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charliauthor's reviews
503 reviews
Dread Nation by Justina Ireland
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
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? It's complicated
4.75
Dag nabbit! I found a goodun! đ
I was a little apprehensive about going into a novel set in post Civil War America but despite the setting, this was a very enjoyable read. Good pacing, great characters, a solid plot and digestibly written.
Jane McKeene is mixed though on the darker shade but her mother white so shes grown up in relative comfort despite the circumstances of her birth. Like most Negro children, she is sent to a boarding school where attendees are trained to fight the undead who are raging the new united states since the Battle of Gettysburg.
Jane is headstrong and rash but not unlikeable and i enjoyed following her through her time at the school alongside white passing Katherine and sweet-boy Red Jack. When Jane discovers some sinister goings on involving the shady mayor and the undead, what follows is a bit of an adventure with action and heart. It was funny at times though there is a whipping scene that i skimmed over because absolutely not đ i really respected that not once was the n-word used despite being historically accurate to have done so. That didnt stop it being racially charged and upsetting in many places but was handled well.
Im excited to get into the second book as im so happy to have found a Black Fantasy that feels fresh, original, authentic and fun.
I was a little apprehensive about going into a novel set in post Civil War America but despite the setting, this was a very enjoyable read. Good pacing, great characters, a solid plot and digestibly written.
Jane McKeene is mixed though on the darker shade but her mother white so shes grown up in relative comfort despite the circumstances of her birth. Like most Negro children, she is sent to a boarding school where attendees are trained to fight the undead who are raging the new united states since the Battle of Gettysburg.
Jane is headstrong and rash but not unlikeable and i enjoyed following her through her time at the school alongside white passing Katherine and sweet-boy Red Jack. When Jane discovers some sinister goings on involving the shady mayor and the undead, what follows is a bit of an adventure with action and heart. It was funny at times though there is a whipping scene that i skimmed over because absolutely not đ i really respected that not once was the n-word used despite being historically accurate to have done so. That didnt stop it being racially charged and upsetting in many places but was handled well.
Im excited to get into the second book as im so happy to have found a Black Fantasy that feels fresh, original, authentic and fun.
The Striker by Ana Huang
Did not finish book. Stopped at 69%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 69%.
Not enough was happening that I actually cared about. The brother not finding out about them was dragged unnecessarily, minimal smut and the characters were too nice for there to be any conflict so it got really boring after a while. Why is there still so much to go with such low stakes!?
Pierce Brown's Red Rising: Sons of Ares, Vol. 3: Forbidden Song by Pierce Brown, Rik Hoskin, Kewber Baal
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
A little disappointed that there wasnt more fighting and would have liked to have more about how Ares took more things down but overall was fab and i loved seeing the Nero stuff. Meeting Claudius and Karnas back in the day was great but still not enough about why Eo was so taken by the Ares symbol.
Red Rising: Sons of Ares #2 by Pierce Brown, Rik Hoskin
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Obviously this is much more condensed than a full novel but i love that it just gets down to the nitty gritty. Fitchner is such a bad ass and i love it. He has no issue with throwing that razor around and i am here for it chile! haha
Perfectly Candid by J.S. Jasper
Did not finish book. Stopped at 55%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 55%.
When I initially felt id been reading for a lifetime and realised it was only 8%, i knew there were going to be some problems. Not only was this book painfully slow, it didnt actually make that much sense.
Its a modern setting but the monarchy and FMC Aliyah speak like they live in Bridgerton which just didnt make sense. It was clear the author doesnt really know much about royalty or how upper class dialect is supposed to work. We dont say âis it notâ after every question. It just read so childish and uninformed/researched. At one point she wrote him a letter and sealed it with wax. In a setting that has mobile phones. Noone actually does that anymore!!!
MMC Elliot was just too much of a simp for me. It was cute at the start but by the halfway mark he was still spitting soliloquies about her beauty and i was just over it. Theres nothing wrong with being cute but this was some serious overkill! How he didnt know who the ADOPTED BLACK princess was in a white royal family made NO sense.
Aliyah apparently makes all these changes in parliament or wherever but never goes outside. Then we throw in some random rape at the end!? (I skimmed the end after i gave up) Jeeezos this was insanity.
If you like cutest slow burns then whatever but this was really immature and the royalty element was forced and ridiculous.
Its a modern setting but the monarchy and FMC Aliyah speak like they live in Bridgerton which just didnt make sense. It was clear the author doesnt really know much about royalty or how upper class dialect is supposed to work. We dont say âis it notâ after every question. It just read so childish and uninformed/researched. At one point she wrote him a letter and sealed it with wax. In a setting that has mobile phones. Noone actually does that anymore!!!
MMC Elliot was just too much of a simp for me. It was cute at the start but by the halfway mark he was still spitting soliloquies about her beauty and i was just over it. Theres nothing wrong with being cute but this was some serious overkill! How he didnt know who the ADOPTED BLACK princess was in a white royal family made NO sense.
