Scan barcode
greeneggsandsam's reviews
70 reviews
Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare
adventurous
challenging
emotional
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? N/A
5.0
"These pictures are my heart. And if my heart was a canvas, every square inch of it would be painted over with you."
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Lady Midnight is the first in a trilogy set in the Shadowhunter world first introduced to readers in The Mortal Instruments series. We follow Emma Carstairs in her attempt to solve the deaths of her parents when the Clave (the law of the world) refuses to believe there is anything more to their deaths than a casualty of the war from the original series. However, a new string of murders that resemble her own parents' deaths give the group of Shadowhunters a lead.
It's been more than five years since I've read a Clare book, and I had forgotten how absolutely INCREDIBLE she is at writing characters and making you fall in love with them. I flew through this book despite its size being daunting, and i loved every minute of it. Each character brings something unique to the story. The murder mystery and forbidden love keeps the tension high, and the final chapter left my heart broken. I cannot wait to continue this series and figure out what's going to happen next because the ending left off a little bit of a cliffhanger!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Lady Midnight is the first in a trilogy set in the Shadowhunter world first introduced to readers in The Mortal Instruments series. We follow Emma Carstairs in her attempt to solve the deaths of her parents when the Clave (the law of the world) refuses to believe there is anything more to their deaths than a casualty of the war from the original series. However, a new string of murders that resemble her own parents' deaths give the group of Shadowhunters a lead.
It's been more than five years since I've read a Clare book, and I had forgotten how absolutely INCREDIBLE she is at writing characters and making you fall in love with them. I flew through this book despite its size being daunting, and i loved every minute of it. Each character brings something unique to the story. The murder mystery and forbidden love keeps the tension high, and the final chapter left my heart broken. I cannot wait to continue this series and figure out what's going to happen next because the ending left off a little bit of a cliffhanger!
The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas
medium-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
4.0
"You are light. And passion. Your laughter alone can lift my mood and effortlessly turn my day around in a matter of seconds."
⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Spanish Love Deception is a fake dating romance following Catalina, who needs a date to her sister's wedding in Spain to prove to her family that she is moving on with her life and happy. Her coworker, Aaron, offers to be her fake date, but the lines of what is reality and what is a show begin to blur.
This book started off weak for me, but it quickly redeemed itself. The first chapter was a repeat of Lina said she didn't need Aaron as her date and him saying she does need him (13 pages of this on repeat). So I started off a little worried. Lina comes off as a bit irritating to begin with, but I soon came to like her character with all its quirkiness and excitability. Aaron's characterization was amazing 🌶 that's all I'll say.
I loved the family dynamic once they got to Spain, and seeing the characters opening up. This book was hot one minute and then had me tearing up the next. It was pretty enjoyable after about the 100 - 140 page mark (something like that). I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who likes adult romances.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Spanish Love Deception is a fake dating romance following Catalina, who needs a date to her sister's wedding in Spain to prove to her family that she is moving on with her life and happy. Her coworker, Aaron, offers to be her fake date, but the lines of what is reality and what is a show begin to blur.
This book started off weak for me, but it quickly redeemed itself. The first chapter was a repeat of Lina said she didn't need Aaron as her date and him saying she does need him (13 pages of this on repeat). So I started off a little worried. Lina comes off as a bit irritating to begin with, but I soon came to like her character with all its quirkiness and excitability. Aaron's characterization was amazing 🌶 that's all I'll say.
I loved the family dynamic once they got to Spain, and seeing the characters opening up. This book was hot one minute and then had me tearing up the next. It was pretty enjoyable after about the 100 - 140 page mark (something like that). I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who likes adult romances.
Beasts and Beauty: Dangerous Tales by Soman Chainani
adventurous
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
I listened to this as an audio book and it was my first audio ever. I'm not sure audio books are for me, but the narrator was great. I definitely want to reread physically. I liked that some of the stories had LGBTQ rep and Feminist undertones.
Girls Made of Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-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
"Snow didn't break or shatter, and neither would she. All she had to do was be true to her nature. Cold as Snow, sharp as glass."
