Scan barcode
bubblewombat's reviews
2393 reviews
An Honored Vow by Melissa Blair
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.0
I loved this like the rest of the series BUT, Riven deserved better. You'll know what I mean when you read it. He and Keera had so little interaction, and he was a bit sidelined during all the important parts. Keera meanwhile evolved even more which I like, I just wish it wasn't at Riven's expense.
I'm also not the biggest fan of "the year". I listened to that and I literally went "you've gotta be kidding me", and sure it worked out ALRIGHT at the end, and maybe I wouldn't have minded as much if the rest of the book wasn't how it was in regards to that situation, but...it was unnecessary (to me, argue with a wall).
Otherwise, I loved the action scenes, the found family we got to know throughout the series, the emotions I felt while reading, the love and care the author put into her world and characters, the writing, and the overall ending. I'd definitely reread/relisten to this, and would gladly recommend it to other people.
I'm also not the biggest fan of "the year". I listened to that and I literally went "you've gotta be kidding me", and sure it worked out ALRIGHT at the end, and maybe I wouldn't have minded as much if the rest of the book wasn't how it was in regards to that situation, but...it was unnecessary (to me, argue with a wall).
Otherwise, I loved the action scenes, the found family we got to know throughout the series, the emotions I felt while reading, the love and care the author put into her world and characters, the writing, and the overall ending. I'd definitely reread/relisten to this, and would gladly recommend it to other people.
A Vicious Game by Melissa Blair
adventurous
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
EXCUSE ME WHAT WAS THAT TWIST??? Maybe it's because I've been listening to this series instead of reading that I didn't catch it earlier, I was like "whaaat?".
So, most of A Vicious Game felt like a filler book, it only picked up in the last third. That portion would've gotten five stars, but during the rest of it, there were moments where it was hard for me to stay focused on the story, so I'll be giving it four instead.
Don't get me wrong, I still loved it, but it felt slightly dragged out. You can kinda tell it was supposed to be a trilogy and then suddenly wasn't.
About the twist, I'm actually glad thatKeera forgave him so quickly, because I can't stand to see characters I love being separated, and this could've led to them not speaking for a billion years .
There was another twist at the end, but I loved that one, I'm a sucker for thechosen one trope soooo. Hah.
I'll be jumping into book 4 immediately, I gotta know how this ends.
So, most of A Vicious Game felt like a filler book, it only picked up in the last third. That portion would've gotten five stars, but during the rest of it, there were moments where it was hard for me to stay focused on the story, so I'll be giving it four instead.
Don't get me wrong, I still loved it, but it felt slightly dragged out. You can kinda tell it was supposed to be a trilogy and then suddenly wasn't.
About the twist, I'm actually glad that
There was another twist at the end, but I loved that one, I'm a sucker for the
I'll be jumping into book 4 immediately, I gotta know how this ends.
Melt For Us by Molly Doyle
dark
sad
fast-paced
2.5
“This is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” I say.
Micah turns back to look at me. “I don’t know about that.”
“Okay. Name one thing more beautiful than this.”
His hand grips my thigh, just above my knee. “You, Quinn,” he tells me. “You.”
Okay well, compared to the first novella and the full book this was just eh. Almost all smut again, and the rest of it wasn't as interesting.
The fact that Quinn was assaulted sorta came out of nowhere and I didn't like how that was handled. It's almost like the guys have to kill someone in every single book, so hey let's introduce another person who wronged Quinn so we don't forget how they'll do anything for her.
To be clear, by all means, off the rapist, it's the reenactment I'm referencing.
Anyway, I will still read the second full book and see how I feel about
Micah turns back to look at me. “I don’t know about that.”
“Okay. Name one thing more beautiful than this.”
His hand grips my thigh, just above my knee. “You, Quinn,” he tells me. “You.”
Okay well, compared to the first novella and the full book this was just eh. Almost all smut again, and the rest of it wasn't as interesting.
