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bookishsisi's reviews
240 reviews
Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent
Did not finish book. Stopped at 30%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 30%.
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
1.75
I listened to the audiobook and felt as if the story was lacking, it might have been because the plot seemed to be progressing at a very slow pace, I’m not really sure. The narrator’s use of a weird accent when speaking in the main characters (see I don’t even know her name) voice as opposed to her mental voice was confusing and took me out. There wasn’t true dimension to the main two characters and I just got taken out the story. 2024 I will not be trudging through books I’m not enjoying or at least able to pay better attention to.
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
3.0
I want to give The Bear and the Nightingale 3.5-4 stars. I think initially my expectations were way too high. Yet overall I really enjoyed this book. The POV’s were a little confusing at first but I understand a few chapters in what Arden was going for.
It took me awhile to really become engrossed with the book. I realized a few chapters in that this is written as a fairytale itself. The writing style was beautiful and I really enjoyed the Russian mythology and world building. The different POV’s confused me and I felt disconnected from the characters because of this. Since the story is told from 3rd person it made it hard to understand familial and romantic connections.
My biggest gripe, there is almost no romance in this book. The story mainly focuses on Vasya’s family, before she was born and after. It was hard keeping up with all of the names of people and creatures. I of course loved the few scraps that were provided of Morozko and Vasya. I genuinely though that Konstantine was going to be redeemed but I prefer how Arden chose to handle him. Too much had happened and he needed to go.
Overall after I got over the unique story-telling writing style and 3rd person POV’s, I ended up really enjoying the Bear and the Nightingale. I like that it is a story of family, duty, and magic. Vasya was a strong main character who defied societal expectations but treasured her family above all else. I just wish I could have connected more with the characters and their individual thoughts and emotions. This was a different read for me but I ended up really enjoying it.
It took me awhile to really become engrossed with the book. I realized a few chapters in that this is written as a fairytale itself. The writing style was beautiful and I really enjoyed the Russian mythology and world building. The different POV’s confused me and I felt disconnected from the characters because of this. Since the story is told from 3rd person it made it hard to understand familial and romantic connections.
My biggest gripe, there is almost no romance in this book. The story mainly focuses on Vasya’s family, before she was born and after. It was hard keeping up with all of the names of people and creatures. I of course loved the few scraps that were provided of Morozko and Vasya. I genuinely though that Konstantine was going to be redeemed but I prefer how Arden chose to handle him. Too much had happened and he needed to go.
Overall after I got over the unique story-telling writing style and 3rd person POV’s, I ended up really enjoying the Bear and the Nightingale. I like that it is a story of family, duty, and magic. Vasya was a strong main character who defied societal expectations but treasured her family above all else. I just wish I could have connected more with the characters and their individual thoughts and emotions. This was a different read for me but I ended up really enjoying it.
The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson
2.0
The Year of the Witching
Rating: 2.5 Stars
I have so many thoughts going through my mind as I wrapped up this book. I had high expectations for this since I knew it had many themes that I love: horror, witchcraft, Black FMC, romance… yet the execution fell so so short.
To begin, the book started off strong and I loved Emmanuel and her honesty when it came to Leah, Ezra, and her friends. She was an outcast due to the color of her skin and because of her mother's reputation. Because of this I found it refreshing that she did not let her shortcomings faze her. To Emmanuel they weren't shortcomings, but she understood that to the small minded and deeply religious people she grew up around, she was different and would always be seen as so. So when the Darkwood started to call to her I for sure thought she would embrace all that was different and in turn feel truly excepted.
That is not what happened…
Not to go to into what happened in the book and to avoid spoilers I will just speak on my perceptions and emotions. Emmanuel is the embodiment of the "magical negro" trope that you see, which is sad since this was written by a Black author. While I understood that she was raised in her beliefs by her grandmother and believed in the "Scriptures " and the "Father," I thought as she witnessed the true evil of the church she would embrace her bloodline and hone her witchcraft. Instead as a reader, I see her fight tooth and nail to save these people who have shunned her her entire life. If it truly was the issue of her family why not run away and take them with her? Especially with the support of Ezra who had the power and knowledge to get them away. No, instead we get Immanuel who risks her life, and the life of those closest to her (Vera, Sage, Ezra, Honor, and Glory) to save this town full of evil, hateful people.
Another thing I absolutely hated about this book was the way women were treated with absolutely no resolution. The women in this book were tortured, raped, and just overall the true victims of Bethel. Especially the witches and those accused of witchcraft, yet those are the people we lost in this book. Not the prophet, not his followers, the innocent women. It oftentimes seemed like Emmanuel judged and was more angry at the women in her life than the men who held the power and made them that way. I was just unsettled when I saw the book going in this direction. I was over 300 pages in and Emmanuel's inner-dialogue still contained contrition towards witchcraft and reverence towards her beliefs that she witnessed and admitted were inherently evil. My mind was just blown and I was heavily disappointed.
The romance was almost non-existent and was sprinkled in enough to be interesting, but again there was absolutely no pay-off. The same can be said for character development. I don't feel like Emmanuel grew as a character nor can I say the same for the other characters and the city of Bethel. No resolution and I feel the characters were victims of circumstance overall. I will say though, I wanted to learn more about the Darkwood and about the witches. There were so many thoughts and questions left unanswered I had after-the-fact. Overall, the premise was interesting but the execution was horrible.
Rating: 2.5 Stars
I have so many thoughts going through my mind as I wrapped up this book. I had high expectations for this since I knew it had many themes that I love: horror, witchcraft, Black FMC, romance… yet the execution fell so so short.
