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hardcover_hazel's reviews
184 reviews
Costanza by Rachel Blackmore
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
4 star read but the reasons why this author wrote this book pushed it to a 5 star š¤©
We follow Costanza and her story - growing up in near poverty, she marries and is living a modest but good life. Until the famous sculptor has his eye set on her and her fire.
This tale will show you how fire can engulf, consume, reignite.
The author wrote this book to give Costanza her voice. Sheās been referred to as Beniniās mistress for so long and here is her story (obviously itās historical fiction, thereās some embellishments to the story, etc). The author took a stand at giving victims their voice back. Her reason of writing brought me to tears.
The way itās written is also captivating, even though thereās not much happening in certain parts, it draws you in and makes you want more.
Beautiful
We follow Costanza and her story - growing up in near poverty, she marries and is living a modest but good life. Until the famous sculptor has his eye set on her and her fire.
This tale will show you how fire can engulf, consume, reignite.
The author wrote this book to give Costanza her voice. Sheās been referred to as Beniniās mistress for so long and here is her story (obviously itās historical fiction, thereās some embellishments to the story, etc). The author took a stand at giving victims their voice back. Her reason of writing brought me to tears.
The way itās written is also captivating, even though thereās not much happening in certain parts, it draws you in and makes you want more.
Beautiful
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
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
5.0
5 š!
I procrastinated reading this for so long because I was so worried that it might not live up to the insane hype or that I might not like the book everyone was giving 5 stars to (itās happened before).
But wow š¤© this book was incredible! Itās now in my top faves āØ
Dragons, magic, survival, war, enemies to lovers, an anxious MC, funny banter, a shadow daddy - this book has it all š¤
I feel stronger after reading it, almost like us as the reader actually tackled the parapet, hand to hand combat, and all those challenges together.
So excited to dive into the Iron Flame readalong š
I procrastinated reading this for so long because I was so worried that it might not live up to the insane hype or that I might not like the book everyone was giving 5 stars to (itās happened before).
But wow š¤© this book was incredible! Itās now in my top faves āØ
Dragons, magic, survival, war, enemies to lovers, an anxious MC, funny banter, a shadow daddy - this book has it all š¤
I feel stronger after reading it, almost like us as the reader actually tackled the parapet, hand to hand combat, and all those challenges together.
So excited to dive into the Iron Flame readalong š
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail
Forbidden Love by Shalini Sharma, Shalini Sharma
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I DNF this book.
Thank you so much to the author for reaching out and sending me a review copy. That was so sweet and kind š
Unfortunately, I couldnāt continue reading this book. It looks like a really great plot is there but there is a lot of editing needed still.
The way itās written seems to contradict itself sometimes. It isnāt very descriptive. The characters arenāt written in a way to connect us to them.
There were also some aspects I couldnāt get through - Wince is not something that makes a sound.
This is all constructive criticism, with some editing Iām sure this could turn into an incredible story ā¤ļø there is real potential, it just needs to be worked on a bit.
Thank you again to Salini Sharma for giving me this review copy - I wish you all the best x
Thank you so much to the author for reaching out and sending me a review copy. That was so sweet and kind š
Unfortunately, I couldnāt continue reading this book. It looks like a really great plot is there but there is a lot of editing needed still.
The way itās written seems to contradict itself sometimes. It isnāt very descriptive. The characters arenāt written in a way to connect us to them.
There were also some aspects I couldnāt get through - Wince is not something that makes a sound.
This is all constructive criticism, with some editing Iām sure this could turn into an incredible story ā¤ļø there is real potential, it just needs to be worked on a bit.
Thank you again to Salini Sharma for giving me this review copy - I wish you all the best x
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault
Love You, Love You Not by Jo Watson
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
Do I love this book or love it not?
I love it š¤
Okay, at first Poppy got on my nerves š how can anyone have that much drama and be that dramatic? Plus the incompetence at work, the perfectionist in me could never! But in the end she had me laughing away.
Poppy - an actress - is desperate for money and takes a job sheās not qualified for. Showing up in a wig, dramatic glasses, a fake name, and 80s clothing. From rescuing hurt pigeons, to dangling from her shirt, to accidentally sending her boss to the emergency room, does drama follow her? Or is she the drama?
The South African references were everything.
