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bookishfoxes's reviews
410 reviews
Tithe by Holly Black
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I have to say I'm very disappointed. I went into this thinking I would love it. There was no doubt about it, it felt like a fact. Roses are usually red, my cat is a lovable idiot, and I will like Holly Black's books. Sadly, this was not the case.
I could've known this was a possibility. While I absolutely adored the folk of the air series (minus the lost sister novella, yikes that one) and enjoyed the first book on the middle grade series Black has written with Cassandra Clare, I was also deeply disappointed with the Spiderwick Chronicles. But I just thought it would be a one time thing - 2 if you count the TFOTA novella.
As soon as I started this book, I disliked the main character. And, ok, she got a tiny bit better by the end. But honestly? I didn't care for anyone but Roiben. I kept on reading because I am not about to DNF a Holly Black book.
And, yeah, it took a long time for me to get into it, but eventually I did a bit. Because even though it felt rushed and downright sloppy, Black's writing is still pretty addictive. And as I said before, I did quite like Roiben. I think if it wasn't for him this would've been two stars.
At the end, I don't know how to feel about this. I wouldn't put it on any recommendations posts. But I don't hate it as much anymore as I did the first 100-ish pages.
As for the rest of the series? Who knows. Since I was so sure I'd love this, I had already bought the sequel. Maybe I'll give it a chance some day so my money was at least worth something. But maybe once I started reading other books, this will slip from my mind and I'll never find myself interested to dive into this series again.
I'm glad that this was released in, what, early 00s? Because I very much enjoying TFOTA and that shows that Holly Black's writing has improved a lot since then, meaning I won't be scared off from her recent books.
I'm hoping to read the TFOTA spin off series this year, or at least the first one, because now I've read 2 books by this author and both are rated badly.
I could've known this was a possibility. While I absolutely adored the folk of the air series (minus the lost sister novella, yikes that one) and enjoyed the first book on the middle grade series Black has written with Cassandra Clare, I was also deeply disappointed with the Spiderwick Chronicles. But I just thought it would be a one time thing - 2 if you count the TFOTA novella.
As soon as I started this book, I disliked the main character. And, ok, she got a tiny bit better by the end. But honestly? I didn't care for anyone but Roiben. I kept on reading because I am not about to DNF a Holly Black book.
And, yeah, it took a long time for me to get into it, but eventually I did a bit. Because even though it felt rushed and downright sloppy, Black's writing is still pretty addictive. And as I said before, I did quite like Roiben. I think if it wasn't for him this would've been two stars.
At the end, I don't know how to feel about this. I wouldn't put it on any recommendations posts. But I don't hate it as much anymore as I did the first 100-ish pages.
As for the rest of the series? Who knows. Since I was so sure I'd love this, I had already bought the sequel. Maybe I'll give it a chance some day so my money was at least worth something. But maybe once I started reading other books, this will slip from my mind and I'll never find myself interested to dive into this series again.
I'm glad that this was released in, what, early 00s? Because I very much enjoying TFOTA and that shows that Holly Black's writing has improved a lot since then, meaning I won't be scared off from her recent books.
I'm hoping to read the TFOTA spin off series this year, or at least the first one, because now I've read 2 books by this author and both are rated badly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Violence
Moderate: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Murder, Abandonment
Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
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
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
It got confusing at some points, but it was very entertaining.
She and Her Cat by Makoto Shinkai, Naruki Nagakawa
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
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
4.75
All Systems Red by Martha Wells
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Finna by Nino Cipri
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
3.25
Kill Joy by Holly Jackson
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The Duke and I by Julia Quinn
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was very disappointing if I'm being honest. I absolutely loved the first 2 books, and I heard great things about this last one, so I went in with high expectations.
At the start, I already noticed I just couldn't get into it. It felt a lot slower than the first 2 books. But then Pip started investigating again and I finally started enjoying it.
Then the twist in the middle happened. I definitely didn't see it coming. And I thought... finally... this is why I love this series so much.
Except that Pip made a decision right after it that I did not like. And after that, I was back to struggling to read this. I did NOT like the way the story was going. If this wasn't the last book in a series I love, I would have DNFed. I just didn't enjoy it at all.
One of the things that made me fall in love with this series was the added 'files', like interviews and articles. I love it when books do that. This one was very lacking in that as well.
Overall, this book was very different than the first 2. All the things I loved about the series were gone.
I was hoping the ending would make it worth it. But it was very unsatisfying and actually had me relieved I was done.
I'm so sad that I didn't love this. That I ended the series with this 'meh' feeling. I still have the novella to read, maybe it'll help me close this series with a more happy feeling. I also hope the meh feeling will go away because Holly's other books have been on my TBR and I don't want this to overshadow my want to read them.
At the start, I already noticed I just couldn't get into it. It felt a lot slower than the first 2 books. But then Pip started investigating again and I finally started enjoying it.
Then the twist in the middle happened. I definitely didn't see it coming. And I thought... finally... this is why I love this series so much.
Except that Pip made a decision right after it that I did not like. And after that, I was back to struggling to read this. I did NOT like the way the story was going. If this wasn't the last book in a series I love, I would have DNFed. I just didn't enjoy it at all.
One of the things that made me fall in love with this series was the added 'files', like interviews and articles. I love it when books do that. This one was very lacking in that as well.
Overall, this book was very different than the first 2. All the things I loved about the series were gone.
I was hoping the ending would make it worth it. But it was very unsatisfying and actually had me relieved I was done.
I'm so sad that I didn't love this. That I ended the series with this 'meh' feeling. I still have the novella to read, maybe it'll help me close this series with a more happy feeling. I also hope the meh feeling will go away because Holly's other books have been on my TBR and I don't want this to overshadow my want to read them.
Gay the Pray Away by Natalie Naudus
emotional
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
I am speechless. This was such an amazing book.