halfass_reviewer's reviews
114 reviews

Love on the Ninth Floor by Aries Skye

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emotional funny hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

4.0

I devoured this book within 24 hours. And that's saying something as both a slow reader and a mood reader. I ate this book up and was mad when I had to go back to sleep as if I couldn't finish reading it the next day. This book, although it had its moments where it pissed me off, was amazing. Although there were quite a few characters, something I often struggle with, the characters were all unique and added their own special fire to the novel. Also, I love how realistic it was. Using TikTok to find your mystery rescuer (or just someone you so happened to pass by) was done so well that I felt like I may have seen a TikTok or two about it. This story was amazing and Ms. Aries Skyes has become an instant buy author for me. 
His Majesty by Shon

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challenging emotional relaxing 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

5.0

This is my first book (or novella) by Shon and when I tell you she has now become an instant buy author for me, I mean it! This book, despite it being a shorter piece, was packed with raw emotion, intense moments, and some very spicy scenes. I enjoyed this book so much and went from telling Majesty to not fold because stand for what you want to folding my damn self when Josiah spoke. I was screaming like either of them could hear me (but Josiah did have her fucked up those first couple of chapters). 
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More to Love by Georgina Kiersten

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challenging emotional funny inspiring lighthearted 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? It's complicated

5.0

This sweet, romantic book was absolutely adorable.  Jamir was living my dream. Owning a bookstore that I also got to live atop of. I'd pay really good money to be able to do that within the next five years of my life. He was also too cute when it came to his interactions with Emmy. Emmy pissed me off for a little bit. There were several times I screamed at him: first, why wasn't that damn ex-hoe of his blocked the moment they were broken up and second, I thought he was about to play my baby Jamir (as you can tell Jamir was an instant soft spot for me). I had to let Emmy know that I wasn't going for it and would fight. I'm so glad in the end the two were able to overcome several hardships and get their relationship together. Although I had predicted wedding bells by chapter three and I didn't get my wedding. So now I'm expecting a book two and I would like a wedding please and thank you!  
The Navigating Fox by Christopher Rowe

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adventurous challenging dark informative mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I received an ARC of the Navigating Fox from the publisher and I was immediately intrigued by. A fox, the only one in the world, is leading a group of humans AND animals (both intelligent and non-intelligent) to the gates of hell? Sign me up please. Seriously though I found this book quite amusing.  Quintus Shu'al was a unique character not only because he was a fox or even because he is the only intelligent (this is what they call animals that can talk and think as humans), but because he's main motive in life is to find out why and the way he goes about doing so repeatedly gets him in trouble. The other characters, for whatever their motives are to be traveling with  Quintus Shu'al  to hell, are also very well written and complex characters. I think the only thing I do not like about the book is there was no map (which honestly, would've made the book 10x more enjoyable as I would've been able to actually visualize where the group was heading) and a pronunciation guide. This book had very unique chapter titles and personally I would've liked it more if I knew how to pronounce them (although this is a very personal thing). 
Lone Women by Victor LaValle

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challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

OMG! This was a book that just when you thought you knew what was going on, hit you with another twist. I would've liked the twists to have been sprinkled throughout the book instead of in the last 10-15%. I do think the novel did a great job of answering all those questions but, it was still a lot for just a few short chapters to hold. The writing was great, I loved that eventually the narrator gave us different viewpoints of women, and that the story was engaging. It was one of those that drew you in and wouldn't let you go. Regardless I adored this book and am so glad that I gave it a chance. 
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The Quiet American by Graham Greene

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challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I believe I said this before, but I'll probably say this every time I review a wartime novel, but I don't read war novels. The world is shitty enough as is and I read to escape the shitty reality. With that being said I enjoyed this story immensely. Greene did a great job of showing the naivety of Americans and their thoughts on the war in other countries (when Pyle said that the bomb that blew them people up should've been a parade and that there are always causalities in war, I cussed him out). I think the love triangle between Pyle, Phuong, and Thomas was also really well done. Despite Greene not showing a lot of Phuong's thoughts on either two men, it did a great job of showing how love affects everyone. How it can tear apart a friendship and a relationship. I like that Thomas was both rational and irrational given the situation and how he reacted to Pyle's naivety, niceness, and overall mannerisms. I also think the story does a wonderful job with the feeling of loneliness and how it affects a person. Thomas was acting selfish, but when one doesn't want to be alone is there any other way to act?
What Did You Eat Yesterday?, Volume 1 by Fumi Yoshinaga

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emotional funny lighthearted slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I loved this book and I loved watching these two characters in their everyday lives. I haven't read many slice-of-life manga and the ones I have read were usually about college-aged characters so it was refreshing reading about these two men in their 40s enjoying life and each other presence. My only gripe, and I hope after 20 volumes this has changed, is Shiro's reluctance to announce that a) he's gay and b) the most important one is that he lives with his boyfriend whom he loves. I feel so bad for Kenji because you can tell he just wants to be like his coworkers and the rest of the world and tell them about his boyfriend, but every time he does Shiro just blows up and tells him he doesn't want people to know (which I understand, but not even being able to talk to your coworkers about it is kind of annoying). Anyway I've put the next few books on hold and can't wait to dive in. 
Before You Sleep: Three Horrors by Adam L.G. Nevill

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challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

I had seen this authors name pop up before in relation to the horror genre (as well as his notably creepy book covers) and was delighted when i saw one of his books as an option for “stuff your kindle “ day. I immediately ‘brought’ it and settled in the same night to start reading. The first story was my favorite. Really wish he would’ve just stuck with that one and expanded it by a couple more pages. The second story was also interesting but the ending was a bit predictable (which wasn’t bad was just hoping it had went a different way) and the third had an interesting premise but was a bit boring for my taste. All in all a good collection of stories and a decent introduction into this writers work. 
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Taproot by Keezy Young

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

This was an adorable spookish book. I really loved the way the colors popped on the page. My favorite character was the Reaper because I too love sappy romance novels and being sarcastic. Although I wanted a bit more from the storyline, I think it was done in such a way as to give readers just enough information about the adventures these characters are heading to and set the story up for at least two more graphic novels. 
Choujin X, Vol. 1 by Sui Ishida

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adventurous dark tense medium-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? It's complicated

4.0

As someone who loves Tokyo Ghoul I was excited to read something else by the same author. This book, although a bit confusing at times, was absolutely phenomenal. They did trick me into thinking I was getting a fully colored graphic novel, but the art style still didn't disappoint. I enjoyed this tremendously and can't wait for the second volume.