emilydehaven's reviews
1177 reviews

The Darker Arts by Oscar de Muriel

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.25

Gypsy: A Memoir by Gypsy Rose Lee

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

3.0

In The Company Of The Courtesan by Sarah Dunant

emotional reflective slow-paced

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

2.0

The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon

dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.5

Babylonia by Costanza Casati

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

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

5.0

Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson

funny lighthearted mysterious 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

The Heir by Johanna Lindsey

fast-paced

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

2.25

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

I had high expectations for this book and it far exceeded even those!

This will easily be one of my top reads of the year.

It was so delightfully creepy and there were some twists that I didn’t see coming. Even the twists that I did predict were still so satisfying to read.

I adore Noemi as a main character. She was complex and well-developed and had me rooting for her and engaged the whole way through. 

This book also touched on some really tough subjects like racism and eugenics. It was such a fascinating take on the gothic novel (a genre I already love) and I am so glad I finally read it!

Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See

hopeful inspiring slow-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

4.75

This book offered fantastic insight into a time period that I don’t know a lot about!

I had a hard time connecting to Yunxian at times and felt that there were points where the story dragged. But overall, this novel was beautifully written and was so full of insights and a deep sense of the love these women held for each other. 

Highly recommended!

The Stone Witch of Florence by Anna Rasche

emotional hopeful mysterious slow-paced

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

3.5

I loved the premise of this book and thought the world-building was very interesting. The way that Catholic beliefs were mixed with magic was really fascinating. 

However, the pacing was a problem for me throughout. It took awhile to get into the book and then the middle just dragged for me. I did find the ending very satisfying and really enjoyed the author’s note at the end.