bookswithlydscl's reviews
540 reviews

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

2.0

Dragons, Dark Academia, War Fantasy, great magic system, social constructs, history etc all make this a 4 /5 star story but it was RUINED by the romance. It's a cringy teen lust affair written in an adult book and whilst I know a lot of readers kicked their heels in the air and squealed in delight I just got annoyed that they kept ruining the rest of the story with that. 

Overall = Hated it, but loved the dragons! I think one book was enough, I won't continue as I just can't handle the 'romance' element. Can someone recommend a version of this story without that?

Long Island by Colm Tóibín

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.25

Maybe 3.25* - Preferred the coming of age nature of Brooklyn. This felt like a pretty thin domestic drama, not a fan of cheating storylines either and Nancy didn't deserve to be treated like that.
Book ends very abruptly - seems to be setting up for book 3 so let's see where Eilis's story takes us next.

Ordeal by Innocence by Agatha Christie

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

I just found this to be a bit dull. I think, aside of Poirot, that golden age crime isn't for me.

Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera

adventurous challenging dark funny lighthearted mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

3.75

3.75 rounded up - I love mixed media and the inclusion of the podcast really pushed this one up. Overall this was such an additive read and I absolutely inhaled it. Fun, a bit trashy, definitely a bit on the nose at times but highly readable and would have been perfect as a poolside holiday read. 

Recommend the audiobook.

Shadowhall Academy: Ghost Story Society by Phil Hickes

adventurous challenging dark funny lighthearted mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.5

4.5

Give me a boarding school book and I will inevitably want to read it, add a bit of horror or supernatural fun to the mix and you know I will inhale it. Such was the case when I came across the pupils of Shadowhall Academy by luck last year and absolutely loved the spooky goings on and firm friendships found in that book. Thankfully book two in the series is no different and carries on being a massively fun read, with the perfect mix of mystery, friendship and spooky occurrences.

For a Middle Grade story there are suitably scary instances and you worry for, and care about our story's heroes! The story absolutely flew by and the ending had a great mix of humour, pathos, fear and true friendship. I really hope there's a third as this series has found its feet and I can't wait to see what our adventurous quartet get up to next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Usborne Publishing for a digital review copy of "Shadowhall Academy: Ghost Story Society" in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.

A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

I love Bob!

I definitely wasn't the target audience for YA Cosy Fantasy but I really enjoyed it

Murder On The Cornish Coast by Helena Dixon

adventurous lighthearted mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Book 19 in the Kitty Underhay series and it feels as fresh and fun a read as the earlier instalments in the series. This time around Kitty and Matt are quietly investigating the potential attempted murder of Lady Cordelia Hedges who was previously attacked along with her father and left with amnesia whilst her father was killed.

Secrets, red herrings and murderous events abound as Kitty and Matt do what they do best and drive down their leads to come to a satisfying and surprising conclusion. Matt's side quest into solving the mystery of Redvers reappearance is also an interesting diversion and I'm looking forward to that reaching its conclusion in the next book or two

What makes this series such a comfort read for me is that I love the core cast of characters and there's usually one or two new additions who leave an impression, this time young Archie is the hero of the day and a character I hope makes a return somehow in the future. The stories and cases are always intriguing and fun and the familiarity of it all makes it a truly cosy and satisfying read for me.

As always a winner and I'm looking forward to Book 20!

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for this digital review copy of "Murder on the Cornish Coast" in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.

Guilty by Definition by Susie Dent

adventurous emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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? No

4.0

Really solid and enjoyed it overall, especially liked the word play and definitions/use of words

The Lamb by Lucy Rose

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-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

5.0

(Feb 2025 - upgraded to full five stars as I can't stop thinking about it)
4.5* rounded up.

What a stunning, difficult and challenging read The Lamb is. 

A coming of age tale, a story of love, obsession and insatiable hunger, it is an incredibly dark, disturbing, moving, and gory folk horror debut that hasn't left my brain since finishing it. 

For a debut this is an unbelievably bold story to tell especially as it is a deeply uncomfortable read that will stretch your comfort zone to the max. It is both ethereal and grounded in reality with an unnerving sense of dread that pervades the narrative from page one. 

Margot and her story that will likely stay with you and is one I highly recommend and I'm excited to see what Lucy Rose will share with us in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group | W&N for this digital review copy of "The Lamb" in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, and Cannibalism

The Socialites by Caroline Lamond

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

Overall really enjoyed this. Didn't like Sonia's story, felt the weakest but also understand why she was included but i did knock it down a little for me. Fans of TJR will likely really enjoy this too.