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cas_reads_anything's reviews
407 reviews
The Dawnhounds by Sascha Stronach
4.25
Loved the characters and the prose, really interesting world. But the pacing felt off. there was so much set go to get onto the pirate ship and then that felt like just fizzled out? we built to this big confrontation and then bam, the world is saved? just a little bit of a lack of follow through on some of these big scenes
Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto
4.0
I recieved an advanced copy of this book at no charge.
This was an extremely enjoyable read. I liked Julie Soto’s debut quite a bit, but I think this was better.
We follow two rivals, a violinist who has lost her family and was struggling financially before she found a stable position with a pop orchestra playing 7th chair with a few weddings on the side. Gwen isn’t taking risks and sure, maybe she’s not growing much as a violinist, but she’s finally found a place where she has some stability and belonging.
Enter Xander Thorne, bad boy cello rock star (don’t laugh, I know. there’s some suspension of disbelief with that one). He doesn’t show up on time, is rude to his fellow orchestra members, and seems to be focusing on his own side gig as a rock star more than anything else. Until Gwen is promoted to the position of first chair—the position Xander was promised and wanted his entire life.
There is competition, miscommunication, rivalry, and a number of scenes where I need a diagram to understand how his hands are holding what while she’s apparently playing a cello?! I loved the tension between the two and the depth of the characters with their non-romantic struggles woven in as well. The first part of their relationship is lowkey unhealthy, as are the relationship dynamics of a lot of the side characters, as Xander seems to feel like he knows better than Gwen about what she needs, is feeling, or should do. But the book definitely calls out the unhealthiness. I wish it had done a little more to work through and reconcile that, as well as explaining Xander’s sudden change of heart in the third act a little more. It’s not that they don’t make sense, because they do, but it felt a little glossed over so that we could just get to more spice scenes. Which, valid. But I would have taken another 30-50 pages of this book to fill things in a bit more for sure.
Either way, I will be picking up whatever Julie Soto writes next for sure.
This was an extremely enjoyable read. I liked Julie Soto’s debut quite a bit, but I think this was better.
We follow two rivals, a violinist who has lost her family and was struggling financially before she found a stable position with a pop orchestra playing 7th chair with a few weddings on the side. Gwen isn’t taking risks and sure, maybe she’s not growing much as a violinist, but she’s finally found a place where she has some stability and belonging.
Enter Xander Thorne, bad boy cello rock star (don’t laugh, I know. there’s some suspension of disbelief with that one). He doesn’t show up on time, is rude to his fellow orchestra members, and seems to be focusing on his own side gig as a rock star more than anything else. Until Gwen is promoted to the position of first chair—the position Xander was promised and wanted his entire life.
There is competition, miscommunication, rivalry, and a number of scenes where I need a diagram to understand how his hands are holding what while she’s apparently playing a cello?! I loved the tension between the two and the depth of the characters with their non-romantic struggles woven in as well. The first part of their relationship is lowkey unhealthy, as are the relationship dynamics of a lot of the side characters, as Xander seems to feel like he knows better than Gwen about what she needs, is feeling, or should do. But the book definitely calls out the unhealthiness. I wish it had done a little more to work through and reconcile that, as well as explaining Xander’s sudden change of heart in the third act a little more. It’s not that they don’t make sense, because they do, but it felt a little glossed over so that we could just get to more spice scenes. Which, valid. But I would have taken another 30-50 pages of this book to fill things in a bit more for sure.
Either way, I will be picking up whatever Julie Soto writes next for sure.
Ghost Station by S.A. Barnes
3.25
Overall Impressions: Very creepy, with a building sense of ominous dread as the story goes on. I actually liked Ophelia quite a bit, even though she’s meant to be a flawed character, and was satisfied with the ending even if it didn’t answer every possible question. I particularly liked Ophelia’s backstory and her realizations as the book went on.
Worldbuilding: Fairly standard sci-fi capitalist space nightmare, without a ton of additional details. There was enough there to frame the story but I would have liked a little more about the main threat in the end.
Plot: Several red herrings, twists, and turns which left me wondering what was even happening at a few points. I generally enjoyed it.
Pacing/prose: A little rushed at the end but otherwise I thought the pacing was good. The prose did feel like I was watching a movie which some people like and others don’t.
Worldbuilding: Fairly standard sci-fi capitalist space nightmare, without a ton of additional details. There was enough there to frame the story but I would have liked a little more about the main threat in the end.
Plot: Several red herrings, twists, and turns which left me wondering what was even happening at a few points. I generally enjoyed it.
Pacing/prose: A little rushed at the end but otherwise I thought the pacing was good. The prose did feel like I was watching a movie which some people like and others don’t.
The Final Curse of Ophelia Cray by Christine Calella
3.25
Overall Impressions: I’m generally shocked this is a YA novel. I guess the main characters are teenagers but there was so much graphic murder, torture, gore, etc. The storyline is generally coming-of-age, though. Overall I found this to be very readable, action-packed, and with an interesting examination of what it means to be family. However, the pacing and overall structure felt a little off, which made portions less enjoyable.
Worldbuilding: We don’t know a ton about the world this is set in. There are a series of island nations, ruled by some sort of colonizing force, with the island our MCs come from a penal colony. There are a lot of awful naval characters doing bad things but I wouldn’t say this really delves into any political or structural implications. Some dialogue on class consciousness but it felt a little out of place given that Ophelia is aligned with the working class but comes from a very wealthy family.
Characters: Ophelia (presumably on the ace spectrum) and Betsy (who has anxiety) are half-sisters who fight and resent each other but still deeply care for one another and ultimately find their way to a greater understanding. Side characters include a sapphic couple with minor page time and a host of other pirates and naval crew. Most characters outside of the main ones felt two dimensional (especially the villains, who were very exaggerated) but a few were fleshed out.
