elizab3thc's reviews
159 reviews

lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

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

3.0

It wasn't particularly outstanding nor did it do anything ground-breaking for the genre, but it does what it says on the tin - scratches that certain itch one sometimes gets for a recency romance with incredibly low stakes.

I couldn’t really find myself getting into the characters or feeling much connection with them - I don’t know if it’s because the romance was quite rushed and undeveloped, or whether the characters just weren’t for me. The writing was okay but some aspects just felt a bit too… modern for me? I know it’s silly to expect from a book like this, but I did kind of want the language to be in keeping with the time.

although, I did get an incredibly good giggle out of “stupendous bubbies”

characters: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

plot: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

setting: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

prose/writing: ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

final rating: ★ ★ ★

Gate to Kagoshima by Poppy Kuroki

Go to review page

medium-paced

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

1.5

As much as I thought I was going to enjoy the book it… didn’t live up to the premise. It read a bit like the author’s self-insert samurai fanfic (particularly the ending!) which made it a little difficult to get immersed in, and coupled with the (pretty much) insta-love I did not find myself feeling connected to any of the characters and their motivations and ambitions. It also felt as though some aspects where just box ticking,

like how the only gay character is mentioned at 85% through the book and it’s only mentioned AS HE DIES that he is gay

which definitely gave the air of oooh, let me add a token ___ character!

I won’t deny the book was very well researched and the aspects of it which relied on history, like the battles, were very interesting and well-written, but all the bits in between seemed to let the story down and I found myself trudging through most of it and wishing the characters could be a bit more compelling…

And the sudden emotional changes for no reason threw me off, they’d go from being all lovey-dovey and minutes away from a shag to ooh! Let me smash a wolf’s head in and we will explicitly mention how brutal it was and never touch on it again!

Having read my fair share of historical romances where there is no guaranteed happy ending, this is probably the only one where I really did not care how the story ended. I ended up skimming the last 15% just because it was too late to DNF!

characters: ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

plot: ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

setting: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

prose/writing: ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

final rating: ★ ½

A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher

Go to review page

adventurous mysterious fast-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? Yes

5.0

I LOVE YOU T KINGFISHER!!!!

Penance by Eliza Clark

Go to review page

dark reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

LOVE this book!

The interview in particular really spoke to me, particularly about how as readers we often place authors of non-fiction books as more reliable or trustworthy than podcasts, but they can be just as biased and inappropriate and we must always consume content critically!

The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

Go to review page

mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

The Winter Spirits: Twelve Ghostly Tales for Festive Nights by Catriona Ward, Natasha Pulley, Laura Purcell, Kiran Millwood Hargrave, Bridget Collins, Jess Kidd, Andrew Michael Hurley, Stuart Turton, Imogen Hermes Gowar, Elizabeth Macneal, Susan Stokes-Chapman, Laura Shepherd-Robinson

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

Host - ★★★★

Inferno - ★★★★★

The Old Play - ★★★

A Double Thread - ★★★★

The Salt Miracles - ★★★★★ (my fav, but I am biased by my love of Natasha Pulley)

Banished - ★★★★★

The Gargoyle - ★★★

The Master of the House - ★★★★

Ada Lark - ★★★★★

Jenkin - ★★★★

Widow's Walk - ★★★★
Carol of the Bells and Chains - ★★★

As always, I appreciate books like these for giving me an idea of whether or not I enjoy a writers prose before purchasing one of their novels! I am always thankful for letting me discover Jess Kidd - a master of her craft!!

Honeytrap by Aster Glenn Gray

Go to review page

emotional hopeful medium-paced