baknata's reviews
110 reviews

The Ravens by Danielle Paige, Kass Morgan

mysterious fast-paced

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

3.0

This book had an interesting premise and some good world-building. You could really imagine this taking place in the world, which made it easier to get into. It was a bit juvenile for my taste, in that the characters and plot were sort of giving "Riverdale". It wasn't bad, just a bit dramatic and over the top, the way teen media tends to be.

The double twist at the end of the book really got me though. I expected the first twist pretty early on, and that's probably why I didn't see the actual twist coming at all.

The plot was overall interesting and I really liked the two narrator style. It didn't feel like it was switching POV too often and it switched at plot moments that made sense and weren't too cliff-hangery. This is an easy read with a fun world.

Gallant by V.E. Schwab

emotional mysterious tense medium-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? Yes

3.5

To start off with one of my highlights of this book, I really enjoyed the incorporation of sign language in this book. The main character, Olivia, is mute and generally either communicates in sign or by writing. It is a really interesting element in the story and offers the reader a really intimate insight into Olivia. The story is told from a third person limited point of view, which means the reader knows what she is thinking even when other characters can't understand her way of communication. I also really enjoyed the way that the small cast of characters allowed us to really get to know each of them well. All of the characters had really distinct personalities and stories that made a strong impact on the plot. I also enjoyed the pace at which the mystery unfolded. It didn't wait until the very end to reveal everything, which was preferable for me. 
One thing I didn't like, which is mostly a me thing and not necessarily a fault of the book, was that Olivia was not nearly as inquisitive as I wanted her to be. I understand that some of this is because the book has to have a whole plot and not just be a hundred pages long, but I was not a fan. There were a few too many instances were Olivia would witness some sketchy things or strange behavior from the others and not like act upon it. She never told the others about what she knew and it took her a while to even explain her life before coming to Gallant. considering the circumstances, it just seemed rediculous. I mean if I were someone who finally got out of a terrible living situation only to be told I was going to be sent back there because the people in my new living situation didn't realize I existed, I would tell them it wasn't a safe place, not just sulk. I get she's a young girl, but it was still a bit much for me. Also, the secret was sort of anticlimatic for me.

Like, when she did go through the door and whatnot, the other side was interesting and spooky. But it wasn't as scary or dramatic as I was expecting it to be from the build up. I mean for a secret that you refuse to tell this new cousin of yours that is almost definitely life threatening, it wasn't like that gut punch I was expecting.

Overall, it was a good book, but I was just waiting for it to be over, I wasn't anxious to keep reading it. 

The Witch and the Tsar by Olesya Salnikova Gilmore

adventurous emotional medium-paced

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

5.0

The first thing about this book that hooked me was that it didn't have a main character who was overall unhappy. It is too common in Slavic-inspired fantasy stories to create a setting that is the main obstacle for the main character. It is annoying and also inaccurate when Slavic characters are shown resenting their home and family. This book really encapsulated the fierce loyalty and love that Slavic people have for their homeland and their people. It may seem like a small detail, but no matter how well-researched and accurate to the folktales that the book may be, without the correct depiction of the people, it just feels hurtful. That being said, this book warmed my heart, you could tell the author really knew the culture and people that she was writing about and had a deep love and respect for these stories. I loved the way that the fantasy elements were incorporated so well into the historical elements. I am by no means a historian, but even I could tell that the author had invested time and effort into learning about the time period and portraying these events as they were. This is especially impressive given how few records remain from this time in Slavic history.
Another element of this book that I really enjoyed was the way the story was spread out over many years. In fantasy books, it is often the case that the events of the book happen within a few years max. This can make the story feel less realistic. Not to mention, if it is a continuing series, it can either create huge lulls in the second book or fatigue from too much action. This book captures the feeling of real-life political conflict. There is an ongoing struggle but there are also points where the main character is living a somewhat normal life in spite of it. She is very much involved in the conflict, but it isn't one big event that happens and then is over, allowing her to live. Just like in life, things get worse and then stagnate or get better and then worse again, it isn't a perfect plot structure. This also heightened the tension of the events seeing as you could see the effects of the trauma as well as the consequences of growing up in a time of uncertainty and strife. It was a really poignant story that was told in an effective way. 
Finally, I loved the way the author transformed these classic Slavic folktales to tell a new story. It may seem overdone or cliche to retell an "evil witch" story, but I especially liked this one. In general, people see Baba Yaga as a harmful or evil character, but there are stories where she is a helpful entity for whatever main character. She is usually part of someone else's story. Having the story center on her and finally seeing her motivations and beliefs creates a really rounded and three-dimensional character. The combination of the folktales and the mythology gave a whole new element to the Yaga story and it played off the historical context so well. 
Additionally, I listened to the audiobook version of this, and it was such a nice, and necessary, touch to have it narrated by a Russian-speaking person. While it seems like a no-brainer, there have been too many instances of Russian or Slavic people who are portrayed by non-Russian-speaking people, and it is one of my biggest pet peeves. Hearing the Russian words and phrases, and even just the names, actually being pronounced the right way added so much to the story. In fact, it allowed me to actually listen to the story rather than being distracted and frustrated the entire time. I mean even the smallest thing of putting the stress in the name Yaga on the correct syllable (something that is not done when English speakers pronounce the name, mind you) just makes all the difference. 
Overall, my rating of this may be a bit biased since I was overjoyed at the fantastic representation, but I would still recommend it to anyone who is interested in Slavic mythos and folklore. 

