claudcloud's reviews
263 reviews

Message Not Found by Dante Medema

emotional mysterious sad fast-paced

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

2.5

The only two takeaways that I'm left with after reading this book are as follows:

1. Never make another person your whole entire world, to the extent of needing to put everything about yourself on the back-burner for them to still be in your life. They will never, ever care about you as much as you think or hope they do.
2. Any and all AI that seeks to emulate any facet of humanity is a bad idea and needs to be eradicated!!!

Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins: Mollymauk Tealeaf by Taliesin Jaffe, Matthew Mercer, Jody Houser, Hunter Severn Bonyun

emotional inspiring mysterious reflective fast-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? No

4.0

He is a god. Long may he reign 🥺

Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

dark 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? No

3.0

For one of my first forays into more mystery/thriller type of books, this was just... okay, to be honest.

The pacing felt off in the end, the revelation of Jack the Ripper was too fast, and while I enjoyed Audrey Rose as a character and her banter with Thomas, they all felt just a little too flat for my liking, and I had no good opportunity to connect with them.

Also, I really dislike the fact that the model on the cover is white, when Audrey Rose is biracial and has Indian heritage? This feels like a choice that could've been so easily fixed?

All this to say that I don't think I'll be continuing with this, as it just didn't capture my attention quite enough. I was somewhat tempted by the promise of more Thomas, but yeah, no.

Minor Detail by Adania Shibli, عدنية شبلي

challenging dark sad medium-paced

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

4.0

Past and present meshed together beautifully in order to weave a tapestry of Palestine that many of us are already acquainted with - but not this intimately.

That ending will stay with me for a long, long time.

Shadow Me by Tahereh Mafi

emotional reflective fast-paced

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

3.0

Live laugh love Kenji

Restore Me by Tahereh Mafi

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.0

I'm... not quite sure how to feel about this second half of the series yet. But I am willing to give it a chance since I really want to have the full experience!

Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi

dark reflective tense fast-paced

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

3.5

I completely understand why this didn't stay a trilogy and actually continued with more books and novellas, because this ending absolutely did not feel like an ending - that being said, this rating is purely because I love badass Juliette and how much Tahereh has managed to pull me into the Warner team...... excited to see what's next!!

Fracture Me by Tahereh Mafi

dark emotional sad fast-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? No

3.0

Really really loved the glimpse we had into Adam's character and his love for his brother - and even though the switch-up in attitude that he had in regards to Juliette was a bit jarring, I'm glad that he's also realizing that codependency and total worship of one (1) person is not the way to go!

Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

challenging dark reflective 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

3.5

Oh... I see now why the Warner train is such a popular mode of transportation...

I really enjoyed this one, not only because the stakes are so much higher and we actually get to see Anderson (who is a very terrifying and compelling villain), but because I couldn't help but root for Juliette to grow and come into herself even more, now that she has a chance to!

When I read the passage about her being a little too reliant on Adam and realizing that she needed a little bit of distance from him in order to learn how to stand on her own two feet and be her own source of strength? I almost literally cheered!!! That's my girl!!!!

Looking forward to what's next 👀

Destroy Me by Tahereh Mafi

dark mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

3.5

All I have to say about Warner so far is that I aspire to be at the same level of delusional that he's at, and that Tahereh is going to have to work very, very hard to get me on board with him in the next books (I trust her, though, and curious to see how his character evolves!)