beckyg1016's reviews
488 reviews

mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This is my 3rd attempt to read this book - once in my late teens, once in my mid-twenties, and now in my mid-thirties. I could never get into it, but it had such great reviews that I kept coming back to it. Turns out, I just wasn't ready for it. Now that I am, I would highly recommend it!
It's such a lovely example of the power of folklore and family, history and identity.
Is the mystery portion perfect - no. There weren't too many things that actually surprised me, but honestly, I feel like the mystery is secondary to everything else going on in the story.

A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross

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adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense

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

4.0

A great adult fantasy in a world inspired by Scottish culture & lore - there is love and magic, sorrow and joy, secrets and lies and truths that run bone-deep.
This was so good - 450+ pages read in a single week - and my only disappointment is that the 2nd book of the Elements of Cadence Duology isn't due out for nearly a year!!

Content Warnings

Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

The Witch's Heart by Genevieve Gornichec

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adventurous emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

Content Warnings

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

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dark medium-paced

3.0

It's a Gothic story in Mexico. That really is the sum of it.
Nearly every Gothic trope I can think of is used in some way and if you've read a fair amount of Gothic lit, there won't be much that surprises you. If that sounds pedantic and tiresome, this is not the book for you. However, if you read that sentence and think "I LOVE Gothic tropes. I've read so much Gothic Lit and I love it every time!" then you are going to love this book.

Content Warnings

The Appearance of Annie Van Sinderen by Katherine Howe

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emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Diverse cast of characters? No

3.75

Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney

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mysterious fast-paced

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

2.5

It was a fast read, but not really a good one. I'm not one to finish a book that isn't enjoyable, and I did finish this one, so there's that. The writing is repetitive - it is not necessary to call it "the lounge that looks more like a library" every SINGLE time someone walks into, thinks about, or talks about the room. Once, maybe twice, is fine - we remember what the room looks like (and if we don't, that's the miracle of the written word, you can go back and re-read it).
The story itself is interesting, nice little twist at the end as you'd expect. All the pieces were laid out, so I can't say I was super surprised by the twist - I was just waiting to see exactly how she placed all the pieces together.
Overall, it's < 300 pages and a fast read, so go for it and judge for yourself.

Content Warnings