emblazedwords's reviews
159 reviews

Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll

challenging dark emotional informative tense slow-paced

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

2.5

A Sweet Sting of Salt by Rose Sutherland

emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley

challenging emotional reflective tense slow-paced

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

3.75

The Big Reveal: An Illustrated Manifesto of Drag by Sasha Velour

funny informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft

emotional hopeful lighthearted sad slow-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

Uzumaki by Junji Ito

adventurous challenging dark tense fast-paced

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

4.0

The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White

challenging dark emotional tense slow-paced

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

4.0

I could tell while reading this that White was well-versed in the original book and stuck pretty close to it in her retelling (including the different side characters that don't often make it in other retellings). I especially loved how she gave motivation and this anti-hero quality to Elizabeth, while making Victor this sicko!

I really vibed with the retelling, and I thought the horror elements were really well done. Unfortunately, I found some of the writing a little too melodramatic, which could just be because it's YA. As well, I feel like there was some pacing issues with the book that made it hard to keep up with it at times.

Otherwise, totally recommendable for people who want a different Frankenstein retelling!

The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein - 4⭐/5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse

Moderate: Child death

The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense 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? N/A

5.0

The Familiar completely blew me away, and I think it has become my new fave Bardugo novel!

I could tell this book was well-researched, and I really appreciated how she introduced you to Spain at this time. The writing style gave me The Night Circus vibes, and I loved the multiple POVs. I DEVOURED this book!

If you love court intrigue as much as I do, you'll love the political games of 16th century Spain! I loved the magic in this book, and the discussions around faith and diaspora that related to it. I wasn't expecting a romance, but I wasn't unhappy about it either!

The Familiar - 5⭐/5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry

Moderate: Sexism, Torture, and Antisemitism

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

adventurous emotional hopeful sad tense medium-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? No

4.5

This book quite surprised me with the different directions it went. At first I thought it was just going to be focused on this correspondence between the two MC's, with neither knowing who the other is. But then it became this exploration of war and how people get affected by it, with some pretty good depictions of PTSD in my opinion.

The world-building is really well done, and I could see how maybe Ross was inspired by World War history and added a fantasy twist. There was good character development, with both MCs learning to open themselves up to others. Also the romance was totally swoonworthy, but maybe thats just because I love some old-fashioned yearning between characters.

I can't give it a full 5 stars because I felt like there was some plotlines and characters that felt a little unfinished. Either way, I plan on reading the sequel and seeing where this series goes!

Divine Rivals - 4.5⭐/5

The Cloisters by Katy Hays

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

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

3.0