Aliyah apparently makes all these changes in parliament or wherever but never goes outside. Then we throw in some random rape at the end!? (I skimmed the end after i gave up) Jeeezos this was insanity.
If you like cutest slow burns then whatever but this was really immature and the royalty element was forced and ridiculous.
Red Rising: Sons of Ares, Volume 1 [Dramatized Adaptation] by Pierce Brown, Rik Hoskin, Eli Powell
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Was there ever any doubt that I would love this? Nope!
This is of course a prequel told from Fitchner's POV during his own time at the Institute and how he became a Peerless Scarred. It documents how he met Brynn etc and continues to show how disgusting the Golds can really be when trying to keep people beneath them.
I really liked the narrators who did an excellent job and of course the dramatisation was just epic in all the right places. I love that we get to see how much of a real G Fitchner really is since he seems to have lost a bit of his edge in the main series. He's definitely not one to be played with in this first of 3 volumes!
This is of course a prequel told from Fitchner's POV during his own time at the Institute and how he became a Peerless Scarred. It documents how he met Brynn etc and continues to show how disgusting the Golds can really be when trying to keep people beneath them.
I really liked the narrators who did an excellent job and of course the dramatisation was just epic in all the right places. I love that we get to see how much of a real G Fitchner really is since he seems to have lost a bit of his edge in the main series. He's definitely not one to be played with in this first of 3 volumes!
All eyes on you by Sam Frances
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
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? Yes
4.5
I thoroughly enjoyed this! I listened on audio and the narrator did a great job at portraying the snarky hides-her-pain-behind-jokes vibe that is DS Alice Washington.
This book is authentically British and unashamedly Northern and fun. Ive seen shows exactly like this with the archetype characters that make a crime book everything itâs meant to be. I liked the backstory for Alice but also those of the supporting cast who all felt real and fleshed out enough for me to care about them. I liked the humour, the nostalgic references and the look into how UK policing works as we usually only see the US version. I also loved the subtle but poignant social commentary relating to Violence Against Women and Girls and how so many people are failing to protect us because of their own biases.
My only two issues with this were perhaps there were a little too many sarcastic quips/similes and that there wasnt actually that much of the stalking. The POV of the stalker was great and the reveal surprises at the end were largely unexpected but i think i needed it to be a tad bit scarier/focus more on the crimes.
Other than that, this was a smooth and easy read that had me interested from front to back. A really impressive debut and i hope to see more Alice adventures with the main man Roy!
This book is authentically British and unashamedly Northern and fun. Ive seen shows exactly like this with the archetype characters that make a crime book everything itâs meant to be. I liked the backstory for Alice but also those of the supporting cast who all felt real and fleshed out enough for me to care about them. I liked the humour, the nostalgic references and the look into how UK policing works as we usually only see the US version. I also loved the subtle but poignant social commentary relating to Violence Against Women and Girls and how so many people are failing to protect us because of their own biases.
My only two issues with this were perhaps there were a little too many sarcastic quips/similes and that there wasnt actually that much of the stalking. The POV of the stalker was great and the reveal surprises at the end were largely unexpected but i think i needed it to be a tad bit scarier/focus more on the crimes.
Other than that, this was a smooth and easy read that had me interested from front to back. A really impressive debut and i hope to see more Alice adventures with the main man Roy!
Sinful Vow by Asia Monique
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
For the most part, I really enjoyed this although there was a lot to be desired textually and in terms of the overall plot.
Firstly, I loved the mafia/black familymash up. I thought it was done in a mostly realistic way that allowed me to believe that there were black and mixed men and women at the heads of crime families which hasnât largely been done before.
To have the same feelings and elements of dark/ mafioso romance coupled with the passion and sensuality and sexuality of black men and women was just absolutely chefs kiss. I loved Enzo I really liked Lucia and the host of secondary characters that supported them throughout.
However, there was something that felt a little rushed or maybe unfinished about the writing style and the plot. There were a lot of names and relationships and familial ties coming at you really fast. Even though they were repeated it got rather confusing and the way it was explained wasnât helpful.
I really enjoyed the smut in this. That of course was from a predominantly black gaze which made it all the more sexy. Enzo knew how to lay pipe and I was not mad at it. He and Lucyâs connection felt rather Insta love but that was not too much of a problem overall.
Iâd love to read more in this world, but Iâm not sure I could handle the writing style in such quick concession the way I usually devour smutty books one after another.
I do definitely recommend for the dark romance lovers who mightâve always just wanted an extra bit of melanated spice
Firstly, I loved the mafia/black familymash up. I thought it was done in a mostly realistic way that allowed me to believe that there were black and mixed men and women at the heads of crime families which hasnât largely been done before.
To have the same feelings and elements of dark/ mafioso romance coupled with the passion and sensuality and sexuality of black men and women was just absolutely chefs kiss. I loved Enzo I really liked Lucia and the host of secondary characters that supported them throughout.
However, there was something that felt a little rushed or maybe unfinished about the writing style and the plot. There were a lot of names and relationships and familial ties coming at you really fast. Even though they were repeated it got rather confusing and the way it was explained wasnât helpful.
