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eye_sabel's reviews
50 reviews
Where the Dark Stands Still by A.B. Poranek
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
i definitely enjoyed this more than i thought i would (maybe bc i'm a history nerd) but this was such a beautiful and engaging story. i'm a sucker for books about siblings and the love between them, so i really enjoyed reading about laura and how intense her desire to find her brother was. honestly i did sort of prefer freddie's pov, especially in the beginning, but as time went on (especially after they reached the hospital) i found myself enjoying laura's a lot more. the romance was nice, though i would have maybe liked for there to be a bit more, since i didn't like how crammed it all felt at the end. i enjoyed both freddie and winter, and laura and jones, and i wish there was more of them because i know i would have really enjoyed it. also, as sad as it was, i sort of loved the tragedy of laura fighting so hard for her brother, and still having to let him go so that he can be happy. it's beautifully tragic. all in all, i think the quote arden mentions in her authors note sums up the story perfectly. "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and War
As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh
challenging
dark
reflective
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
4.5
this book was so beautifully written, and i think it's a really important story to read. the depiction of grief and ptsd was so interesting to read, and i really liked the way the author shows the way these things have affected salama; she isn't a perfect victim, no one ever is. my only issue was the twist with layla but even though i personally didn't like it, i understand WHY it was added. overall, this was a really beautiful story, and given the current state of the world, it feels like a book everyone should read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, War, and Medical content
Moderate: Sexual assault
For the Throne by Hannah Whitten
Did not finish book. Stopped at 60%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 60%.
got bored and don't care about neve
For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
it was a really slow start and i had a hard time getting into it but once more of the side characters started joining them i found it really enjoyable
Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
i honestly didn't think i'd like this sequel as much as the first book, and for part of the time i was reading this was true, but the more the story developed the more i LOVED it. ione and elm were so nice together, and while i do think a little more development and time would have made their part of the story better, i understand that the book isn't necessarily a romance. so although the development of their relationship wasn't perfect, i think it was still really good considering all the other things going on. i also cried when the shepard king left elspeth. it was such a bittersweet ending bc she and everyone else can finally be happy, and his spirit can finally rest, but they can never truly be together again. him telling ravyn he wanted to be like a FATHER to her??? so insanely sad, like yes he was kinda messed up a lot of times but he was just trying to help elspeth in the way he knew how (plus his spirit was also locked away for hundreds of years so it makes sense that he was kind of unhinged 💀) overall super super good, such a wonderful end to the story.