caseyundercovers's reviews
181 reviews

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

adventurous 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? Yes

3.5

I really wanted to be a hater of this book, but I liked it. 

It was badly written, the characters were everything we've ever seen before, the plot was formulaic and predictable, the dialog and inner monolog of the main character was cringy, and yet still I liked it. 

What was it about this book? It was nostalgia. This book hit me hard in my nostalgia. It reminded me so much of when I read Divergent maybe 10-15 years ago, the stories were practically twins. Throw in the isosceles af love triangle from The Hunger Games. Dragons. And what I've been told is the main male character from ACOTAR (I haven't read it yet), and we've got Fourth Wing. 

I will now add this book to my list of guilty pleasures right next to Twilight and move on with the My Little Pony dragon firmly attached to my heart. 

Bunny by Mona Awad

dark funny mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

Well, that was, ummm...different. lol

I can not begin to explain this book because any explanation will spoil the fun. And that's really what this book is, a fun and weird ass story that doesn't take itself seriously. 

I'm usually all-in on weird books that go for the bizarre and bonkers. Bunny, my sweet Bunny, that is what you are. 

But this book won't be for everyone. You really need to suspend your belief and rationale to enjoy this book. If you want a book that makes you wonder simultaneously if you took too many drugs and not enough drugs, then this is your gal. 

If you want anything in the realm of normal, this ain't it. 

Sunrise On The Reaping by Suzanne Collins

adventurous dark sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

Not to brag, but I would have made it out of Blackheath. 😁

Just about anything I saw about this book will be a spoiler, so I'm going to keep this vague. 

I really enjoyed the experience of this book. I was sleuthing it out like there was no tomorrow. Not only was the mystery really good and presented in an original way, but I just love a gothic setting. If there is a creepy old mansion with a name, I'm your girl. 

I do think this book went on a bit too long, though. It maybe had one too many plots, one too many twists. It was just a little more than it needed to be. If it had been maybe 75 pages shorter, I think it could have been a 5-star read, but the story felt stretched to the max with an underwhelming ending. 

If you like whodunit mysteries, gothic mansions, sleuthing the puzzle out, and the groundhog day trope, then this book is for you. 

However, if you don't like confusing and complicated mysteries with time jumps, multiple grey characters, and a long haul to get to the answers, then I suggest skipping this one. 

The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly

adventurous dark medium-paced

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

4.75

I really loved this book. It had vibes of The Pagemaster, Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, and many many fairy tales all woven together. It was just what I wanted from a book like this. 

It would have been a true 5 star read if not for

the ending feeling rushed with the return of a character that then served no real purpose and the dreaded bury your gays trope making an appearance.

If you are looking for a dark fantasy adventure fairy tale type of story that is a quick read, I'd definitely recommend this one. 

Circe by Madeline Miller

adventurous reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

Club Dead by Charlaine Harris

adventurous funny mysterious fast-paced

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

4.5

So much trashy fun! I love spending time with these characters. I read this book in under 24 hours. Would recommend these series for anyone looking for fun popcorn reads. 

Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

It's nice to scratch this one off of my TBR after the movie adaptation gave me nightmares from my childhood until the present day. I can't wait to go to bed after binge reading this book and get eaten by big ol' Rexy again. Goodnight, everybody! 🙃

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

5.0

Magical Realism rarely disappoints me, and this heartwarming story about magical children and their caretaker is no different. I loved everything about this story. 

Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz by L. Frank Baum

adventurous lighthearted slow-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? No

2.0

That was a whole lot of nothing.