elaine707's reviews
517 reviews

The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen

medium-paced

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

2.0

Hart and Mercy are 'enemies' based on a miscommunication, and then more miscommunications happen, and then each of them makes dumb decisions. 

Mercy is an undertaker who prepares bodies to go to the other side, and Hart is a Marshal who has the dangerous job of patrolling a magical world that hosts monsters and mysteries. 

I wanted so much from this book. I liked the first couple of chapters—the grumpy x sunshine trope, a fantasy plot, letters to the void, mysterious deaths, and small businesses vs. corporations. And still, it flopped. 

Extras All For The Game by Nora Sakavic

dark emotional funny informative reflective sad fast-paced

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Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

funny lighthearted reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

Catherine is a lady after my own heart. She is a heroine in training who is obsessed with her books while her parents worry about her finding a husband. This is a story of love, friendships, and social intricacies. Never having left her home, she must navigate the adventure of a lifetime and set off to become a true heroine. 

I found myself laughing and smiling during this read. Maybe it's one of my favorite Jane Austen books, too. 

The Sunshine Court by Nora Sakavic

dark emotional funny medium-paced

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

5.0

In this fourth installation of All For the Game, we follow Jean as he tries to recover. 

The ramifications of Neil are like ripples in a lake, and for Jean, that means Exy must still be life. The parallels between Jean and Neil as characters are mirrored perfectly to encapsulate being human. The dichotomy between the two highlights inherent differences despite their upbringings and, particularly, the path the Moriyamas had originally set for them. 

The whole series thus far has been incredible and heartbreaking and everything in between. 

The King's Men by Nora Sakavic

dark emotional funny sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

AH. The face-off of the century. The foxes are ready to go to war. No one is safe. 
Neil is the most unhinged-hinged person ever. And somehow, he believes he is the most sane/normal. 

There are no words to describe the emotional rollercoaster this series has put me on. The character development is insane. The complexities and intricacies of being a young adult with trauma have been expertly captured. 

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

adventurous emotional funny tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This book gives off the vibe: "cause for a moment, a band of thieves in ripped up jeans got to rule the world"

Who really controls Ketterdam? 

Everything that could go wrong probably goes wrong. I was so stressed the entire time. I think about these characters every day. 

I’m Jesper, for real - searching for crumbs that Kaz leaves 

The Raven King by Nora Sakavic

dark emotional funny tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I do not have words to describe the heartwrenching plot. 

The cliffhanger from the first book has led to this gripping second book, in which we find Niel still trying to protect what he loves most—Exy. Yet, he finds himself finding there's more to care about than just that sport. He also finds that maybe staying in one spot isn't such a bad thing. 


I am just screaming.

The Foxhole Court by Nora Sakavic

dark emotional funny tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Neil has run his entire life exactly like his mother taught him. The one thing he can't run from is Exy. His obsession with the sport lands him on a team full of 'troubled' kids for five years at a state college. His past weighs him down, but there are larger players than the person he has been running from. This sports/mafia book is written like a light novel/manga in the best way possible. 


This book was everything I didn't know I needed and more. I love love love it.

Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.75

This book has a lot of potential. While I loved the witty banter, the secret pining, and the morally grey bad guy, it left me wanting.

I wanted more assistant work to gore and murder and the like. It was set up to be a book about being an *assistant to the villain*, yet there was more about romance and heroics. 

I am happy that she is a strong and independent woman who can save herself a lot of the time. I enjoy a grumpy x sunshine story. It just wasn't what I wanted. I also hated there was a second book that I didn't know about until the end. It could have been finished in one, alas... 

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

adventurous lighthearted mysterious sad medium-paced

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

5.0

A band of mischiefs and thieves find themselves on the deal of the century, almost too good to be true. A final score for some, a means to an end for others, and a step closer to vengeance for Kaz. 


Found family is my niche. I admit.