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jayseejewel's reviews
101 reviews
Dark and Shallow Lies by Ginny Myers Sain
4.0
8.5/10
An interesting mystery set in a small town where you really feel like you're in Louisiana.
Pros:
- I loved the mystery and how it was answered. (Spoilers: I can usually predict who the killer is just by how the story structure and characters are established. That or the killer was someone we only saw once and forgot about. However, this book took the expectations and flipped them, leaving hints but giving TWO red herrings so I didn't notice it. Very well done.)
- The setting was super immersive. I'm not a fan of American, deep south stories but this one definitely nailed it in terms of making me smell the swampy air, old homes, and run-down shops.
- The characters had realistic motivations and never did any "why would you do that, you idiot?" moments
Cons:
- I don't like love triangles but especially when the MC flip flops over and over again. Kissing one person, then a different person the next day is not my thing at all and it ruins any interest in the romance for me (personal opinion, of course)
Overall: A really interesting and immersive mystery. I didn't love love it but it was really good and easy to read quickly.
An interesting mystery set in a small town where you really feel like you're in Louisiana.
Pros:
- I loved the mystery and how it was answered. (Spoilers: I can usually predict who the killer is just by how the story structure and characters are established. That or the killer was someone we only saw once and forgot about. However, this book took the expectations and flipped them, leaving hints but giving TWO red herrings so I didn't notice it. Very well done.)
- The setting was super immersive. I'm not a fan of American, deep south stories but this one definitely nailed it in terms of making me smell the swampy air, old homes, and run-down shops.
- The characters had realistic motivations and never did any "why would you do that, you idiot?" moments
Cons:
- I don't like love triangles but especially when the MC flip flops over and over again. Kissing one person, then a different person the next day is not my thing at all and it ruins any interest in the romance for me (personal opinion, of course)
Overall: A really interesting and immersive mystery. I didn't love love it but it was really good and easy to read quickly.
Ender's Shadow by Orson Scott Card
5.0
9/10 ⭐s
An excellent story to read alongside Ender's Game. Not as great as the first one but still a thrilling read that made me want to read Ender's Game again.
✔ Pros
- We get to see a more fleshed-out character that was largely overlooked in the original book. He is still a genius like Ender but still has his own personality, flaws, and issues he has to work through.
- The pacing was good, just like the first. I found myself not wanting to read the adult sections as much but they were still interesting.
- The same sense of progression and watching the character learn over time.
- The villain was interesting. I liked how his character was so good at fooling people, then gets upended afterward while also unknowingly contributing to the MC's arc.
- It's cool to see everything from a new POV and I liked that this character got his own villains/arc rather than just tagging along with Ender's story.
❌Cons
- I didn't like the additions of bible verses throughout the story. They felt a little clunky and contrived, as well as being used out of context. It also made the religious characters feel a little stereotyped/hypocritical.
- There are sections that feel a little condescending and one-sided. For example, Bean makes assumptions about world politics that feel a little strange, stereotyped, or unrealistic (since it's talking about real world countries) but because the author deems it so, he is considered correct by everyone in the story. It took me out of the story a little bit and I may have preferred this story take place in a more fictional/withdrawn setting that's different from Earth in that respect.
Overall:
An enjoyable read. I finished it in about three days and considered rereading Ender's game again.
An excellent story to read alongside Ender's Game. Not as great as the first one but still a thrilling read that made me want to read Ender's Game again.
✔ Pros
- We get to see a more fleshed-out character that was largely overlooked in the original book. He is still a genius like Ender but still has his own personality, flaws, and issues he has to work through.
- The pacing was good, just like the first. I found myself not wanting to read the adult sections as much but they were still interesting.
- The same sense of progression and watching the character learn over time.
- The villain was interesting. I liked how his character was so good at fooling people, then gets upended afterward while also unknowingly contributing to the MC's arc.
- It's cool to see everything from a new POV and I liked that this character got his own villains/arc rather than just tagging along with Ender's story.
❌Cons
- I didn't like the additions of bible verses throughout the story. They felt a little clunky and contrived, as well as being used out of context. It also made the religious characters feel a little stereotyped/hypocritical.
- There are sections that feel a little condescending and one-sided. For example, Bean makes assumptions about world politics that feel a little strange, stereotyped, or unrealistic (since it's talking about real world countries) but because the author deems it so, he is considered correct by everyone in the story. It took me out of the story a little bit and I may have preferred this story take place in a more fictional/withdrawn setting that's different from Earth in that respect.
Overall:
An enjoyable read. I finished it in about three days and considered rereading Ender's game again.
Wool by Hugh Howey
4.0
A fascinating world set in an underground silo. While it could be a slow read and definitely took its time, there was very little filler and the story itself was a thrill to read. I would definitely recommend this book to fans of dystopian or post-apocalypse stories (I personally was reminded of the Fallout series when reading this).
