findingthefantasticstory's reviews
536 reviews

Slaying the Vampire Conqueror by Carissa Broadbent

adventurous mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

I just love this series so much! And to think I wasn't even going to read this. I thought it was something totally separate to the series of duologies but the author announced the characters in Slaying the Vampire Conqueror would show up in the next book so I felt like I had to read this.

I really enjoyed this. I thought it was unique to the rest of the series as we're seeing a Vampire army take over a human country. It was so interesting to see a different world but also see how similar human and vampire rulers are, its always about holding the power.

I honestly can't wait to see these characters again.

Elphie: A Wicked Childhood by Gregory Maguire

challenging slow-paced

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

2.0

This book was so hard to get through. I listened to the audiobook, if I'd been reading this I would have had to make it as DNF. Thankfully the audiobook allowed me to have this on in the background on my work commute and while I WFH.

This read like a history book, very matter of fact and very boring. 

The book seemed to really focus on the parents and nanny while Elphaba was a child. The lack of speech really added to the history book feel which I hated.

I really don't know what this added to the series. It kinda makes me feel that the author was just trying to get more money from the popularity of the film.

The Bones Beneath My Skin by TJ Klune

adventurous emotional reflective 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? No

4.75

Another great found family read by Klune.

I was worried I wouldn't enjoy his as is more sci-fi rather than fantasy. I also didn't really like Alex to start with but I think that's because I wasn't sure what to expect. In the end I ended up loving both Alex and Artemis.

When I was reading and listening to this I found the writing style to be almost identical to the Wolfsong series. I just love the way these books are written. There's just so much heart and its all about finding those you love.

I would really recommend this to anyone who want to ease into science fiction and for anyone who wants a nice sweet read.

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

adventurous dark emotional hopeful tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

What can I say? I keep forgetting how good The Hunger Games series is and then I read a book and suddenly remember.

I am so happy that Haymitch got his own book. Its so interesting (and heartbreaking) to see how he came to be the man we all know and love from the original trilogy.  

I also loved all the cameos but again they were just heartbreaking, especially one of them.

It was interesting to see how much Collins focused on how governments twist what is televised to suit their message. And people say books aren't political!

I know people want more spin offs to show other loved characters and their games but I think thisnis a good place to stop. He only book I won't say no to is Finnick but I would be more interested in seeing what happened after he won as I think that's a message we haven't seen yet.

This Ends in Embers by Kamilah Cole

adventurous challenging slow-paced

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

3.0

I really loved So Let Them Burn, it was a 5* read. Due to this I had really high expectations for This Ends in Embers. Unfortunately it did not live up to them.

I found the book to be so slow. The author was trying to remind the reader if what happened in the first book while also trying to progress the story. I really struggled with remembering what happened in So Let Them Burn that it took away a lot of the urgency.

The best but was the battle but that was only the last 100 pages. It was so rush and I was getting confused as it seemed to skip bits so i was like 'how did they get there?'.

So yeah, this was very disappointing.

Fate Be Changed by Farrah Rochon

adventurous fast-paced

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

4.0

I love the Twisted Tales series. I like seeing what twists they book on Disney stories.

Fate be Changed us based on Brave and I think this story really put a good twist on this story and the twist is that Merida eats the cake that was made for her mother. This sends Merida back in time to meet the teenage version of her mother and father.

I just loved this twist. I loved seeing Merida meet her mother and actually see how much in common they have an how her mother is actually a lot less strict that her grandmother.

I also loved how they put in the bear aspect, it was subtle but I'm glad they had it in there.

The Sirens by Emilia Hart

challenging emotional mysterious slow-paced

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

3.0

I am so glad that I listened to the audiobook. I feel that if I was reading this The Sirens would have been a DNF.

It was very atmospheric and he plot was interesting, it was just too slow for me. I also didn't really feel any connection with the characters so I was a bit 'eh who cares'.

I did like the twist in the modern day. It's just shame it was relieved quite early on.

No Place Left To Hide by Megan Lally

tense fast-paced

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

3.0

I'm giving this 3 stars as it's a hard book to rate.

I guessed who was behind the stalking and the driving early on but that didn't stop this from being a fast paced read. I think that's mainly because I wasn't sure what the stalker wants the main character to confess to.

Cursebound by Saara El-Arifi

adventurous fast-paced

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

4.5

This is the best sequel I have read in while! 

This was fast paced, there was action as well as plot movement and that twist

Obeh being humans! What!!

.

Oh an I love that there was a recap if what happened at the beginning. I think every book need one if those. It made getting back into the story much better.

I can't wait for the next book!

The Crash by Freida McFadden

medium-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

1.0

This is my second McFadden book and most likely my last. I did not enjoy this at all.

A lot like The Housemaid I guessed a lot of the book.

i also hated how the two female characterswere just assuming everythging about each other. Polly was the worst. I kept eye rolling so hard that i would get headaches!

When the real twist happened i just didnt care to be shocked.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape