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bookgirlie_unbound's reviews
724 reviews
Dayspring by Anthony Oliveira
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
3.0
Paladin's Hope by T. Kingfisher
adventurous
funny
hopeful
tense
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
Boys With Sharp Teeth by Jenni Howell
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book has good bones, but the execution is lacking.
Deeply creepy vibes? Check. Violence? Check. Academic setting? Check. Unhinged students with rich boy complexes? Check. A girl who is worse than the killers of her cousin? Also check. And yet...
This book has two major flaws that should have been improved in the editorial process to refine it and make it superb. The first is the pacing. Readers are rushed through the quagmire of academic life AND the heartpounding experiences alike. The torturous exploration of daily life and the precipice of death is, at least to my understanding, a requirement of a solid dark academia novel. Second is the magic/spiritual/mystic system at play. Howell nods to it throughout the book, but when poked and proded, there is no support system to justify WHY this power exists in the world- for all that she spends much of the book exploring metacognition and sense of self. When the climax arrived, I was left reeling, not from emotional wind up but from "WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?" because honestly, where?
Thank you as always to NetGalley and the galley gods for providing me this e-ARC.
Deeply creepy vibes? Check. Violence? Check. Academic setting? Check. Unhinged students with rich boy complexes? Check. A girl who is worse than the killers of her cousin? Also check. And yet...
This book has two major flaws that should have been improved in the editorial process to refine it and make it superb. The first is the pacing. Readers are rushed through the quagmire of academic life AND the heartpounding experiences alike. The torturous exploration of daily life and the precipice of death is, at least to my understanding, a requirement of a solid dark academia novel. Second is the magic/spiritual/mystic system at play. Howell nods to it throughout the book, but when poked and proded, there is no support system to justify WHY this power exists in the world- for all that she spends much of the book exploring metacognition and sense of self. When the climax arrived, I was left reeling, not from emotional wind up but from "WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?" because honestly, where?
Thank you as always to NetGalley and the galley gods for providing me this e-ARC.
The Lotus Empire by Tasha Suri
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
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
PERFECTION. No notes.
A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon by Sarah Hawley
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Transmogrify! by g. haron davis
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
I read this book as part of my 2025 Trans Rights Read-a-Thon.
Some of these stories were great, some were mid. However, I'm ALWAYS here for stories of trans joy and magic. Just literarily, they could have used some stronger editing.
Also, this really cements for me that I should stop trying to like anthologies and short stories. We're not meant to be.
Some of these stories were great, some were mid. However, I'm ALWAYS here for stories of trans joy and magic. Just literarily, they could have used some stronger editing.
Also, this really cements for me that I should stop trying to like anthologies and short stories. We're not meant to be.
Faithbreaker by Hannah Kaner
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I'm honestly so upset about how I'm feeling about this book. I've noodled on it for days and my opinion has not budged, which is absolutely tragic.
For me, this was the biggest let down of any series I have read. I enjoyed Godkiller and Sunbringer so thoroughly and was deeply invested in the fight that Kissen, Elo, Inara, and Skedi were fighting. The core of the problem is that the first two books were about found family that just happened to be fighting gods, and this third book focused on politics and war games over a family relying on each other to solve the problem. Without our cr together - being grumpy, moody, hilariously, deeply in love with each other (platonically and romantically), this book held minimal emotional connection for me.
My big hurt is that Kaner SPLIT MY FAMILY APART to delve into political machinations that she did ZERO legwork to set up previously. So, while this worked to solve the issue at hand, there was no world-building set up to support such a venture.
Also, trigger warning: animal death. I bawled my eyes out. That's another point against this book, RUDE.
I read this book as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my review.
For me, this was the biggest let down of any series I have read. I enjoyed Godkiller and Sunbringer so thoroughly and was deeply invested in the fight that Kissen, Elo, Inara, and Skedi were fighting. The core of the problem is that the first two books were about found family that just happened to be fighting gods, and this third book focused on politics and war games over a family relying on each other to solve the problem. Without our cr together - being grumpy, moody, hilariously, deeply in love with each other (platonically and romantically), this book held minimal emotional connection for me.
My big hurt is that Kaner SPLIT MY FAMILY APART to delve into political machinations that she did ZERO legwork to set up previously. So, while this worked to solve the issue at hand, there was no world-building set up to support such a venture.
Also, trigger warning: animal death. I bawled my eyes out. That's another point against this book, RUDE.
I read this book as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death