To begin, the book started off strong and I loved Emmanuel and her honesty when it came to Leah, Ezra, and her friends. She was an outcast due to the color of her skin and because of her mother's reputation. Because of this I found it refreshing that she did not let her shortcomings faze her. To Emmanuel they weren't shortcomings, but she understood that to the small minded and deeply religious people she grew up around, she was different and would always be seen as so. So when the Darkwood started to call to her I for sure thought she would embrace all that was different and in turn feel truly excepted.
That is not what happened…
Not to go to into what happened in the book and to avoid spoilers I will just speak on my perceptions and emotions. Emmanuel is the embodiment of the "magical negro" trope that you see, which is sad since this was written by a Black author. While I understood that she was raised in her beliefs by her grandmother and believed in the "Scriptures " and the "Father," I thought as she witnessed the true evil of the church she would embrace her bloodline and hone her witchcraft. Instead as a reader, I see her fight tooth and nail to save these people who have shunned her her entire life. If it truly was the issue of her family why not run away and take them with her? Especially with the support of Ezra who had the power and knowledge to get them away. No, instead we get Immanuel who risks her life, and the life of those closest to her (Vera, Sage, Ezra, Honor, and Glory) to save this town full of evil, hateful people.
Another thing I absolutely hated about this book was the way women were treated with absolutely no resolution. The women in this book were tortured, raped, and just overall the true victims of Bethel. Especially the witches and those accused of witchcraft, yet those are the people we lost in this book. Not the prophet, not his followers, the innocent women. It oftentimes seemed like Emmanuel judged and was more angry at the women in her life than the men who held the power and made them that way. I was just unsettled when I saw the book going in this direction. I was over 300 pages in and Emmanuel's inner-dialogue still contained contrition towards witchcraft and reverence towards her beliefs that she witnessed and admitted were inherently evil. My mind was just blown and I was heavily disappointed.
The romance was almost non-existent and was sprinkled in enough to be interesting, but again there was absolutely no pay-off. The same can be said for character development. I don't feel like Emmanuel grew as a character nor can I say the same for the other characters and the city of Bethel. No resolution and I feel the characters were victims of circumstance overall. I will say though, I wanted to learn more about the Darkwood and about the witches. There were so many thoughts and questions left unanswered I had after-the-fact. Overall, the premise was interesting but the execution was horrible.
Wolf Roulette by Kelly St. Clare
5.0
Great ending to a great trilogy!
I was so excited to read Wolf Roulette after reading the first two installments of the Werewolf Dens Trilogy! I was left so anger after the events that took place in the previous books. Andie was treated so badly by Rhona and the tribe that I wanted justice. And Clare gave us justice in the most mature and emotionally devoted way.
I give this book 4.5 stars, it had everything that I could have wanted and more. I loved seeing the familiar faces from Vampire Towers! The interactions between Basi and Andie were everything! I also adored Wade of course! Like I said in my previous review, he is the best friend you could ever have. While I absolutely agreed with Booker and hated Rhona, I understood where Andie was coming from and I even enjoyed how they concluded her story. It was nice for Clare to not go down the obvious road with her character.
Andie and Sascha!!! I love them so much! I love their love and I love how they grew as a couple throughout the book. It was realistic and it was mature and showed the evolution of growth within a healthy relationship. The steak was so satisfying and I wish we got a few more glimpses of such.
The reason I didn’t give a full 5 star rating is because I struggled with Andie’s decisions. As Nathan said, it really felt like she was playing both sides and it was hard to read through. And while, yes, she was doing things in the interest of the pack AND the tribe, I did not like how she did things without Sascha’s consent when it applied to his future as well. Reading from Andie’s POV we understand that she is making hard decisions based on their future as a whole, but I personally needed to see more consent from Sascha regarding the decisions she made for his tribe. He would give her the world, all she had to do was ask. And I know that if the roles were reversed, Sascha would be seen as toxic for taking her choices away.
Overall, great conclusion to the werewolf trilogy. I am now so excited to see what Clare will do with the witches and demons that were mentioned. Clare has become a favorite author of mine because I love the magic systems she creates as well as her complex and well fleshed FMC. Looking forward to her future works!!!
I was so excited to read Wolf Roulette after reading the first two installments of the Werewolf Dens Trilogy! I was left so anger after the events that took place in the previous books. Andie was treated so badly by Rhona and the tribe that I wanted justice. And Clare gave us justice in the most mature and emotionally devoted way.
I give this book 4.5 stars, it had everything that I could have wanted and more. I loved seeing the familiar faces from Vampire Towers! The interactions between Basi and Andie were everything! I also adored Wade of course! Like I said in my previous review, he is the best friend you could ever have. While I absolutely agreed with Booker and hated Rhona, I understood where Andie was coming from and I even enjoyed how they concluded her story. It was nice for Clare to not go down the obvious road with her character.
Andie and Sascha!!! I love them so much! I love their love and I love how they grew as a couple throughout the book. It was realistic and it was mature and showed the evolution of growth within a healthy relationship. The steak was so satisfying and I wish we got a few more glimpses of such.
The reason I didn’t give a full 5 star rating is because I struggled with Andie’s decisions. As Nathan said, it really felt like she was playing both sides and it was hard to read through. And while, yes, she was doing things in the interest of the pack AND the tribe, I did not like how she did things without Sascha’s consent when it applied to his future as well. Reading from Andie’s POV we understand that she is making hard decisions based on their future as a whole, but I personally needed to see more consent from Sascha regarding the decisions she made for his tribe. He would give her the world, all she had to do was ask. And I know that if the roles were reversed, Sascha would be seen as toxic for taking her choices away.
Overall, great conclusion to the werewolf trilogy. I am now so excited to see what Clare will do with the witches and demons that were mentioned. Clare has become a favorite author of mine because I love the magic systems she creates as well as her complex and well fleshed FMC. Looking forward to her future works!!!