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indieandajean's reviews
391 reviews
The Bodyguard by Katherine Center
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? Yes
4.0
The Bodyguard is a fun romantic comedy with some truly heart-string-tugging moments. I loved the way Hannah was written as snarky, strong, and truly lovable. It was easy to feel a kinship with her, and I loved how she grew to share her life and stand up for herself more and more as the book went on.
I generally don't love "celebrity" or "millionaire" romance (with a few exceptions), but Jack was an excellent male lead and the struggle Hannah had to initially understand what parts of him were mere mortal and what parts of him were the action hero made his character more interesting to read.
There were places where the plot dragged a bit and where I wasn't able to take certain supporting characters seriously (the best friend and ex boyfriend situation was a little ham-fisted if not expected) but overall I enjoyed the pace of the relationship forming. This is a rare romance where the third act conflict didn't feel jarring, and I appreciated the way it didn't totally rely on misunderstanding as so many romances do.
Ultimately I really enjoyed this one! It's a light, comforting read.
I generally don't love "celebrity" or "millionaire" romance (with a few exceptions), but Jack was an excellent male lead and the struggle Hannah had to initially understand what parts of him were mere mortal and what parts of him were the action hero made his character more interesting to read.
There were places where the plot dragged a bit and where I wasn't able to take certain supporting characters seriously (the best friend and ex boyfriend situation was a little ham-fisted if not expected) but overall I enjoyed the pace of the relationship forming. This is a rare romance where the third act conflict didn't feel jarring, and I appreciated the way it didn't totally rely on misunderstanding as so many romances do.
Ultimately I really enjoyed this one! It's a light, comforting read.
A Demon's Guide to Wooing a Witch by Sarah Hawley
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
I was not prepared to forgive Astaroth when I picked up this book, but the amazing way with which his redemption was handled made me love it just as much (if not more) than A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon.
I appreciated how strong and unapologetically herself Calladia is allowed to be in this book. There has been a really great trend in romance lately of embracing women's bodies in any and every form they come in and I love to see that this has extended to strong women as well. The way that this book (and the previous) focuses on the characters building the strength they need to stand up for themselves is brilliant because it intertwines so well with the narrative while not coming off as beating the reader over the head with a message of "love yourself".
Also, the reference to AO3 got me. I definitely laughed, this author knows her audience.
The way Sarah Hawley writes these books is honestly healing for me and I can't wait for book three!
I appreciated how strong and unapologetically herself Calladia is allowed to be in this book. There has been a really great trend in romance lately of embracing women's bodies in any and every form they come in and I love to see that this has extended to strong women as well. The way that this book (and the previous) focuses on the characters building the strength they need to stand up for themselves is brilliant because it intertwines so well with the narrative while not coming off as beating the reader over the head with a message of "love yourself".
Also, the reference to AO3 got me. I definitely laughed, this author knows her audience.
The way Sarah Hawley writes these books is honestly healing for me and I can't wait for book three!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence, Sexual content, Classism, and Cursing
Minor: Abandonment, Body shaming, Stalking, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Blood, Violence, Cursing, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Sexual content, Bullying, Mental illness, and Sexual harassment
The Prince of Prohibition by Marilyn Marks
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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? Yes
4.5
The Prince of Prohibition is the best mix of the historical fiction, fantasy, and romance genres.
The unique spin on faerie lore is enjoyable, even if you are familiar with fae and their many forms, there is enough adaptation to the lore that it doesn't make things too predictable.
I loved the setting, the characters were like-able and varied, and the story's structure was the perfect blend of fast paced and slow moments.
I will say that the ending felt a bit too quick, due to the cliffhanger, but book 2 is out and I am looking forward to seeing the resolution to Adeline and Jack's story.
I would recommend this book to fans of faerie or monster romances, as well as fans of roaring 20's romances or historical fantasy. All will find plenty of appeal in this phenomenal series starter!
The unique spin on faerie lore is enjoyable, even if you are familiar with fae and their many forms, there is enough adaptation to the lore that it doesn't make things too predictable.
I loved the setting, the characters were like-able and varied, and the story's structure was the perfect blend of fast paced and slow moments.
I will say that the ending felt a bit too quick, due to the cliffhanger, but book 2 is out and I am looking forward to seeing the resolution to Adeline and Jack's story.
I would recommend this book to fans of faerie or monster romances, as well as fans of roaring 20's romances or historical fantasy. All will find plenty of appeal in this phenomenal series starter!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Blood, Grief, Murder, Stalking, Violence, Confinement, Self harm, Sexual content, Cursing, Death, War, Police brutality, Racism, Religious bigotry, Injury/Injury detail, and Kidnapping
Minor: Abandonment, Gun violence, Classism, Vomit, and Death of parent
Dragon Age: Dark Fortress by Nunzio DeFilippis, Christina Weir
adventurous
emotional
sad
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? It's complicated
3.0
The Little Red Wolf by Amélie Fléchais
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The Little Red Wolf is a gorgeously illustrated retelling of Little Red Riding Hood where the wolf is the curious child sent to grandmother's house and the villains are the human hunters who fear the wolves.
l liked the unique spin on the classic fairytale, but the real show stopper are the gorgeous illustrations. The style is a darkly beautiful and visually complex combination of folk art and nature motifs. I want prints from this book as wall art.
Story wise the tale is simple and familiar, but the changes made make it an interesting read. The author's additional story about the woman of the forest that intertwined with the well known little red riding hood narrative was an unexpected but welcome surprise.
