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highleyginger's reviews
66 reviews
A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Yet again Kingfisher has managed to pull my grandmother out of my family lineage and throw her bitter ass into a book.
Will I ever tell my grandma this? No. Will she haunt me if she finds out, most likely, but probably not with the level of protection Gran Mae does with her family.
Will my grandma fat shame me like Gran Mae, oh absolutely even though I'm a size medium...
Will my grandma say racist things? Oh absolutely. Her and Gran Mae are practically sisters.
All in all, I love this book inspite of it reminding me too much of my own familial problems. Sam is witty and relatable, especially to anyone who has a science degree and has rambled about their work to someone till they've become glassy eyed.
It's got a little bit for everyone, including a fantastic touch of the occult.
Will I ever tell my grandma this? No. Will she haunt me if she finds out, most likely, but probably not with the level of protection Gran Mae does with her family.
Will my grandma fat shame me like Gran Mae, oh absolutely even though I'm a size medium...
Will my grandma say racist things? Oh absolutely. Her and Gran Mae are practically sisters.
All in all, I love this book inspite of it reminding me too much of my own familial problems. Sam is witty and relatable, especially to anyone who has a science degree and has rambled about their work to someone till they've become glassy eyed.
It's got a little bit for everyone, including a fantastic touch of the occult.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Racism, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
This book has a southern grand matriarch who's got a history of fat shaming, racism, and overall verbal abuse to people.
The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
The build up was slow, slower than I'm used to in a horror novel but the characters, and mystery of everything moving very well. Especially Foxie. She is a gem in fishnets, boots and poping pink lipstick that everyone needs in their lives.
It's a good Appalachian folklore style story, and as folklore goes, not all of it is magical and whimsical, sometimes it's down right horrifying.
It's a good Appalachian folklore style story, and as folklore goes, not all of it is magical and whimsical, sometimes it's down right horrifying.
Bookshops & Bonedust: Special Edition by Travis Baldree
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
Before Legends and Lates, a taste of Viv before she fully chose to retire from her life as the sword wielding sort.
This journey lets you learn more about Viv, her principles and morals, and slowly learn her desires through this cozy yet adventurous prequel to Legends & Lates.
This journey lets you learn more about Viv, her principles and morals, and slowly learn her desires through this cozy yet adventurous prequel to Legends & Lates.
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
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
A cozy new beginning for unlikely partners to have a cute coffee shop. It was a cheerful cozy tale that warmed my soul like any cup of tea or coffee would. It was the perfect book to break my cycle of heavy feelings. I can't wait for the next title.
Daindreth's Empress by Elisabeth Wheatley
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Amira had spend hours going over the requests and these were all from just one minister, how has Vesha not gone insane?
OMG GIRL SHE DID, DO YOU NOT REMEMBER SHE MADE DEALS WITH THE CYTHRAUL FOR PEACE AND STABILITY? She literally made a deal with the devil 🤣
Again, I'm finishing our this series for Thadred, Sair, and Rhis. I love Thadred's relationship with Rhis, his patience with him is adorable. He's such a great father figure for him.
Gets a bit graphic around 27% of the way through the book which is to be expected with the trend of darkness of the book but maybe shocking in comparison to what readers of the earlier books may have encountered.
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I tried to enjoy the book. Maybe it wasn't fitting my tastes after such intense stories I've read lately. The fan base of these books have me WANTING to like the book but the truth is, Jude is a bit of a prick. Yes, bad things happen to her and other than her big sister and Oak, she doesn't have much she wants to be good for.
As much as Cardan is supposed to be an enemy, he comes off far more calm than she is. She's so incredibly irrational with her dislike of him even after finding out he's not as bad as he seems. She wants an enemy so badly and I just can't comprehend the action.
This is definitely a YA book that feels very middle school in many places. I think perhaps that I've aged out of this particular book's designed group.
I will likely give the next book a try to see if Jude can grow up a bit. I'm fine with complex characters but she's got more important people to hate than Cardan. She's been betrayed by so many WORSE people than someone as indifferent as him and it's clear he probably wouldn't be battling with his feelings for her if she could just stop being a prick for a week.
Side note: I loved how diverse the fae folk are. The world building was what kept me from making this book a DNF
As much as Cardan is supposed to be an enemy, he comes off far more calm than she is. She's so incredibly irrational with her dislike of him even after finding out he's not as bad as he seems. She wants an enemy so badly and I just can't comprehend the action.
This is definitely a YA book that feels very middle school in many places. I think perhaps that I've aged out of this particular book's designed group.
I will likely give the next book a try to see if Jude can grow up a bit. I'm fine with complex characters but she's got more important people to hate than Cardan. She's been betrayed by so many WORSE people than someone as indifferent as him and it's clear he probably wouldn't be battling with his feelings for her if she could just stop being a prick for a week.
Side note: I loved how diverse the fae folk are. The world building was what kept me from making this book a DNF
Mistress of Lies by K.M. Enright
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
There are things I love between the two books, but this one doesn't have the frequency of the riddles and rhymes of the first.
Still loved the tale. The lore of this world is dark, rich, and enjoyable in many ways even if it lacks some of the charm that the first had over this.
Still loved the tale. The lore of this world is dark, rich, and enjoyable in many ways even if it lacks some of the charm that the first had over this.
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
A gothic Fairytale to say the least. There is some romance but that is not the focus. The focus is magic, gathering of cards to break the illness haunting in the fog, a curse by the spirit of the woods.
Sometimes, the darkness, the nightmares, the monsters are not what you think, though they can be frightening.
Sometimes, the darkness, the nightmares, the monsters are not what you think, though they can be frightening.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Blood, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Sexual content