dennasus's reviews
739 reviews

To Have and To Heist by Sara Desai

slow-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? N/A

I feel rather meh about this story. The idea was interesting enough, but the execution fell flat for me. To me it seemed like the writer tried to incorporate too many different ideas and sub plots. The variety of characters in the crew was a bit over the top and I didn't really care much about either of them. I skimmed the last few chapters, because I just wanted to get it over with (13 March 2025).

[I've stopped rating books]

Hard Time by Jodi Taylor

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

I mostly enjoyed this one. There was a good deal of development - characters, main plot for the series, world building - but not too much to make it overwhelming. Reading these sequels I realize how much I sometimes found the jumping up and down the timeline in "Chronicles of St Mary" too overwhelming, where just too much was happening.

Parts of this plot turned more sinister and darker than I expected and that troubled me for a bit, though that's my own fault, I guess, for expecting a more happy and carefree storyline. (4 March 2025)

[I've stopped rating books]

Doing Time by Jodi Taylor

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

After having read the whole "Chronicles of St. Mary" I'm continuing with this spin-off of sorts and I really enjoyed this first one. It's the Time Police, so it's a different kind of time travel and a different setting, but all in all it has a similar vibe. I liked the three main characters, all so very different and I was glad that they did not whisk up and down the timeline as Matthew's mum did so often in the last few St. Mary's stories. (25 February 2025)

[I've stopped rating books]

We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

Another quite enjoyable read from Jojo Moyes. I love some of her books and liked most of them, some more than others. This one was quite entertaining with her varied family set-up and all the drama. I sort of saw through the two love interest plots pretty early on, or at least was pretty sure Jojo wouldn't let her pick the wrong (IMHO) one. I loved how this story manage to tell the story of familial love in all it's shapes and forms. (14 February 2025)

[I've stopped rating books]

Business or Pleasure by Rachel Lynn Solomon

emotional lighthearted 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? It's complicated

I was looking for a easy-to-read romance and as I've enjoyed some previous novels from this writer I picked this one and wasn't disappointed. I didn't really buy the "no woman told him he's bad at sex before" bit, but it was necessary for the plot to work, so I let it slide. Most of the story was cute and sexy and not too much drama. Just what I needed. Nothing earthshattering though either. (10 February 2025).

[I've stopped rating books]

The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters by Balli Kaur Jaswal

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

I liked this alright and it was an interesting insight into a country and culture I don't know a lot about. The Sikh in India (and the UK). I don't know if I would call the trip and what they learned and did "Adventures" but ok. It made me think about my own upbringing (female, white, Central Europe) and also a bit about the relationship to my mum. I wish the characters would have been a bit more complex sometimes and I thought the plot was dragging in parts, but there also was a nice twist towards the end abou Jezmeen and her career. 

The Good, the Bad and the History by Jodi Taylor

medium-paced

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

And so the "Chronicles of St. Mary's" saga comes to an end. Except for the few more short stories, which are mostly standalones. This last one was a continuation of the last-but-one - plot wise and all and I liked it allright. I still think the whole detour about Insight etc. was a bit unnecessary. It left me with so many more questions about the main nemesis and how it was all supposed to have played out. The Sleeper bit was kind of a cool surprise, but again.. so many questions. It felt like these last two books brought more unfinished new plots instead of finishing the many existing ones. Like whatever was the point of the Isabel Barclay detour and Leon being accused of murdering his wife and the secret Max is still keeping from him. At least as far as I know.

I might be overthinking this. All in all the series was great fun to read. Some books more than others, but I guess that's to be expected with 14 in a series. 

There was not enough Leon and Matthew in the last few ones and that's a hill I'm willing to die on. At some point this year, I will start reading the spin-off with Matthew as one of the main characters to fill that void.

A Catalogue of Catastrophe by Jodi Taylor

medium-paced

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

I admit I'm not the biggest fan of this new plot development. I don't think yet another big new horrible enemy to fight was what's needed. I also am not a big fan of the main characters being away from St. Mary's or not employed by St. Mary's for most of the time. It feels wrong.
 
I liked the subplot of Maxwell unravelling - literally - because of too many jumps through time. I like all the various side characters though there clearly wasn't enough of Leon and Matthew in this. Again. But chasing the new enemy through the timeline dragged on a bit for me anyway. One more book to go. (26 January 2025)

[I've stopped rating books]

Another Time, Another Place by Jodi Taylor

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

Reading those stories back to back sometimes creates a mashup in my head of what happened in what book exactly. There was a lot going on in this one and once again, the first part of the story didn't really have any connection to the rest of it. No idea if it will ever be picked up again. It didn't seem so significant for the regular cast anyway. A bit weird.

I sort of knew that the person who died early on, didn't really, but was plotting something, because the story moved on way too smooth for it. I was waiting for it all to be revealed and it took a bit too long for my taste.

The rest was a wild ride with a few too many similar conflicts and events. I shed some tears about the people they "lost", even though I they hadn't featured too much in the previous stories. It was still emotional. 

I missed Leon and Matthew in this one, I get why they were only dropping by on occasion, but still... Let's hope the Farrells fight the next battle - and it seems there will be a few in the remaining two stories of this series - together. (20 January 2025)
 
[I've stopped rating books]

Plan for the Worst by Jodi Taylor

adventurous emotional medium-paced

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

All in all I enjoyed this one. I was a bit confused when the Leon centred plot of the first 1/4 or so of the book came to an end all of a sudden and wasn't picked up again. It felt a bit disjointed and even though I'm sure it will pick up in one way or another in a later story, it felt a bit weird. The trip to Crete took it's time, but all in all enough was happening to kept it interesting. I actually enjoy he absolute bonkers twists and turns the overall plot and backstory of various characters take in this series. Go big or go home, right? I'm not sure I buy the bit where Dr. Bairstow realized what he did, when he did, because it was a young boy's face. But that's my only complaint, I guess. (18 January 2025)

[I've stopped rating books]