janastange's reviews
341 reviews

Cursed Under London by Gabby Hutchinson Crouch

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

2.75

I received an eARC of this book, intrigued by its setting in an alternate Elizabethan-era London where monsters exist. The actual reading experience, however, was a mixed bag. At times, it feels like a cozy fantasy, featuring a delightful found family trope with a diverse and lovable cast of characters. Their banter and humor often made me laugh out loud. However, that same humor was sometimes awkwardly placed within the story, detracting from more serious plotlines. 

While each character had a well-developed backstory, the narrative took a while to pick up pace and become engaging. Despite being a short read, the first 60% felt much longer, and I struggled to connect with the characters in a meaningful way. Overall, I feel it was simply not my type of story. 

The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young

dark emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

The Maidens by Alex Michaelides

challenging dark mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

3.0

So many lose ends. What was the purpose of Henry? A lot of the characters onl  served the plot ans were very one-dimensional. 

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Of Lost Things by Dani de Luca

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

3.75

Poignant, meaningful poetry. I rarely read poetry, but every now and then a title or theme speaks to me, as it was with this collection.
My favorite poem in this collection about grief, motherhood, and womanhood is Freshmen, but most in the second half really spoke to me and I will be re-reading this short little book multiple times.

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful sad tense slow-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

I Have Some Questions For You by Rebecca Makkai

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman

fast-paced

4.0