The fact that Quinn was assaulted sorta came out of nowhere and I didn't like how that was handled. It's almost like the guys have to kill someone in every single book, so hey let's introduce another person who wronged Quinn so we don't forget how they'll do anything for her.
To be clear, by all means, off the rapist, it's the reenactment I'm referencing.
Anyway, I will still read the second full book and see how I feel about
The Man Who Invented Christmas: How Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol Rescued His Career and Revived Our Holiday Spirits by Les Standiford
informative
slow-paced
3.5
I read this mainly so I could watch the movie, and reread A Christmas Carol with a new perspective on the author.
I must confess that I didn't know that much about Dickens before starting this, so most of the information was new to me. And there are so many details!! It was a bit overwhelming.
I did like it, and I learned something for sure, but the writing style wasn't my favourite. The pacing also wasn't the best, and the timeline could get jumpy. I also felt like this was more about publishing books in Dickens's time than the man himself. But it did have a few funny moments.
Overall, not a bad read, but could've been shorter and more to the point.
3.5
I must confess that I didn't know that much about Dickens before starting this, so most of the information was new to me. And there are so many details!! It was a bit overwhelming.
I did like it, and I learned something for sure, but the writing style wasn't my favourite. The pacing also wasn't the best, and the timeline could get jumpy. I also felt like this was more about publishing books in Dickens's time than the man himself. But it did have a few funny moments.
Overall, not a bad read, but could've been shorter and more to the point.
3.5
Bringing Elizabeth Home: A Journey of Faith and Hope by Ed Smart, Laura Morton, Lois Smart
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
I've read both of Elizabeth's books, as well as In Plain Sight, so I thought it was time to read her parents' story and oh, I was not ready for the tears.
It was such a hard read for me, because I felt Ed & Lois's emotions coming through the screen. I felt all of their pain & frustration that Elizabeth was gone, and that the police didn't seem to be doing enough, pointing fingers at the wrong man, all the attacks on their family etc. It's clear they needed to write this book to get all of that out.
I genuinely felt like Elizabeth was my sister who was missing, as I read this book. It touched me that deeply. So did Ed and Lois's belief in God and His miracles.
I know that side of the book won't be for everyone, and will probably be the main reason some put it down, but for me it was clear their unwavering faith held them together and helped them carry on while their daughter was kidnapped.
This came out right after the abduction, so it doesn't have details about what happened to Elizabeth inside, and it was her story to tell anyway. I'm still so glad they got her back and that she's thriving.
It was such a hard read for me, because I felt Ed & Lois's emotions coming through the screen. I felt all of their pain & frustration that Elizabeth was gone, and that the police didn't seem to be doing enough, pointing fingers at the wrong man, all the attacks on their family etc. It's clear they needed to write this book to get all of that out.
I genuinely felt like Elizabeth was my sister who was missing, as I read this book. It touched me that deeply. So did Ed and Lois's belief in God and His miracles.
I know that side of the book won't be for everyone, and will probably be the main reason some put it down, but for me it was clear their unwavering faith held them together and helped them carry on while their daughter was kidnapped.
This came out right after the abduction, so it doesn't have details about what happened to Elizabeth inside, and it was her story to tell anyway. I'm still so glad they got her back and that she's thriving.
The King's Maiden by Elle Parker
adventurous
funny
mysterious
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
As a lover of all things Arthurian, I obviously had to give this book a read. It's set in the modern day, and has enough secrets to fill Merlin's beard. They drove me a bit bananas, not gonna lie. I know we'll get answers at some point during the series, but I want them NOW!!
It's also not a bad thing to learn things as we go, I'm just upset that I can't figure everything out, hah. Like, I kinda get the point of The Quest, but also...not. Everything about it is so mysterious, and it seemed like we'd finally get to know more about it, and then BAM, cliffhanger ending.
When I tell you my gasts were flabbered because WHAT???? I was not expecting that at all. And I need to know what happens next, I can't wait for May!!
