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daniellestarredpages's reviews
231 reviews
In the Shadow of the Fall by Tobi Ogundiran
adventurous
dark
tense
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? It's complicated
3.5
3.5 Stars.
Novellas can be very hit or miss for me. Either I love the story so much that I'm begging for more or I want more because I felt elements of the story could use more development.
In the case of "In The Shadow Of The Fall" by Tobi Ogundiraan, I felt there could've been more. I had a few issues with the pacing as the time between the MC learning something mind and belief-shattering and then finding out the information she had just learnt wasn't completely accurate was way too short. The author began to build a connection between secondary characters and the reader but I don't think there was enough before "emotional" things started happening to these characters. However, I did find the emotional turmoil the MC felt towards things that happened to the secondary characters to be believable and well done. I was quite interested in the mythology and the magic that was hinted at and wish we had seen or learnt more. If the author decides to write a full-length novel set in this world and follow this MC, I would be interested.
Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Novellas can be very hit or miss for me. Either I love the story so much that I'm begging for more or I want more because I felt elements of the story could use more development.
In the case of "In The Shadow Of The Fall" by Tobi Ogundiraan, I felt there could've been more. I had a few issues with the pacing as the time between the MC learning something mind and belief-shattering and then finding out the information she had just learnt wasn't completely accurate was way too short. The author began to build a connection between secondary characters and the reader but I don't think there was enough before "emotional" things started happening to these characters. However, I did find the emotional turmoil the MC felt towards things that happened to the secondary characters to be believable and well done. I was quite interested in the mythology and the magic that was hinted at and wish we had seen or learnt more. If the author decides to write a full-length novel set in this world and follow this MC, I would be interested.
Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Blood
Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation: Mo Dao Zu Shi (Novel) Vol. 1 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Vomit, Death of parent, War
Descendants of Fire and Water by Didi Anofienem
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
If I had to use one word to describe my experience reading this book as well as my final thoughts on the book itself, it would be "okay". The book was ultimately just okay.
My first issue was that the author should probably have picked one stage of the MC's life and focused on that. Instead, the author went into a handful of detail about her life at home before she signed up for the military, while she was in military school and finally when she joined the military and joined an uber-important squad. Each segment of her life only began to stir excitement before we moved on.
The synopsis says Essien became the first woman to enlist in the military, which isn’t true. She was in the second or third group of women to enlist to be accepted in the military school. The author never mentioned whether she was the only woman to pass the academy. Also stated in the synopsis is that Essien returned from the river with powers but it took a while for Essien to discover her powers. I always have an issue when the synopsis differs from the actual events in the story.
Another issue I have was the relationship between Essien and The President. There was a developing romantic relationship between Essien and The President throughout the book and I grew quite uncomfortable with it as there were quite a few times in the book when Essien mentioned growing up and watching the President on broadcast. So The President was already an adult when Essien was a child. While I understand that authors can write negative things, in fact, I enjoy it when authors tackle difficult topics. However, in this book, the only character who had a problem with the developing relationship was an acquaintance of Essien even then, he only had a problem with it not because of the relationship dynamic itself but of something else entirely.
I do have to say that I enjoyed the glimpses we got into this world’s magic system and mythology and I quite enjoyed Essien as a character.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape
All These Sunken Souls by Circe Moskowitz
I was really disappointed with this anthology. It started out quite enjoyable, I liked the story and I felt the tone carried over from one story to the next but then it went downhill.
"Lights" might have been my favourite short story and I enjoyed "Be Not Afraid" and "All My Best Friends Are Dead".The Teeth Come Out At Night" was okay but I didn't love it. I felt the writing style was easy to read but after a while the story dragged and while I understand it was a short story, I felt the ending could've been wrapped up a bit better. I absolutely hated "I Love Your Eyes". The writing itself was not well-done and the plot twist made absolutely no sense given the POV we were in. "The Consumption Of Vienna Montrose" just left me confused and uncomfortable but not in the way I want to be when I enjoy a horror story. The writing itself was enjoyable but the plot was . . . . not. The rest of the stories felt very average to me and my biggest takeaway was that there seems to be an obsession with teeth.
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I was really disappointed with this anthology. It started out quite enjoyable, I liked the story and I felt the tone carried over from one story to the next but then it went downhill.
"Lights" might have been my favourite short story and I enjoyed "Be Not Afraid" and "All My Best Friends Are Dead".The Teeth Come Out At Night" was okay but I didn't love it. I felt the writing style was easy to read but after a while the story dragged and while I understand it was a short story, I felt the ending could've been wrapped up a bit better. I absolutely hated "I Love Your Eyes". The writing itself was not well-done and the plot twist made absolutely no sense given the POV we were in. "The Consumption Of Vienna Montrose" just left me confused and uncomfortable but not in the way I want to be when I enjoy a horror story. The writing itself was enjoyable but the plot was . . . . not. The rest of the stories felt very average to me and my biggest takeaway was that there seems to be an obsession with teeth.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
The Poisons We Drink by Bethany Baptiste
emotional
inspiring
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? It's complicated
3.5
3.5 Stars.
"The Poisons We Drink" by Bethany Baptiste was on my list of most anticipated releases of 2024 and I am glad to have read an ARC of it. I enjoyed the story and think this is a book that I could very easily recommend.
The magic system Baptise created for this story was well-crafted and a delight to read. I found the drawbacks to being a 'Witcher' in this world, whether it being the possibly deadly recoil of potion brewing or the pain of shapeshifting on your own, to be a great addition to the story as it not only added stakes and tension but it also does a job of reining in the magic so that it is not some all-powerful force Witchers possess.
