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hippolyta_vi's reviews
147 reviews
Masters of Death by Olivie Blake
5.0
I took a chance with this book, not really knowing if I'd like it or not. Suffice it to say, I LOVED it.
Olivie Blake's nonlinear storytelling in this novel may not be for everyone, but I for one love this style of storytelling. I love piecing things together as the novel progresses.
I think the story succeeded in giving us well-rounded characters despite it following so many. Blake knows how to write banter and I found myself cackling throughout the novel. I've seen criticism for the various ways of displaying dialogue, but to me it added to the books charm. It is a very charming book.
Another piece of criticism I've seen, and can understand, is that readers are confused. I don't think that was unintentional. For most of the narrative, "the game" is elusive and the reader is not meant to understand it at first. We know as much about it as Fox (and Vi and Tom) does. Therefore, it makes sense to me to be left confused until the climax. A second read of this book would be really rewarding too. I can't wait to reread it one day.
I've comp'd this book to Good Omens in its wit, commentary on morality, and the satirizarion of supernatural creatures and characters that we're all familiar with.
Overall, fun, humourous, and touching!
Olivie Blake's nonlinear storytelling in this novel may not be for everyone, but I for one love this style of storytelling. I love piecing things together as the novel progresses.
I think the story succeeded in giving us well-rounded characters despite it following so many. Blake knows how to write banter and I found myself cackling throughout the novel. I've seen criticism for the various ways of displaying dialogue, but to me it added to the books charm. It is a very charming book.
Another piece of criticism I've seen, and can understand, is that readers are confused. I don't think that was unintentional. For most of the narrative, "the game" is elusive and the reader is not meant to understand it at first. We know as much about it as Fox (and Vi and Tom) does. Therefore, it makes sense to me to be left confused until the climax. A second read of this book would be really rewarding too. I can't wait to reread it one day.
I've comp'd this book to Good Omens in its wit, commentary on morality, and the satirizarion of supernatural creatures and characters that we're all familiar with.
Overall, fun, humourous, and touching!
Tangled Up In You by Christina Lauren
4.0
Tangled Up In You is a well-writren fish-out-of water story turned romance turned thriller.
This is my first Christina Lauren book and I only picked it up because of the premise (it being inspired by Tangled) and I wasn't necessarily disappointed. There were a lot of things to love about this book and a lot of things that I didn't vibe with.
Let's start with the bad. Ren is SO naive. I understand that it's the point and that she's based off of Rapunzel who is locked up in a tower her whole life but in the beginning she was so naive it was cringe-worthy. I wish the authors would've given her a crush or teenage "fling" because the "falling in love with the first person I meet" trope doesn't sit right with me. And yes, I know, that is exactly Rapunzel and Flynn's dynamic, but I can let it slide for a Disney movie.
Maybe it's because I don't read a lot of straight romances, but the cliches were really cliche-ing here.
Time for the good! I was, like many of the characters, charmed by Ren. The authors did a really good job characterizing the leads. Ren and Fitz's dynamic felt natural and as a reader I felt their connection. The road trip aspect was fun but who on earth would think to justgo on a road trip with a stranger across the country to meet another stranger who is most likely your estranged father???? I guess that was another drawback but it ties into how annoying Ren's naivety could be. If you throw rationality aside, the plot is enjoyable.
Overall, it was a fun, enjoyable, and quick read.
Additionally, fans of Tangled will pick up on little inside jokes and references which was fun.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!
This is my first Christina Lauren book and I only picked it up because of the premise (it being inspired by Tangled) and I wasn't necessarily disappointed. There were a lot of things to love about this book and a lot of things that I didn't vibe with.
Let's start with the bad. Ren is SO naive. I understand that it's the point and that she's based off of Rapunzel who is locked up in a tower her whole life but in the beginning she was so naive it was cringe-worthy. I wish the authors would've given her a crush or teenage "fling" because the "falling in love with the first person I meet" trope doesn't sit right with me. And yes, I know, that is exactly Rapunzel and Flynn's dynamic, but I can let it slide for a Disney movie.
Maybe it's because I don't read a lot of straight romances, but the cliches were really cliche-ing here.
Time for the good! I was, like many of the characters, charmed by Ren. The authors did a really good job characterizing the leads. Ren and Fitz's dynamic felt natural and as a reader I felt their connection. The road trip aspect was fun but who on earth would think to just
Overall, it was a fun, enjoyable, and quick read.
Additionally, fans of Tangled will pick up on little inside jokes and references which was fun.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!
The Horizon by Jung Ji-Hoon
4.0
one of the more devastating graphic novels that has ever passed my eyes. a story of two choosing losing their innocence in the worst ways imaginable and oddly similar to the genocide of Palestinians (and likely many, many other groups throughout history)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death of parent, Child abuse, War, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual assault
A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Overall, I'd say this was an enjoyable read. If you're interested in this type of story, I'd say its worth it. However, there are a LOT of faults.
