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gnomereader's Reviews (127)
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
To be honest, I was SLIGHTLY hesitant to start this book because I personally find golf to be super boring (don’t come for me!) but I had some friends read this and they had nothing but good things to say, so I gave it a shot.
This was so adorable! It made golf- dare I say it? Exciting! Not only was this a quick read, it was spicy, funny, and wholesome. I loved the character development, for both Wells and Josephine. I also liked their ages because I am 32 and this didn’t feel too young while I read it.
I also thought it was cool that Josephine is a diabetic, and that this was something explored in a respectful and informative way. I have diabetic family members and thought it was great to see this represented in this manner.
Definitely be sure you have headphones handy if you listen to the audio for this around other people, it’s absolutely not something you want to play with little ears around, but I really enjoyed the audio, and that I was able to get through it in a single day. If you like quick paced sports romances, give this one a try!
This was so adorable! It made golf- dare I say it? Exciting! Not only was this a quick read, it was spicy, funny, and wholesome. I loved the character development, for both Wells and Josephine. I also liked their ages because I am 32 and this didn’t feel too young while I read it.
I also thought it was cool that Josephine is a diabetic, and that this was something explored in a respectful and informative way. I have diabetic family members and thought it was great to see this represented in this manner.
Definitely be sure you have headphones handy if you listen to the audio for this around other people, it’s absolutely not something you want to play with little ears around, but I really enjoyed the audio, and that I was able to get through it in a single day. If you like quick paced sports romances, give this one a try!
adventurous
funny
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
I love this series and it makes me just as happy reading it again. I am listening to the audio this time around and it’s great!
Atticus is hilarious, I love all the mythology and lore that is built into this world, Oberon is the best animal sidekick, and the story effortlessly holds my attention. They’re quick reads but the story is still rich in detail and so captivating. This is such a fun world to dive into and I’m super excited to read through the series again.
Atticus is hilarious, I love all the mythology and lore that is built into this world, Oberon is the best animal sidekick, and the story effortlessly holds my attention. They’re quick reads but the story is still rich in detail and so captivating. This is such a fun world to dive into and I’m super excited to read through the series again.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was so excited to get the chance to read the newest book from author Amber Paige and I was not disappointed.
This book is about two magical schools, one for witches and one for wizards, that host a yearly magical tournament where the two schools have students go head to head to earn both themselves and their schools prestige and honor. This year, things are different than years prior and in an effort to encourage collaboration between witches and wizards, one student from each school will be paired together to compete.
I loved the way Fraydora Academy, the school for witches hosting the tournament, is described. There was some very cool world building and I really enjoyed the way the magic and casting was described. I also really liked Ayra and Ryne, and how they were described. Their personalities, motivations, and physical descriptions were all fantastic and I loved watching their growth and progression through the story.
Another thing I really enjoyed were the familiars and how they are unique to the witch or wizard they are bound. It was really cool to see the way these creatures were both familiar to me as a reader and new in their design. This whole world felt very whimsical and beautiful and I imagined myself there as I read.
I would describe this as a cozy fantasy. My initial expectations of the magical tournament had me imagining something a little more high stakes from the beginning of the games, but I liked the way the games were written. It allowed the two main characters to interact in ways that really give their story room to grow. I would have loved a little more involvement from the supporting characters to help give a little more depth to Ayra and Ryne prior to the events of the book, but ultimately this was a great fantasy with some spice and a lovely message of overcoming trials and loving yourself along the way.
This book is about two magical schools, one for witches and one for wizards, that host a yearly magical tournament where the two schools have students go head to head to earn both themselves and their schools prestige and honor. This year, things are different than years prior and in an effort to encourage collaboration between witches and wizards, one student from each school will be paired together to compete.
I loved the way Fraydora Academy, the school for witches hosting the tournament, is described. There was some very cool world building and I really enjoyed the way the magic and casting was described. I also really liked Ayra and Ryne, and how they were described. Their personalities, motivations, and physical descriptions were all fantastic and I loved watching their growth and progression through the story.
Another thing I really enjoyed were the familiars and how they are unique to the witch or wizard they are bound. It was really cool to see the way these creatures were both familiar to me as a reader and new in their design. This whole world felt very whimsical and beautiful and I imagined myself there as I read.
I would describe this as a cozy fantasy. My initial expectations of the magical tournament had me imagining something a little more high stakes from the beginning of the games, but I liked the way the games were written. It allowed the two main characters to interact in ways that really give their story room to grow. I would have loved a little more involvement from the supporting characters to help give a little more depth to Ayra and Ryne prior to the events of the book, but ultimately this was a great fantasy with some spice and a lovely message of overcoming trials and loving yourself along the way.
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
This book was incredibly emotional, and ultimately very powerful. The way this was portrayed had me feeling as though I was looking out through Eva’s eyes. I experienced an all consuming empathy for her struggles, my heart and soul aching for her, as well as rejoicing with her when the moment allowed.
