bookgirlie_unbound's reviews
692 reviews

Untethered by Gloria Bottelman

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

4.0

I rarely say this, but this book needed to be longer to give the plot and characters more time to simmer and develop. This book has fantastic elements- a unique world, quality magic, and compelling characters - but many felt half-explored. 

Lux is a fantastic, complex character. She takes the gifted-child with trauma syndrome to a whole new level. I love how feral and feisty she is while also being deeply compassionate. 

Shaw is an interesting character too but also feels a little rushed. I want to know more about the paintings and we learn about his criminal backstory too late. 

But most of all, the WOODS, the magic, the "brilliance." There is GOOD ISH here! And Bottelman really needed about 100-150 pages more to bring it all to its full, creepy, murderous glory. I want to know more about the necromantic powers, the magic, and the world. 

A Dark and Drowning Tide by Allison Saft

adventurous dark medium-paced

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

4.0

Wind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful 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

5.0

The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

This isn’t a ghost story and you shouldn’t open the cover expecting to find ghouls and demons that come out at night. These are the ghosts of World War I and the ghosts of the humanity we shed in war. 

Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous emotional reflective 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

Lost and Lassoed by Lyla Sage

5.0

Mistress of Lies by K.M. Enright

adventurous medium-paced

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

3.0

The book bit off more than it could chew. There are definitely nuggets of fantastic writing and storytelling throughout Mistress of Lies, but there is no focus to ground the reader. Without this focus, much of what is good in this book gets lost in the undefined magic system, under-developed plot, and weak worldbuilding. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood

The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters

emotional sad 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

5.0

This is a beautiful and sorrowful book that shines a light on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, pieces of the Indigenous experience, and the complexity of love and belonging. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Miscarriage, Kidnapping, Grief, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Colonisation

Snowed Under by Juliana Smith

funny hopeful lighthearted fast-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

5.0

How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley

funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Hilariously warm. No flashbacks.