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emiliedeeann's reviews
92 reviews
The Near Witch by V.E. Schwab
5.0
4.5 stars rounded to 5. A friend purchased this book for me, and I can see why. The words form together poetically, flowing easier than most stories do. The characters all remind you of somebody. The story makes you smile, feel anxious, and feel grateful. Plus, the book itself is stunning.
Ironically, I sat snuggling my black cat with orange eyes for the last 100 pages of the book, while 3 different kinds of bugs found their way into my clean bed and tried to dissuade me from finishing. There’s a witch out there who didn’t want me to reach a happy ending, apparently.
Ironically, I sat snuggling my black cat with orange eyes for the last 100 pages of the book, while 3 different kinds of bugs found their way into my clean bed and tried to dissuade me from finishing. There’s a witch out there who didn’t want me to reach a happy ending, apparently.
Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell
4.0
Just read this front to back in one sitting. A chilling story about obsession, resentment and a mothers love for her children.
I really liked how this was written and cared about the characters. There were only a few times where I skimmed from boredom but I think that’s because it’s currently 3 AM so I was slightly drowsy while finishing this.
Jewell painted a clear picture of the characters and scenes. This story made me care about family dynamics, the lost girl and everyone’s suffering. It was creepy at parts because it switches perspectives sometimes and the obsessive, almost multi personality disorder really made me nauseous but it was written VERY well.
A great story for October, that’s for sure. It should make you tear up. It’s about a lost child so I mean it’s sad.
Subtle spoiler on whether or not this book has a happy ending:
I mean, not everyone lives, but yes it has a happy ending.
I really liked how this was written and cared about the characters. There were only a few times where I skimmed from boredom but I think that’s because it’s currently 3 AM so I was slightly drowsy while finishing this.
Jewell painted a clear picture of the characters and scenes. This story made me care about family dynamics, the lost girl and everyone’s suffering. It was creepy at parts because it switches perspectives sometimes and the obsessive, almost multi personality disorder really made me nauseous but it was written VERY well.
A great story for October, that’s for sure. It should make you tear up. It’s about a lost child so I mean it’s sad.
Subtle spoiler on whether or not this book has a happy ending:
I mean, not everyone lives, but yes it has a happy ending.
Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin
4.0
I’m amazed this is a debut novel. The writing was beautiful and the storyline/plot kept me hooked.
I loved the characters, as well as understood them, and was painted a clear picture of them. The world wasn’t painted quite as well. The love story was realistic and very sweet without being cheesy.
If you liked “The Cruel Prince” series by Holly Black, I think you’ll like this one. The key difference is that where Black makes you distrust everything and everyone, Mahurin gives you hope.
It’s a bit long. But that’s a personal preference haha.
I loved the characters, as well as understood them, and was painted a clear picture of them. The world wasn’t painted quite as well. The love story was realistic and very sweet without being cheesy.
If you liked “The Cruel Prince” series by Holly Black, I think you’ll like this one. The key difference is that where Black makes you distrust everything and everyone, Mahurin gives you hope.
It’s a bit long. But that’s a personal preference haha.
Rules for Vanishing by Kate Alice Marshall
4.0
I wanted to read something thrilling, spooky and bizarre enough so that I could focus my anxiety on a book and not my life. This worked for that!
I read it in an evening (I am a slow reader) and it took me about 40 pages to really get into it, but after that, I lost myself in the pages and it became a real page turner.
It’s CREEPY. And sad. And WEIRD. It was also confusing though, and not a good confusing, which is why it lost a star.
I feel like this had WAY WAY WAY WAYYYYY too many side stories and plots goin on. Which wouldn’t be a huge problem, except that the side stories were interesting on their own, so I couldn’t get a full taste of all of them being in one book. That, combined with the fact that NOTHING is figured out in the end... this ending will not satisfy you, guaranteed. Feel free to ask questions while you read, but your questions will not be answered. I hate that in a ... I feel robbed kind of way. Anyone wanna walk me through the endings please?