If you look closely (but not even that close), you'll see plot holes, dropped and forgotten details, and an extremely obvious storyline. I guessed the ending within the first few chapters. Sometimes I literally felt gaslit by the characters because something super obvious would happen and then they'd come to a different conclusion. like Effy...girl...the Fairy King literally jumped at you in a car and you still didn't come to the conclusion that he took over Ianto's body? And they really just kept brushing aside why they never saw or heard from Myrddin's wife. Y'all she was basically a captive and no one cares?
I wasn't really sold on the romance either. I felt like the characters didn't truly understand one another, they were just sort of bonded by trauma.
This is just a little personal gripe, but the entire environment of the Bottom Hundred is wet and moist right? And Effy is used to a different climate. Well she must have a strong immune system because girl DEFINITELY should've gotten sick.
And what the hell was that ending? Is it supposed to lead into a sequel? Because I did NOT understand it in the context of the story.
Bonus: if you did like this, try Not Good for Maidens by Tori Bovalino
If you look closely (but not even that close), you'll see plot holes, dropped and forgotten details, and an extremely obvious storyline. I guessed the ending within the first few chapters. Sometimes I literally felt gaslit by the characters because something super obvious would happen and then they'd come to a different conclusion.
I wasn't really sold on the romance either. I felt like the characters didn't truly understand one another, they were just sort of bonded by trauma.
This is just a little personal gripe, but the entire environment of the Bottom Hundred is wet and moist right? And Effy is used to a different climate. Well she must have a strong immune system because girl DEFINITELY should've gotten sick.
And what the hell was that ending? Is it supposed to lead into a sequel? Because I did NOT understand it in the context of the story.
Bonus: if you did like this, try Not Good for Maidens by Tori Bovalino
Three Holidays and a Wedding by Marissa Stapley, Uzma Jalaluddin
3.0
This book was probably the disappointment of the year. And I don't enjoy saying that. Uzma Jalaluddin is one of, if not, my favourite romance authors so I had high hopes for this one. Unfortunately, it fell flat like a pancake.
It was so Hallmark-y, so if you enjoy that, this is for you.
The concept is fantastic, but the execution failed. I was never interested in both plot-lines at once which made the reading experience a drag. I didn't find myself caring for the characters at all either. Everything happened so fast and so much of the characters' inner dialogue felt so repetitive to me. Like, what really even happened?
I also felt that it was lazy for both plot-lines to create tension between the couples in the exact same way ( making the FMC think the MMC had a girlfriend )
It was so Hallmark-y, so if you enjoy that, this is for you.
The concept is fantastic, but the execution failed. I was never interested in both plot-lines at once which made the reading experience a drag. I didn't find myself caring for the characters at all either. Everything happened so fast and so much of the characters' inner dialogue felt so repetitive to me. Like, what really even happened?
I also felt that it was lazy for both plot-lines to create tension between the couples in the exact same way (
Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo
5.0
once again screamed and squealed the whole way through. my heart is full. what a wonderful way to (potentially) end the Grishaverse series (I'm still hoping for more. After that ending there has to be....... right?)
kind of confused as to why it was called Rule of Wolves and not something like Age of Saints...seeing as that seemed to occupy a large majority of the story.
where I kind of struggle though is with the ending of Nina's storyline. I loved the plot twist and that she gets a happy ending but I'm a bit peeved that she'll live the rest of her life as Mila, looking Fjerdan.
kind of confused as to why it was called Rule of Wolves and not something like Age of Saints...seeing as that seemed to occupy a large majority of the story.
This Is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone, Amal El-Mohtar
3.0
I can admit this book was beautifully crafted and is incredibly thought-provoking while also acknowledging that it wasn't for me. And it just wasn't :/
This book requires a lot of attention and would benefit from multiple rereads. That's largely why it wasn't for me. It isn't a very accessible story, in my opinion. You're thrown into this universe knowing absolutely nothing (obviously) and don't end up learning much about the context (upon first read at least). I was at the will of the storytellers and following along, trusting the process. There was some pay-off at the end but ultimately, I grew uninterested.
If you're looking for a complicated (read: convoluted and intricate) read that requires patience to process, this one's for you.
This book requires a lot of attention and would benefit from multiple rereads. That's largely why it wasn't for me. It isn't a very accessible story, in my opinion. You're thrown into this universe knowing absolutely nothing (obviously) and don't end up learning much about the context (upon first read at least). I was at the will of the storytellers and following along, trusting the process. There was some pay-off at the end but ultimately, I grew uninterested.
If you're looking for a complicated (read: convoluted and intricate) read that requires patience to process, this one's for you.