emberash's reviews
69 reviews

House of Marionne by J. Elle

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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

4.25

Wow. J Elle wrote a beautiful, lustrous story with this one.  I love stories where the main character is trying to figure out who she is despite everyone else around her.  

This book is a Dark Academic, Gothic fantasy with a icing of romance and a sprinkle of political intrigue.  We follow Quell who has only ever known life on the run and finds her way back into her Grandmother's lush and opulent world of magic and power. But Quell has a magic in her that is dark and if discovered could have her killed. 

Quell is strong and resilient, determined to survive no matter the cost. But what happens when her new friends, "found family", and love start to make her feel comfortable and let her walls down.  

4.25 / 5 The beginning started slow but I had a feeling that if I stayed with the story it would turn out to be a ride and was it ever!

This book is very appropriate for upper middle and high schoolers. There is only some stolen kisses.

Illusionary by Zoraida Córdova

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

This book could've had more in it.  I love Renata and watching her grow and change and become a strong woman.... beautiful 

Incendiary by Zoraida Córdova

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

This book is exactly the type of book I love. Flawed heroine finding her strength and who she is and what she stands for

Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver

dark funny lighthearted mysterious tense fast-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? Yes

4.0

It's a romantic comedy centered around serial killers that murder serial killers. Check the trigger warnings in the beginning of the book.

That said, I had way too much fun with this book.  I think if you go in suspending your disbelief you'll be fine. The trigger warnings are there for a reason.  Also I was expecting WORSE and I don't know what that says about me.  

I didn't mind the insta love obsession. I will definitely be reading the others in this trilogy. The banter and relationships to me were what made the book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, and Torture

A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I really really really really wanted this to be a 5 star but it just was off most of the book.  I enjoyed Act 1 but I felt like Act 2 and 3 were rushed and under developed compared to Act 1. 

I loved the idea of a heist, I like the sprinkling of vampires,  and I very much enjoyed Flick and Jin. Even Matteo. However, Arthie didn't really feel fully fleshed our. Everyone else felt very 3 dimensional and Arthie felt like a cardboard cut out. 

Over all it definitely gave some good vibes and felt very lush. 

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

adventurous emotional lighthearted mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Bride is an Ali Hazelwood book. I like the twist on vampires and werewolves.  Liked the forced marriage trope. It's a romance so nothing is as fleshed out as it could be but still it was a fun and entertaining read that I used as a palette cleanser. 

Redemptor by Jordan Ifueko

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad 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

3.75

This book really should've been split into 2 books.  This should've been a trilogy.  And truthfully, this story really needed to cook a bit longer. I read the author's note in the back and her talking about how this was written and the deadline, publishing should've given more time.  We have a good story that could've been truly phenomenal 

That said this was still a good book and a very incredibly powerful conclusion to Tar's story. 

Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious sad medium-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? It's complicated

4.75

I didn't know what to expect from this story.  I went in without knowing much.  And what an absolute treat and adventure this was.  I loved the world and the myth about and around this work.  I love the idea of a forced/found family.  I loved how the story focused on choosing who we are in spite of what everyone especially our parents want and desire for us.  

The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson

5.0

The Darkening by Sunya Mara

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

4.75

An excellent debut. Absolutely loved the magic system and the world this story revolves around and in. I love the relationships and the struggles in those that are highlighted - not just romance, but friendships and familial. Beautifully dark and rich.