I found it interesting that Baptiste wrote Witcher Stigma in the place of Racial Stigma, I was actually quite relieved at the fact that I didn't have to see the characters dealing with Racism AS WELL AS the discrimination due to their magic. The way it was handled however still made it obvious that the discrimination of Witchers was a critique and representation of real types of discrimination in the world. I am quite glad with how the characters fought back and took charge of their situations.
The relationships between the characters in this book were written well. The sibling relationships in particular felt very realistic, especially with how they cared for each other while being angry with each other. I found the dynamic between Venus and her mother to be particularly interesting and I love how it was written. I especially loved how even though Venus came to learn about how deeply her mother cared for her, her mother was not absolved of the things her mother did and the way she treated her and her sister Janus.
I do have to say though, while I was interested in the story from the very first page, I found myself just passively taking in the story until about 50% of the book, which is when I really started to love the story.
Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
"The Poisons We Drink" by Bethany Baptiste was on my list of most anticipated releases of 2024 and I am glad to have read an ARC of it. I enjoyed the story and think this is a book that I could very easily recommend.
The magic system Baptise created for this story was well-crafted and a delight to read. I found the drawbacks to being a 'Witcher' in this world, whether it being the possibly deadly recoil of potion brewing or the pain of shapeshifting on your own, to be a great addition to the story as it not only added stakes and tension but it also does a job of reining in the magic so that it is not some all-powerful force Witchers possess.
I found it interesting that Baptiste wrote Witcher Stigma in the place of Racial Stigma, I was actually quite relieved at the fact that I didn't have to see the characters dealing with Racism AS WELL AS the discrimination due to their magic. The way it was handled however still made it obvious that the discrimination of Witchers was a critique and representation of real types of discrimination in the world. I am quite glad with how the characters fought back and took charge of their situations.
The relationships between the characters in this book were written well. The sibling relationships in particular felt very realistic, especially with how they cared for each other while being angry with each other. I found the dynamic between Venus and her mother to be particularly interesting and I love how it was written. I especially loved how even though Venus came to learn about how deeply her mother cared for her, her mother was not absolved of the things her mother did and the way she treated her and her sister Janus.
I do have to say though, while I was interested in the story from the very first page, I found myself just passively taking in the story until about 50% of the book, which is when I really started to love the story.
Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Hate crime, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gore, Gun violence
Minor: Child death, Stalking
Boys I Know by Anna Gracia
Did not finish book. Stopped at 50%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 50%.
Unfortunately, I DNFed this book. The main character's voice was insufferable to read from and the story wasn't interesting enough for me to push through. I read more than 50% of the book and the main character still hadn't started gaining any positive character development.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Sexual content, Vomit, Alcohol
Love and Other Wicked Things by Philline Harms
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.5
I fell in love with 'Love And Other Wicked Things' immediately. I loved the romance, the characters and the plot line.
Rhia's family dynamic was so amazing and wholesome. I loved the various powers the different members had as well as the interactions between members of the family. I really enjoyed reading a story with a large family with multiple characters from the same generation that didn't have any sort of tension or rivalry. The love between the members of Rhia's family was palpable.
The friendship between Valarie and Quinn found a special place in my heart. The way we see them become family on the page and the way the author wrote about them loving each other in a non-romantic way was great.
The romance between Rhia and Valerie definitely put a smile on my face. From the initial meeting to them falling in love with each other. I loved it. I was also a huge fan of how the author wrote realistic reasons for why the relationship didn't take off immediately even after the characters realised they had feelings for each other.
Finally I loved the casual queerness and representation in this book. While there were some small missteps, I didn't see anything big that impacted my enjoyment of this story.
This book was a breath of fresh air after a series of DNFs and low ratings. So thank you to Edelweiss and Wattpad Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
Rhia's family dynamic was so amazing and wholesome. I loved the various powers the different members had as well as the interactions between members of the family. I really enjoyed reading a story with a large family with multiple characters from the same generation that didn't have any sort of tension or rivalry. The love between the members of Rhia's family was palpable.
The friendship between Valarie and Quinn found a special place in my heart. The way we see them become family on the page and the way the author wrote about them loving each other in a non-romantic way was great.
The romance between Rhia and Valerie definitely put a smile on my face. From the initial meeting to them falling in love with each other. I loved it. I was also a huge fan of how the author wrote realistic reasons for why the relationship didn't take off immediately even after the characters realised they had feelings for each other.
Finally I loved the casual queerness and representation in this book. While there were some small missteps, I didn't see anything big that impacted my enjoyment of this story.
This book was a breath of fresh air after a series of DNFs and low ratings. So thank you to Edelweiss and Wattpad Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Grief, Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Murder, Injury/Injury detail
A Bright Heart by Kate Chenli
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
While I didn't outright dislike this book, I was disappointed reading it. In fact, I almost DNFed it after the first few chapters. The writing style was this book's biggest downfall; the writing was amateurish and sometimes felt very awkward to read. I liked Mingshin for the most part, she made smart decisions and didn't annoy me. Eventually, I started rooting for the romance between Mingshin and Jieh and I liked all the friendships.
The pacing of the story was fine but the world-building could have used a little more work.
Thank you to Netgalley and Union & Co. for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The pacing of the story was fine but the world-building could have used a little more work.
Thank you to Netgalley and Union & Co. for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Murder
Moderate: Violence, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail