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feuillycakes's reviews
153 reviews
Radio Silence by Alice Oseman
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-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
Shadows of the Workhouse by Jennifer Worth
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Where the Drowned Girls Go by Seanan McGuire
inspiring
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.5
This book reminds me of every book I read as a kid where the adults are horribly unfair for seemingly no reason. I felt just as trapped as the students, which is I guess the point but made me put the book down for a few days to get in the right headspace. I'd describe the book as a creeping horror.
This one felt more like a personal journey than the other books in the series. A LOT of character growth goes on, and not just for Cora. I really enjoyed the callbacks to the previous books, and the way Cora is still being affected by the things she has lived through. I like it when the heroes of stories get to have real consequences for their heroics, because not everything is fixed after the saving people thing is done.
I'd say pretty much all the action kicks off in the last third of the book. So many things happened, and so many discoveries were had, but alas, it is a cliffhanger and I must wait impatiently for the next book that isn't a standalone. I really hope some things get explained soon because I am on the edge of my seat here!
This one felt more like a personal journey than the other books in the series. A LOT of character growth goes on, and not just for Cora. I really enjoyed the callbacks to the previous books, and the way Cora is still being affected by the things she has lived through. I like it when the heroes of stories get to have real consequences for their heroics, because not everything is fixed after the saving people thing is done.
I'd say pretty much all the action kicks off in the last third of the book. So many things happened, and so many discoveries were had, but alas, it is a cliffhanger and I must wait impatiently for the next book that isn't a standalone. I really hope some things get explained soon because I am on the edge of my seat here!
Redemptor by Jordan Ifueko
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-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
5.0
This was the best sequel I have read in a long time. Everything I remember I wasn’t too sure of in Raybearer was fixed in this. I felt satisfied with the bonding that was shown in order for Tarisai to anoint her council. If we had seen every single happening this would be longer than Les Mis, so what we did see seemed the perfect amount.
Tarisai frustrated me in this book. She’s an unreliable narrator because of her emotional turmoil, and makes some dumb decisions that she wouldn’t have if not for her being haunted by the ghost children. I still rooted for her though, and I guess that means she’s a very good character with lots of depth.
So many new characters were introduced and old ones too, and I loved them all. No one felt like a side character even if they were only there for a single page. I especially loved little Adukeh and her songs.
The only thing I could wish to be different is for there to be another book of literally just domestic bliss vibes with all the characters living happily together and nothing is wrong and nobody is sad. Yeah I definitely love this book.
Tarisai frustrated me in this book. She’s an unreliable narrator because of her emotional turmoil, and makes some dumb decisions that she wouldn’t have if not for her being haunted by the ghost children. I still rooted for her though, and I guess that means she’s a very good character with lots of depth.
So many new characters were introduced and old ones too, and I loved them all. No one felt like a side character even if they were only there for a single page. I especially loved little Adukeh and her songs.
The only thing I could wish to be different is for there to be another book of literally just domestic bliss vibes with all the characters living happily together and nothing is wrong and nobody is sad. Yeah I definitely love this book.
Family of Liars by E. Lockhart
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I can’t say I loved this as much as We Were Liars. I’m not even sure if the reason I enjoyed it so much was because of my love of the first book or if it is just a genuinely good book. I loved finding out about the history on the Sinclair family, seeing the little nuggets of information that we weren’t privy to in the first book, the tension of wondering what exactly this big, terrible secret was going to be. I’m not so sure the writing style of the first book was entirely effective when used here, though. I didn’t really like the use of fairytales like I did in We Were Liars, and the weird line breaks didn’t make me feel the words more strongly like they did before. I do love a good plot twist though, a big reveals are very much my kind of thing.
The only thing I felt a bit icky about was the whole thing of using sexuality as some plot twist or excuse for bad behaviour. It felt very sudden and slapdash, like there needed to be an excuse and then once it was used it was barely mentioned again.
All in all, I did enjoy this book and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who loved We Were Liars.
The only thing I felt a bit icky about was the whole thing of using sexuality as some plot twist or excuse for bad behaviour. It felt very sudden and slapdash, like there needed to be an excuse and then once it was used it was barely mentioned again.
All in all, I did enjoy this book and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who loved We Were Liars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Child death, Rape, and Alcohol
Minor: Body shaming
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Afterlove by Tanya Byrne
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
3.75
This was unexpectedly more of a contemporary with fantasy elements rather than a fantasy set in the modern world. It’s a feeling I got while reading and also because for over 100 pages it is just a love story. I enjoyed it just fine but I think it’s for the mid to late teen age rather than early 20s. I think a teenager who need to work through some difficult emotions would find this book very moving and helpful.
My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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