What I liked:
- The concept is fascinating. The outside air being toxic leads to humanity hiding underground in silos, all while under strict control of overseers, was awesome and handled really well
- While the pacing is slow, it never felt like there was a ton of filler or unnecessary parts
- The characters were solid and well written. I enjoyed getting to see everything through Jules's eyes
- While the writing style wasn't my absolute favorite, Hugh Howey is great at writing stories with a good, clean flow that is easy to read
What I didn't like:
- I became very tired of the changing POVs. There were too many characters to keep track of and I think they should have stuck to 4-5 POVs instead of the 10+ they had
- While the characters were good and none of them annoyed me, I didn't fall in love with any of them
- I found myself questioning the villain's motives a lot. [spoilers] It felt a little unnecessary to hide the fact that other silos existed, since I don't think it would have changed the citizen's perspective in any way. However, this wasn't a major plot hole or anything. I just thought it was a little odd.
- The pacing was very slow. While it wasn't bad and there wasn't filler, I do wish the book would just get to the point at times
Overall: A really good book that I'll be thinking about in the future. However, due to the slow pace, I won't be reading it again. I might buy the second at some point, though. I am glad this one got a happy ending.
What I liked:
- The concept is fascinating. The outside air being toxic leads to humanity hiding underground in silos, all while under strict control of overseers, was awesome and handled really well
- While the pacing is slow, it never felt like there was a ton of filler or unnecessary parts
- The characters were solid and well written. I enjoyed getting to see everything through Jules's eyes
- While the writing style wasn't my absolute favorite, Hugh Howey is great at writing stories with a good, clean flow that is easy to read
What I didn't like:
- I became very tired of the changing POVs. There were too many characters to keep track of and I think they should have stuck to 4-5 POVs instead of the 10+ they had
- While the characters were good and none of them annoyed me, I didn't fall in love with any of them
- I found myself questioning the villain's motives a lot. [spoilers] It felt a little unnecessary to hide the fact that other silos existed, since I don't think it would have changed the citizen's perspective in any way. However, this wasn't a major plot hole or anything. I just thought it was a little odd.
- The pacing was very slow. While it wasn't bad and there wasn't filler, I do wish the book would just get to the point at times
Overall: A really good book that I'll be thinking about in the future. However, due to the slow pace, I won't be reading it again. I might buy the second at some point, though. I am glad this one got a happy ending.
Cart and Cwidder by Diana Wynne Jones
3.0
An interesting story by the author of Howl's Moving Castle but nothing about it really grabbed me or made me want to read the next one. It's short, to the point, and great for children or teenagers.
What I liked:
- The characters were funny and interesting. I never had trouble telling them apart and loved that they acted like kids but weren't stupid or annoying
- The politics and conflicts are simple and easy to understand but fleshed out enough to make sense. The world is also basic but immersive
- Like HMC, this one had a simple yet unique magic system that wasn't too lore-dumpy
- I love when books are short and have quick pacing, so this did not disappoint
What I didn't like:
- The story is great for children, and felt very similar to the writing style or Narnia or The Hobbit, but it didn't grab me or make me want to read more
- It took halfway through the book for the plot to actually pick up and go somewhere. Once it got started, though, it rarely slowed down
- It did feel like there was filler at some points
What I liked:
- The characters were funny and interesting. I never had trouble telling them apart and loved that they acted like kids but weren't stupid or annoying
- The politics and conflicts are simple and easy to understand but fleshed out enough to make sense. The world is also basic but immersive
- Like HMC, this one had a simple yet unique magic system that wasn't too lore-dumpy
- I love when books are short and have quick pacing, so this did not disappoint
What I didn't like:
- The story is great for children, and felt very similar to the writing style or Narnia or The Hobbit, but it didn't grab me or make me want to read more
- It took halfway through the book for the plot to actually pick up and go somewhere. Once it got started, though, it rarely slowed down
- It did feel like there was filler at some points
The Guest House by Robin Morgan-Bentley
4.0
An intense thriller about a pair of flawed but relatable parents trying to save their son. I enjoyed this story and was excited to see how they would resolve the situation they found themselves in.
What I liked:
- It takes the story a little while to start up but once it does, it doesn't stop. The plot could get really suspenseful and tense, especially right before the middle point
- The pacing is very slow in the beginning (with a bit too much filler dialogue) but picks up in the second half
- I like that the husband's job of stopping scams actually comes into play during the story
- I quite enjoyed the twist. It explained a lot of coincidences and questions I had.
What I didn't like:
- The dialogue can be repetitive and a tad awkward at times, particularly in the first half. However, it seems to level out halfway through when the plot actually gets moving
- The first quarter of the book was a very slow start
- [Warning: Spoilers ahead] The main reason the main characters don't report their son to the police is because all the evidence is stacked against them (and the threat of the child dying). However, this changes when the killer sends a text/letter outlining her threats and includes a picture of her threatening the baby. There's your evidence! The fact that the husband doesn't even think about this broke my immersion.
