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holdenwunders_'s reviews
336 reviews
Elphie by Gregory Maguire
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
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
4.0
My darling and dearest little asparagus, Elphaba, how I’ve missed you.
When I first saw Gregory Macguire was writing an “origin” story of Elphie, I thought eh I don’t need it. Then I kept on seeing it and I have to admit, over time my curiousity peaked and I couldn’t resist more Elphaba in my life. If you have read the other books in the Wicked series this is a treat, and if you haven’t, this is the perfect place to start.
We get to witness the evolution of our greenest girl in Elphie and establish the connections with her father, Nessa, and mischievous baby brother Shell before all the “turmoil” in the later stories begin. We get to see her first interactions with talking animals and the reactions and culture that shapes Elphaba’s personality and reactions to those around her. There were so many nuances in this story that further shapes the story we are already so familiar with and there were some easter eggs if you love the Wicked The Musical too! It was the perfect place to start and I have to admit, it being available right as the movie came out shaped my wanting in reading this ARC.
I absolutely love Maguire’s writing and always have and he does not disappoint when it comes to writing style. One of the true joys in reading him is learning so many new words and witnessing him play with dialect and shape words into new amalgamations that never stops you from giggling with joy.
Overall, I’m so pleased to have another book by him and especially one that centers Elphaba. The biggest question though, was it necessary? And while I enjoyed it I don’t think my answer would be a resounding yes, but I’m also not mad that it exists. Sometimes getting more of something you love can be an exquisite little treat and Elphie was exactly that.
When I first saw Gregory Macguire was writing an “origin” story of Elphie, I thought eh I don’t need it. Then I kept on seeing it and I have to admit, over time my curiousity peaked and I couldn’t resist more Elphaba in my life. If you have read the other books in the Wicked series this is a treat, and if you haven’t, this is the perfect place to start.
We get to witness the evolution of our greenest girl in Elphie and establish the connections with her father, Nessa, and mischievous baby brother Shell before all the “turmoil” in the later stories begin. We get to see her first interactions with talking animals and the reactions and culture that shapes Elphaba’s personality and reactions to those around her. There were so many nuances in this story that further shapes the story we are already so familiar with and there were some easter eggs if you love the Wicked The Musical too! It was the perfect place to start and I have to admit, it being available right as the movie came out shaped my wanting in reading this ARC.
I absolutely love Maguire’s writing and always have and he does not disappoint when it comes to writing style. One of the true joys in reading him is learning so many new words and witnessing him play with dialect and shape words into new amalgamations that never stops you from giggling with joy.
Overall, I’m so pleased to have another book by him and especially one that centers Elphaba. The biggest question though, was it necessary? And while I enjoyed it I don’t think my answer would be a resounding yes, but I’m also not mad that it exists. Sometimes getting more of something you love can be an exquisite little treat and Elphie was exactly that.
The Dollhouse Academy by Margarita Montimore
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I have officially found a new favourite authour in Margarita Montimore!
When I saw the cover of this novel I was intrigued but after the synopsis, I assumed this was yet another dark academia and blew it off. I’m so glad I looked at the authour and rethought that idea because I’ve never been so wrong. After realizing this was the same authour from Oona Out of Order, I decided to give this novel a shot and I’m so glad I did because it’s become one of my favourite books I’ve read all year.
If you’ve ever heard of the conspiracy theory that Avril Lavigne died and was replaced by a copy, this is practically the premise of this absolutely bonkers book. In a world where this company rules over the lives of its stars from diets, projects, “supplements”, they also rule over their very existence. Our main characters think they’re getting the shot of a lifetime into stardom and they’re not necessarily wrong.
I’m absolutely enthralled by the entire premise of this book but what I am enamored by is Montimore’s delivery. Instead of serving us with a unique plot alone, we are also treated with spectacular writing and a combination of genres that makes this book thrilling and impossible to put down. It’s always impressive when an authour can write in any genre and Montimore has the chops to do exactly that.
This is one of the shelves and I will absolutely be purchasing this to reread when it officially comes out but I am so excited I got this ARC. If you have the privilege to read it early like I did, take it, because this is gonna be a hit when it comes out next year.
When I saw the cover of this novel I was intrigued but after the synopsis, I assumed this was yet another dark academia and blew it off. I’m so glad I looked at the authour and rethought that idea because I’ve never been so wrong. After realizing this was the same authour from Oona Out of Order, I decided to give this novel a shot and I’m so glad I did because it’s become one of my favourite books I’ve read all year.