I didn’t love the writing style. I don’t mean the docu style or whatever. I mean the actual writing. I couldn’t explain really why I didn’t like it. Too much telling, not enough showing maybe? But then again, it’s a weird ride so I think the telling was there to attempt to make some things more clear?
I think this would have been a great trilogy: 1. Book of the city 2. Book of Miranda 3. This book, book of the road. It was just a lot of info jam packed and not in a way that satisfies in the end.
But — I did like the storyline. And I did want to keep reading. And it did move my anxieties elsewhere (it’s 2:45 AM and I’m afraid of ghosts, not my tragic life woooo). I didn’t find this book THAT predictable because it was so weird in some parts. I also read a review of someone saying this was predictable because you always expected something bad to happen after the calm. From my perspective, this book was a whirlwind of bad things happening one after another. I didn’t trust this book — which i am satisfied with, because I do think that was intentional and adds to the story. I don’t remember any calm after the storm? Lol can those portions be highlighted for me? This was a messy swirling of smoke and delusion. The whole thing was a twist and a turn.
There is also a lot of representation in this, which is always always always a bonus; racial, sexual, even handicap representation.
Yeah so, overall, I liked the story. It’s a good book and I can’t argue that. I didn’t love the writing style. And the ending was just ... ? Thanks for the wild ride without any point to it??? like I get on a fun roller coaster and am usually like “yeah! That rocked!” This feels like a roller coaster that doesn’t make any sense, ends abruptly, and you don’t really think about afterward. Haha I’m serious, help?
I read it in an evening (I am a slow reader) and it took me about 40 pages to really get into it, but after that, I lost myself in the pages and it became a real page turner.
It’s CREEPY. And sad. And WEIRD. It was also confusing though, and not a good confusing, which is why it lost a star.
I feel like this had WAY WAY WAY WAYYYYY too many side stories and plots goin on. Which wouldn’t be a huge problem, except that the side stories were interesting on their own, so I couldn’t get a full taste of all of them being in one book. That, combined with the fact that NOTHING is figured out in the end... this ending will not satisfy you, guaranteed. Feel free to ask questions while you read, but your questions will not be answered. I hate that in a ... I feel robbed kind of way. Anyone wanna walk me through the endings please?
I didn’t love the writing style. I don’t mean the docu style or whatever. I mean the actual writing. I couldn’t explain really why I didn’t like it. Too much telling, not enough showing maybe? But then again, it’s a weird ride so I think the telling was there to attempt to make some things more clear?
I think this would have been a great trilogy: 1. Book of the city 2. Book of Miranda 3. This book, book of the road. It was just a lot of info jam packed and not in a way that satisfies in the end.
But — I did like the storyline. And I did want to keep reading. And it did move my anxieties elsewhere (it’s 2:45 AM and I’m afraid of ghosts, not my tragic life woooo). I didn’t find this book THAT predictable because it was so weird in some parts. I also read a review of someone saying this was predictable because you always expected something bad to happen after the calm. From my perspective, this book was a whirlwind of bad things happening one after another. I didn’t trust this book — which i am satisfied with, because I do think that was intentional and adds to the story. I don’t remember any calm after the storm? Lol can those portions be highlighted for me? This was a messy swirling of smoke and delusion. The whole thing was a twist and a turn.
There is also a lot of representation in this, which is always always always a bonus; racial, sexual, even handicap representation.
Yeah so, overall, I liked the story. It’s a good book and I can’t argue that. I didn’t love the writing style. And the ending was just ... ? Thanks for the wild ride without any point to it??? like I get on a fun roller coaster and am usually like “yeah! That rocked!” This feels like a roller coaster that doesn’t make any sense, ends abruptly, and you don’t really think about afterward. Haha I’m serious, help?
The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
4.0
Wow! What a book. A little unnerved by the ending there (well, and some middle bits). I like Lisa Jewell’s style because it has a sweet touch to it that makes you feel like you can trust her. I HATE it when authors build up characters for you to grow attached to, just to destroy everything in the end. Lisa Jewell tugs at your heartstrings, VS rip your heart out.
