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avid_reader_sf_and_f's Reviews (5.28k)
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-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
The worldbuilding in this book is amazingly lush, verdant and flushed out. It was unique and very much a character of the story on its own. Then you have Din, who is both very much a Watson, to Ana's Holmes, and yet so very much not at all Holmesian. He is the foil to Ana, yes, but he is also the witness for the reader. He views the world, the actions of others, and helps to explain to the reader, what is going on.
I very much loved that the two main characters are clearly neurospicy, and not because of any biomanipulation. Maybe Din's bio-grafting was made better because of his neurospiciness? I also loved how unhinged Ana was in general and the banter between Din and Ana was a delight. I also liked that Din's LGBTQ status was just a part of the story, a missed opportunity and one I hope is revisited at a later time in the series.
The mystery was complex, layered and yet, I feel I could have known who the players were, if only I'd caught the hints the author had laid out. Overall, freaking brilliant. One I will for sure reread, if only to catch parts I missed on the first read. I highly recommend it.
I very much loved that the two main characters are clearly neurospicy, and not because of any biomanipulation. Maybe Din's bio-grafting was made better because of his neurospiciness? I also loved how unhinged Ana was in general and the banter between Din and Ana was a delight. I also liked that Din's LGBTQ status was just a part of the story, a missed opportunity and one I hope is revisited at a later time in the series.
The mystery was complex, layered and yet, I feel I could have known who the players were, if only I'd caught the hints the author had laid out. Overall, freaking brilliant. One I will for sure reread, if only to catch parts I missed on the first read. I highly recommend it.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
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:
Complicated
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
The Witch’s Cottage is a Cozy, if very spicy, romance. The environment checks all of the cozy boxes, in that the FMC has a fabulous talking cat companion / familiar, is setting up a cozy cottage in the woods and she is a little bit magical. The problem is that the prolonged and repetitive spicy scenes felt off in the otherwise cozy vibe. Add that to the ending, which made this novella feel like the first part of a book, rather than a complete story on it's own.
As that, it's all well and good and I would recommend it for those who are looking for a short, sweet, and spicy, feel-good read.
As that, it's all well and good and I would recommend it for those who are looking for a short, sweet, and spicy, feel-good read.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Another delightful adventure with Tiffany.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I don't think I could add any comments that are new to the thousands of rave reviews already posted. I'll just add that Terry Pratchett was brilliant and this was a delight.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Amal El-Mohtar makes language into art. This novella was absolutely beautiful to listen to. The stories (as there are two included) were wonderfully told, in rich prose. My only complaint is that both stories were a bit dark and a tad melancholic and bittersweet.
Overall, I loved the magical "grammar" system of the first story and the "pound of flesh" from the second. I'm frankly amazed at the author's ability to wrap up such intensity in such a small novella sized package. I'd recommend the audiobook for any lover of a fantastic fairytale.
Overall, I loved the magical "grammar" system of the first story and the "pound of flesh" from the second. I'm frankly amazed at the author's ability to wrap up such intensity in such a small novella sized package. I'd recommend the audiobook for any lover of a fantastic fairytale.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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