bites_of_books's reviews
783 reviews

Payback's a Witch by Lana Harper

lighthearted 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? No

2.0

This was just okay for me, I wanted more depth to the characters and the storylines but for a Hallmark-like story it was fine. I did like the lore behind the story, but not sure that it's enough for me to continue with the series.

Caliban and the Witch: Women, the Body and Primitive Accumulation by Silvia Federici

challenging dark emotional informative reflective tense medium-paced

4.5

Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent by Brendan O’Hea, Judi Dench

emotional funny informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced

5.0

Judi Dench is a treasure. I highly recommend this audiobook where she goes in depth into all the Shakespeare characters that she's played, both onstage and on film. Even if you're not familiar with the plays, they do a great job in setting up the context and any pertinent information for how Judi Dench approached each character. It's truly a fascinating look at how a masterful actor is able to take on a character at that level. I also loved all the personal stories, some really funny and others quite heartbreaking. Overall, I'd definitely recommend it, specifically the audiobook since you get to hear it all from Judi Dench herself.

Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know About the People We Don’t Know by Malcolm Gladwell

challenging dark sad tense fast-paced

2.0

Please Look After Mom by Kyung-sook Shin

challenging emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey

emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

2.75

The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong
Did not finish book. Stopped at 4%.

Not in the mood for it XD 

Orbital by Samantha Harvey

adventurous emotional informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

Orbital is a beautiful work of writing that gives a unique perspective on Earth from the point of view of 6 cosmonauts traveling on the ISS around Earth. We also get snippets of a group of astronauts heading to the moon at the same time. 
It's a book that made me stop and think about our place on this Earth and the universe at large. The writing is exquisite, potentially too much so for some but for me it was intoxicating in the best way. I loved the snippets of the cosmonauts thinking about the Earth and the way that looking at it from such a long distance can create a different perspective on pretty much everything. Things like a falling tear and even them falling asleep to a movie about space can create beautiful scenes that showcase what humans are all about. 
The social commentary throughout was also spot on, touching on things like climate change, political borders, technology, etc. 
This could already very well be at the top of my favorite books of 2025, and it's the first one I read! 
I'd recommend it to anyone who loves intricate and beautiful writing, space, philosophy, and just a unique perspective on humans. 

Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson

emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

I really like Rice's writing style, he is able to be immersive and atmospheric, blurring the edges of dreams and reality, just wonderful. I loved the use of the Anishinaabe language throughout the book and the importance given to stories, the elders, and dreams within the community. 
At first I didn't like that a white man had to enter the story but by the end I understood why Rice decided to follow this plotline. Overall I really enjoyed this book, I learned a lot and will definitely be looking for more of his books.