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haleyrayreads's reviews
16 reviews
The Hunger Games: Special Edition by Suzanne Collins
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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? Yes
4.5
Alfajiri by Michael LaBorn
adventurous
fast-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
4.25
I really enjoyed this story and the characters, and I found myself really enjoying spending time in this beautiful world. However I think this book could have done with one more round of editing. I found that in certain places certain characters were switched out for example in the final few pages of the books Tanwen is incapacitated, but then is reacting to an attack on his friend. I’m pretty sure this is supposed to be Tornar .
The pacing is also a bit weird in spots for me, but not enough to detract from the story. I truly love the world and I really hope to read more about these characters. I got so pulled into their plight and the story just ended- I want more!
The pacing is also a bit weird in spots for me, but not enough to detract from the story. I truly love the world and I really hope to read more about these characters. I got so pulled into their plight and the story just ended- I want more!
Murder at Mallowan Hall by Colleen Cambridge
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
This was a fun murder mystery read. I love my super serious mysteries but sometimes you need a nice, light hearted mystery to cleanse the palate a bit. This fit the the bill and I read this book in 2 days. The characters are fun, and I found myself really rooting for them! There isn’t a whole lot of character development, they all remain pretty much the same throughout, but the story is more plot driven anyway so I’m willing to overlook that and I do look forward to revisiting these characters again in future stories.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Violence and Murder
The Magician King by Lev Grossman
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I enjoyed this book slightly more than the first one. The plot definitely moved at a more steady pace than its predecessor and the focus was more on the plot than being forced to live in our main character’s head. I appreciate the swifter pace and the more plot driven aspect of the story rather than it being character driven.
I still really don’t like the characters as a whole. They still tend to be on the selfish side and it makes it hard to care about their fates as a whole. The only characters I really felt anything for are Eliot and Julia, who, while being important, aren’t our main character.
I’m surprised there was no trigger warning for sexual violence and I would have been very upset readingJulia’s rape at the hands of the trickster god and the graphic depiction of violence in the scene if I hadn’t had prior knowledge from my husband.
All in all this is an entertaining read and I’m glad I didn’t let my feelings about the first book keep me from reading this one, even though this will likely not be high on the ‘reread’ list.
I still really don’t like the characters as a whole. They still tend to be on the selfish side and it makes it hard to care about their fates as a whole. The only characters I really felt anything for are Eliot and Julia, who, while being important, aren’t our main character.
I’m surprised there was no trigger warning for sexual violence and I would have been very upset reading
All in all this is an entertaining read and I’m glad I didn’t let my feelings about the first book keep me from reading this one, even though this will likely not be high on the ‘reread’ list.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
Minor: Homophobia
The Magicians by Lev Grossman
dark
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The concept of this book is great, the characters are okay, but the plot drags a bit. I appreciate not being dragged through separate books for each year of school but the transition between years could be abrupt and unclear at times.
The story is mainly driven by character who are pretty one note and their motivations are questionable at best. Their main quest is motivated by ‘well we aren’t doing anything else right now.’ and it takes forever to get to that point. This first 2/3 if this book was so slow. However, once they’re off on their quest the story moves at a more brisk pace that’s refreshing until the main antagonist is taken care of. After that it goes on several chapters too long. It felt like every time a chapter ended I thought that was the end, then there was even more story that served no purpose than to allow readers to wallow in our narrator’s sorrow. This could have been cut in half or more and gotten the same point across.
The concept is great and it’s a fun story with some adjustments, but the pacing, character development, and casual use of ableist and fatphobic language would make me hesitate to read this particular book again.
The story is mainly driven by character who are pretty one note and their motivations are questionable at best. Their main quest is motivated by ‘well we aren’t doing anything else right now.’ and it takes forever to get to that point. This first 2/3 if this book was so slow. However, once they’re off on their quest the story moves at a more brisk pace that’s refreshing until the main antagonist is taken care of. After that it goes on several chapters too long. It felt like every time a chapter ended I thought that was the end, then there was even more story that served no purpose than to allow readers to wallow in our narrator’s sorrow. This could have been cut in half or more and gotten the same point across.
The concept is great and it’s a fun story with some adjustments, but the pacing, character development, and casual use of ableist and fatphobic language would make me hesitate to read this particular book again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Blood, and Alcohol
Moderate: Ableism, Death, Fatphobia, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, and Violence
Minor: Body shaming, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Toxic friendship
Crumbs by Danie Stirling
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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 was just a great story to get lost in. The story is beautiful and the world is just cozy. I could read this a hundred times and still not get bored. I love the world that was created and I want to spend even more time with the characters that love there.