jasmineteagirl's reviews
79 reviews

Reign & Ruin by J.D. Evans

slow-paced

2.5

I’d feel bad giving this less than 2.5 because the writing truly was good. It was descriptive and detailed nicely. But my god was I bored. Bored for the majority of the book. Then right before our couple gets together things get a bit interesting and then they get together and then stuff is boring and interesting at the same time and then the book ends. The writing is good. But I just could not get myself through this. I don’t know if i have it in me to continue the series. The world was very much confined to the palace and palace politics, which I didn’t think I minded but maybe I do. I could see other books expanding the world and being more interesting but I don’t feel like embarking on those journeys now. I wasn’t attached to the world or any characters. The romance was sweet, both characters likable. But overall boring. I’m sorry. 

Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent

adventurous dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.25

Rating would’ve been a bit higher but around 85-90% I wanted to DNF which is crazy but it got a bit corny surprisingly? I was not feeling it and wanted to be done with it. Max was funny and his POV was endearing at many times. 

I wish I was more into this to continue the series. There’s so much potential with the characters. Tisaanah was a bit mary Sue (? I think that’s the right phrase) but for a romantasy series this ain’t half bad. I could see it getting much better but I just don’t care enough to put the effort in and am ultimately looking for a book (even a first book in a series) with a bit more going on. I wanted a slowburn but maybe a little less slow than these 2 lol. 

Also don’t know if this is a problematic take but I was quite intrigued by Nura and would love a spin off of her. Sammerin probs hates her (with good reason bc of the whole Max thing) but imagine a spin off with them… I don’t think it happens as the series continues. Or Nura with a woman. Idk I just think she’s interest. 

Also did I think what’s happening with Zeryth is happening? Is he backstabbing the kingdom/queen lol. And no one knows? Except Tare or whatever

The Ninth Rain by Jen Williams

funny lighthearted mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

I didn’t understand the Ghibli comparisons but somehow, by the end, I kinda did? Love the camaraderie amongst the main trio. 

The Broken Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin

adventurous

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

3.5

I think something about how both Yeine and Oree feel like side characters in their own stories sometimes is one reason I can’t seem to love these books. However, I liked this one more than the first. 

I liked reading about Oree and Shiny as a duo, but found myself bored around the beginning of the 3/4 of the story, where she was alone a bit. 

I was so close to disliking the end… and then the BABY😭😭😭 a rare case of pregnancy trope that I actually like omg. Such a good idea

somehow Jemisin manages to pull my interest right at the end. The same happened with the first book. I told myself I wasn’t going to continue the series and now I feel I need to. 

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin

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

3.25

Honestly, I don’t know how to feel. I didn’t love this. I didn’t hate it. The writing was so unique, I enjoyed reading a different style than I was used to. Jemisin is great, her intelligence rings through her writing. It is fascinating. 

But this book didn’t do it for me. I wanted to like it. It was just odd…

perhaps if I went into it understanding it is a woman’s journey to godhood, I’d have reacted to it differently. But that is a spoiler, so of course I didn’t know.

it was not as coherent or cohesive as I’d liked. The worldbuilding was wonky. I don’t know even how to explain my thoughts. Some of this bored me I think? It just felt like one big book of building the series. A prequel to what else is to come through the lens of one character’s eyes. 

Despite how it seems I disliked this, the second book does intrigue me. I’m not opposed to reading more of the series nor Jemisin’s writing. 

Heir by Sabaa Tahir

adventurous funny tense medium-paced

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

4.0

MY FAMILYYYY BACK TOGETHER!! I had no clue this book released until like 3 days ago. An unexpected very welcome surprise. 

While these new characters didn’t attach themselves to me similarly as the OG cast did, I still loved this. Sabaa Tahir’s writing doesn’t fail. Thought I don’t remember specifics about her writing from the OG series, I think I found it more enticing then. Our new cast was interesting. I found myself caring a bit less for Aiz, perhaps because I love a romance and subconsciously sought out Sirsha and Quil’s tension as I read her chapters. 