- I didn't love the main characters in the beginning. Their personality traits were largely negative (rude, judgemental, constantly getting offended) so it made it hard to like them at the start. This is generally evened out in the second half but made me annoyed in the first half.
- I don't think the epilogue was necessary.
- [Warning: Spoilers ahead] It was never explained why the wife killed her uncle, especially because she was in on it. I assume it's a plot hole because it doesn't seem to make a lot of sense, unless I missed something.
Overall, while the pacing was slow at first, I really enjoyed this book. It feels rooted in reality and has a lot of tension. It could get frustrating at points to see the main characters struggle but their plight was relatable and had me on the edge of my seat. The twist also made everything feel planned out and interesting.
[This book was kindly provided as a free e-arc and I appreciate it.]
What I liked:
- It takes the story a little while to start up but once it does, it doesn't stop. The plot could get really suspenseful and tense, especially right before the middle point
- The pacing is very slow in the beginning (with a bit too much filler dialogue) but picks up in the second half
- I like that the husband's job of stopping scams actually comes into play during the story
- I quite enjoyed the twist. It explained a lot of coincidences and questions I had.
What I didn't like:
- The dialogue can be repetitive and a tad awkward at times, particularly in the first half. However, it seems to level out halfway through when the plot actually gets moving
- The first quarter of the book was a very slow start
- [Warning: Spoilers ahead] The main reason the main characters don't report their son to the police is because all the evidence is stacked against them (and the threat of the child dying). However, this changes when the killer sends a text/letter outlining her threats and includes a picture of her threatening the baby. There's your evidence! The fact that the husband doesn't even think about this broke my immersion.
- I didn't love the main characters in the beginning. Their personality traits were largely negative (rude, judgemental, constantly getting offended) so it made it hard to like them at the start. This is generally evened out in the second half but made me annoyed in the first half.
- I don't think the epilogue was necessary.
- [Warning: Spoilers ahead] It was never explained why the wife killed her uncle, especially because she was in on it. I assume it's a plot hole because it doesn't seem to make a lot of sense, unless I missed something.
Overall, while the pacing was slow at first, I really enjoyed this book. It feels rooted in reality and has a lot of tension. It could get frustrating at points to see the main characters struggle but their plight was relatable and had me on the edge of my seat. The twist also made everything feel planned out and interesting.
[This book was kindly provided as a free e-arc and I appreciate it.]
Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold
3.0
A love story within a tale of war and political intrigue. While I enjoyed this fresh twist on romance, with two middle-aged adults unexpectantly falling for each other while in the midst of war, the plot just didn't interest me and I found myself speeding through the ending just to finish it. While it's well written and would interest some (especially those into space operas and talk of political betrayal), it just wasn't for me. [Warning: attempted rape, though nothing is done.]
What I liked:
- The romance is what really stood out to me. I liked that they'd both been scorned in different ways in their past and had given up on love, only to gradually fall for each other. It was refreshing and the highlight of the story.
- The characters were level-headed and proactive. They were somewhat morally grey as well. I've grown tired of characters who act sassy instead of smart so this was a nice change.
- The writing is great. It feels a little old but not in a bad way. I could picture everything well without requiring pages of descriptions for each room.
- I am sure the plot and politics would interest people who are fans of them. For me, the princes and presidents felt so impersonal and there were so many of them that I just didn't care.
What I didn't like:
- As I said, the plot didn't grab me. It was fine but I wasn't emotionally invested or curious about anything at all.
- The ending was a bit too long but I liked that it called back to earlier scenes to wrap them up nicely.
Overall, an enjoyable read but I just didn't feel myself caring about anything beside the romance, which was barely a quarter of the content. I would recommend it to people who specifically love space operas and politics but no one else.
What I liked:
- The romance is what really stood out to me. I liked that they'd both been scorned in different ways in their past and had given up on love, only to gradually fall for each other. It was refreshing and the highlight of the story.
- The characters were level-headed and proactive. They were somewhat morally grey as well. I've grown tired of characters who act sassy instead of smart so this was a nice change.
- The writing is great. It feels a little old but not in a bad way. I could picture everything well without requiring pages of descriptions for each room.
- I am sure the plot and politics would interest people who are fans of them. For me, the princes and presidents felt so impersonal and there were so many of them that I just didn't care.
What I didn't like:
- As I said, the plot didn't grab me. It was fine but I wasn't emotionally invested or curious about anything at all.
- The ending was a bit too long but I liked that it called back to earlier scenes to wrap them up nicely.
Overall, an enjoyable read but I just didn't feel myself caring about anything beside the romance, which was barely a quarter of the content. I would recommend it to people who specifically love space operas and politics but no one else.