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Girls Made of Snow and Glass is a Snow White retelling that follows the perspectives of two characters, Lynet and Mina. Lynet is the teenage daughter of the king who just so happened to be created by a magician using the Snow of Whitespring. Mina is the naturally born daughter of the magician, who's heart he replaced with glass. Mina wants to know love, so she's determined to marry the widowed king and be a beloved queen by those in the kingdom.
This is a story of love, but not romance (the romance subplot is very minimal). It's a story of character development, of growing up, and of family.
I hadn't even finished the book when I knew I wanted to eventually reread it and take my time to annotate it. I thought myself mainly a lover of plot drive books, but this book is much more character focused, and I found myself loving every second of it. I absolutely love the writing, for starters. The twist to the classic tale was so unique and mesmerizing that it hooked me, and I kept wanting to know how it was all going to resolve, but I never wanted it to end either.
The character development is superb, the writing I'd atmospheric and beautiful, and the resolution will stick with me forever. This is definitely going to be an all time favorite for me.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Girls Made of Snow and Glass is a Snow White retelling that follows the perspectives of two characters, Lynet and Mina. Lynet is the teenage daughter of the king who just so happened to be created by a magician using the Snow of Whitespring. Mina is the naturally born daughter of the magician, who's heart he replaced with glass. Mina wants to know love, so she's determined to marry the widowed king and be a beloved queen by those in the kingdom.
This is a story of love, but not romance (the romance subplot is very minimal). It's a story of character development, of growing up, and of family.
I hadn't even finished the book when I knew I wanted to eventually reread it and take my time to annotate it. I thought myself mainly a lover of plot drive books, but this book is much more character focused, and I found myself loving every second of it. I absolutely love the writing, for starters. The twist to the classic tale was so unique and mesmerizing that it hooked me, and I kept wanting to know how it was all going to resolve, but I never wanted it to end either.
The character development is superb, the writing I'd atmospheric and beautiful, and the resolution will stick with me forever. This is definitely going to be an all time favorite for me.
Among the Beasts & Briars by Ashley Poston
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
"But I wasn't made for this quest- I was a gardener's daughter. I did not thrive where my roots did not grow."
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Among the Beasts and Briars is a young adult fantasy following the daughter of the royal gardener, Cerys, who belongs to the kingdom of Aloriya. The people of this kingdom have always thought that they are kept safe from the nightmares in the surrounded woods thanks to an agreement made with the "Lady of the Wilds" and the first king. So when the things in the woods attack the village, Cerys is left to find the lady with only a fox's company.
These beautiful covers continue to fool me y'all, because this book was so much darker than I expected going in. And I loved every minute of it. I flew through this book because I could not put it down. I loved the plot line, the descriptions, the twists, and how dark and creepy it got. I don't know why this isn't classed as fantasy horror, but as someone who's learning they love YA horror, I would've picked this up sooner if it had been labeled horror.
It's a pretty fast-passed story, and I can't remember a moment when I wasn't enthralled with what was going on or wondering how everything was going to be turned upside down. I love how everything wrapped up in the end, nicely but not too perfectly- not ignoring all the difficult things that the characters went through. This is an author I'm definitely going to want to pick up more books from!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Among the Beasts and Briars is a young adult fantasy following the daughter of the royal gardener, Cerys, who belongs to the kingdom of Aloriya. The people of this kingdom have always thought that they are kept safe from the nightmares in the surrounded woods thanks to an agreement made with the "Lady of the Wilds" and the first king. So when the things in the woods attack the village, Cerys is left to find the lady with only a fox's company.
These beautiful covers continue to fool me y'all, because this book was so much darker than I expected going in. And I loved every minute of it. I flew through this book because I could not put it down. I loved the plot line, the descriptions, the twists, and how dark and creepy it got. I don't know why this isn't classed as fantasy horror, but as someone who's learning they love YA horror, I would've picked this up sooner if it had been labeled horror.