I am not easily upset when reading, there aren’t many topics that are difficult for me, but this story and the personal battles and abuse that Eva endured in her life to set her on her journey of healing were very tangible and raw. I would never wish these things on anyone, however I feel humbled and fortunate to have been given the opportunity to hear her story and read her words. This is a heavy story, but it’s one worth knowing.
Thank you Eva for sharing such personal moments, you have inspired me and I hope sharing your story gives you strength during the hard times. This impactful, honest memoir is one that will stay with me for a while yet.
I am not easily upset when reading, there aren’t many topics that are difficult for me, but this story and the personal battles and abuse that Eva endured in her life to set her on her journey of healing were very tangible and raw. I would never wish these things on anyone, however I feel humbled and fortunate to have been given the opportunity to hear her story and read her words. This is a heavy story, but it’s one worth knowing.
Thank you Eva for sharing such personal moments, you have inspired me and I hope sharing your story gives you strength during the hard times. This impactful, honest memoir is one that will stay with me for a while yet.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
"You must see what is around you and learn to bend it to your will before you are the one who is bent."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It took me a little time after finishing this to just sit with it before I attempted to write my thoughts out. I absolutely LOVED this book. It was so emotional and so incredibly beautiful in the nuances of the writing. Clytemnestra is a character in Greek mythology that I think is misunderstood.
Often with mythology and retellings, stories tend to be shaped and shared with bias, depending on who is telling it. A lot of the time, men are the heroes and the stories are told from their perspectives. The trials they face and the hardships they experience by the hands of the gods are seen as worthy reasons for their actions and they end up praised in the end. Women in mythology are overlooked a lot of the time, or even villainized for just existing.
Costanza Casati turned this formula on its head and allowed the women of the stories to shine. Clytemnestra is one of the strongest female protagonists I have had the pleasure of reading about recently. This book really dives into what she went through and how that influenced her decisions as she moves through her own story. More than just the actions and consequences that follow, this really showed her emotional and mental anguish and reasoning in a way that I felt I could relate to, despite the fact that her world view and experiences are nothing like things I experience in my own life.
I am a fan of Madeline Miller and Natalie Haynes, and Costanza Casati fits right in with these other amazing authors. I loved the way Clytemnestra's story coincides with books like Circe, Song of Achilles (Madaline Miller), and A Thousand Ships (Natalie Haynes). It was so cool to see the "behind the scenes" of more known events, like the Trojan war, from this new perspective.
Ultimately I have nothing but praise and I could go on forever about it, but I'll end my thoughts with this: if you love mythology as much as I do, don't sleep on this book. It was incredible and it will stick with me for a long while. This is a book I will happily read again, if only to remind myself that there is always more than one side to every story.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"It is noble to be gentle, to save others from pain. But it is also dangerous. Sometimes you have to make life difficult for others before they make it impossible for you."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It took me a little time after finishing this to just sit with it before I attempted to write my thoughts out. I absolutely LOVED this book. It was so emotional and so incredibly beautiful in the nuances of the writing. Clytemnestra is a character in Greek mythology that I think is misunderstood.
Often with mythology and retellings, stories tend to be shaped and shared with bias, depending on who is telling it. A lot of the time, men are the heroes and the stories are told from their perspectives. The trials they face and the hardships they experience by the hands of the gods are seen as worthy reasons for their actions and they end up praised in the end. Women in mythology are overlooked a lot of the time, or even villainized for just existing.
Costanza Casati turned this formula on its head and allowed the women of the stories to shine. Clytemnestra is one of the strongest female protagonists I have had the pleasure of reading about recently. This book really dives into what she went through and how that influenced her decisions as she moves through her own story. More than just the actions and consequences that follow, this really showed her emotional and mental anguish and reasoning in a way that I felt I could relate to, despite the fact that her world view and experiences are nothing like things I experience in my own life.
I am a fan of Madeline Miller and Natalie Haynes, and Costanza Casati fits right in with these other amazing authors. I loved the way Clytemnestra's story coincides with books like Circe, Song of Achilles (Madaline Miller), and A Thousand Ships (Natalie Haynes). It was so cool to see the "behind the scenes" of more known events, like the Trojan war, from this new perspective.
Ultimately I have nothing but praise and I could go on forever about it, but I'll end my thoughts with this: if you love mythology as much as I do, don't sleep on this book. It was incredible and it will stick with me for a long while. This is a book I will happily read again, if only to remind myself that there is always more than one side to every story.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"It is noble to be gentle, to save others from pain. But it is also dangerous. Sometimes you have to make life difficult for others before they make it impossible for you."
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
dark
tense
medium-paced
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was such a breath of fresh air and it was so beautiful! I loved it!
It was sweet, funny, emotional, and inspiring. I loved the characters and I loved the way they moved the story along. The character growth and development was phenomenal, especially for such a quick read.
This was like reading some of my favorite childhood fantasy books as a grown up and I am living for that hit of nostalgia.
It was sweet, funny, emotional, and inspiring. I loved the characters and I loved the way they moved the story along. The character growth and development was phenomenal, especially for such a quick read.
This was like reading some of my favorite childhood fantasy books as a grown up and I am living for that hit of nostalgia.