jasmyn9's reviews
1758 reviews

Thornbrook Park by Sherri Browning Erwin, Sherri Browning Erwin

emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.0

There was a little too much back and forth between 'let's be together' and 'oh, but we can't because of some social or made up reason.' However, I really like Eve (and a side character Alice that I hope we see in the future). The psychic Aunt Agatha was an amazing addition to the story, providing a bit of humor and a touch of magic to things.

Of Bees and Mist by Erick Setiawan

dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

A story about magic that isn't really about magic. The bees and fog that dominate the story have real world effects, but they represent hurtful words and actions. It was an interesting way of depicting the concept and adding a layer of mystery to the story as well. The story encompasses three generations and has a lot of tragedy wrapped in it. There are a few characters that I'm not really sure if they were actually real or not. 

The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey by Celeste Lecesne

emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

A super short dramatization of a detective investigating the death of a young gay man. I found how others spoke of the young man to be the most moving part - and how he had such an effect on people's lives even though he was so young still.

Dancing In The Moonlight by RaeAnne Thayne

emotional inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

3.0

Another cute small-town/rancher romance from RaeAnne Thayne. While some heavy issues are addressed in Dancing in the Moonlight, they are treated respectfully and are just part of the characters, not what defines them. The romance goes a little fast - and I feel like the couple needed more time, but it's a book, and they are so cute together.

History of Bourbon by Ken Albala

informative fast-paced

3.0

I had a hard time following the history in this - which may be because I lack any knowledge of the history of any alcohol and how whiskey, scotch, and bourbon are related. The lecturer was very entertaining and had a very real love for the topic of history that came through as he spoke.

Nut Jobs: Cracking the Case by Marc Fennell

funny informative reflective fast-paced

5.0

I was really surprised at how much I loved this. Originally a podcast, the story of the California central valley nut farming was fascinating. Marc Fennell took a very deep dive into the history and effects of these farms on the region and the world, and I learned far more than I imagined. He kept the conversation and interviews light and interesting, making even more complex topics easy to understand. 

The Will of the Many by James Islington

adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This was a great start to a new series for me. The Hierarchy is an interesting concept that is basically an energy pyramid scheme. And all pyramid schemes eventually collapse, so I'm curious to see how this one falls. Vis is a very dynamic character, very into the grey area (and he knows it). The inner turmoil he feels over actually finding friends and companions in the "enemy" feels very real and makes him a character I want to follow. 

The action moves along at a pretty steady pace. There is always something going on, and the author isn't afraid to kill someone off and punch you in the gut with it. 

Henrietta & Eleanor: A Retelling of Jekyll and Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, Libby Spurrier

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

A good modern retelling, but with the modern touches (cell phones, computers), it seemed to have lost a layer of mystery. I don't quite understand how Hyde could make her way through the modern world - I just couldn't suspend belief enough. The production of the audiobook was well done and engaging.

Never Never by Serena Valentino

adventurous emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I wasn't a big fan of this version of Captain Hook's history. Brightside - The last few stories that took place in London in the "future" compared to Hook, make a lot more sense now. But I still feel like there is a gap in the middle of the storyline somewhere. 

Of Glass and Ashes by Robin D. Mahle, Elle Madison

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

3.75

This is the best book in the series so far. We seem to have left the long internal diatribes and thoughts behind - probably because Ieka has someone to talk to where Ziena didn'ts (I probably butchered the spelling of those names). We see just enough of Ziena and Ainar to keep them active and in our thoughts until they are needed again. The correlation to Cinderella is pretty loose, but you can see hints of it here and there. It ends on a cliffhanger so be prepared for that.