It's a pretty fast-passed story, and I can't remember a moment when I wasn't enthralled with what was going on or wondering how everything was going to be turned upside down. I love how everything wrapped up in the end, nicely but not too perfectly- not ignoring all the difficult things that the characters went through. This is an author I'm definitely going to want to pick up more books from!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Violence
Beneath the Haunting Sea by Joanna Ruth Meyer
adventurous
dark
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? N/A
4.0
4 stars
Beneath the Haunting Sea is the first book in a companion duology that follows Talia, a young woman born into a world of myths and legends that many do not believe in anymore. After she and her mother are exiled from their kingdom, they are shipped off to Ryn, a lonely island surrounded by a sea that seems to be calling to Talia. Part of her terms of being sent away from her kingdom is to be entered into an arranged marriage with the son of the Baron of the Ruen-Dahr on the large island. It is here that Talia enters into a world of learning about the myths and legends she once did not believe in and understanding why the sea is calling to her so clearly.
I absolutely adored learning about the world and the myths in this book. It was soo interesting. It had me hooked from the get go, and it's what made me interested in the book to begin with. However, there is a love triangle/square that takes up a huge chunk of the middle of the book, and while I don't mind love triangle situations, I feel it took away from how amazing this book was because it didn't add to the plot in my opinion. I also felt that one of the characters in the love triangle was more of a... lust at first sight situation, rather than an actual love interest, and that Talia just got swept up in her first romantic situation because this character was one I did not enjoy at all.
Joanna Ruth Meyer has incredible writing that I also loved reading. Her descriptions and the thought she put into this book made me enjoy it over all, despite the distraction in the middle. I will definitely be reading the companion novel and want to pick up her other works as well.
Beneath the Haunting Sea is the first book in a companion duology that follows Talia, a young woman born into a world of myths and legends that many do not believe in anymore. After she and her mother are exiled from their kingdom, they are shipped off to Ryn, a lonely island surrounded by a sea that seems to be calling to Talia. Part of her terms of being sent away from her kingdom is to be entered into an arranged marriage with the son of the Baron of the Ruen-Dahr on the large island. It is here that Talia enters into a world of learning about the myths and legends she once did not believe in and understanding why the sea is calling to her so clearly.
I absolutely adored learning about the world and the myths in this book. It was soo interesting. It had me hooked from the get go, and it's what made me interested in the book to begin with. However, there is a love triangle/square that takes up a huge chunk of the middle of the book, and while I don't mind love triangle situations, I feel it took away from how amazing this book was because it didn't add to the plot in my opinion. I also felt that one of the characters in the love triangle was more of a... lust at first sight situation, rather than an actual love interest, and that Talia just got swept up in her first romantic situation because this character was one I did not enjoy at all.
Joanna Ruth Meyer has incredible writing that I also loved reading. Her descriptions and the thought she put into this book made me enjoy it over all, despite the distraction in the middle. I will definitely be reading the companion novel and want to pick up her other works as well.
Little Bird by Tiffany Meuret
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
"Life certainly has a way of upending itself just when you think you have it figured out."
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tiffany Meuret's Little Bird is a fantasy horror work, albeit light on the horror elements. We mainly follow Josie, who is a single woman who secludes herself inside with her dog, alcohol, and stay at home job. One day, a plant sprouts in her back yard and turns into a bunch of vines that reveal a skeleton who can talk to Josie. A new neighbor, Sue, who seems to be insistent on inserting herself into Josie's life seems to know more than Josie originally thought.
Little Bird is a weirdly plotted and cleverly told character driven book. Despite not knowing where in the world we were going with the plot, I was intrigued to keep reading, especially with Skelly's smart remarks that never fully answer what you're looking for. If you're a lover of fiction on the weirder side or someone who likes character driven stories that may not include likable characters, this is for you. While Josie is an unlikable mess, we start to understand how her troubles and inability to cope has led to her becoming the alcoholic hermit we meet in the beginning.