I really enjoyed the smut in this. That of course was from a predominantly black gaze which made it all the more sexy. Enzo knew how to lay pipe and I was not mad at it. He and Lucyâs connection felt rather Insta love but that was not too much of a problem overall.
Iâd love to read more in this world, but Iâm not sure I could handle the writing style in such quick concession the way I usually devour smutty books one after another.
I do definitely recommend for the dark romance lovers who mightâve always just wanted an extra bit of melanated spice
The Hookup Plan by Farrah Rochon
funny
informative
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
3.25
I love this series for the positive Black love and loveable characters but what is it with the excessive descriptions and explanations of what they do for a living!?
With Samiah it was the tech stuff, with Taylor it was the fitness now with London its the surgeon stuff.
I dont care that you have a cardiovascular extrapolation in the morning. This is a ROMANCE! I care about the love, the meet cute, the blossoming relations and yes, the smut. When their first coupling was fade to black i fucking lost it.
This book is called the hook up plan so is meant to be about hooking up! Why did we hardly ever get any details of them actually hooking up with just repetitive snippets of how many orgasms heâs able to give her!? I wish i got some too sis cause we did not see them! So so disappointing in that respect.
London while very entertaining was going overboard with the daddy issues and not liking Drew in high school. Its been 15 years. Gtf over it! Its really not that deep!!
How long were we on the crap with the sister sending nudes. How long were we back and forth about London choosing where to take her residency!? It was just dragging for no discernible reason.
The best thing about this after the humour was MMC Drew. Hes hot, rich and mature in all the ways that London wasnt. I loved how down bad he was for her without being a simp.
Great writing, great rep but if all her romance books are gonna be heavy on the back story with minimal romance or smut then this will be my last one.
Cute series overall but needed way more spice!
With Samiah it was the tech stuff, with Taylor it was the fitness now with London its the surgeon stuff.
I dont care that you have a cardiovascular extrapolation in the morning. This is a ROMANCE! I care about the love, the meet cute, the blossoming relations and yes, the smut. When their first coupling was fade to black i fucking lost it.
This book is called the hook up plan so is meant to be about hooking up! Why did we hardly ever get any details of them actually hooking up with just repetitive snippets of how many orgasms heâs able to give her!? I wish i got some too sis cause we did not see them! So so disappointing in that respect.
London while very entertaining was going overboard with the daddy issues and not liking Drew in high school. Its been 15 years. Gtf over it! Its really not that deep!!
How long were we on the crap with the sister sending nudes. How long were we back and forth about London choosing where to take her residency!? It was just dragging for no discernible reason.
The best thing about this after the humour was MMC Drew. Hes hot, rich and mature in all the ways that London wasnt. I loved how down bad he was for her without being a simp.
Great writing, great rep but if all her romance books are gonna be heavy on the back story with minimal romance or smut then this will be my last one.
Cute series overall but needed way more spice!
Dancers of the Dawn by ZulekhĂĄ A. Afzal
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I found this very immersive and culturally rich throughout which was beautiful. It felt authentic and grounded in its depiction of culture however, it did feel a little vague in parts while super repetitive in others.
Aasira has grown up in a special school for girls with magic who use dance as a sort of conduit for it to fight in a kingdom's army. She has grown up as an outsider within this place because her mother is a supposed traitor to their kingdom. This point was hammered in at every possible occassion and got rather tiresome by the halfway point. We're constantly told about her motherâs betrayal and how much she wants to prove she is not her mother and the depths she will go to to prove this but a lot of the depth of that was just always on the periphery. Constantly being told how her mother's betrayal effects her rather than feeling it through her emotions, actions or words just made it feel a little flat. It took too long to get to any real tension or for her to leave the special school when it was clear she was always going to do just that.
It got interesting when it was clear that her mentor was hiding something from her and once the ball got rolling on that element of the plot it was more engaging. However, as a YA book, it didnt get much deeper than that which is fine but i just would have preferred a bit more danger or deeper reasoning behind the big bad reveal.
Generally its a good YA outing but even though it finishes on an opening to continue in book 2, i have no real desire to do so.
Aasira has grown up in a special school for girls with magic who use dance as a sort of conduit for it to fight in a kingdom's army. She has grown up as an outsider within this place because her mother is a supposed traitor to their kingdom. This point was hammered in at every possible occassion and got rather tiresome by the halfway point. We're constantly told about her motherâs betrayal and how much she wants to prove she is not her mother and the depths she will go to to prove this but a lot of the depth of that was just always on the periphery. Constantly being told how her mother's betrayal effects her rather than feeling it through her emotions, actions or words just made it feel a little flat. It took too long to get to any real tension or for her to leave the special school when it was clear she was always going to do just that.
It got interesting when it was clear that her mentor was hiding something from her and once the ball got rolling on that element of the plot it was more engaging. However, as a YA book, it didnt get much deeper than that which is fine but i just would have preferred a bit more danger or deeper reasoning behind the big bad reveal.
Generally its a good YA outing but even though it finishes on an opening to continue in book 2, i have no real desire to do so.