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daniellestarredpages's reviews
231 reviews
Cursed Princess Club, Season 3 by LambCat
emotional
funny
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.0
The Blood King by Abigail Owen
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I'm glad I'm enjoying this series. I'm not sure why I'm surprised at the fact that I rate these books highly when I'm a hopeless romantic but maybe it is because I wasn't expecting to love the other elements in the book as much as I did.
In this book particularly I was a little disappointed that we didn't get as much romantic development as we did in the first book but I have some understanding within me as the relationship dynamic was very different compared to the couple in the first book. I was a fan of the political machinations shown in this book and look forward to continue reading the series.
In this book particularly I was a little disappointed that we didn't get as much romantic development as we did in the first book but I have some understanding within me as the relationship dynamic was very different compared to the couple in the first book. I was a fan of the political machinations shown in this book and look forward to continue reading the series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail
Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0
This is the closest I've come to crying over a book in a while. I grew so close to Miles throughout this story that even the idea of something happening to him brought me close to tears. That is definitely a testament to Andrew Joseph White's writing. His stories are so brilliant. Compound Fracture's premise was so intriguing and White definitely saw it though.
I loved how White included different family reactions to coming out as Trans, with Miles' parents reacting negatively at first and then taking time to come around to his gender identity. As well as Dallas being non-binary and their adoptive parents accepting them immediately and wholeheartedly.
The thoughts Miles had towards his behaviour and the way he described things he had to hide to be "normal" was heartbreaking, as was his reaction to figuring out these behaviours would also fall under Autism, the idea that he couldn't be Autistic as he was just an "unsocialised-dog" was another reason I almost cried.
I am neither Trans nor Autistic so I can't speak on the representation from a personal standpoint but just seeing Miles and other characters being validated filled me with joy.
Another element of this story that I enjoyed was how Miles and the other characters acknowledge that while circumstances were the reason many of the antagonists turned out the way they did, it didn't mean they had any right to do the things they did. The element of the story where White acknowledges that even your closest friends can turn out to be the people that hurt you the most and on purpose too was very heartbreaking and realistic.
I loved how the accents in this book were written as well as the love Miles held for his home even while he acknowledged all the worst parts of it.
The history of the Abernathy's was also interesting and I think that theme was carried throughout the book well.
Thank you to Netgalley and Peachtree Teen for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I loved how White included different family reactions to coming out as Trans, with Miles' parents reacting negatively at first and then taking time to come around to his gender identity. As well as Dallas being non-binary and their adoptive parents accepting them immediately and wholeheartedly.
The thoughts Miles had towards his behaviour and the way he described things he had to hide to be "normal" was heartbreaking, as was his reaction to figuring out these behaviours would also fall under Autism, the idea that he couldn't be Autistic as he was just an "unsocialised-dog" was another reason I almost cried.
I am neither Trans nor Autistic so I can't speak on the representation from a personal standpoint but just seeing Miles and other characters being validated filled me with joy.
Another element of this story that I enjoyed was how Miles and the other characters acknowledge that while circumstances were the reason many of the antagonists turned out the way they did, it didn't mean they had any right to do the things they did. The element of the story where White acknowledges that even your closest friends can turn out to be the people that hurt you the most and on purpose too was very heartbreaking and realistic.
I loved how the accents in this book were written as well as the love Miles held for his home even while he acknowledged all the worst parts of it.
The history of the Abernathy's was also interesting and I think that theme was carried throughout the book well.
Thank you to Netgalley and Peachtree Teen for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Fatphobia, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Acephobia/Arophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Dysphoria
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use
This Ravenous Fate by Hayley Dennings
Did not finish book. Stopped at 54%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 54%.
I have been hyped for this book since Hayley went on sub so you can imagine how devastated I am with the fact that I DNFed this book.
I'm sad to say that I was overwhelming bored from the very first chapter (not the prologue, the prologue hooked me then the first chapter released me back to the ocean). Also, this book was pitched to me as a Sapphic Vampire×Vampire Hunter and I don't know how many times I have to say this but I hate when pitches/synopsis LIE to me. Elise is not a Vampire Hunter. She is the heir to a Vampire Hunting company but she has never hunted a day in her life. Also Friends to Enemies to Lovers? I had no reason to believe that Elise and Layla should fall in love. They lacked chemistry and most of their arguements felt like they happened for no reason but to show they hate each other and then BOOM they're fighting some sexual tension before starting another argument? Yeah I didn't believe it for one second.
Also the mystery-solving was another let down. Elise and Laura's mystery solving strategy was so boring and it got absolutely no where so I felt no reason to continue reading this book.
The only thing I could say I think was done properly was the privilege Vs race conversations that happened in this book and even then, that felt a bit lecture like at times.
I really wish I enjoyed this book.
I'm sad to say that I was overwhelming bored from the very first chapter (not the prologue, the prologue hooked me then the first chapter released me back to the ocean). Also, this book was pitched to me as a Sapphic Vampire×Vampire Hunter and I don't know how many times I have to say this but I hate when pitches/synopsis LIE to me. Elise is not a Vampire Hunter. She is the heir to a Vampire Hunting company but she has never hunted a day in her life. Also Friends to Enemies to Lovers? I had no reason to believe that Elise and Layla should fall in love. They lacked chemistry and most of their arguements felt like they happened for no reason but to show they hate each other and then BOOM they're fighting some sexual tension before starting another argument? Yeah I didn't believe it for one second.
Also the mystery-solving was another let down. Elise and Laura's mystery solving strategy was so boring and it got absolutely no where so I felt no reason to continue reading this book.
The only thing I could say I think was done properly was the privilege Vs race conversations that happened in this book and even then, that felt a bit lecture like at times.
I really wish I enjoyed this book.
The Dead Cat Tail Assassins by P. Djèlí Clark
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
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? It's complicated
3.0
Once again, I've found myself falling in love with Clark's writing style. The way Clark formulates sentences really hooks my attention. I must also point out that I loved the humour in this book, whether the humour is coming from the character's inner thoughts, behaviours or the spoken conversations between characters.
The concept behind this story was quite interesting and I felt the story expanded on the baseline idea well. I loved the character work and the plot line was well done from beginning to end. The character work was probably my favourite part of this book. Eveen was particularly hilarious. Despite the fact that the "quality"- for lack of a better word - remained the same from beginning to end, I felt my enjoyment fell off at the climax of the book.
I also wasn't sure what accent Clark intended to give the goddesses but I felt it was too much of an amalgamation of different dialects to be pinned down as a specific one and unfortunately, that was a negative element for me in this reading experience.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and look forward to continuing to make my way through P. Djeli Clark's backlist.
The concept behind this story was quite interesting and I felt the story expanded on the baseline idea well. I loved the character work and the plot line was well done from beginning to end. The character work was probably my favourite part of this book. Eveen was particularly hilarious. Despite the fact that the "quality"- for lack of a better word - remained the same from beginning to end, I felt my enjoyment fell off at the climax of the book.
I also wasn't sure what accent Clark intended to give the goddesses but I felt it was too much of an amalgamation of different dialects to be pinned down as a specific one and unfortunately, that was a negative element for me in this reading experience.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and look forward to continuing to make my way through P. Djeli Clark's backlist.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death
Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Cursed Princess Club, Season 1 by LambCat
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Funny and cute. Would be a quick read if Webtoon didn't do that daily ticket pass thing.
I think even though the story is very silly, the way it represents the family itself as well as the love they hold for Gwendolyn in really amazing.
I think even though the story is very silly, the way it represents the family itself as well as the love they hold for Gwendolyn in really amazing.