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elise_is_writing's reviews
321 reviews
What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
When Religion Hurts You: Healing from Religious Trauma and the Impact of High-Control Religion by Laura E. Anderson
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
5.0
Anyone who was raised in a fundamentalist religious tradition, especially of a Christian denomination, should give this book a try.
The Notorious Scarlett and Browne by Jonathan Stroud
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
Unraveller by Frances Hardinge
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
An incredible way to think about grief and emotional pain and trauma. I absolutely adore Hardinge's work; each book feels incredibly, uniquely magical. Unravelled is no exception, and the characters sneak into your heart right from the beginning and refuse to leave (not that I'd let them if they tried 💜).
Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
medium-paced
5.0
I devoured this book in under 24 hours.
The Toll by Neal Shusterman
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
At times, I found this book unbearably slow with large swathes of information delivered without seeming to advance the plot. But the last few lines of the last chapter were worth every page. I tend not to enjoy slow narratives, so that may be a subjective note on my part.
The Poisoner's Ring by Kelley Armstrong
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
I love this series. It's unapologetically fun and clever, while also touching on tough subjects — murder, duh, but also the challenges marginalized communities and individuals face in Victorian Scotland AND in the 21st century. Some of those conversations feel heavy-handed and occasionally come across as some kind of virtue signalling, but I do appreciate that the author doesn't shy away from them. Aside from that, it's what you'd expect from a serial murder mystery, just with a touch of time travel. Also, I spy a ruthless slow-burn in this series, and by ruthless I mean we're at the end of book two and the most we've seen is an innocent moment of comforting hand-holding.
Victorian sensibilities indeed.
Victorian sensibilities indeed.