betweentheshelves's reviews
2781 reviews

To Steal from Thieves by M.K. Lobb

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adventurous 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

4.0

Always on the hunt for good heist novels, especially since Six of Crows is one of my absolute favorite books. This doesn't live up to that, but there's plenty of twists and turns, with main characters who are definitely morally grey. There is also some great romantic tension between Kane and Zaria, spurred on by the fact that they don't quite trust each other. And they're both planning on double crossing each other. Makes the plot move along at a good clip.

This does end on a cliffhanger, as a warning. I also couldn't help but think about Marvel's Kingpin every time he was mentioned, which creates an interesting picture in the context of this world. But if you like interesting magic systems, reluctant allies, and heists, definitely pick this one up!
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His Mortal Demise by Vanessa Le

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adventurous emotional 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

4.0

I was definitely blown away by the first book in this duology, and I think more people need to read it! This is a nice follow up to the first book, starting about 6 months after the first book ends (but filling in the gaps throughout the story). It took me a little bit to get into it at the beginning because there was a lot that I forgot from the first book, but my gaps in memory were eventually filled in as I kept reading.

What I liked so much about this duology was the magic system and the characters. The magic that Kochin and Nhika have is so interesting, and we get to see more of that in this installment. They also have great chemistry, and you'll be rooting for them until the very end.
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I Am the Swarm by Hayley Chewins

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

3.5

A lot of the time, I struggle with fantasy novels in verse because I don't think they give enough room for world building or character building. While I loved the concept of this book, there were some points where the story was a bit difficult to follow because it was told in verse. There are some lyrical, wonderful moments, and the story itself wrestles with some dark, important subject matter. While the book wasn't a hit for me, I can see it connecting with other people.
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In Case You Read This by Edward Underhill

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hopeful lighthearted 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

4.0

Review to come!
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When We Ride by Rex Ogle

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emotional sad 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? Yes

5.0

Well, this book packs a punch. It is a fairly quick read, but Ogle knows how to pack a lot of emotion into a small amount of story. And a lot of character development. You really care about Lawson and Benny by the end of this book, rooting for both of them to make it in the world. A great read-a-like for Long Way Down, for a lot of similar reasons.
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The Notorious Virtues by Alwyn Hamilton

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

3.0

All the reviews I've read for this, everyone seems to be loving it, but I had a hard time getting into it. I think part of the problem for me was that it seemed like there was too much going on for one book. The overall world building and the magic system was confusing, especially with the switching between so many different characters. Perhaps it's not the best story for audiobook format, either.

There is quite a bit of action, especially towards the end, so I was interested in seeing where the story went. Not sure if I'll continue with the series, though.
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Song of the Lioness, Book 1: Alanna: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Tamora Pierce

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adventurous inspiring fast-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

4.0

Thanks to Abrams and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Alanna: The Graphic Novel Adaptation by Tamora Pierce. The story itself is adapted by Vita Ayala. I think they do an excellent job of tweaking the story where it needed it but keeping true to the original story. We get the same amount of character and world development, and I sincerely hope that they continue with the series.

Out of all Pierce’s works, I think this series might be one of the best to adapt to graphic novel form. There’s a lot of action/fighting in this one, and that adapts really well to graphic novel format. The art wasn’t totally finished in the ARC, but I am excited to see it once it’s totally done!

I loved these books when I was a teen, so it is fun getting to revisit the stories as an adult. Though it’s been awhile since I read the original book, a lot came back to me while I was reading this graphic novel. It definitely made me want to go back and read this series, because it probably would come with some serious nostalgia.

All in all, if you like Pierce’s work, and fantasy graphic novels in general, definitely check this out when it comes out in May! 
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Review to come!
Housecat Trouble by Mason Dickerson

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adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

What a delight, honestly. Always love to read silly cat adventures, and this was definitely that. The art was also really whimsical, and added to the overall atmosphere of the book. I can't wait to read more adventures about Buster and his friends!
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A Burning in the Bones by Scott Reintgen

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dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I think I liked this book best of the three, which is unusual for me. Usually I get hooked by the first book and then the following books don't always follow suit. However, the magic system was what most intrigued me about these books, and it really was on fully display here. The intricacies of the plague were fascinating, and we really got to learn more about the overall structure of the world. Glad I finished through to the end!
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Where the Heart Should Be by Sarah Crossan

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emotional sad 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? No

4.0

I can't think of a lot of YA historical fiction that is set during the Irish potato famine, so I was excited to pick this one up! In true Sarah Crossan style, this is an emotional story with a cast of well-rounded characters you'll immediately come to care for. It's a fairly quick read, since it is told in verse, but that doesn't take away from the emotional depth. If you like historical fiction and novels in verse, definitely check this one out.
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