The Merciless Ones by Namina Forna

emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.0

I really wanted to like this book more than I did. The first book was phenomenal, and I was anticipating this one a lot. The worst part is that I can't really put my finger on why this book fell flat for me. I think it was partly due to the density of the lore, which can slow a plot down a lot. I was also annoyed that so much of the lore we got in the first book was thrown to the wayside in this book. While I understand that the main character is learning new information and discovering the truth behind what she was told, it ended up feeling too dense for a sequel. There was also a very repetitive nature in the emotions and the action. This redundancy slowed the story down a lot since it felt like the wasn't much of a build. Not to mention, the book begins with pretty high stakes already, which makes it difficult to build a climax that feels adequately intense. I still love the characters and the development they had in this book was satisfying. I do find Deka a bit annoying, but her behavior makes sense so I don't hold it against her. Overall, it's hard to read a book where the entire mythos is changing over and over, but besides that, the book is well written and interesting enough.

Vengeful by V.E. Schwab

dark tense

3.5

This book had me so tense. It is a gripping story, and the added characters really helped fill out the world, and build on the story of the last book. The first book had a really solid conclusion, so it was interesting to see where the story could go from there. It was interesting to get more backstory on our main characters. I enjoyed seeing Eli's perspective. It made him much more of a dynamic character, although I was still rooting against him. The time jumps also made for a more compelling story, as it didn't have to rely on fitting all the action in a short time. Overall, it was an engaging book that added a lot to the first book, but I could have just read the first one and been fine with that. 

Vicious by V.E. Schwab

dark emotional tense fast-paced

4.0

This was such a stressful book to read. I was totally hooked and so invested in the characters, which made all the book's events so stressful. I really enjoyed the style of the storytelling. The story's jumping between narrators and time allows the reader to experience the story in a really dynamic way, keeping the suspense high throughout. This book explores morality and ethics through a scifi lens that was really engaging. It does have a ton of casual murder and is really death-heavy, which can be triggering, so be forewarned. Overall, a high-stakes, scientific look at power and morality. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Suicide, and Death

The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik

adventurous emotional inspiring medium-paced

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

4.0

What a beautiful conclusion to a wonderful story. This was one of those books that really tied the series together and gave all of the characters we'd come to love a full and satisfying conclusion to their stories. My only problem was that I felt like the story had a bit of a slow start and the conclusion then felt a bit rushed. This is understandable given where it picked up after the last book and everything that had to get done before the end. Additionally, it made sense with where El was emotionally at the beginning, it was just a bit tedious to read. Other than that, I think the book did a great job taking on the scope of the world outside the Scholomance and the reality that problems can't be solved in one easy move, it takes a lot of people and a lot of effort, and even then doesn't last. I also enjoyed how we had clear villains, but they had a defendable position. To a certain extent, they want the same thing as our protagonists, they just aren't opposed to using whatever means necessary. I think it mirrors the real world in a very important way. It isn't just about getting what you want, even if that ultimately helps people. The means by which you achieve that matter just as much. The ending had me so emotional, and overall I loved this book and this trilogy.

Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker

adventurous emotional 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? It's complicated

4.5

I loved each of the characters in this book and the rich backstory that was established so smoothly in this story. I loved the realistic and complex characters and the way they folded into the story so seamlessly. The art in this book was so cute and helped drive the story in a beautiful way. 

A Mirror Mended by Alix E. Harrow

fast-paced

4.0

I wasn't sure what to expect since the first book ended so conclusively, but what an interesting continuation of the story. I really enjoyed how the world was further developed and the reality of the story tale lives of these "princesses" was really explored. It isn't revolutionary to tell a story from the perspective of the villain to expose the real situation that occurred, but it is always nice when someone does a good job exploring this idea. I enjoyed the expansion and exploration of the snow white story and enjoyed the way that the characters from the first book realistically developed in the second. 

The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan

adventurous emotional funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Probably my favorite book of this series. This book introduces us to the DiAngelo siblings, who have a mysterious past and a challenging future. During a battle with a huge tiger-like monster, Annabeth disappears off a cliff. This accompanies the disappearance of the goddess Artemis. Her hunters, along with Thalia and Grover, are sent on a quest to find her. Sneaking out of camp, Percy covertly joins the quest in an attempt to save Annabeth. The dynamic between these characters is fun to see develop as the quest progresses. This book further solidifies the world and establishes the reality of the threat of Kronos. This is where we begin to really see the realities of the impending conflict and the danger in store for Camp Half-blood.