But anyway, The King's Maiden was a really easy read, I had no trouble getting into it, and I knew from the prologue that I'd like it. I didn't want to put it down, it's kind of addicting.
Elle Parker's writing is so smooth for a debut author, and the jokes were pretty funny too.
The Arthurian lore wasn't featured as much as I was expecting, but the references were there. I'm hoping more vibes will come into play in the next installments.
Now for the romances, out of the three, I can't tell which I like most. We spent the most time with Landon, but I can definitely be swayed Kingston's or Max's way in the future, especially since Mordred is my baby.
Speaking of, Vivian!!! I need her OUT, she's such a menace. I could literally hear her shrieks through my screen!!
Adding Elaine was a nice touch, I feel like she acted true to her character. And Gia was a great best friend, I need to see her set up with a Knight of her own.
And of course Quinn, our lovely main character, I love how she kept poking at everyone, trying to get a rise out of them, instead of doing what was expected of her. It only made me like her more. Her banter with Max in particular made my day every time it happened.
One thing that bugged me is the bathroom scene, the steamy one. Yes, only because of hand washing, and I hate that I noticed it, but I did. I saw another person mention it in their review so it wasn't just me.
On a lighter note, we got the dance scene to compensate. It was probably my favourite scene in the book, more of that please and thank you.
Now gimme book 2!!
*Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
It's also not a bad thing to learn things as we go, I'm just upset that I can't figure everything out, hah. Like, I kinda get the point of The Quest, but also...not. Everything about it is so mysterious, and it seemed like we'd finally get to know more about it, and then BAM, cliffhanger ending.
When I tell you my gasts were flabbered because WHAT???? I was not expecting that at all. And I need to know what happens next, I can't wait for May!!
But anyway, The King's Maiden was a really easy read, I had no trouble getting into it, and I knew from the prologue that I'd like it. I didn't want to put it down, it's kind of addicting.
Elle Parker's writing is so smooth for a debut author, and the jokes were pretty funny too.
The Arthurian lore wasn't featured as much as I was expecting, but the references were there. I'm hoping more vibes will come into play in the next installments.
Now for the romances, out of the three, I can't tell which I like most. We spent the most time with Landon, but I can definitely be swayed Kingston's or Max's way in the future, especially since Mordred is my baby.
Speaking of, Vivian!!! I need her OUT, she's such a menace. I could literally hear her shrieks through my screen!!
Adding Elaine was a nice touch, I feel like she acted true to her character. And Gia was a great best friend, I need to see her set up with a Knight of her own.
And of course Quinn, our lovely main character, I love how she kept poking at everyone, trying to get a rise out of them, instead of doing what was expected of her. It only made me like her more. Her banter with Max in particular made my day every time it happened.
One thing that bugged me is the bathroom scene, the steamy one. Yes, only because of hand washing, and I hate that I noticed it, but I did. I saw another person mention it in their review so it wasn't just me.
On a lighter note, we got the dance scene to compensate. It was probably my favourite scene in the book, more of that please and thank you.
Now gimme book 2!!
*Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.0
Okay, I don't know if I would've read this if it wasn't for a challenge. It was fine, spooky in parts, short which is a plus, but not as interesting as I was hoping it would be.
It's basically a story about a girl who gets lost in the woods and has to lean on her survival skills, and baseball, to survive. She also may not be entirely alone.
I liked the descriptions, and the narration was okay as well, but it was missing something as a whole. Still, not a bad listen.
It's basically a story about a girl who gets lost in the woods and has to lean on her survival skills, and baseball, to survive. She also may not be entirely alone.
I liked the descriptions, and the narration was okay as well, but it was missing something as a whole. Still, not a bad listen.
Maiden of Storms by Matthew Zorich
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
“If I lose you, I lose my last touch of all that is myself and what binds me here.”
I got chills reading that ending, IT WAS SO GOOD!! I love how we've been building up to that the whole book, with a certain goddess speaking to Alysha throughout, giving her directions etc, a match made in heaven.