Pick this up if you:
- love funny drama
- want to read a romcom
- want to hear cockpit smut (Iām kidding it was in the passenger section of a private jet)
- love grumpy x sunshine
- love workplace smut and how to get out of it when youāre caught
- want to read about the best soap opera ever
- want the tea spilled sis
4 āØ
I love it š¤
Okay, at first Poppy got on my nerves š how can anyone have that much drama and be that dramatic? Plus the incompetence at work, the perfectionist in me could never! But in the end she had me laughing away.
Poppy - an actress - is desperate for money and takes a job sheās not qualified for. Showing up in a wig, dramatic glasses, a fake name, and 80s clothing. From rescuing hurt pigeons, to dangling from her shirt, to accidentally sending her boss to the emergency room, does drama follow her? Or is she the drama?
The South African references were everything.
Pick this up if you:
- love funny drama
- want to read a romcom
- want to hear cockpit smut (Iām kidding it was in the passenger section of a private jet)
- love grumpy x sunshine
- love workplace smut and how to get out of it when youāre caught
- want to read about the best soap opera ever
- want the tea spilled sis
4 āØ
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Death of parent
The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet by John Green
emotional
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.0
The irony of rating a book that rates a variety of topics š this book rates hot dog contests and Dr Pepper to the Small Pox Vaccine and Sunsets.
While a bit random, I learnt about a variety of topics and the writing was so good I was moved to tears a few times (I, like John Green, am I crier).
It was also nice to hear about the pandemic from the mind of a writer.
I give āThe Anthropocene Reviewedā four stars.
(A playful joke on how each chapter ended š)
While a bit random, I learnt about a variety of topics and the writing was so good I was moved to tears a few times (I, like John Green, am I crier).
It was also nice to hear about the pandemic from the mind of a writer.
I give āThe Anthropocene Reviewedā four stars.
(A playful joke on how each chapter ended š)
Breaking Away by Sookh Kaur
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
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
5.0
Happy release day to āBreaking Awayā - a cute sports romance š„° if you love Ali Hazelwood, youād LOVE this book!!
It had me crying happy tears multiple times throughout it š„¹š
This was just the cuuuuutest romance!! We follow Dimitri, āThe Great Wall of Iceā Lokhov - a professional hockey player with a secret, whoās a stone wall but is super shy underneath, and Kavi Basra - who thinks her life is falling apart and hasnāt amounted to much when sheās an incredibly talented photographer and so much more.
This book had me laughing at Kaviās silly moments, and the good-natured team banter š„¹ it had me crying happy tears at character growth and how cute these two are! And the smut? It was so good!
Sookh Kaur has quickly become an auto-buy author for me. I even bought the book today when I read the ARC š
5/5 āØ I feel like I just devoured a sweet treat
It had me crying happy tears multiple times throughout it š„¹š
This was just the cuuuuutest romance!! We follow Dimitri, āThe Great Wall of Iceā Lokhov - a professional hockey player with a secret, whoās a stone wall but is super shy underneath, and Kavi Basra - who thinks her life is falling apart and hasnāt amounted to much when sheās an incredibly talented photographer and so much more.
This book had me laughing at Kaviās silly moments, and the good-natured team banter š„¹ it had me crying happy tears at character growth and how cute these two are! And the smut? It was so good!
Sookh Kaur has quickly become an auto-buy author for me. I even bought the book today when I read the ARC š
5/5 āØ I feel like I just devoured a sweet treat
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
tense
slow-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
4.5
Itās been 84 yearsā¦ but Iāve finally finished this book!! This TOME š
Going into felt overwhelming - itās so long, and thereās a million places and characters thrown at you. It is high fantasy after all. And Ms. Shannon definitely knew my weakness (names). Literally ask the people I love how many times a day I say āI forgot the name butā and continue to describe something so obvious š
But somehow, the Mother gifted me with enough brainpower to not only remember people (after writing down 7 names) but places too (after writing down 5) and less than a hundred pages in I was remembering everyone and everything and knew exactly what was going on and I was HOOKED.
So, go into it with a mindset of this is your textbook and youāll be fine š
We have dragons, we have magic, we have pirates, we have politics, we have cultures, we have religions, we have POC, we have sapphics, we have gays, we have queers. In a whole ass fantasy world!
And what a world it is.