I do feel as though some things were left unanswered, maybe open ended on purpose. But not knowing how Sue, the nosey neighbor, came to find Josie, is something that bothers me because it was a question I was hoping would be answered since reading the summary. The descriptions are great and atmospheric, and though there wasn't a lot of plot, I was still pushed to read to figure out the mystery behind the surprise plants and skeleton in Josie's back yard. Definitely a book that will stick in my brain just because of how unique it is.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tiffany Meuret's Little Bird is a fantasy horror work, albeit light on the horror elements. We mainly follow Josie, who is a single woman who secludes herself inside with her dog, alcohol, and stay at home job. One day, a plant sprouts in her back yard and turns into a bunch of vines that reveal a skeleton who can talk to Josie. A new neighbor, Sue, who seems to be insistent on inserting herself into Josie's life seems to know more than Josie originally thought.
Little Bird is a weirdly plotted and cleverly told character driven book. Despite not knowing where in the world we were going with the plot, I was intrigued to keep reading, especially with Skelly's smart remarks that never fully answer what you're looking for. If you're a lover of fiction on the weirder side or someone who likes character driven stories that may not include likable characters, this is for you. While Josie is an unlikable mess, we start to understand how her troubles and inability to cope has led to her becoming the alcoholic hermit we meet in the beginning.
I do feel as though some things were left unanswered, maybe open ended on purpose. But not knowing how Sue, the nosey neighbor, came to find Josie, is something that bothers me because it was a question I was hoping would be answered since reading the summary. The descriptions are great and atmospheric, and though there wasn't a lot of plot, I was still pushed to read to figure out the mystery behind the surprise plants and skeleton in Josie's back yard. Definitely a book that will stick in my brain just because of how unique it is.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism
Frostfire by Amanda Hocking
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
"'Remember my name. Because I'm going to be the one who kills you.'"
⭐⭐⭐💫
Frostfire is a paranormal fantasy that follows trolls, beings that mostly appear to look like humans but most have certain powers. In Frostfire we specifically follow the Kanin, but our main character, Bryn, isn't fully one of them. She is very driven towards her goals of becoming an elte gaurd despite the obstacles in front of her, including a growing crush towards her boss and the returning of the traitor who attempted to murder her father.
This was a super fast and easy read. Bryn is an enjoyable main character, and I loved that she gets to be our badass female MC. This book is labeled paranormal fantasy, and while I knew there was going to be romance, I felt like the entire middle section of the book was about her feelings for her boss with a splash of world building. I am interested in continuing the series, but I don't have a whole lot of other thoughts about this book.
⭐⭐⭐💫
Frostfire is a paranormal fantasy that follows trolls, beings that mostly appear to look like humans but most have certain powers. In Frostfire we specifically follow the Kanin, but our main character, Bryn, isn't fully one of them. She is very driven towards her goals of becoming an elte gaurd despite the obstacles in front of her, including a growing crush towards her boss and the returning of the traitor who attempted to murder her father.
This was a super fast and easy read. Bryn is an enjoyable main character, and I loved that she gets to be our badass female MC. This book is labeled paranormal fantasy, and while I knew there was going to be romance, I felt like the entire middle section of the book was about her feelings for her boss with a splash of world building. I am interested in continuing the series, but I don't have a whole lot of other thoughts about this book.
The Perishing by Natashia Deón
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
"Others will call your joy a fiction or call you a liar or immoral or dangerous for your happiness, but their conclusions are only a reflection of their limited imaginations, their own abilities, their being stuck in their lives. It's not a rewrite of yours."
⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
The Perishing is a historical fiction fantasy mix in which we mainly follow Lou, a black immortal in Los Angeles during the 1930s. Lou wakes up in an alley, naked and without any memories. We follow her story as she learns not only who she is, but what she is as well.
This book is definitely unique. The synopsis really doesn't do the book or it's important topics justice. We follow dual timelines, but the bulk of the storyline follows Lou, and the other timeline narrative is mostly insight and reflection.
The Perishing starts in a way that is super confusing, and I was very unsure at first. But once you get a little way in, it starts to make sense. The writing is a very abstract the whole way through, and sometimes I didn't understand and had to reread sentences or paragraphs. However, I feel like this book had so many important messages in it and delved into topics of gender equality, racial discrimination, capitalism and poverty, and LGBTQ+ rights. The way these topics were brought up and narrated is what made me fall in love with this book. I took half a star off because sometimes the writing was so abstract I struggled, and I'm not 100% certain why it had to be that way.