Ultimately I enjoyed this take on a classic and was surprised by the creative way it emphasized that you can't judge someone on their appearance.
l liked the unique spin on the classic fairytale, but the real show stopper are the gorgeous illustrations. The style is a darkly beautiful and visually complex combination of folk art and nature motifs. I want prints from this book as wall art.
Story wise the tale is simple and familiar, but the changes made make it an interesting read. The author's additional story about the woman of the forest that intertwined with the well known little red riding hood narrative was an unexpected but welcome surprise.
Ultimately I enjoyed this take on a classic and was surprised by the creative way it emphasized that you can't judge someone on their appearance.
Content Warnings
Minor: Blood, Confinement, Violence, Murder, Animal death, Death, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Gun violence, Animal cruelty, and Grief
Wild Spaces by S.L. Coney
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
3.5
Is coming of age horror a thing? Because this dark and twisted love letter to the Cthulhu mythos and bildungsroman reads like it very much is a thing. I was thoroughly creeped out and uncomfortable which I think was the goal here.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Violence
Moderate: Cannibalism, Murder, Death, Animal cruelty, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Violence, Grief, Animal death, and Body horror
Minor: Violence
A Proposal They Can't Refuse by Natalie Caña
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? Yes
3.75
We love a good childhood friends to enemies to lovers romance. The scheming octogenarians were just the icing on the cake for this one. Didn't love the majority of the "supporting" cast of characters (other than Papo and Saint) which is what makes this one a 3.75/5 for me. I don't necessarily know that I will be reading the rest of the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Bullying, and Alcohol
Minor: Gaslighting, Fatphobia, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Cursing, and Classism
Lumberjanes/Gotham Academy by Chynna Clugston Flores
adventurous
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
A fun little side story for fans of Lumberjanes and Gotham Academy. I have been putting this one off until I finished reading Gotham Academy. I've already read almost every piece of Lumberjanes content available, but Gotham Academy just didn't jump out and bite me in the same way that Lumberjanes did so I've only read the first volume, and I was worried that I wouldn't understand the story because of this.
That said, I think that the first volume of Gotham Academy is all that is needed to have read in order to enjoy this crossover. This comic requires that you have a familiarity with both Lumberjanes and Gotham Academy in order for it to make sense, but I think a familiarity is all that is needed. Of course I'm sure I didn't pick up on some things and some of the characters were not particularly familiar to me, but it didn't really matter.
The story is fun, the characters work well together and the plot was much more impactful than I thought it would be for a crossover oneshot comic.
I would recommend this for fans of Lumberjanes and Gotham Academy, for those who like one or the other, but not for those unfamiliar with either series.
That said, I think that the first volume of Gotham Academy is all that is needed to have read in order to enjoy this crossover. This comic requires that you have a familiarity with both Lumberjanes and Gotham Academy in order for it to make sense, but I think a familiarity is all that is needed. Of course I'm sure I didn't pick up on some things and some of the characters were not particularly familiar to me, but it didn't really matter.
The story is fun, the characters work well together and the plot was much more impactful than I thought it would be for a crossover oneshot comic.
I would recommend this for fans of Lumberjanes and Gotham Academy, for those who like one or the other, but not for those unfamiliar with either series.
A Call To Cthulhu by Norm Konyu
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A Call to Cthulhu is a gorgeously illustrated and lyrically written introduction to H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu mythos for younger readers. For those familiar with the works of Lovecraft, the story of a human calling Cthulhu to complain about his (and his compatriots) evil machinations is a good laugh. For those unfamiliar it is both humorous and an excellent primer of the various tales which make up the Cthulhu mythos.
The illustrations are gorgeous, spooky, and at times humorous in their depictions of Cthulhu and the Old Gods. I appreciated the guide to the illustrations and text in the back of the book which creates connections to the original stories in which characters and events appear. The portrait of H.P. Lovecraft in the back of the book is similarly well done, with the associated text describing his life not shying away from his racism, which is something I appreciate when any new book adapts the works of an author of the past whose views, behaviors, and ideologies were and continue to be terrible.
I would recommend this for fans of H.P. Lovecraft who are looking for a quick, amusing read, and to those young or old who are looking for an introduction the the Cthulhu stories.
The illustrations are gorgeous, spooky, and at times humorous in their depictions of Cthulhu and the Old Gods. I appreciated the guide to the illustrations and text in the back of the book which creates connections to the original stories in which characters and events appear. The portrait of H.P. Lovecraft in the back of the book is similarly well done, with the associated text describing his life not shying away from his racism, which is something I appreciate when any new book adapts the works of an author of the past whose views, behaviors, and ideologies were and continue to be terrible.
I would recommend this for fans of H.P. Lovecraft who are looking for a quick, amusing read, and to those young or old who are looking for an introduction the the Cthulhu stories.
The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
5.0
Thea Guanzon is a master of world building, dialogue, and the enemies to lovers romance. Though I read the original story that The Hurricane Wars was based on (LWABOC for those who are in the know), I was still struck by the beauty and intensity of the story of the start of Alaric and Talasyn's romance. I thought I would know every detail about where this story would go, but while many main plot points are the same from the original story, the details and moments between the characters made this an interesting and exciting read. The world that was created for this story is well thought out, glorious in its details and utterly stunning to the imagination. Knowing that there is more to come has this reader (and fellow rat) on the edge of her seat.
I can't wait for the next two books! I anxiously await seeing how these characters find their happily ever after.
I can't wait for the next two books! I anxiously await seeing how these characters find their happily ever after.