flightyreads's reviews
70 reviews

The Curious Incident of the Great Cookie Snackcident of 979 by Kass O'Shire

lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

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

4.0

Note: I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. 

I thought this little novella was super sweet! It was very cute reading about Abi and Senka meeting and knowing instantly that they were meant for each other. At the same time, we got some more worldbuilding lore that enhanced our other books! I wish we had more of it, but novellas are meant to be short. A very cute quick read, 4/5 stars. 

Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

Wow. Hazelwood generally blows me away with her romances, but this book is in a new league of its own. I loved being inside both Rue and Eli’s heads, and was astonished to realize how little time had passed throughout the story. It is amazing how quickly a character can develop. 
I appreciated learning about Rue’s childhood driving her work and emotional turmoil, and Eli, while less relatable for me on a personal level, still tore at my heart when talking about his past. 
This book does have its lighthearted moments, but overall felt like a second coming of age story. Hazelwood becomes a better author with every story. I rated it 5/5 stars and would recommend to all romance readers. 

The Sky on Fire by Jenn Lyons

adventurous emotional medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

Note: I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. 

I *loved* this book. I am not much of a DND player, but I couldn’t help but imagine this book as a DND party adventuring through the wild. Anahrod made for a compelling heroine in her growth, as she went from hiding her life away to claiming the power that is rightfully hers. I loved our supporting side cast as well, who were all fleshed out and felt like real people. Lyons does an amazing job of reminding the reader that these characters are humans first before they are heroes, and I loved each person’s character arc. I only wished we had a bit more of Sicaryon’s story, as I felt his past was not shared enough. Sicaryon’s past would make for an amazing prequel, hint hint!

The dragons. I am in love with Peralon, and I was dying to see more of him each chapter! How wonderful, to have a godlike creature who never lost sight of what makes life worth living. Neveranimas is an incredible villain, and realistic aside from the whole being a dragon thing. Her motivations and desires mirror those who are corrupt and in-power in the real world. 

I adored this book, and I know every fantasy reader and dragon-lover would too. 5/5 stars for me!!!

Cursebreakers: A Novel by Madeleine Nakamura

challenging tense medium-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

2.5

I think I was not the right audience for this book. I enjoy books with fleshed out worldbuilding, but found this book to have minimal, if any, worldbuilding. All we know about the world are a few things pertinent to the main character and no one else. 
I also found it hard to be emotionally attached to any character aside from Gennady, and that was mainly once you realize what a young kid he is, and born more out of pity than anything else. I wanted to enjoy Malise, the amazing healer, but found her character flat. Adrien overall wasn’t the worst main character, and from my understanding of Bipolar Disorder, a not terrible representative. Yet he just wasn’t as entertaining to follow the story through the way Gennady would have been in my opinion. 
Overall I rated this book 2.5/5 stars. 

For Eternity by Geneva Lee

adventurous emotional slow-paced

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

4.0

I definitely enjoyed this book a lot more than the third book. I am not a personal fan of young pregnancy tropes (they met like 6 months ago!!!) but other than that I thought this book was a good conclusion to the main couple’s story. It left room to continue the worldbuilding with future couples and storylines. I also enjoyed the battle scenes and plot twist that I actually was surprised by. I have preordered the new series already and will still be continuing with this author. 

Filthy Rich Vampires: Three Queens by Geneva Lee

dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

3.0

This book was rather disappointing compared to the previous two. The first half was manageable. It’s always hard to read a story where one main character is taken out of commission for an extended period of time. It’s even harder when it happens a second time to the other main character. And for a character brought back from literal death to, literally one page later, think about sex so quickly, felt cheap and one-dimensional. I also found several pivotal plot points to be rather predictable (other relationships, the entire ending of the book, etc). Of course there were still elements I enjoyed, such as Thea coming into herself more as a character, and learning more about Jacqueline. Still, I struggled to enoy the last third of the book, and rated this 3/5 stars. I do have faith that the last book will be better and I am looking forward to following with that. 

Filthy Rich Vampires: Second Rite by Geneva Lee

adventurous emotional medium-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

5.0

I am INVESTED in Thea and Julian’s relationship to the extreme! I procrastinated my other responsibilities in order to read this book in under 24 hours. I really enjoyed learning more about the lore of this mythological world and vampiric abilities. I am dying to know more about Thea’s family history and the future of this world. I can’t wait to read the next one, 5/5 stars!

Filthy Rich Vampire by Geneva Lee

adventurous funny fast-paced

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

5.0

I was pleasantly surprised by just how much I enjoyed this book! I loved the design of the vampires in contrast with other popular series (I definitely noticed the subtle nod to Twilight!). The vampires and their lore are fairly similar to those in The Vampire Diaries by LJ Smith. My one  question that never seem to arise was the sun destruction lore. I was surprised Thea did not ask Julian about it. 
Overall, I absolutely loved this book and devoured it rather quickly. I eagerly am awaiting the sequel! I recommend this book to vampire romance lovers everywhere. 5/5 stars from me!

Stone Blind: A Novel by Natalie Haynes

emotional funny reflective slow-paced

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

4.25

This book is a series of retellings of Greek mythology as they relate to Medusa. It brings the story of Medusa’s upbringing, assault, and eventual beheading to tie into Perseus and his mother’s story, Andromeda’s (Perseus’s eventual wife) story, and Athene’s story(/a, the goddess most known for aiding Perseus in his quest to kill Medusa). 

I very much enjoyed the beginning of the story for all involved. I loved watching Medusa grow up, until Poseidon assaults her. I loved Athene’s creation, until Hephaestus assaults her. And these two are stark parallels to Perseus, another man who takes because he believes he is owed. 

I think any feminist with a tinge of interest in Greek mythology would enjoy this book. I rated it 4.25/5 stars. 

You’re Beautiful When You Smile by Qing Mei

funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.5

I started reading the translation of this book online after binging the drama series based on the book. I *loved* Tong Yao and Lu Sicheng and their relationship so much!! As a competitive gamer, it was fun to pretend that the competitive scene is as open and accepting as the world in this media. I struggled a bit with the detailed Legaue of Legends gameplay since I don’t play this game, but the characters made it worth it to stick it through! I rated this book a 3.5/5 stars, but I loved the drama even more.