My one qualm with this story is that I went back and forth with caring about it. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I basically read the whole thing in one day LOL but there were several bits where I thought “I don’t care. Why should I care? I’m just reading to get through.” Like Libby, for instance, was a bland character until almost page 300. I cared for Lucy, but also there was a slow pacing with Lucy I didn’t like. Henry was creepy, but his bits were the most interesting. You feel me?
Overall, now that I’ve read two of Lisa Jewell’s books, I am overall impressed by her writing and I trust her as an author. I trust her to take care of the story and her characters. She does an absolutely fabulous job of adding just enough description to not exactly paint a picture, but put flashes of a picture to your mind and evoke enough feeling. She writes very real characters.
I definitely recommend this one for fiction lovers who need a bit of an interesting edge! Oh, also, trigger warnings galore. Lots of sexual assault and abuse.
My one qualm with this story is that I went back and forth with caring about it. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I basically read the whole thing in one day LOL but there were several bits where I thought “I don’t care. Why should I care? I’m just reading to get through.” Like Libby, for instance, was a bland character until almost page 300. I cared for Lucy, but also there was a slow pacing with Lucy I didn’t like. Henry was creepy, but his bits were the most interesting. You feel me?
Overall, now that I’ve read two of Lisa Jewell’s books, I am overall impressed by her writing and I trust her as an author. I trust her to take care of the story and her characters. She does an absolutely fabulous job of adding just enough description to not exactly paint a picture, but put flashes of a picture to your mind and evoke enough feeling. She writes very real characters.
I definitely recommend this one for fiction lovers who need a bit of an interesting edge! Oh, also, trigger warnings galore. Lots of sexual assault and abuse.
The Night Country by Melissa Albert
3.0
Okay.. a pretty big let down :(
I LOVED “The Hazelwood.” Everything about it. It’s among my top five fav reads this year. I even DMed the author to let her know (as if I mattered, lol). I was totally hooked on the writing style and characters. It’s a book that sticks with you, or at least it has stuck with me. Ah. I really really loved it.
Unfortunately, in my opinion, this sequel was quite boring. I didn’t understand how the first book could have SO MUCH happen, just for the second book to have like two things happen. It was just a daily blog for Alices’s life. I felt like finch changed too much and his and Alice’s feelings for one another were way too strong and out of left field. I felt like the big reveal in the end was obvious all along. I felt like the writing style went overboard. And, how the heck does Alice’s story end?? You’re still not going to find out.
I could have sworn the original premise I read about this book was “Alice and Finch travel different universes together” or something like that? And I was so excited to get drunk off of Albert’s storytelling and the twists and turns that could happen there. Well, this is about a fallen world trying to pick up its pieces, and a girl split between two worlds raised and trying to find herself, with a mother who also grew up feelings split between two worlds.
I feel like this whole book could’ve been the first 100 pages of a much more interesting book.
I’m still very much looking forward to the tales of Hinterland! I do hope a third book comes out in this series though.
I LOVED “The Hazelwood.” Everything about it. It’s among my top five fav reads this year. I even DMed the author to let her know (as if I mattered, lol). I was totally hooked on the writing style and characters. It’s a book that sticks with you, or at least it has stuck with me. Ah. I really really loved it.
Unfortunately, in my opinion, this sequel was quite boring. I didn’t understand how the first book could have SO MUCH happen, just for the second book to have like two things happen. It was just a daily blog for Alices’s life. I felt like finch changed too much and his and Alice’s feelings for one another were way too strong and out of left field. I felt like the big reveal in the end was obvious all along. I felt like the writing style went overboard. And, how the heck does Alice’s story end?? You’re still not going to find out.
I could have sworn the original premise I read about this book was “Alice and Finch travel different universes together” or something like that? And I was so excited to get drunk off of Albert’s storytelling and the twists and turns that could happen there. Well, this is about a fallen world trying to pick up its pieces, and a girl split between two worlds raised and trying to find herself, with a mother who also grew up feelings split between two worlds.
I feel like this whole book could’ve been the first 100 pages of a much more interesting book.
I’m still very much looking forward to the tales of Hinterland! I do hope a third book comes out in this series though.
The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black
3.0
Somewhere between a 2.5 and a 3.
The biggest disappointment of 2019. I don’t feel comfortable suggesting this series to people because of this book. I hate saying that!
This was none of the sweat, blood and tears, twists and turns, or utter chaos you got in the first two books. I had to return it I was so upset. Suddenly all of Jude’s problems were solved but nobody talked about all of her traumas. Idk. It’s been two months since I read it and all I can remember at this point is how it made me feel... super bored. It took me so long to read because I was so bored the whole time.
And believe me when I say that I hate! Leaving! Negative reviews like this because I respect authors a ton! But, I really really didn’t like this book. (There wasn’t even a single swear word. And Jude loves those!!).
The biggest disappointment of 2019. I don’t feel comfortable suggesting this series to people because of this book. I hate saying that!
This was none of the sweat, blood and tears, twists and turns, or utter chaos you got in the first two books. I had to return it I was so upset. Suddenly all of Jude’s problems were solved but nobody talked about all of her traumas. Idk. It’s been two months since I read it and all I can remember at this point is how it made me feel... super bored. It took me so long to read because I was so bored the whole time.
And believe me when I say that I hate! Leaving! Negative reviews like this because I respect authors a ton! But, I really really didn’t like this book. (There wasn’t even a single swear word. And Jude loves those!!).
The Stars Within You: A Modern Guide to Astrology by Juliana McCarthy
4.0
Wonderful book! I began my astrological journey about 8 years ago. Everything I learned was through online research, observation and personal intuition. I read charts for people now (for fun) because astrology is just something I get. However, despite my background, this book pulled me down to the fundamentals of astrology. It was like I took my own path but needed to check my bias and the facts and refer to simplicity in order for upward projection. I highly recommend this book to anyone!
I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars for a few reasons; first, there were I felt some subtle biases showing about some signs/placements (I understand it, though), and I also felt that it got a bit repetitive between planets & signs. I personally feel very strongly that each planet is almost a new sign in an of itself, so I did disagree with a few minor approaches.
Overall, a very well written book carefully constructed to teach and bring understanding. McCarthy is pure in her intentions and her passion for each sign as well as astrology’s ability and potential to bring us together and help us grow as individuals is beautiful. I absolutely loved McCarthy’s approach to the practice and connected with it deeply.
I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars for a few reasons; first, there were I felt some subtle biases showing about some signs/placements (I understand it, though), and I also felt that it got a bit repetitive between planets & signs. I personally feel very strongly that each planet is almost a new sign in an of itself, so I did disagree with a few minor approaches.
Overall, a very well written book carefully constructed to teach and bring understanding. McCarthy is pure in her intentions and her passion for each sign as well as astrology’s ability and potential to bring us together and help us grow as individuals is beautiful. I absolutely loved McCarthy’s approach to the practice and connected with it deeply.
Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
5.0
I clearly entered a reading slump when I began this story, so I’ll definitely have to reread it soon, but I enjoyed nearly every aspect of it during my long (5.5 month... lol...) period of time reading this book.
While it sometimes gets confusing in my opinion, (too many characters and SO MUCH back story), I still loved the prose and much appreciated getting to know the characters for the majority of this read before I began rooting for them. Usually I just want plot. This book has a few fun surprises about every 150-200 pages. However, most of it is getting to know the characters. In this way, you are able to understand the characters and why certain things that happen are highly impactful for them.
Something I LOVED about this book was that for the most part, people are communicating with each other. I can’t STAND it how in Harry Potter, he never just freaking tells his friends when his scar hurts. Can you imagine how much he could prevent or fix faster if he just communicated?! The characters actually communicate with one another, opening the door for further understanding. I wasn’t screaming into the book (for the most part.. Sarai stressed me out a bit here lol...) to JUST TALK. Just EXPLAIN. You make sense when you EXPLAIN.
Lazlo Strange is probably on my list of top 5 favorite book characters. I adore everything about him. He’s a perfect angel and represents hope at its finest. Hope and tenderness and DREAMS. I ADORE him!! (He’s obviously a Cancer or a Pisces, right?).
