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cryosphinx's reviews
141 reviews
Sunbringer by Hannah Kaner
slow-paced
3.5
Unfortunately, I think this suffers from second book syndrome. I enjoyed it, but mostly because I enjoy the world that Kaner has crafted. I do like the multiple POvs I had a hard time caring about Elogast's POV that I found myself skimming them and I'm not sure WHY other than I wanted Kissen\Skedi\Inara's more since they had more going on. Since it's a trilogy, this seems really suck in the middle of trying to connect the two so not a lot "happens" since it's building the world and the characters more. And since the characters have been separated, you lose a lot of the banter and growth that came from the first book developing them as a quartet. Hopefully that is remedied in the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Grief, Ableism, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
A Fate Inked In Blood by Danielle L. Jensen
4.0
Good world building, blah middle, exciting ending with a cliff hanger even if it is partly predictable.
Very much a romantasy with some excellent banter, which was the best part of the book. I loved the Norse backdrop and how Jensen didn't just use the names of the gods but added a magical twist and kept them the same. My biggest gripe is I didn't find Freya to be super bad ass. She's a strong and capable warrior but she seemed to overly accept shitty things happening to her until the very end. But the romance and BJORN are top tier. This is my first Danielle J. Jensen book, but I think I'll read Bridge Kingdom sooner rather than later because I did enjoy the writing style as I found it approachable, not too 'big words make me sound smart' but everything being well described and not fluffy. I'm hooked on the story and would love the next book NOW.
Very much a romantasy with some excellent banter, which was the best part of the book. I loved the Norse backdrop and how Jensen didn't just use the names of the gods but added a magical twist and kept them the same. My biggest gripe is I didn't find Freya to be super bad ass. She's a strong and capable warrior but she seemed to overly accept shitty things happening to her until the very end. But the romance and BJORN are top tier. This is my first Danielle J. Jensen book, but I think I'll read Bridge Kingdom sooner rather than later because I did enjoy the writing style as I found it approachable, not too 'big words make me sound smart' but everything being well described and not fluffy. I'm hooked on the story and would love the next book NOW.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Sexual content, Violence, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Misogyny, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
Network Effect by Martha Wells
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
4.75
I was wondering how Murderbot was going to translate into a fuller length novel from it's previous shorter formats, but it worked out very well. I only ding it because I had a hard time getting into it at the beginning before a certain character shows up but that's probably more of a reflection on me than Welles' writing. There's quite a few new characters, all of which are just as charming. A fuller cast, more adventure, and more, more sarcasm. Delightful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Gun violence
Moderate: Blood and Kidnapping
A Shadow Crown by Melissa Blair
adventurous
emotional
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 really enjoyed A Broken Blade, and was happy to find that A Shadow Crown improved on almost all aspects. I'd say it's slower paced with less action but there is a lot of focus on Keera and his history and healing journey and because of that, it grows apart from being overly tropey like the first book was but it does suffer from being slow since there's a lot of relationship building. This series warms my heart and the found family is one of the best I've read in this genre. While still not super unique, there's enough differences from other books in the genre that I still find it wholly entertaining and captivating.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Violence, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Sexual content, Alcoholism, and Colonisation
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Torture
House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I didn't get too much of the 'horror' aspect that some people experienced. There is some upsetting moments but nothing that kept me from sleeping at night. It's convoluted, a maze of a book but SHUT UP JOHNNY it delivered on what I think it set out to do. No other book as a subreddit of people constantly having to check with others "Hey, is this a misprint? Does anyone else have this in their edition?" and that's kind of special. But I can also totally see how it's not for everyone (This is not for you). But it's like playing a puzzle game in book form and finding that the journey is better than the destination. But what puzzles are actually puzzles or just things to drive you nuts? That's sort of the point.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Rape, Gun violence, Mental illness, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Sexual content, Drug use, Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, and Animal death
Minor: Death of parent
House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I waited a long time to write the review. When I finished, my immediate thoughts were I didn't understand the hate but as I let it ruminate, I can get it now, even if I don't agree with all the points. I think a lot of people had their hopes built up way too high and I came in not expecting much. I did enjoy this but I really wanted to enjoy it more. The POVs were swippy swapping too much, with shifts happening IN chapters. The characters that carried this book weren't the ones you expected but thank god they were there and made me fall in love with them. There seemed to be a lot of convenient happenings and some plot points that were built up only to be finalized too quickly that it lost all it's muster. But like any SJM book, the last 150 pages was an exciting whirlwind that I thought had a good conclusion. Out of the three, I think this one was my least favorite. There's a lot of open ended plot lines and questions that there better be a forth one but if I had to sum it up, it seems like a lot and nothing happen at the same time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Death, Confinement, Sexual content, Violence, Murder, and War
Moderate: Blood and Misogyny
Minor: Slavery
So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole
adventurous
emotional
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
What a unique spin in the YA fantasy genre, I loved the magic system and it being ancestor based. It covers tough topics such as colonialism with grace and it's clear that Cole wrote about her background with such passion but incorporated it into magic so well. I loved the sisters and their dynamic and loved the take on"I will burn the world for her" being for a sibling.