It was so nice being back in this world, seeing characters I missed and enjoyed reading about in the past. I did predict quite a bit of the book, but I still found it enthralling. 

I am only saddened that I do not see any announcement for the sequel:( how long will I have to wait 😭😭😭

Where sirsha has ended is so frustrating to me. Also, rated this 4 instead of 4.25 because some of the power seems inconsistent to me. Like the kegari are so powerful but then not enough to kill Helene, somehow? Idk perhaps I’m overthinking or incorrect

White Nights by Fyodor Dostoevsky

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.0

My ratings are so inconsistent when it comes to transparency and reasoning. Anyways, the writing was great in this. Many of the lines about happiness and life were relatable or touching. But also, this book was silly dramatic to me. And not to be that friend that’s too woke, especially given this was written in the 1800s, but Nastenka was a child… both of those men: JAIL! 

Quite sad I didn’t get the hype about this one. also I’d never wish a man’s unrequited love on anyone. Uncomfortable position to be in. 

Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.0

On an enjoyment scale, this is a 5. But the writing is quite simple, which I liked don’t get me wrong. But it wasn’t impressive. I just watched Nosferatu and had to read this, having not read any classic Vampire works. This was explicitly sapphic, whereas I assumed it would be subtle. Nope. And Le Fanu didn’t intend that I’m sure but he wrote it. 

I don’t know enough about Dracula but it’s no doubt this inspired it. It’s one long account of Laura’s experience with a vampire, Carmilla. 

Anyone intimidated by older writing or classics doesn’t need to be with this. I read the Gutenberg version, which I’m almost certain is the original words, and it was so easy to read. Poor Laura, so naive. 

Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin

fast-paced

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Giovanni’s Room is hailed as a queer classic; an account of a queer fictional relationship that is tragic and written with such vulnerability, it must be admired. I understand why this book is held with such revere. James Baldwin’s writing is simply incredible. And to write and publish such a book in the 1950’s is a brave feat. 

Through David, our narrator’s perspective, we see a young man grapple with sexual identity. He is fearful of his desires, used to weaving throughout life in the comfortably or “normalcy” of heterosexuality. Enter Giovanni, an Italian bartender, whom David soon enters a romantic relationship and roommate situation (Giovanni’s Room). The relationship is one David sees as fleeting, but Giovanni sees as love, despite knowing Hella, David’s fiance, is to arrive. This creates volatile tension, and David is quite a self-destructive character. In a way, he’s dragging Giovanni along. Lusting for men is something David very obviously struggles with, and Baldwin’s writing of these struggles is nothing short of amazing. Every word feels honest, vulnerable, and poetic. I can’t praise enough about Baldwin’s writing of such matters, especially given the time he lived and wrote this. Much of what we read involving LGBTQ+ in the book feels reflective of real world views from the 1950s. 

On another note, I found interesting the talks of gender. With misogyny in books, I find myself wary. However, in this book, you can tell the misogyny is out of struggles with heteronormativity and views many men, and people, held about women. As someone intrigued by talks of feminism, Hella’s character coming into the story was very interesting. She is a woman who came to realize women’s true role in a patriarchal society, and reckons with how she had to conform to it. And also that she desires to do so for her love, she wants to have a man to move on in society. 

Aside from discussions of sexuality and gender, a page of this book delves into the American experience abroad in Europe. And from personal experience, James Baldwin nailed it. Not only the experience abroad but just the experience in general, living in a country where you’re from there, but not really FROM there: “I was aware that they all had in common something that made them Americans but I could never put my finger on what it was. I knew that whatever this common quality was, I shared it.” and, “And I resented this: resented being called an American (and resented resenting it) because it seemed to make me nothing more than that, whatever that was; and I resented being called not an American because it seemed to make me nothing.”

Entreat Me by Grace Draven
Did not finish book. Stopped at 29%.

I don’t care to finish rn