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hellcatjennie's reviews
51 reviews
Salome by Oscar Wilde
dark
funny
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“Ah! I have kissed thy mouth, Jokanaan, I have kissed thy mouth. There was a bitter taste on thy lips. Was it the taste of blood?... But perchance it is the taste of love.... They say that love hath a bitter taste.... But what of that? what of that? I have kissed thy mouth, Jokanaan.”
I wanted to properly acquaint myself with this story better, so I figure what better way to do it than Wilde.
This was almost a comedy of sorts. I found myself laughing about the soldiers and the Jews dialogue, and smiling at Salomé. I think it’s odd that she was only 12 in truth from what we know of her. She is often depicted as innocent but tempestuous (creepy she’s a child) and this to me, painted her as a prattling little girl with blood lust 😂
“You are always looking at her. You look at her too much. It is dangerous to look at people in such fashion. Something terrible may happen.”
I’m participating in an ARC of Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s The Seventh Veil of Salome and I wanted to understand the story better, as I knew very little about it. All in all it was a nice little play and I’d recommend it to anyone wanting a quick retelling!
I wanted to properly acquaint myself with this story better, so I figure what better way to do it than Wilde.
This was almost a comedy of sorts. I found myself laughing about the soldiers and the Jews dialogue, and smiling at Salomé. I think it’s odd that she was only 12 in truth from what we know of her. She is often depicted as innocent but tempestuous (creepy she’s a child) and this to me, painted her as a prattling little girl with blood lust 😂
“You are always looking at her. You look at her too much. It is dangerous to look at people in such fashion. Something terrible may happen.”
I’m participating in an ARC of Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s The Seventh Veil of Salome and I wanted to understand the story better, as I knew very little about it. All in all it was a nice little play and I’d recommend it to anyone wanting a quick retelling!
Alternate Endings by Ali Rosen
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.0
Wow. What an amazing second novel from Ali Rosen. I really enjoyed her debut novel, and this proved an even better read. The swell of emotions throughout reading this were like a rollercoaster. She touches on such important topics, and everything she wrote felt genuinely real. The friendships in this novel are unparalleled to most books I’ve read recently. I love the perspective of her main character, Bea being a single mother. Life is messy and people come into it unexpectedly, just as Jack Sander does so gracefully. Their relationship blossoms into something pure and affectionate compared to that of their teenage years. The pacing was on point, there weren’t any moments that felt superfluous or dragging. I really loved the dimensions of her and Lucas’ relationship as co-parents, she respected him as a father and vice versa even if they didn’t care for one another, which in reality is most co-parenting. I really enjoy the cooking similes she often gravitates towards, brings a smile to my face every time. Thank you NetGalley for letting me read and review. I can’t wait for another Ali Rosen book in the future!
A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? No
5.0
This book is so good. I have no words. Just wow.
I want to give a decent review, but my mind just keeps internally screaming ITS SO GOOD!! And won’t stop. The ending was just superb. THAT is how you end a goddamn book, authors take notes. I already knew everything that would happen and even with that I felt it all as if it were surprising. Effy wasn’t someone I liked from the start and yet I found myself so attached to her character development. Ianto poor Ianto I wish that instead of his demise he was able to find a better resolve. The romance in this novel had butterflies doing somersaults in my stomach, it was innocent yet intimate beyond reach her and Preston were just well written and I appreciated the hell out of their slow burn.
“I just wanted to tell you,” he said, “when this is over, I’ll take care of you, too. If you want me to.”
It’s not only erudite but simple in nature. Feminist without there being some overarching out of character climax. Effy is brave throughout and she doesn’t do anything crazy she just uses her survival skills until the end. I am haunted by this in the best way. If you have a chance to give this a read please for the love of God do it.
“When women meet the water, they transform. It becomes vital to ask: is this a metamorphosis, or a homecoming?”
I want to give a decent review, but my mind just keeps internally screaming ITS SO GOOD!! And won’t stop. The ending was just superb. THAT is how you end a goddamn book, authors take notes. I already knew everything that would happen and even with that I felt it all as if it were surprising. Effy wasn’t someone I liked from the start and yet I found myself so attached to her character development. Ianto poor Ianto I wish that instead of his demise he was able to find a better resolve. The romance in this novel had butterflies doing somersaults in my stomach, it was innocent yet intimate beyond reach her and Preston were just well written and I appreciated the hell out of their slow burn.
“I just wanted to tell you,” he said, “when this is over, I’ll take care of you, too. If you want me to.”
It’s not only erudite but simple in nature. Feminist without there being some overarching out of character climax. Effy is brave throughout and she doesn’t do anything crazy she just uses her survival skills until the end. I am haunted by this in the best way. If you have a chance to give this a read please for the love of God do it.
“When women meet the water, they transform. It becomes vital to ask: is this a metamorphosis, or a homecoming?”
Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I don’t know how to feel about this book. On one hand I love awkward characters because they can seem so real. On the other hand I really despised just about every character in this book. I love a flawed character, or one that I abhor through the entirety of the read, however something about Frances just never came together for me. I also couldn’t decide if I ever felt bad for her or Nick at any point. Bobbi pointed out that Frances romanticizes the people she’s with and I think that she was completely right. In Melissa’s email to Frances she explains how great Nick is at first until you get to know him better, that he’s submissive and then won’t take accountability for his short comings thus making you feel guilty for getting angry due to his supplicant nature. Bobbi is just a person, but Frances thinks she’s ethereal-can be loved by all when that simply isn’t true. Bobbi can be disliked just the same that Frances can Frances just refuses to notice because she holds her in high regard. Bobbi was easily a favorite of mine, she was honest, non judge mental and opinionated yet original. It was an interesting read, the ending frustrated me a bit. Overall Rooney writes well, she writes the poor life decisions of a early 20 year old with precision, the aloof nature of bad choices we make because we don’t care for the consequences or how much of the real world we truly don’t know yet. It was charming while simultaneously awkward and I can’t say I hated it 🤷🏼♀️
A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
Children of the Albatross by Anaïs Nin
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-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
4.5
Philosophical and poetic, you drink in every word needy for the next. I know I will go back and reread passages from this book. Simple yet wonderful.