A few things I was anticipating but didn't get was background if the previous war (touched upon but not in heavy detail of what exactly Faron did), the dragons (I wanted more, MORE dragon dialogue and more than one dragon talking).
It does end on a cliffhanger and it's such a cliff hanger I very much pulled a Zuni "That's it? Where's the rest of it?!" I want the next book yesterday.
A few things I was anticipating but didn't get was background if the previous war (touched upon but not in heavy detail of what exactly Faron did), the dragons (I wanted more, MORE dragon dialogue and more than one dragon talking).
It does end on a cliffhanger and it's such a cliff hanger I very much pulled a Zuni "That's it? Where's the rest of it?!" I want the next book yesterday.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Colonisation, Xenophobia, and War
Moderate: Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Grief
Minor: Cursing and Fire/Fire injury
Exit Strategy by Martha Wells
adventurous
funny
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
4.5
I think we're all Murderbot. We just want to be left alone with our shows but people keep ruining that dream. I'm glad Wells brought back the original team from All Systems Red to really put an end cap on what was supposed to be a 'conclusion' but I'm glad she decided to continue the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Gun violence
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Blood, and Kidnapping
Minor: Cursing
Soul of a Witch by Harley Laroux
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I devoured half this book in a night, but everything past that started to bore me and I started skimming. I'm not sure if it's because at this point we've heard about The Deep One and his cronies for three books so it was pretty much told at this point. And that little thing that happens at 97% with Everly getting knocked up made me throw my Kindle down. Get out of here. The spice hits but the plot was meh.
I did like this one was more fantasy and the witchy vibes were immaculate but I didn't particularly like Everly or Callum (too insta-love and no development between innocent and sex expert, give me some pinning and unsure feelings). But maybe because Zane and Juniper are <3 and nothing can beat them. I still found the trilogy unique by having it told from three different couple's perspectives. I hope we get more in this world because I need me some demon boys.
I did like this one was more fantasy and the witchy vibes were immaculate but I didn't particularly like Everly or Callum (too insta-love and no development between innocent and sex expert, give me some pinning and unsure feelings). But maybe because Zane and Juniper are <3 and nothing can beat them. I still found the trilogy unique by having it told from three different couple's perspectives. I hope we get more in this world because I need me some demon boys.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Alcohol, Drug use, and Pregnancy
A Broken Blade by Melissa Blair
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
I did go into this not knowing much about it other than it was a debut from a First Nation author. When I started this, I wasn't sure if it was going to grab me. It took about around 100 pages for things to really start flowing but once it did, I started to really, REALLY enjoy this. The foreshadow was a bit too 'hey, look at this twist that's coming' so it was predictable. Keera is definitely the highlight of this book, being a bad ass but flawed FMC who has multiple struggles to work through and the back and forth with Riven is a delight. And there are parts that are so heart wrenching that i had to sit the book down and process it (Looking at you Ch. 25).
I can see why some people may not like this since it's a fairly trope heavy book. The author thanks BookTok and it does gear it towards that type of 'tell me the tropes' writing. My biggest complaint was about half way through the book I was over being reminded that Halfings had their ears altered. Very repetitive reminder to the readers to see it mentioned over and over. While there was a lot more political intrigue than I anticipated which I love as a trope, I feel like the colonialism could have been a bigger aspect. I hope the next books continue to talk about it but bring in more to the forefront.
But when I hit the 75% mark I immediately ordered the next one and pre-ordered 3 so I clearly enjoyed it. Give me tropey fantasy and I will devour it.
I can see why some people may not like this since it's a fairly trope heavy book. The author thanks BookTok and it does gear it towards that type of 'tell me the tropes' writing. My biggest complaint was about half way through the book I was over being reminded that Halfings had their ears altered. Very repetitive reminder to the readers to see it mentioned over and over. While there was a lot more political intrigue than I anticipated which I love as a trope, I feel like the colonialism could have been a bigger aspect. I hope the next books continue to talk about it but bring in more to the forefront.
But when I hit the 75% mark I immediately ordered the next one and pre-ordered 3 so I clearly enjoyed it. Give me tropey fantasy and I will devour it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Violence, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and War
Moderate: Alcohol and Colonisation
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Torture