This book made me cry too! Which hasn’t happened in awhile! And its 100% because I got to know the characters in depth.
One last thing — this book may be a bit predictable. However, you get lost in the prose to the point that you forget about your predictions. When your predictions come true you’re crying and going “I knew it but I forgot and I’m so happy this happened.”
Excited for Muse of Nightmares.
While it sometimes gets confusing in my opinion, (too many characters and SO MUCH back story), I still loved the prose and much appreciated getting to know the characters for the majority of this read before I began rooting for them. Usually I just want plot. This book has a few fun surprises about every 150-200 pages. However, most of it is getting to know the characters. In this way, you are able to understand the characters and why certain things that happen are highly impactful for them.
Something I LOVED about this book was that for the most part, people are communicating with each other. I can’t STAND it how in Harry Potter, he never just freaking tells his friends when his scar hurts. Can you imagine how much he could prevent or fix faster if he just communicated?! The characters actually communicate with one another, opening the door for further understanding. I wasn’t screaming into the book (for the most part.. Sarai stressed me out a bit here lol...) to JUST TALK. Just EXPLAIN. You make sense when you EXPLAIN.
Lazlo Strange is probably on my list of top 5 favorite book characters. I adore everything about him. He’s a perfect angel and represents hope at its finest. Hope and tenderness and DREAMS. I ADORE him!! (He’s obviously a Cancer or a Pisces, right?).
This book made me cry too! Which hasn’t happened in awhile! And its 100% because I got to know the characters in depth.
One last thing — this book may be a bit predictable. However, you get lost in the prose to the point that you forget about your predictions. When your predictions come true you’re crying and going “I knew it but I forgot and I’m so happy this happened.”
Excited for Muse of Nightmares.
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
4.0
Patroclus is a plain boy with a father who compares him to a demi god. His whole life he is somehow under the shadow of the unattainable (Achilles), yet that same person who shadows him sees in him what really none of us see until he is a grown adult.
Achilles is likable. Lovable, even. He his driven by pride and a desire for fame. A little naive and oblivious, but also tender and good natured. You gravitate toward him immediately. You find yourself, although cheering the love story developing between he and Patroclus along, wondering along with the other characters of the book “What does he see in Patroclus?”
Well, Patroclus doesn’t see much in Patroclus, so how is he supposed to show us his worth? His character growth is the best I’ve ever seen. You watch him grow up, and hold on to nuggets of his personality, waiting for it to fully form. When it finally does, you see what Achilles saw in him all along.
This is one of the most beautiful love stories I have ever read. The reason I gave it four stars instead of five is because it dragged a little for me, and because I felt like unless you are a die hard fan of Greek Mythology, a majority of the story and its characters and their purpose will go right over your head. I couldn’t come up with any reasoning beyond “Greek mythology fanatics will love this visit from this character or glimpse of this story” for why a majority of characters and some scenes existed. It didn’t ALL seem important for the development of the story.
Also, trigger warning for a lot of rape.
Achilles is likable. Lovable, even. He his driven by pride and a desire for fame. A little naive and oblivious, but also tender and good natured. You gravitate toward him immediately. You find yourself, although cheering the love story developing between he and Patroclus along, wondering along with the other characters of the book “What does he see in Patroclus?”
Well, Patroclus doesn’t see much in Patroclus, so how is he supposed to show us his worth? His character growth is the best I’ve ever seen. You watch him grow up, and hold on to nuggets of his personality, waiting for it to fully form. When it finally does, you see what Achilles saw in him all along.
This is one of the most beautiful love stories I have ever read. The reason I gave it four stars instead of five is because it dragged a little for me, and because I felt like unless you are a die hard fan of Greek Mythology, a majority of the story and its characters and their purpose will go right over your head. I couldn’t come up with any reasoning beyond “Greek mythology fanatics will love this visit from this character or glimpse of this story” for why a majority of characters and some scenes existed. It didn’t ALL seem important for the development of the story.
Also, trigger warning for a lot of rape.