cwrose's reviews
412 reviews

Return to Midnight by Emma Dues

dark mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

Of Seafoam and Saltwater by Kay Leyda

adventurous hopeful 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? No

5.0

I had this sitting on my TBR for awhile and wish I’d picked it up sooner! While I don’t read much YA anymore these days, I was intrigued by the premise of a lost mermaid princess, the promise of adventure, the themes of family and kingdoms at war. It did not disappoint. 

Cari, our protagonist is awkward and shy, but it was wonderful to watch her coming of age and finding her place as a princess, and meeting her merfolk family. This is a dense story with lots of worldbuilding, but generally I didn’t find it hard to keep track of who was who and from which kingdom. I also loved the diversity of characters in this story. And there was one character I was particularly intrigued by, and looking forward to learning more about in future installments. 

This ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, but book 2 is coming soon I hear! This is perfect for the YA-loving audience and readers who love mermaids and undersea adventure. 

Untethering Dark by Desirée M. Niccoli

dark hopeful mysterious medium-paced

5.0

This is a beautifully written and spicy monster romance set during the winter solstice! Perfect for a winter read. 

Astrid, our winter hag-in-training, is a relatable protagonist and I found it easy to root for her on her journey. I also loved the German folklore in this story. Most of all, I’m a huge fan of eco-fiction and I absolutely adored the themes of saving our forests. 

Will be looking forward to the author’s next release! 

City of Snakes by Mariet Kay

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This is a fantastic spinoff to Born of Starlight (book 1 in this series), and I thoroughly enjoyed it! It’s spicy, it’s sweet, it’s dark, and it’s tense. Loved it. CoS focuses on Emmerick, Queen Sybilla and King Krait, characters we briefly met in the first installment. 

I connected with the sassy Sybilla immediately. I really enjoyed reading about her and Krait’s developing relationship, and how they come to accept and move on from their pasts to grow and love each other. The villain is truly evil, and that ending definitely left me wanting more! I’m excited for book 3. 

The Last Dragon of the East by Katrina Kwan

adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

The Last Girl Left by A.M. Strong, Sonya Sargent

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

A thrilling story of survival, mystery, and healing after trauma. This kept me turning the pages, needing to know what happened next! And it had everything I loved - a woman healing from tragedy and finding her way in the world again, an eerie island, and a happy ending for our heroine. 

Pacific Tails by Michelle Sauer

adventurous hopeful fast-paced

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

5.0

A fun, fast-paced and action-filled read that doesn’t feel like it’s 500+ pages! As the title suggests, mermaids are the main mythological creature here, but we also have demons, werewolves, and ancient guardians in an urban setting.

The ending is a cliffhanger, as this is part 1 of a series. Overall, I enjoyed this! Perfect for fans of the found family trope, fast-paced new adult urban fantasy with romantic elements. 

Love and Other Alien Concepts by Catie O'Neill

emotional inspiring lighthearted slow-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? N/A

5.0

I enjoyed so much about this book, as I’ve really been liking alien romances lately! I found this to be more of a cozy Sci fi romance, about a woman in her late 30s who’s all but given up on love until she meets a man from another planet.

I loved that the FMC was 37 and in STEM (she’s an engineer!). Elek is definitely book boyfriend material! And I really enjoyed watching Kate grow into her own, find herself, and learning about the new planet alongside her. 

I’d recommend this for anyone who enjoys urban sci-fi romance, lots of worldbuilding, cozy books, a faster-paced romance, and of course, STEM girlies and alien MMCs. 

Dishwasher Safe by M.J. Etkind

emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

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

5.0

A sweet and cozy book about a mermaid restaurant owner and the human dishwasher she falls in love with! I loved this unique take on mermaids and the Pacific Islander rep. Alisi and Sean’s romance was so adorable and really made me root for them. To top it all off, it’s a great story about finding yourself and going after what you want :) I enjoyed this one a lot! 

Lost Crows and Fallen Stars by Abelia Sumpter

dark mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0