Plot: So, I generally enjoyed the plotlines of this. if you just look at the beginning point and the end point, I’d say it had a very satisfying resolution and a lot of work to get there. however, things got fairly convoluted in the middle. Also, incredibly bloody and gory. there was SO MUCH MURDER in this book which I truly wasn’t expecting from the cover/blurb.
Pacing/prose: Prose was fine, very readable. Pacing was great at the start and quick in the end bht dragged in the middle part of the book. A few too many scenes of battles, mutiny, torture, and murder all started to blur together.
Worldbuilding: We don’t know a ton about the world this is set in. There are a series of island nations, ruled by some sort of colonizing force, with the island our MCs come from a penal colony. There are a lot of awful naval characters doing bad things but I wouldn’t say this really delves into any political or structural implications. Some dialogue on class consciousness but it felt a little out of place given that Ophelia is aligned with the working class but comes from a very wealthy family.
Characters: Ophelia (presumably on the ace spectrum) and Betsy (who has anxiety) are half-sisters who fight and resent each other but still deeply care for one another and ultimately find their way to a greater understanding. Side characters include a sapphic couple with minor page time and a host of other pirates and naval crew. Most characters outside of the main ones felt two dimensional (especially the villains, who were very exaggerated) but a few were fleshed out.
Plot: So, I generally enjoyed the plotlines of this. if you just look at the beginning point and the end point, I’d say it had a very satisfying resolution and a lot of work to get there. however, things got fairly convoluted in the middle. Also, incredibly bloody and gory. there was SO MUCH MURDER in this book which I truly wasn’t expecting from the cover/blurb.
Pacing/prose: Prose was fine, very readable. Pacing was great at the start and quick in the end bht dragged in the middle part of the book. A few too many scenes of battles, mutiny, torture, and murder all started to blur together.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Gun violence, Alcoholism, Child death, Blood, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, and Death
Moderate: Torture, Sexual harassment, Vomit, Murder, Sexism, Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, Animal death, Body shaming, Sexual assault, and Grief
The Last Phi Hunter by Salinee Goldenberg
2.75
Overall Impressions: This had an absolutely fascinating world and plotline which was really done a disservice by its prose. It needed another pass or two with a strong editor, especially with some of the very modern language suddenly pulling me out of the story, run-on sentences, and clumsy foreshadowing. Still, it’s hard to argue with the unique and magical world the story takes place in. I’m torn on whether I would read another book by this author, given what I specifically had issues with.
Worldbuilding: A thai-inspired world where the food is lovingly described. The different levels of spirit world were interesting, as were the phi themselves. A lot of questions go unanswered about the world but nothing which left glaring plot holes. I loved the different mythology described, the types of phi, the types of magic, and the reincarnation concepts explored. Truly such a vast world with a lot to love about it.
Characters: I did not like the characters, if I’m honest. Ex was constantly making the worst decisions and felt so juvenile, and his love interest had a fascinating backstory but felt two dimensional in the actual dialogue and actions. I did love Narissa and the twice-risen hound, though, as well as the witch. It’s a shame the book didn’t have more of their POVs.
Plot: Long, with some mild but fairly predictable twists. still, interesting (especially with the spirit realm portions) and generally made sense. A little simplistic in the actual plotline but the worldbuilding was so complex that maybe that’s for the best.
Pacing/prose: I almost DNFed this book so many times because of the prose. It feels very YA; not just straightforward but lacking in nuance and interest. Clumsy dialogue was the absolute worst part but I also disliked how the author was constantly giving these summary sentences telling the reader how to feel instead of providing enough information and background to let you come to your own conclusions.
Worldbuilding: A thai-inspired world where the food is lovingly described. The different levels of spirit world were interesting, as were the phi themselves. A lot of questions go unanswered about the world but nothing which left glaring plot holes. I loved the different mythology described, the types of phi, the types of magic, and the reincarnation concepts explored. Truly such a vast world with a lot to love about it.
Characters: I did not like the characters, if I’m honest. Ex was constantly making the worst decisions and felt so juvenile, and his love interest had a fascinating backstory but felt two dimensional in the actual dialogue and actions. I did love Narissa and the twice-risen hound, though, as well as the witch. It’s a shame the book didn’t have more of their POVs.
Plot: Long, with some mild but fairly predictable twists. still, interesting (especially with the spirit realm portions) and generally made sense. A little simplistic in the actual plotline but the worldbuilding was so complex that maybe that’s for the best.
Pacing/prose: I almost DNFed this book so many times because of the prose. It feels very YA; not just straightforward but lacking in nuance and interest. Clumsy dialogue was the absolute worst part but I also disliked how the author was constantly giving these summary sentences telling the reader how to feel instead of providing enough information and background to let you come to your own conclusions.
The Hemlock Queen by Hannah Whitten
4.0
Listen, I had a good time with this. It’s spooky, it’s got an A+ cult leader villain, and I desperately want the love triangle to become a throuple.
This definitely had a little bit of middle book syndrome. Pacing struggled in the middle here—this could have been 75-100 pages shorter, if I’m honest. I also think that the trickle worldbuilding generally works but I’d like a bit more. The elemental gods, for example, felt very shoehorned in to the whole thing.
But ultimately I enjoyed reading it and will eagerly pick up book 3. (begging… BEGGING the author to have this end in a throuple).
This definitely had a little bit of middle book syndrome. Pacing struggled in the middle here—this could have been 75-100 pages shorter, if I’m honest. I also think that the trickle worldbuilding generally works but I’d like a bit more. The elemental gods, for example, felt very shoehorned in to the whole thing.
But ultimately I enjoyed reading it and will eagerly pick up book 3. (begging… BEGGING the author to have this end in a throuple).