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cortanasreadingnook's reviews
386 reviews
The Perks of Being an S-Class Heroine, Vol. 1 by Grrr, Irinbi
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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
4.0
Fially got to reread one of my favorite manhwas EVER! 🤍 This was just as adorable as I expected it to be and I’m excited for where the story is headed
Mile High by Liz Tomforde
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment
Moderate: Misogyny
Threads That Bind by Kika Hatzopoulou
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Right book at the wrong time… why do I keep picking up good books when I’m in terrible slumps? A question for the ages.
Threads That Bind has a dystopian-like world-building set in a post-apocalyptic Greece where there is constant flooding and raining. I cannot for the life of me really point out the specific aesthetic the author wanted to go for when writing this. The closest I illustrated in my mind are urban-like descriptions. Plot is also quite messy.. ANYWAYS
What I liked about this the most is that it has an entirely unique magic system based off of ancient Greek mythology and focuses on its most underrated figures such as the Fates, Furies, and minor gods and goddesses. Not only that but plot-wise, the story is built on a society with an unethical justice system and its disadvantaged victims. This book is quite timely, as it especially tackles anti-immigrant rhetoric, racism, and colorism. Other than that, this is richly diverse and has a morally grey lead who also happens to be an unreliable narrator. Not to mention the invisible string theory! If you like books where the lead is doomed by the narrative and where fate intervenes to fuck with the characters, pick this up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Death of parent
흑막 용을 키우게 되었다 5 by Dalseul
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
tense
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
3.0
i hate ambiguous endings so much. the conclusion to the plot itself was really well tied-up, but the author literally took slowburn too seriously because wdym they look like friends instead of lovers?? 74 chapters later and not even a damn kiss??? quite underwhelming honestly. i hope we’ll get additional special chapters or something bec i’m fuming rn
흑막 용을 키우게 되었다 3 by Dalseul, Sottan
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
4.0
I Raised a Black Dragon by Sottan, Dalseul
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
4.0
흑막 용을 키우게 되었다 1 by Sottan, Dalseul, 달슬
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-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
3.75
i read this back in 2022 so i reread it to refresh my memory of the plot and it’s honestly as beautiful as i remembered it! the art style is gorgeous, the dynamic between noa and myu as dragon & mom is so adorable 🤍 kyle leonard is also one very hot male lead if i say so myself 🫣 but anyways, i can understand readers who thought it’s boring but i personally think the plot has lots of potential for a mystery fantasy manhwa, especially since the worldbuilding is heavily influenced by europe’s trends and fashions in the 1800s. highly recommend this manhwa!
Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
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
4.0
This was such a fantastic Mulan retelling! Set in the same world as Six Crimson Cranes and an incredible addition to the world of the fictitious Legends of Lor’yan, Spin The Dawn is a story about bravery, love, and defying expectations, while going above and beyond what it means to be a girl in a kingdom where men expect so little of them.
It sadly put me in a slump because I lost the momentum of bingeing this due to my midterms. However, it doesn’t really change my opinion that this book is incredibly rich in magic and has amazing world-building with the classic treacherous, and brutal court politics. I actually expected that the narrative would be quite ruthless to the main character Maia and it didn’t let me down. I am personally not a fan of the immortal x mortal trope where he’s literally a thousand years older than her, so I didn’t fully enjoy the chemistry between Maia and Edan (I liked how they were friends at first though). Nevertheless, the magic system was exciting and unique, and the part where she had to make three magical wedding dresses was so grueling yet entertaining. I watched a whole movie play out in my head while reading this!
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Abandonment
Garlic and the Witch by Bree Paulsen
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-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
4.0
What a cute sequel to Garlic & The Vampire! This was a quick read, but I enjoyed it nevertheless. Beautiful queer representation aside, the art is just as beautiful, and it teaches readers how beautiful it is to be human <3
A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
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
4.25
I SAW THE BEAUTIFUL COVER FOR THIS BOOK AND I MUST SAY THAT EVERYTHING THIS WOMAN WRITES I WILL ABSOLUTELY 100% READ 💙 so excited for this! looking forward to another asian author releasing a book in 2025 🤍
My thanks to Penguin Random House for the complimentary review copy. I was sent an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Out on 06/03/2025!
A Forgery of Fate is a dashing addition to Elizabeth Lim’s Legends of Lor’yan epic! This Beauty and The Beast retelling is a sweet tale of love and adventure. Truyan Saigas is gifted with the power to paint the future. And to save her mother and sisters from a tragic fate against gangsters, she agrees to a marriage contract with a mysterious dragon lord. Truyan later learns that the bargain may not only cost her her life, but also her heart.
What I love about this book is how it treads the waters of both middle grade and YA fantasy. You can truly tell that Elizabeth Lim wanted to make this book as magical and charming as possible, especially with the addition of the talking turtles and DRAGONS! It transports us back to a world we’ve seen back in The Dragon’s Promise but it an entirely different way (I can’t say who this is about guys but it is NOT Ser’yu). And for those who like the stakes of court politics, this book still has it while retaining its fairytale-like elements.
I could feel the romantic chemistry between the characters, especially with how the slowburn was done. The author didn’t cater to the insta-love trope and actually followed the classic retelling. I have noticed that Lim’s female leads become more and more unique and interesting throughout each book so I’m looking forward to her next novels. Truyan is by far the most fascinating female lead because of her stubborn determination and unique gifts. The retelling was definitely given justice. However, I think I found it quite difficult to envision the details in this book. I also felt like this was a novella connecting Six Crimson Cranes with a future series, maybe? I still recommend it, though!
My thanks to Penguin Random House for the complimentary review copy. I was sent an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Out on 06/03/2025!
A Forgery of Fate is a dashing addition to Elizabeth Lim’s Legends of Lor’yan epic! This Beauty and The Beast retelling is a sweet tale of love and adventure. Truyan Saigas is gifted with the power to paint the future. And to save her mother and sisters from a tragic fate against gangsters, she agrees to a marriage contract with a mysterious dragon lord. Truyan later learns that the bargain may not only cost her her life, but also her heart.
What I love about this book is how it treads the waters of both middle grade and YA fantasy. You can truly tell that Elizabeth Lim wanted to make this book as magical and charming as possible, especially with the addition of the talking turtles and DRAGONS! It transports us back to a world we’ve seen back in The Dragon’s Promise but it an entirely different way (I can’t say who this is about guys but it is NOT Ser’yu). And for those who like the stakes of court politics, this book still has it while retaining its fairytale-like elements.
I could feel the romantic chemistry between the characters, especially with how the slowburn was done. The author didn’t cater to the insta-love trope and actually followed the classic retelling. I have noticed that Lim’s female leads become more and more unique and interesting throughout each book so I’m looking forward to her next novels. Truyan is by far the most fascinating female lead because of her stubborn determination and unique gifts. The retelling was definitely given justice. However, I think I found it quite difficult to envision the details in this book. I also felt like this was a novella connecting Six Crimson Cranes with a future series, maybe? I still recommend it, though!