I understand why this is compared to Game of Thrones. Because Iād be winter if this got turned into a series (coming)
4.5 stars because this was an entire 800 book leading up to this massive battleā¦ that was over in 30 pages. And also because of throwing so many names at me at first that I actually had to write them down without even knowing there was a whole ass glossary of them at the back š
Going into felt overwhelming - itās so long, and thereās a million places and characters thrown at you. It is high fantasy after all. And Ms. Shannon definitely knew my weakness (names). Literally ask the people I love how many times a day I say āI forgot the name butā and continue to describe something so obvious š
But somehow, the Mother gifted me with enough brainpower to not only remember people (after writing down 7 names) but places too (after writing down 5) and less than a hundred pages in I was remembering everyone and everything and knew exactly what was going on and I was HOOKED.
So, go into it with a mindset of this is your textbook and youāll be fine š
We have dragons, we have magic, we have pirates, we have politics, we have cultures, we have religions, we have POC, we have sapphics, we have gays, we have queers. In a whole ass fantasy world!
And what a world it is.
I understand why this is compared to Game of Thrones. Because Iād be winter if this got turned into a series (coming)
4.5 stars because this was an entire 800 book leading up to this massive battleā¦ that was over in 30 pages. And also because of throwing so many names at me at first that I actually had to write them down without even knowing there was a whole ass glossary of them at the back š
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Gore, Infertility, Miscarriage, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic
Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll
challenging
informative
inspiring
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
3.0
This is a powerful book. We follow the true crime story of serial killer Ted Bundy but told from a fictional perspective. Pamela survives the onslaught left behind in her sorority dorm when he murders and maims two sorority sisters.
We follow a lot of his true crime story here, and see how much praise and credit he got from the press which was definitely not deserved.
I enjoyed it, and I enjoyed the feminine take on how things were in the world at this time. I listened to this as an audiobook and the details of the law proceedings and admin details read by this reader was just not for me š© I might have enjoyed it more as a physical copy. The reader was perfect though, giving a wonderful voice to Pamela.
The rest of the story was incredible. Pick it up if you:
- love true crime
- want more victim focus than praising the serial killer focus
- are a feminist
- support womanās rights (and wrongs - not that there are many in the book)
We follow a lot of his true crime story here, and see how much praise and credit he got from the press which was definitely not deserved.
I enjoyed it, and I enjoyed the feminine take on how things were in the world at this time. I listened to this as an audiobook and the details of the law proceedings and admin details read by this reader was just not for me š© I might have enjoyed it more as a physical copy. The reader was perfect though, giving a wonderful voice to Pamela.
The rest of the story was incredible. Pick it up if you:
- love true crime
- want more victim focus than praising the serial killer focus
- are a feminist
- support womanās rights (and wrongs - not that there are many in the book)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder
The Diamond of Darkhold by Jeanne DuPrau
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
The final book in the City of Ember series āØ
This book takes us on an adventure back into the heart of ember. The city has been abandoned following the end of book 1, and the Emberites are living in Sparks now.
The world outside the city is harsh and tough. Experiencing a long, cold, hungry winter, Lina and Doon wonder if thereās still useful things left behind in their old city, so they plan an adventure with lots of twists and turns along the way.
The best part of this book was the ending. Getting to hear how Lina and Doonās lives evolve, and how the world grows along with them š„¹
This book takes us on an adventure back into the heart of ember. The city has been abandoned following the end of book 1, and the Emberites are living in Sparks now.
The world outside the city is harsh and tough. Experiencing a long, cold, hungry winter, Lina and Doon wonder if thereās still useful things left behind in their old city, so they plan an adventure with lots of twists and turns along the way.
The best part of this book was the ending. Getting to hear how Lina and Doonās lives evolve, and how the world grows along with them š„¹
Seasick by Kristin Cast, Pintip Dunn
hopeful
mysterious
tense
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? No
3.5
3.5 āØ
This was a fun read! We follow a group of teens on a luxury yacht at the end of high school. Most of them are well off, and thereās gossip and scandals in the group.
Then someone turns up dead. And another. And another. Will our main characters, two former best friends, be able to survive this night on the murder yacht?
I enjoyed following the antics of the killer and who would end up dead next, and how. Itās basically a good B-list horror movie.
Perfect for almost spooky season š¤
This was a fun read! We follow a group of teens on a luxury yacht at the end of high school. Most of them are well off, and thereās gossip and scandals in the group.
Then someone turns up dead. And another. And another. Will our main characters, two former best friends, be able to survive this night on the murder yacht?
I enjoyed following the antics of the killer and who would end up dead next, and how. Itās basically a good B-list horror movie.
Perfect for almost spooky season š¤
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Blood, Vomit, Murder
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail