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hailslynn's reviews
225 reviews
Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
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? Yes
5.0
This is Leigh Bardugo's best work no arguments please
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Promote Ridoc to mc because that man was CARRYING this book on his back
Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Sometimes I really appreciate a book that does all of the thinking for me. I've often found myself exhausted with reading a book because there is so much that the author wants the reader to figure out with foreshadowing, riddles, connecting plot points, etc. And Water Moon does quite literally the opposite and it's such a nice change of pace. It allows you to really settle into this whimsical world and just enjoy the atmosphere.
What really knocks this book down is the pacing. The characters have little to no sense of urgency throughout the book causing you to often forget that they're continuously being chased by monsters trying to stop them from solving the main mystery. But, on the other hand, also helps the book because the passage of time is off compared to what's happening on page that it allows you to get stuck in this Ghibli-esque world without a means of escape, adding to the ambience.
I have nothing to really say about the characters as they, for the most part, are pretty cookie cutter. Not in a bad way, just nothing truly extraordinary about them to rave about. They're well thought out with stereotypical flaws, and their development progresses on par with the storyline. The main relationship is quite beautiful and almost tragic. But the one piece of in your face foreshadowing luckily tells us how that relationship eventually plays out (and yes it did still make me cry.)
I think this was a great book, and I can definitely see myself coming back to it in the future when in the mood for some lighthearted whimsy. This was my first time actually reading Japanese literature, and I can see myself reaching for other popular titles now that I've read this.
What really knocks this book down is the pacing. The characters have little to no sense of urgency throughout the book causing you to often forget that they're continuously being chased by monsters trying to stop them from solving the main mystery. But, on the other hand, also helps the book because the passage of time is off compared to what's happening on page that it allows you to get stuck in this Ghibli-esque world without a means of escape, adding to the ambience.
I have nothing to really say about the characters as they, for the most part, are pretty cookie cutter. Not in a bad way, just nothing truly extraordinary about them to rave about. They're well thought out with stereotypical flaws, and their development progresses on par with the storyline. The main relationship is quite beautiful and almost tragic. But the one piece of in your face foreshadowing luckily tells us how that relationship eventually plays out (and yes it did still make me cry.)
I think this was a great book, and I can definitely see myself coming back to it in the future when in the mood for some lighthearted whimsy. This was my first time actually reading Japanese literature, and I can see myself reaching for other popular titles now that I've read this.
Bookshops & Bonedust: Special Edition by Travis Baldree
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
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
4.25
give me more slice of life fantasy PLEASE IM BEGGING
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
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
5.0
yeah i get it
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
relaxing
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
There's a very obvious reason why this book is so well loved. Paolini is so so creative, it's insane. His world building is so thorough and developed for someone who was 15 when he wrote it. I can think of several books published in the last 5 years from traditional publishing houses that lacked the level of world building Eragon has. And his characters are so complex and real it feels like they're standing in front of you the entire time.
When it comes to the actual words on paper when it comes to Paolini's ability to write, you can definitely tell he was young when he wrote this book. The sentence structures and vocabulary used are exactly the ones of a high school and it caused the story to drag for me in certain parts. However, I think that it's a testament to how well he'll develop into as he continues his career.
The plot was a bit stereotypical for a fantasy novel, but was nonetheless fun and engaging. If you're looking for just a really great fantasy adventure novel, this follows the blueprint to a T.
I would say Eragon is the perfect gateway for a love of high fantasy. I do wish I read this when I was younger because I feel if I did it would have been an amazing 5 star read for me.
When it comes to the actual words on paper when it comes to Paolini's ability to write, you can definitely tell he was young when he wrote this book. The sentence structures and vocabulary used are exactly the ones of a high school and it caused the story to drag for me in certain parts. However, I think that it's a testament to how well he'll develop into as he continues his career.
The plot was a bit stereotypical for a fantasy novel, but was nonetheless fun and engaging. If you're looking for just a really great fantasy adventure novel, this follows the blueprint to a T.
I would say Eragon is the perfect gateway for a love of high fantasy. I do wish I read this when I was younger because I feel if I did it would have been an amazing 5 star read for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Gore, Slavery, Torture, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcohol
Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-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
i cant even decide where to begin but lets just say i feel like the 3.5 is generous
The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
3.5
Not Halloweeny enough. Ik it's a Christmas romance but I would have loved to see the Halloween world Sara could come up with
Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Did I think this was a great book? No. Did this book grab be me by the neck (quite literally) and made me obsessed? Yes.
This book craft wise was not great. There were several areas of the storytelling and plot that should have been reworked before going to print. I found myself having difficulty getting into the book after 50 pages because the first few chapters are choppily written as Girma establishes the world and the mc's backstory, making them feel disconnected and floaty. And as the story progresses, certain key events seemed to appear randomly. It almost feels like, in specifically anime, when tv shows rotate between filler episodes to eat into fan service and episodes that should not be skipped as they importantly develop the story. I sense the potential of great storytelling, but she wants to focus on the main relationship so badly she treats it almost as the main course when it's supposed to be a side dish.
But Girma, your characters girlie? Chokehold. I LOVE a bat shit crazy mc and when the entire ensemble is fucked up at least a litttle. Kidan is so insane and obsessed with her finding her sister and it's BEAUTFUL. And Susenyos??? Yeah downbad. Girma knows how to write a character you would never think to root for. The vibe she put together is also stellar and is almost exactly what I'm looking for during this type of year. I think it should have been categorized as New Adult at the minimum instead of YA because there's some pretty 🌶️🌶️ scenes that had me questioning the age category SEVERAL times.
I will definitely have to reread again once book 2 is close to refresh my brain especially with how odd the story progresses.
This book craft wise was not great. There were several areas of the storytelling and plot that should have been reworked before going to print. I found myself having difficulty getting into the book after 50 pages because the first few chapters are choppily written as Girma establishes the world and the mc's backstory, making them feel disconnected and floaty. And as the story progresses, certain key events seemed to appear randomly. It almost feels like, in specifically anime, when tv shows rotate between filler episodes to eat into fan service and episodes that should not be skipped as they importantly develop the story. I sense the potential of great storytelling, but she wants to focus on the main relationship so badly she treats it almost as the main course when it's supposed to be a side dish.
But Girma, your characters girlie? Chokehold. I LOVE a bat shit crazy mc and when the entire ensemble is fucked up at least a litttle. Kidan is so insane and obsessed with her finding her sister and it's BEAUTFUL. And Susenyos??? Yeah downbad. Girma knows how to write a character you would never think to root for. The vibe she put together is also stellar and is almost exactly what I'm looking for during this type of year. I think it should have been categorized as New Adult at the minimum instead of YA because there's some pretty 🌶️🌶️ scenes that had me questioning the age category SEVERAL times.
I will definitely have to reread again once book 2 is close to refresh my brain especially with how odd the story progresses.