I do think this book is for a particular audience, and if you go into this wanting some grand fantasy you're going to be let down. I think the low reviews are partially due to the marketing of this book. And while it wasn't what I expected at all, I love how this book was laid out to talk about so many important topics. While it sometimes discussed things that seemed irrelevant, I also learned more about the time period.
A unique book, a fresh take on issues that have been important all of our entire country's history.
⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
The Perishing is a historical fiction fantasy mix in which we mainly follow Lou, a black immortal in Los Angeles during the 1930s. Lou wakes up in an alley, naked and without any memories. We follow her story as she learns not only who she is, but what she is as well.
This book is definitely unique. The synopsis really doesn't do the book or it's important topics justice. We follow dual timelines, but the bulk of the storyline follows Lou, and the other timeline narrative is mostly insight and reflection.
The Perishing starts in a way that is super confusing, and I was very unsure at first. But once you get a little way in, it starts to make sense. The writing is a very abstract the whole way through, and sometimes I didn't understand and had to reread sentences or paragraphs. However, I feel like this book had so many important messages in it and delved into topics of gender equality, racial discrimination, capitalism and poverty, and LGBTQ+ rights. The way these topics were brought up and narrated is what made me fall in love with this book. I took half a star off because sometimes the writing was so abstract I struggled, and I'm not 100% certain why it had to be that way.
I do think this book is for a particular audience, and if you go into this wanting some grand fantasy you're going to be let down. I think the low reviews are partially due to the marketing of this book. And while it wasn't what I expected at all, I love how this book was laid out to talk about so many important topics. While it sometimes discussed things that seemed irrelevant, I also learned more about the time period.
A unique book, a fresh take on issues that have been important all of our entire country's history.
In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
"There was something strangely naked about it, like we were on a stage set, playing our parts to an audience of eyes out there in the wood."
⭐⭐⭐
In a Dark, Dark Wood is a thriller/suspense novel. We follow Leanora (Nora), who is invited by a childhood friend, Clare, to her hen night in celebration of her upcoming wedding. Leanora doesn't know why Clare would invite her, since they haven't spoken in years, but she decides to go anyway. What should have been a celebration turns into a disaster their second night there.
I can generally read books with unlikable characters, but some of the characters and how they behaved really irritated me, especially since they're all in their mid to late 20s. Nora, our main character, is honestly the worst. I got very annoyed reading about some of the decisions she made, especially during the climax at the tail end of the book. I understand the author had to make you suspicious of everyone, but that's not an excuse to make them that immature, and I guessed the twist pretty early on (and I don't read many thrillers, and I'm awful at guessing twists for every genre).
The first almost half of the book drug by. I had to start another book just to make it through this one. The latter half definitely picked up, and I enjoyed the tension, which is why I'm giving this book a 3 star rating. I feel it's pretty mediocre and nothing too exciting, but it was written well and I liked the mentions of Nora being a writer. Some of the ways she thinks because of being a writer was very interesting to me.
⭐⭐⭐
⭐⭐⭐
In a Dark, Dark Wood is a thriller/suspense novel. We follow Leanora (Nora), who is invited by a childhood friend, Clare, to her hen night in celebration of her upcoming wedding. Leanora doesn't know why Clare would invite her, since they haven't spoken in years, but she decides to go anyway. What should have been a celebration turns into a disaster their second night there.
I can generally read books with unlikable characters, but some of the characters and how they behaved really irritated me, especially since they're all in their mid to late 20s. Nora, our main character, is honestly the worst. I got very annoyed reading about some of the decisions she made, especially during the climax at the tail end of the book. I understand the author had to make you suspicious of everyone, but that's not an excuse to make them that immature, and I guessed the twist pretty early on (and I don't read many thrillers, and I'm awful at guessing twists for every genre).
The first almost half of the book drug by. I had to start another book just to make it through this one. The latter half definitely picked up, and I enjoyed the tension, which is why I'm giving this book a 3 star rating. I feel it's pretty mediocre and nothing too exciting, but it was written well and I liked the mentions of Nora being a writer. Some of the ways she thinks because of being a writer was very interesting to me.
⭐⭐⭐