Alysha can do no wrong in my mind, every time she's like "more blood" I'm like yessss go girl get those enemies!!
And I ADORE her relationship with Helena, how they protect each other no matter what, and the feelings they develop along the way. I ship them so hard.
I was actually wondering which way Alysha would go, ace or sapphic (or both), because there was a part in the book where she mentioned how boys felt wrong, and then there were her looks toward Helena...I see you and I support you!!
It's safe to say Alysha's PoV was my favourite yet again. This time around though, I really appreciated Austin's PoV as well, Sorella's & Doc's (of course). Each of them, as well as the others, added so much to the story. And, if you like politics, you'll really love this book, because there's a ton of it.
I found myself missing Runt, after what happened at the start, it was so unfair. And following Ben in the aftermath was a whole experience. I didn't really forgive him, until we got his PoV and things were cleared up, sorry Ben.
One thing that bugged me though, is that neither Ben nor his father seemed overly concerned about Alysha when they got the news at the start, like that's your sister/daughter?? Possibly in danger??
Anyway, I also liked Lady Blacklace as a character, she was intriguing. The Wrathfall was as well, I can't wait to see where that storyline goes, it was probably my favourite after Alysha's.
If you're having trouble remembering who's who, worry not, for there is a list of characters at the end of the book. It's very well explained, so I'd suggest you check that before jumping back in, it'll make your reading experience even smoother.
The writing is even better than it was in the first book, and we got a good amount of plot and character development to go with. And the world building? Spectacular.
Before I end this, I have to mention that romance/smut book burning scene, it's mirroring real life, much like some other scenes from the book/series. With so many books being banned, you can't help but wonder what it'll lead to. Hopefully not something like this.
All in all, an excellent second book in The Conspiracy of Crows series. I wish I could jump into book three now.
P. S. The series name is making so much sense now.
4.5ish
*Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
I got chills reading that ending, IT WAS SO GOOD!! I love how we've been building up to that the whole book, with a certain goddess speaking to Alysha throughout, giving her directions etc, a match made in heaven.
Alysha can do no wrong in my mind, every time she's like "more blood" I'm like yessss go girl get those enemies!!
And I ADORE her relationship with Helena, how they protect each other no matter what, and the feelings they develop along the way. I ship them so hard.
I was actually wondering which way Alysha would go, ace or sapphic (or both), because there was a part in the book where she mentioned how boys felt wrong, and then there were her looks toward Helena...I see you and I support you!!
It's safe to say Alysha's PoV was my favourite yet again. This time around though, I really appreciated Austin's PoV as well, Sorella's & Doc's (of course). Each of them, as well as the others, added so much to the story. And, if you like politics, you'll really love this book, because there's a ton of it.
I found myself missing Runt, after what happened at the start, it was so unfair. And following Ben in the aftermath was a whole experience. I didn't really forgive him, until we got his PoV and things were cleared up, sorry Ben.
One thing that bugged me though, is that neither Ben nor his father seemed overly concerned about Alysha when they got the news at the start, like that's your sister/daughter?? Possibly in danger??
Anyway, I also liked Lady Blacklace as a character, she was intriguing. The Wrathfall was as well, I can't wait to see where that storyline goes, it was probably my favourite after Alysha's.
If you're having trouble remembering who's who, worry not, for there is a list of characters at the end of the book. It's very well explained, so I'd suggest you check that before jumping back in, it'll make your reading experience even smoother.
The writing is even better than it was in the first book, and we got a good amount of plot and character development to go with. And the world building? Spectacular.
Before I end this, I have to mention that romance/smut book burning scene, it's mirroring real life, much like some other scenes from the book/series. With so many books being banned, you can't help but wonder what it'll lead to. Hopefully not something like this.
All in all, an excellent second book in The Conspiracy of Crows series. I wish I could jump into book three now.
P. S. The series name is making so much sense now.
4.5ish
*Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
Bloodshed by Molly Doyle
adventurous
dark
mysterious
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
“My heart beats for you, Quinn,” he murmurs, tracing my lips with his thumb. “Without you, I’m nothing but a numb, empty shell of a man, on the brink of madness.”
