bestja01's reviews
277 reviews

Cytonic by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous lighthearted 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? Yes

4.25

Another good book in the series, but I thought it was the final volume in a trilogy and it turns out there will be a fourth book. Bummer. I still miss the characters from book 1 and hope to see more of them in book 4.

Starsight by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous emotional mysterious 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

4.5

Loved this sequel! The world Sanderson has built is fascinating and vivid- my only complaint is that I didn’t see many of the characters from book 1 very often- but I understand why he did that. I just hope to see all of the characters from both books in book 3!

Why Fish Don't Exist: A Story of Loss, Love, and the Hidden Order of Life by Lulu Miller

challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

I’m not sure what I was expecting from this book, but it turned out to be a much more personal narrative than I thought it would be. Lovely in the way it blends the factual aspects of Jordan’s life to the personal story of the author, and beautiful in the nuances she finds as she unravels his story and finds the dark underbelly of his life. The dandelion perspective is something I will continue to think about; it is beautiful and encouraging.

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

5.0

Absolutely stunning. A poetic and introspective view on the relationships we have with the natural world and the lessons we can learn from it, through the lens of Indigenous wisdom with a healthy side dish of scientific knowledge. Love love love.

Skyward by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous emotional inspiring 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? Yes

4.25

Loved the plot and the premise. Lovable characters that I rooted for, and I read the book in a day. Especially fond of the weird AI plane. Can’t wait to read the next one.

Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

adventurous dark emotional 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? Yes

4.25

A great conclusion to the trilogy- I found myself surprised by some of the plot twists and very invested in the fates of the characters. It was a satisfying ending that still kept me guessing. I read the three books of the trilogy in three days, and found them a highly enjoyable way to pass the time in isolation.

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

adventurous dark emotional 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? Yes

4.0

A strong second book in the trilogy that expanded the world, introduced new loveable characters, and kept me guessing. A fun read for a sick day.

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

adventurous dark emotional 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? Yes

3.75

A solid start for a YA fantasy series- I enjoyed the world she built and found many of the characters intriguing. 

The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney

emotional medium-paced

• 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

Satisfying family drama- an enjoyable read. I got very invested in the characters’ journeys and enjoyed seeing how each sibling managed to cope with their issues.

Land of Big Numbers: Stories by Te-Ping Chen

emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

Lovely collection of short stories with intriguing characters and varied experiences.