eficca33's reviews
451 reviews

The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring tense medium-paced

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

4.75

The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

The Viridian Priestess by Katrina Calandra

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.75

Just what I want in a Romantasy. The plot/ world building is on the light side, but feels will developed.  Great found family story as well. I'm interested to see where the next book takes this story.

Cunning Folk by Adam L.G. Nevill

tense slow-paced

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

2.5

This was absolutely not for me. The first 75% drags unbelievably. The last 25% is unnecessarily rushed. The characters are all 2d cardboard cut outs at best. The main character is insufferable. His wife/ mother of his child is a non entity and is only there to sound like she's chiding him unnecessarily when really everything she asks for/ says is completely reasonable. All of the movement of the plot in the first 75% if this book happens because this married couple cannot communicate over the simplest matters.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death

Moderate: Death, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I do not know what Rachel Gillig puts in her pen, but I think it might be magic ink! The beginning of this one was a little slow, but the author's writing style always kept me locked in.

Stay in the Light by A.M. Shine

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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? Yes

4.0

Ok so this sequel is great and made me love the first book even more as well!! Really unique take on Irish folklore. And the horror was still horroring in this one.

The Watchers by A.M. Shine

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

There's a lot of mixed reviews on this book and I can definitely understand why some folks didn't mesh with it. This book is actually extremely introspective and stars a traditionally "unlikeable" women character. Rory lashes out at her friends and family. She doesn't let anyone get close. She sabotages any and all opportunities to grow actually close with anyone. She struggles with her past in a way that her mom and twin sister do not. All the while, projecting the "super cool girl" facade and likes to remind you that she's "cool."

I can see how that could be annoying for people. However, I loved it. If you're an SJM fan, Rory did remind me of Nesta in a lot of ways (not all, and definitely not like exactly). I think some of us are or have been Rory, and this story is a beautiful struggle for her and the ending is satisfying.

Strega by Johanne Lykke Holm

challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

3.0

The writing style of this book was captivating and I loved that. I'm honestly still not sure what the plot was or what happened.

All About Love: New Visions by bell hooks

challenging hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.25