I asked for plot and I got it!! The first part of this book follows Ghost, Jason and Michael, aka Damien, Jensen and Micah, as they're growing up and befriending each other. Obviously none of that is sunshine and roses.
We also get to see what led to them following Quinn around, keeping her safe for years.
Then there's the novella section, where several chapters are exactly the same as in Scream For Us, while some have been omitted entirely, and others are told from one of the guys' PoVs instead of Quinn's.
And then the final part is what happened after their one night of shenanigans.
I gotta say, I really had a good time with this. I liked the novella, but this was so much more fun, adding more plot DOES make things better! I'm also a sucker for cult stories, real or fictional, so adding that as an element only made me like the story more.
Of course, we didn't get all the answers as to why Quinn needs protection and who she really isand how her mother seems to know Damien?? , but I don't mind finding that out down the line.
I do wish that we got some more non-repeat scenes though, because I didn't quite feel like rereading the novella so soon, but I guess it's there so people can just jump into this and still have the full story.
About half of the book was the novella, by the way, so you really don't need to read that before this unless you want to. There is one ending scene that wasn't in this, but was in Scream For Us, a conversation that I thought was kinda important, so maybeeee you should read it anyway, I don't know. I mean, it won't impact you if you just start with this, but y'know.
Anyway, I liked the relationship development we got here, not just between Quinn and the guys, but also Jensen and Michael. I'll definitely be continuing the series.
I asked for plot and I got it!! The first part of this book follows Ghost, Jason and Michael, aka Damien, Jensen and Micah, as they're growing up and befriending each other. Obviously none of that is sunshine and roses.
We also get to see what led to them following Quinn around, keeping her safe for years.
Then there's the novella section, where several chapters are exactly the same as in Scream For Us, while some have been omitted entirely, and others are told from one of the guys' PoVs instead of Quinn's.
And then the final part is what happened after their one night of shenanigans.
I gotta say, I really had a good time with this. I liked the novella, but this was so much more fun, adding more plot DOES make things better! I'm also a sucker for cult stories, real or fictional, so adding that as an element only made me like the story more.
Of course, we didn't get all the answers as to why Quinn needs protection and who she really is
I do wish that we got some more non-repeat scenes though, because I didn't quite feel like rereading the novella so soon, but I guess it's there so people can just jump into this and still have the full story.
About half of the book was the novella, by the way, so you really don't need to read that before this unless you want to. There is one ending scene that wasn't in this, but was in Scream For Us, a conversation that I thought was kinda important, so maybeeee you should read it anyway, I don't know. I mean, it won't impact you if you just start with this, but y'know.
Anyway, I liked the relationship development we got here, not just between Quinn and the guys, but also Jensen and Michael. I'll definitely be continuing the series.
Wanted by Lauren Biel
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
1.0
Yeah, it's a no from me. It's a three hour long audiobook, and even sped up I kept wishing it would just END. I wanted to dnf multiple times through, but said c'mon it's not that long, you can do this. And getting to the ending wasn't worth it.
This is my second read by this author, but since I previously read the Snowman book, which is different to all her other works, I feel like this is my actual first read by her. I'll give one of her longer books a try and see if that works better for me, but if it's similar to this one...
Also, little girl as a nickname...that was definitely A CHOICE. The audiobook was okay I guess, performance wise I mean, but I hated the male PoV, despite the narrator's effort. Wouldn't recommend unless if you're already a fan of the author.
This is my second read by this author, but since I previously read the Snowman book, which is different to all her other works, I feel like this is my actual first read by her. I'll give one of her longer books a try and see if that works better for me, but if it's similar to this one...
Also, little girl as a nickname...that was definitely A CHOICE. The audiobook was okay I guess, performance wise I mean, but I hated the male PoV, despite the narrator's effort. Wouldn't recommend unless if you're already a fan of the author.