frostyreads's reviews
34 reviews

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

adventurous dark inspiring fast-paced

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

4.0

“what is infinite? the universe, and the greed of men.” 

i couldn’t get into this book at first, but i persevered as i was desperate to read it before the netflix show was released. i couldn’t wrap my head around the names of the classes, and a glossary would’ve saved me a lot of googling. 

however, once i could identify the classes, the novel became much easier to follow, and i absolutely flew through the remainder of it. with plot twists at every corner, romance, intricate characters and magic, it was hard not to be fully immersed in the world. i already have high hopes for this trilogy. 

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

adventurous dark emotional tense 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? Yes

4.0

 i have so many mixed emotions about this book!

i couldn’t decide whether feyre’s constant disobeying of tamlin’s orders was courageous, or just plain stupid. regardless, i loved her rebellious tendencies and fierce motivation to fight for the spring court. it was incredible to watch her blossom into the individual she became.

i thought the plot was slow, which gave me a chance to familiarise myself with the world and genre, but i felt that there were some chapters in the middle which could be taken out and it wouldn’t make a difference to the overall plot. because of this dip, i couldn’t give this book the 5 stars that i wanted to. when it started to pick back up, though, i found it hard to stop reading. and wow, that ending.

i’ve been seeing this book all over instagram, and i think i finally understand the hype. i’ve heard so many great things about the sequel, and i can’t wait to delve back into the inevitable chaos. 

The Cousins by Karen M. McManus

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

 a brilliant read full of twists and surprises - the plot twist at the end was mind-blowing! i fully enjoyed every chapter, and delving into the complexities and relationships between the parents and their siblings. my only issues with the book were the over-use of ‘a’ names (by the end, i was very confused!) and i didn’t feel the same amount as attachment to the three cousins compared to the ‘one of us is lying’ series, hence why i couldn’t give it the 5 stars. however, despite these issues, i still fell in love with the plot, location and concluding message. i can fully recommend this book. 

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

 wow, that ending! i just finished this book, and i can’t put into words how i’m feeling. i normally guess plot twists within the first few pages, but this book had me guessing until the very end. to be honest, i wasn’t a fan of any of the characters - none of them were particularly likeable - but the narrator kept me intrigued, and the fact that he’s a psychotherapist instantly drew me to him. i finally understand the huge hype behind this book, and i have nothing else to say other than read it, immediately. 

Lies Like Poison by Chelsea Pitcher

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

2.5

 i’ll start with the positives. lies like poison was undoubtedly better than this lie will kill you. the characters were so much more likeable, the premise was a lot more interesting and there was a lot of lgbt representation, which is always a bonus for me. raven and jack’s relationship left me whole-hearted, and the back stories were a great way to show the budding friendships between the characters.

however, much like chelsea’s first book, the plot was very slow-moving and the varying perspectives and parents names confused me a lot. the first plot twist had me gripped and hanging on until the very last pages, but the final reveal was so anti-climatic, evoking no emotion in me at all. lastly, the ending was so far-fetched that i could’ve opened my window and thrown the book through it. i really wanted to like this book - it was considered a 4-star, until the final reveal - but i’ve finished it feeling a sense of something missing, disappointment even. 

The Tower of Nero by Rick Riordan

adventurous emotional inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

 i’ve loved and devoured the percy jackson series since i was 11, so to read the last page of this book left me in tears. apollo’s character development - becoming closer with his friends, willing to sacrifice himself to save the places he came to care about - was so heart-warming to read. every supporting character was so loveable, it’s even a struggle to hate the villains when the fight scene is encapsulated in disco lights, ironic music and hilarious methods of combat. the atmosphere that rick creates is something you want to be involved in, no matter what age, and i can’t recommend the series enough. 

Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron

adventurous funny mysterious tense 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

5.0

 “do not be silent.
raise your voice.
be the light in the dark.”

i was a little sceptical going into this novel, as it isn’t my normal read and i’d seen some reviews suggesting that the plot was predictable, but i thoroughly enjoyed it!

sophia was everything i could’ve asked for in a main character - black, beautiful and always courageous, despite the danger that mersailles bought to her. her relationship with constance was so wonderfully written and vital in defying both the patriarchal and homophobic values set by the king. their chemistry was unmistakable, and so heart-warming to read.

there were so many aspects to this mystery that it was impossible to predict them all. i love that the author left amina’s loyalty ambiguous. i’m normally a pessimist, but i like to think that amina’s budding friendship with sophia evoked a sense of guilt for her previous actions. this novel is so much more than a twisted tale of cinderella, and i would fully recommend it. 

Evidence of the Affair by Taylor Jenkins Reid

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

 i absolutely adored this book. so much emotion was packed into those little pages. david and carrie’s connection was developed in such a lovely way, and the twist at the end left me wanting more! like other reviewers, i was slightly put off by the gushiness of the language, but that’s the only fault i could find. i’d love to see more books written like this! 

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

dark emotional reflective sad slow-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

 this book has been on my shelf for a long time now. i was skeptical about picking it up at first, as i thought it would be just another story about a bunch of horrible, snobby little rich kids. but, after two binge-reading sessions, i was proven very wrong. 😅

this story is a masterpiece - so cleverly crafted, with beautiful extended metaphors and hints about the ending scattered within. i loved cadence, and was so moved by her relationship with gat that i felt the pain alongside her when she found him sending flowers to raquel. overall, this novel was heartbreaking to read, and i was shocked to the core at the final reveal, but i thoroughly enjoyed it. 🤍 

A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

adventurous dark emotional inspiring medium-paced

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

4.0

 a curse so dark and lonely is a great start to the curse breaker series, and a perfect re-telling of beauty and the beast. the novel throws you straight into the action, and the intensity and intrigue never wavered. the description of emberfall was so vivid and wonderful that i found myself yearning to visit myself. ✨

the representation in this book is amazing. harper doesn’t let her cerebral palsy define her. her brother is gay, and her mother suffers from cancer. you can’t help but feel all the emotions.

however, i couldn’t help but notice that some of the language was confusing. i found myself having to re-read a few sentences to fully understand the gist. that might just be my lockdown brain, though. 😂

part of me would have preferred harper to be with grey, but i really enjoyed the slow blossoming of her and rhen’s relationship. the final fight was a little anti-climatic, but the plot twist left me wanting to know more! i’m definitely going to be picking up the sequel straight away. ✨