bestbedhead's reviews
129 reviews

Ruthless Gods by Emily A. Duncan

challenging dark mysterious sad 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? Yes

4.25

The Something Dark and Holy series is the first YA series in awhile that has truly excited me. The story is dark, brutal, and unyielding and I am utterly fascinated. There's so much to unpack within this world and I think if you enjoyed the first book you'll be on pins and needles reading the second one. The magic of this world is complex and strange and blends together divinity, blood, and eldritch horror. What's not to love? I appreciated the grey morality of the characters that persisted from the first book into this one. The ideas of love, betrayal, and divine purpose become warped  and complicated and you get the real sense that none of them know what is right or wrong anymore. Each character is set upon their own path and all of them seemingly lead to destruction. 

There's a lot I have enjoyed reading these first two books and I'm looking forward to the conclusion. I particularly love the ideas of religious fanaticism that have been woven into the story as I don't see much of that in YA fiction. The only thing I wish the books had were a glossary of terms included. I do at times find myself a little confused at the pronunciation of names and the definitions of some of the foreign words. 

The Bone Maker by Sarah Beth Durst

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

4.25

The Bone Maker was an excellent adventure and a unique story within the fantasy genre. Durst writes a  emotionally evocative aftermath story that follows the Five Heroes of Vos twenty five years after the great Bone War. Throughout the book you examine the weight of tragedy, loss, love, friendship, and morality. There was a lot to love in this book in my opinion. I think the most interesting part to me was Kreya's journey and her turmoil of being the legendary 'chosen one' who lost and resurrected the love of her life. She is little better than a stalwart hermit at the start of the book, consumed only with the need to breathe life permanently into her husband Jentt once more. However, the reunion with her friends and the confrontation of evil resurrected she is faced with a lot of tough questions about herself and her own morality. 

I had a great time reading this book and it was truly an adventure start to finish. The plot winds its way along without unnecessary dragging. It even has that plot device I love to hate where everyone starts to believe the villain. Which for some reason despite how much it enrages me I can't help but to absolutely adore. Perhaps I also love to suffer. 

Across the Green Grass Fields by Seanan McGuire

adventurous challenging hopeful fast-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

4.25

I really enjoyed Regan's story. The Hooflands themselves were a lovely fantastical place just like the other worlds McGuire has captured so wonderfully throughout this series. I really connected with Reagan's struggles to accept herself and know that there was no right or wrong way to be a girl - no right or wrong way to be herself. I also really appreciated the idea of heroism that Regan's story told and how no one person could solve the world's problems. I thought that this story was very carefully and artfully done. 

My only wish was that Regan would have connected in some way to the Wayward School or some of the characters from the series we already know and love. Hopefully Regan will show up again in future books. 

The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart

adventurous mysterious 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

4.25

I didn't know what to expect when I started reading The Bone Shard Daughter but I have to say that it was very different than how I had first imagined it. That surprise was a delightful one. I wasn't expecting so many different characters to follow but I found myself intrigued by what each brought to the story.

The magic of this world and the greater mystery of the ancient Alanga really interests me. I found the inclusion of magical creatures and the complex bone shard magic rather fascinating concepts. I would say that this first book definitely feels like a beginning and not a contained work unto itself. Perhaps that isn't something some readers would be interested in but I like that aspect of starting a series. With The Bone Shard Daughter it left me with the feeling that there was so much more story to come and that the beginnings of this world's mysteries are only going to get more mysterious. Definitely excited for the next book in this series. 

A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire by Jennifer L. Armentrout

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.5

I have to say this book was just as fun to read as the first and definitely leaves me excited to read the next. If you enjoyed From Blood and Ash I think you will enjoy the second of the series just as much. There's a lot of world building, tense adventure, and the so very complicated feelings of love and betrayal that haunt Poppy's every step. It felt like there were a lot more overly indulgent scenes in this book compared to the first but what's a fantasy romance without a little over indulgence? 

From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-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? No

5.0

This book couldn't have been more fun. While I don't read a ton of Fantasy Romance I have a definite weak spot for it and this is probably one of the best books I've read in the genre. I didn't have many if any expectations when I started it and found myself delighted when it delivered a twisty turny plot, dark creatures, loathsome villains, and gasp inducing secrets. The romance between Hawk and Poppy is indeed sexy and exciting but this story is so much more than just that. Poppy might be one of my favorite heroines in a long time.

I simply couldn't put it down and raced through this book start to finish. I felt for Poppy every step of the way and I wanted to know what would come of her fate - a fate she never chose. I'm obsessed and I'm more than invested in this series. 

This Is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone, Amal El-Mohtar

adventurous emotional hopeful medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

I am obsessed with this book. Blue and Red are characters I know I will be thinking about for a long time. I'm always a fan of sci-fi that doesn't go out of its way to explain itself but instead lets your imagination fill in the gaps as you go. This book does that beautifully. These two agents of time that travel among the endless strands of history captivated me just as they did one another. I loved the wit and the strategy of the plot and how it felt like every letter, every move, was like a game of chess that both Blue and Red were determined to win. 

Bird Box by Josh Malerman

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This book horrified me and I'm obsessed. I love a good psychological thriller and this one was my favorite kind of scary. Malorie's journey through a world descending into madness was absolutely nail-biting and I'm not sure the last time I was so nervous while reading a book. This story was as tense and chilling as it was heartbreaking. I found myself wanting to cry for the pain of these characters and dreading to know what had happened that left Malorie alone. My only regret is that I didn't read it sooner. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

adventurous emotional fast-paced

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

3.75

This book is a really easy read and full of fun. It is nicely paced and blends a lot of those YA tropes well into a fully formed story. I found myself enjoying the characters a lot and they came across very grounded and real which tends to be a pitfall for me in YA fantasy where I find characters completely unrealistic. I really liked the choice to alternate between Harper's point of view as well as Rhen's so that the reader is privy to both of their quiet personal thoughts and struggles. It added a lot of depth to them and allowed me to connect to them throughout the book. Even though this book doesn't do anything particularly new as it is a Beauty and the Beast retelling it is still a nice read and I think the author did a good job of adding her own voice to a story the reader already inherently knows. Curious to see how she continues the series. 

The Beauty by Aliya Whiteley

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

I honestly am not sure if I have the words to talk about this story. It certainly haunted me for a few days after reading it and forced me to think about the constructs of gender and society more deeply than I was anticipating. I can say assuredly that this story will not be for everyone. It is weird, bizarre, and at times uncomfortable. However, I am a fan of weird fiction so that didn't throw me it was interesting and chilling and left me wondering what it really is to be a man and what it is to be a woman and if those ideas are truly as concrete as one might believe.