berlinbibliophile's reviews
1198 reviews

A Snake Falls to Earth by Darcie Little Badger

hopeful lighthearted mysterious slow-paced

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

3.0

The dual, converging stories were nice. I also liked the animal people, and the ways they matched or didn't match to the stories Nina had heard. The ending was a bit rushed and incomplete though. 

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

adventurous dark 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? It's complicated

5.0

Ronan wasn't my favourite character in The Raven Boys, but he gets a great deal of character development here. I really like the way things progressed, and the hints for his future. 
For a YA book, Blue's mother and relatives are involved in the story a surprisingly large part of the time. I like that, it's different. 
The Raven Boys and Blue aren't together as much in this book, all off doing their own separate things. That worked well, but I still hope they'll hang out and explore more as a group again in the next book. I'm sure I'll pick it up soon. 

Tuberkulose: Die stille Pandemie by John Green

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

John Green hit it out of the park with this one. I cried on public transport, but I also laughed a little and was touched by the many people who do try to help fight Tb. I learned new things and got newly angry and motivated about things I already knew. I really recommend this book, especially if Tb feels far away from your own life.

Daughter of Redwinter by Ed McDonald

adventurous dark tense 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? Yes

3.0

Very interesting world-building. I thought the ending was a bit too quick after quite a long middle bit, but satisfying. Very interested in seeing who Raine will be now. 

Die Schlafenden by Anthony Passeron

emotional informative reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

This is truly a powerful book. I was a bit wary going in, and it is very emotional and tragic. But it's also about the doctors who worked hard to help people who had AIDS before the illness even had a name. And about a family who was silent, but once the illness set in, willing to resiliently support their family members. Passeron has written a personal account of family silence and an account of medical history, with the false starts and false hopes and all the work that entails. I seriously recommend this book.  

The City & the City by China Miéville

mysterious reflective tense slow-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

3.0

The worldbuilding is definitely the star of the book. So interesting, and so consequently brought into every single aspect of life in Bészel und Ul Qoma. The case is a bit convoluted, but then that makes sense in the grosstopology of the city and the city. It's very different from everything I've ever read, and fascinating for sure. 

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

adventurous lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

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

4.0

Blue and the boys were such fun characters to follow along on their quest. There is plenty of magic, but also real, human problems to be dealt with. Blue's family is wonderful and so interesting. I liked the resolution of this book, but it also definitely makes me want to find out more in the rest of the series. 

Die Tage des Regenbogens by Antonio Skármeta

hopeful informative 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? No

3.0

Quick and interesting read. I'll definitely try to find out more about the referendum in Chile now that I've read this novel. 

A History of the Roman Empire in 21 Women by Emma Southon

funny informative lighthearted medium-paced

5.0

This book really made the huge cultural differences in the different time periods of the Roman Empire tangible to me in a way a typical nonfiction book never has. I also had a hugely good time reading it. Southon is hilarious, and she's also always really honest about where the information on these women's lives comes from, what sort of sources even survive. It's informative and fun and sometimes very moving.

Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett

emotional hopeful lighthearted 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? No

5.0

What a very satisfying conclusion to the story of Emily Wilde and her scholarly (and personal) interest in the wellbeing of faerie. I found the problem of stories very interesting, and I liked that library research really is the solution. It was also wonderful to see old friends from the previous two books again. I had a lovely time with this book.