Funny Feelings by Tarah DeWitt
adventurous
funny
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? No
4.25
This is hands down the coziest, cutest, funniest book I’ve read this year. I genuinely pictured everything in my head like a rom com movie, and it was great. The author nailed down their banter, this might be the best chemistry between two people I’ve read this year (which is hard to top cause I’ve read some romance books that knocked my socks off). Meyer is a dream boat and I really loved Farley, I feel like we’d be good friends, not to mention how great she is with Hazel. The pace was gorgeous, the tension, the pining UGH! I need this movie to be made stat!!
Side note: The author posted something about Meyer being Chris Evans and Farley being Zoey Deutch and I can say that that’s exactly who I pictured the entire time so kudos.
Side note: The author posted something about Meyer being Chris Evans and Farley being Zoey Deutch and I can say that that’s exactly who I pictured the entire time so kudos.
The Fate Philosophy by Sarah A. Bailey
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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
4.0
Oh. My. God.
Macie Cunningham you deserve the fucking world babe. I have never related and felt so seen by a character in a book in a hot minute. One quote that I could not stop fawning over:
“Because I’m not tea. I’m more like… a shot of espresso. A lot at once, and too bitter to savor. People either want to knock me back and move on, or they want to make me something different, something sweeter. Something that I’m not. So, my entire life I’ve had to choose between being temporary for most people–only being tolerated in short doses, when they need something extra, when they’re tired of their same routine. Or, choose to let someone mix me into the thing they want me to taste like, so that I’m easier to swallow.”
Sarah MF Bailey you have outdone yourself. The energy of these two is enough to power the sun and the mouth on that man 👀. This is equal parts cozy, sexy, emotional, and pure fun. I could not put this down once I started. Flowers upon flowers for a second installment from her debut novel The Soulmate Theory. Pep and Carter were sweet-blush worthy even while Dom and Macie are infectiously compatible and downright filthy (in a good way🤣). These two have my heart and my only complaint is there isn’t anymore!
Macie Cunningham you deserve the fucking world babe. I have never related and felt so seen by a character in a book in a hot minute. One quote that I could not stop fawning over:
“Because I’m not tea. I’m more like… a shot of espresso. A lot at once, and too bitter to savor. People either want to knock me back and move on, or they want to make me something different, something sweeter. Something that I’m not. So, my entire life I’ve had to choose between being temporary for most people–only being tolerated in short doses, when they need something extra, when they’re tired of their same routine. Or, choose to let someone mix me into the thing they want me to taste like, so that I’m easier to swallow.”
Sarah MF Bailey you have outdone yourself. The energy of these two is enough to power the sun and the mouth on that man 👀. This is equal parts cozy, sexy, emotional, and pure fun. I could not put this down once I started. Flowers upon flowers for a second installment from her debut novel The Soulmate Theory. Pep and Carter were sweet-blush worthy even while Dom and Macie are infectiously compatible and downright filthy (in a good way🤣). These two have my heart and my only complaint is there isn’t anymore!
A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Hot. Hot. Hot.
“The force of your love nearly drove me to my knees. I was no woman; I was merely a supplicant, a pilgrim who had stumbled across your dark altar and was doomed to worship at it for ever.”
The bisexual in me was having the time of her life. Nothing happens and everything does at the same time. Written in prose and journal entries or unsent letters, just great all around!
“The force of your love nearly drove me to my knees. I was no woman; I was merely a supplicant, a pilgrim who had stumbled across your dark altar and was doomed to worship at it for ever.”
The bisexual in me was having the time of her life. Nothing happens and everything does at the same time. Written in prose and journal entries or unsent letters, just great all around!
Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Phew.
This one took me a fat minute to finish because the monotonous parts were miserably long. I also read several books in between. I loved the first book so much and had high hopes for the second. The only parts worth mentioning are their time with Phillipe which I wish so badly we had more time with him and their time in Prague was a tense yet exciting few chapters. Also, their relationship upgraded to PG-13, which is an upgrade for them in my opinion. I wish that the author would’ve had a better editor since there were parts that were not only repetitious but down right boring. Hopefully the third book is more promising, sometimes bigger books do not equate to being better. I’ve seen many people complain about the introduction of various characters that are later discarded in the book I felt like Harkness just wanted to flex her Elizabethan knowledge which, hey if you know it might as well put it somewhere while in Rome - or in this case 16th century England. All in all it kept my attention so I can’t say I loathed reading it in the slightest.
This one took me a fat minute to finish because the monotonous parts were miserably long. I also read several books in between. I loved the first book so much and had high hopes for the second. The only parts worth mentioning are their time with Phillipe which I wish so badly we had more time with him and their time in Prague was a tense yet exciting few chapters. Also, their relationship upgraded to PG-13, which is an upgrade for them in my opinion. I wish that the author would’ve had a better editor since there were parts that were not only repetitious but down right boring. Hopefully the third book is more promising, sometimes bigger books do not equate to being better. I’ve seen many people complain about the introduction of various characters that are later discarded in the book I felt like Harkness just wanted to flex her Elizabethan knowledge which, hey if you know it might as well put it somewhere while in Rome - or in this case 16th century England. All in all it kept my attention so I can’t say I loathed reading it in the slightest.