frenchtoast_n_books's reviews
498 reviews

The Stars and the Blackness Between Them by Junauda Petrus

emotional informative inspiring 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? No

3.5

In short, there was so much I loved about this book but there were things that I just didn't get. Let's get into it.

The whole first half was a beautiful narrative of what brought 2 teens together, what hardships they face, and how they braved the love and cruelties of the world to manage throughout the day.

Then Mabel hears the finality of her terminal illness and this story veers onto another path. The story becomes jumbled with Mabel's dreams that have no real context or reflection in the story, her journey with Audre, and her learning about a man facing the death penalty.

I'll center on the dreams because that's where the disconnect lies. I love that these dreams are meant to connect Mabel to the universe and the cycle of life and ancestors to help her through her diagnosis, BUT these dreams are of Audre's grandmother, a person Mabel has never met and her past that Mabel has never learned. It failed to meet the mark, especially since there is no reflection or discussion on these dreams. They happen without warning and then they are gone in the next blink. I'm left thinking, "that was the point?" and "why should I care?"

Then the book ends in a painfully abrupt way that I understand but it will always leave me hoping for more.

I would have honestly loved the story (5 out of 5) if the dreams were cut or at the very least explained within the text. Though I have heard the creole isn't accurate, but I can't comment on that as I have no expertise in the matter, and I honestly loved the "spoken word" feel the narration holds. It makes me feel like I'm in the person's head.

I loved the discussions, the relationships, the words, and the story so much. I enjoyed the poems of every astrological sign that marked the passage of time. I loved so much this story had to offer. Though it wasn't perfect, I will read whatever this author releases next.

Content Warnings

Finale (Large Print) by Stephanie Garber

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adventurous hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

This is the conclusion of Tella and Scarlett's story. The end all after Caraval exposed them to love and magic, Valenda lost their Empress, and the Fates have been unleashed on the citizens. Does love and goodness conquer? Do Tella and Scarlett get a "happily ever after"?

Honestly, I was left frustrated by the frilly hyperbolic writing. I'm sure I would have enjoyed it if I were younger, but I couldn't take some sentences seriously. For example: "time was rushing faster than blood could pour out of a sliced artery." I work in surgery and I've seen how fast blood pours out of a sliced artery. It takes minutes for a sliced artery to kill or do irreparable damage . They had 4 days to stop a monster. I wouldn't call that equal comparisons. Now, maybe I'm being picky, but I just didn't like the hyperbolic writing.

Then we get into the relationships and I could not handle the possessiveness of the love interests and what Tella and Scarlett let them get away with after either a lack of an apology or a flimsy apology was presented. I also don't care if magical immortality strips you of love, that doesn't excuse your sleazy behavior. There was also a moment that Tella fought for a good 100+ pages on an issue, and when she finally accepted the issue she was immediately denied that issue because of the very reason of her protests for the pervious 100+ pages. I threw my hands up, laughed for 5 minutes, and put the book down for a day or so. I didn't get it. I thought it was unnecessary. It was completely pointless tension between the characters and frustrated me to no end. (Now finishing the book, I do "get it" but I still felt it unnecessary and pointless.)

A few other plot devices happened that I didn't care for, but they are too "spoilery" to mention here.

I will get nit-picky again in regards to the end. It felt like a bad soap-opera in execution. There were moments when characters did something and I could imagine them smacking a hand to each side of their face, look directly into the camera in shock and say their line. It was comical, and not in the good way.

I must mention that some writing comparisons hit the mark and gave me exactly what the author intended. The relationship between Tella and Scarlett are serious goals, and the discussion of parentage not defining who you are made me ever so happy. Also, the insult "Don't talk to me, you duplicitous disappointment of a woman" may just make it into my favorite insults vault.

Now, overall I did like the plot. I really love the world building and magic presented in the story. The fashion is mesmerizing, and I wish I could see the locations in real life, especially the Immortal Library. I did enjoy how everything wrapped up and how little hints of previous story elements made its way to the end. The story itself was a dream, the execution was just not my cup of tea.

I feel like a quote toward the beginning of the book adequately reflects my thoughts to the story:

"He was trying to dazzle her. But dazzle was a lot like romance - fantastic while it lasted, but it never lasted long enough."

Content Warnings

War Storm by Victoria Aveyard

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adventurous dark tense medium-paced

Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I've got to think about my rating.

I can't say this was a whirlwind but it wasn't a snail either. The pacing was appropriate during the battles and the space between battles that were meant for character development and political intrigue.

The characters were not as whiny as the 3rd book but I can't say the character development over the last 3 books worked with where the characters ended up by the end of this book. It felt wishy-washy.

Also, the end didn't feel like a solid conclusion to a series. I can appreciate the "rome wasn't built in a day" feel to the end because you can't "fix" a country quickly after a rebellion and external war in one book. However, it does make the book series feel incomplete. If the novella bind-up helps solidify the series conclusion, maybe I'll give it a chance.

(Let me know because I seriously never read novellas that are tied to a series.)

All-in-all, this book was a solid book but it wasn't a solid conclusion to a series. It made me feel luke warm as I read the last couple of chapters.

Content Warnings