quick, refreshing book and I loved it.

Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo

emotional funny inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense fast-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

Have you ever read a book that you have a hard time putting into words your thoughts about it? Family Lore is that book for me.  I loved this book, it was beautiful, sad, hopeful, and heartwarming.  I loved the generational stories, they reminded me of hearing the stories from different generations in my own family.  Family Lore is a must-read and an amazing adult genre debut from one of my favorite authors.

Mysteries of Thorn Manor by Margaret Rogerson

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

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

This was a great novella.  I loved getting more of Elisabeth and Nathaniel and them trying to figure out what was happening with Thorn Manor.  I also loved Silas in this book, I felt that there were times when he was humorous without trying to be.  It was great seeing how much Elisabeth and Nathaniel grew in their relationship and

getting engaged!

 Mysteries of Thorn Manor was a fun, atmospherical, eerie read, and I would love to see more of Elisabeth, Nathaniel, and Silas.

A Crown So Cursed by L.L. McKinney

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

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

This book was a rollercoaster in the best way. 

Alice and her crew are out to save Wonderland and restore it.

There were so many twists, the biggest of all being

who Nana K is.

  I loved Alice's growth as a character and discovering who she is.  A Crown So Cursed was a great ending to a fresh take on a classic.

Night Will Find You by Julia Heaberlin

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

Mysteries are out of my comfort zone, but I enjoyed reading this one.  In Night Will Find You, Vivvi moves back to Texas and is asked by her childhood friend turned cop to help with a missing person's case.  Vivvi is a psychic by birth and an astrophysicist. 

Everyone believes the girl to be dead but Vivvi gets signs that the girl is alive.

  Vivvi works with a reluctant Jesse Sharp who doesn't believe Vivvi.  The mystery aspect is

who kidnapped Lizzy, the missing girl believed to be dead.

  There were so many twists that I didn't see coming, including the biggest twist of all.  I loved the development of Vivvi and Sharpe's relationship.  I also loved how Vivvi and Brig mended their relationship and Vivvi's relationship with Will and Emme.  This was a great book that kept me on the edge of my seat.