If you’ve ever heard of the conspiracy theory that Avril Lavigne died and was replaced by a copy, this is practically the premise of this absolutely bonkers book. In a world where this company rules over the lives of its stars from diets, projects, “supplements”, they also rule over their very existence. Our main characters think they’re getting the shot of a lifetime into stardom and they’re not necessarily wrong.
I’m absolutely enthralled by the entire premise of this book but what I am enamored by is Montimore’s delivery. Instead of serving us with a unique plot alone, we are also treated with spectacular writing and a combination of genres that makes this book thrilling and impossible to put down. It’s always impressive when an authour can write in any genre and Montimore has the chops to do exactly that.
This is one of the shelves and I will absolutely be purchasing this to reread when it officially comes out but I am so excited I got this ARC. If you have the privilege to read it early like I did, take it, because this is gonna be a hit when it comes out next year.
The Unworthy by Agustina Bazterrica
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
HOLY MOTHER OF *#^%*. And when I say Holy Mother, of course I’m referring to Agustina Bazterrica Patron Saint of Horror. Tender is the Flesh is a unique and horrifying story blessed upon us from Bazterrica and The Unworthy is truly worthy of standing right next to Tender in the hall of fame of fucked up-ness.
The Unworthy takes us on a journey of total cataclysms and what can stem from that complete destruction. Think, the worst religious cult that stems from a decimated world, a true apocalypse and you just start to scratch the story of The Unworthy.
I don’t want to delve too deeply into the plot but surprisingly this was a story of love. If you read this you may be thinking I’m completely batshit by saying that, but stay with me. What happens when you lose complete hope in everything including humanity? The full rot and desolation of humanity is on full, sickening display here but is also the thing that may well save us all.
We get a disturbing display of events written in the blood of one of our “unworthy” and while there’s about one singular character who is likeable, the desperation and total destruction has you begging for any glimmer of hope. Bazterrica withholds and withholds, but I do have to say it felt like relief finishing this short novel. There are certain authours that change your DNA with their writing and just like Tender is the Flesh, this story will stick with me, whether I like it or not, forever.
The Unworthy takes us on a journey of total cataclysms and what can stem from that complete destruction. Think, the worst religious cult that stems from a decimated world, a true apocalypse and you just start to scratch the story of The Unworthy.
I don’t want to delve too deeply into the plot but surprisingly this was a story of love. If you read this you may be thinking I’m completely batshit by saying that, but stay with me. What happens when you lose complete hope in everything including humanity? The full rot and desolation of humanity is on full, sickening display here but is also the thing that may well save us all.
We get a disturbing display of events written in the blood of one of our “unworthy” and while there’s about one singular character who is likeable, the desperation and total destruction has you begging for any glimmer of hope. Bazterrica withholds and withholds, but I do have to say it felt like relief finishing this short novel. There are certain authours that change your DNA with their writing and just like Tender is the Flesh, this story will stick with me, whether I like it or not, forever.
The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
Okay this book is SO good and prime time Paula Hawkins. While it isn’t paced like The Girl on the Train, it still has the stylistic elements, writing genius, and innovative thrilling ideas that we know from her.
I won’t go on and on about this one but the reviews honestly make me so sad. I’d still categorize this as a thriller, while it is a slow burn of a thriller it still has all the elements of a beautifully strewn together story and the ending had me wide eyed, gasping in shock and horror.
I absolutely love when an authour branches out from their other writing endeavors and gives us something new and engaging and I’m still so enamored by Paula Hawkins. She’s a true master at her craft and The Blue Hour is no exception.
I won’t go on and on about this one but the reviews honestly make me so sad. I’d still categorize this as a thriller, while it is a slow burn of a thriller it still has all the elements of a beautifully strewn together story and the ending had me wide eyed, gasping in shock and horror.
I absolutely love when an authour branches out from their other writing endeavors and gives us something new and engaging and I’m still so enamored by Paula Hawkins. She’s a true master at her craft and The Blue Hour is no exception.
From Here to the Great Unknown by Lisa Marie Presley, Riley Keough
3.5
As a very vocal Elvis hater, this book was just so tragic and I really don’t have much to add. It really wasn’t about it, which is why I was hopeful reading it, but there’s no bright light at the end of this tunnel. Just suffering. It’s not bad by any means but the most insightful bits come from Riley Keough herself.