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coffeestainsandinkspots's reviews
40 reviews
Wandering by Loren G. Warnemuende
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
5.0
Wow, Wandering surpassed my expectations as a sequel!
Due to massive life changes I took my time reading Wandering. But taking the journey with Maleen was well worth the wait. We see her struggle - both physically against the hardships on her journey and emotionally as she works to understand the best path forward in the face of the devastating conquering of Arden.
Maleen becomes a character that you sympathize with and root for during Wandering. And her companions along the way are also compelling and all work towards making the story richer. I can't write more lest I risk typing out spoilers, but if you read Exile definitely move on to the sequel!
Due to massive life changes I took my time reading Wandering. But taking the journey with Maleen was well worth the wait. We see her struggle - both physically against the hardships on her journey and emotionally as she works to understand the best path forward in the face of the devastating conquering of Arden.
Maleen becomes a character that you sympathize with and root for during Wandering. And her companions along the way are also compelling and all work towards making the story richer. I can't write more lest I risk typing out spoilers, but if you read Exile definitely move on to the sequel!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Slavery, Violence, Medical content, Grief, and War
Minor: Sexual assault
There is one scene in the book where Maleen is rescued from sexual assault. This story actively takes place in a post war/ongoing war setting, so there is descriptions of the aftermath of battle and some descriptions of skirmishes that happen towards the end of the book. Maleen also is also grieving the apparent loss of her father and several other characters discuss losses they have had from illness. Maleen also goes through a rather traumatic illness. Maleen is also briefly in the captivity of slavers, though she is rescued on the way.
Courage, Dear Heart: Letters to a Weary World by Rebecca K. Reynolds
Did not finish book.
Did not finish book.
The Thrill of Orthodoxy: Rediscovering the Adventure of Christian Faith by Trevin Wax
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.75
I'm taking this rating down to 4.75 stars because I felt the author was a little repetitive in certain parts. Otherwise, I would highly recommend this book whether you are deconstructing or if you are just a member of the Church interested in picking up an informative, easy to understand theology read.
Holy Hygge: Creating a Place for People to Gather and the Gospel to Grow by Jamie Erickson
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.75
If you are interested in reading about the topic of hygge and hospitality from a Christian perspective, this is the book for you. I did not have a word for the type of hospitality that was displayed in my home as I was growing up. But the concepts in this book felt very familiar and I realized that hygge fit my childhood lifestyle completely. Jamie's book is an encouragement to me to carry the principals I learned at a young age into adulthood.
This Beautiful Truth: How God's Goodness Breaks Into Our Darkness by Sarah Clarkson
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
This is an amazing book that goes through the meaning of beauty and how God uses beauty to draw us closer to him... especially during hard times.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness
The author talks quite a bit about her struggle with OCD and invasive thoughts. She occasionally will briefly describe the nature of her invasive thoughts and sometimes they are shocking or violent.
The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Fans of Kate DiCamillo will not be disappointed by her latest work. The Beatryce Prophecy is a thoughtful tale that highlights the challenges and joys of allowing yourself to be fully known by others.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Grief
Minor: Child death, Misogyny, Violence, Kidnapping, and Murder
The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles
Did not finish book. Stopped at 54%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 54%.
I lost interest after a while, other books took precedence.
The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This book, like many Sanderson books, has a bit of a slow start. But once it got going I absolutely enjoyed it. I will be finishing at least Mistborn Era 1.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and War
Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit and Sexual harassment
No Clues, You Lose by A.B. Donahue
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book is a new children's mystery that has been compared to the likes of Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys. Featuring well written, believable characters and a plot that will keep you saying "who did it?," this book is a must for parents and children a like.