Renegades by Marissa Meyer
4.0
8/10
A good YA about superheroes with a touch of romance
Pros:
- This is a great superhero story for kids. The powers are basic but interesting (especially the bees) and I liked the villains especially
- Everyone's motives are understandable and not just black/white
- The main character and all the others are solid, though the one group of evil law-abiders are very cliche evil guys. I would have liked them to be a little more complex than just "I do bad stuff in the name of good"
Cons:
- I didn't enjoy the romance. It felt very forced and awkward when it came to dialogue
- As an adult, I couldn't enjoy it as much as I would have as a teen
Overall, this is a great book for teens, especially fans of superheroes. (It felt similar to Invincible but PG). I recommend it.
A good YA about superheroes with a touch of romance
Pros:
- This is a great superhero story for kids. The powers are basic but interesting (especially the bees) and I liked the villains especially
- Everyone's motives are understandable and not just black/white
- The main character and all the others are solid, though the one group of evil law-abiders are very cliche evil guys. I would have liked them to be a little more complex than just "I do bad stuff in the name of good"
Cons:
- I didn't enjoy the romance. It felt very forced and awkward when it came to dialogue
- As an adult, I couldn't enjoy it as much as I would have as a teen
Overall, this is a great book for teens, especially fans of superheroes. (It felt similar to Invincible but PG). I recommend it.
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
3.0
8/10
A really interesting dystopian world that doesn't feel too far off from reality
Pros:
- There were a ton of super cool concepts at play here (censorship, desensitization, technology, isolation, control) and I love that it's just as relevant now as it was when the book was written
- The villain was interesting because you understood his motives even though you still hated him
- The wife and how she was addicted to people on screens that she didn't even know personally really intrigued me, as did the part where he yells at her friends because they're talking about hating their children
Cons:
- The ending felt a little off, like we were missing something or a call to action
- It got slow near the end, for sure. The pacing wasn't my favorite
- The characters could be a bit bland. They didn't stand out to me.
A good and relevant read, but not one of my favorites
A really interesting dystopian world that doesn't feel too far off from reality
Pros:
- There were a ton of super cool concepts at play here (censorship, desensitization, technology, isolation, control) and I love that it's just as relevant now as it was when the book was written
- The villain was interesting because you understood his motives even though you still hated him
- The wife and how she was addicted to people on screens that she didn't even know personally really intrigued me, as did the part where he yells at her friends because they're talking about hating their children
Cons:
- The ending felt a little off, like we were missing something or a call to action
- It got slow near the end, for sure. The pacing wasn't my favorite
- The characters could be a bit bland. They didn't stand out to me.
A good and relevant read, but not one of my favorites
Sphere by Michael Crichton
3.0
8/10
An interesting mystery that lost me at the end
Pros:
- the characters were flawed and fleshed out
- the mystery was great for the first half
- I was immersed and in suspense for said first half
- solid narrator
- I liked how the ending hinted at it being more than it appeared
Cons:
-(spoiler) the characters did feel very annoying, to the point where I hoped they would die. The author seemed somewhat aware of these flaws so I think they were intentional, but it was still annoying to see a supposedly "smart" person do stupid stuff after being told not to, and then having a tantrum when reprimanded for it
-(spoiler) I didn't love the explanation for the sphere and its powers. I was hoping there would be an actual villain or civilization. I also hoped time travel was explored more but it was brushed off
An interesting mystery that lost me at the end
Pros:
- the characters were flawed and fleshed out
- the mystery was great for the first half
- I was immersed and in suspense for said first half
- solid narrator
- I liked how the ending hinted at it being more than it appeared
Cons:
-(spoiler) the characters did feel very annoying, to the point where I hoped they would die. The author seemed somewhat aware of these flaws so I think they were intentional, but it was still annoying to see a supposedly "smart" person do stupid stuff after being told not to, and then having a tantrum when reprimanded for it
-(spoiler) I didn't love the explanation for the sphere and its powers. I was hoping there would be an actual villain or civilization. I also hoped time travel was explored more but it was brushed off
Blown by Nolon King
4.0
A thriller full of twists and turns, as well as phenomenal pacing. I really enjoyed this book. It was a great mix of intrigue and edge-of-your-seat writing. While most of the characters were complete jerks (to the point of annoying me), I still enjoyed seeing the MC try to survive and protect what she loves.
What I liked:
- The main character was pretty solid. While she didn't have any particularly likable traits, she did feel relatable and proactive.
- The pacing was excellent. Every time I went to read it, I found myself going through thirty pages really fast. It never felt like it was dragging or full of filler.
- The story itself is pretty good, though I wish we got a chance to see her husband when he was still alive, so we can form some kind of opinion on him earlier. A lot of it is just taking other characters' words for it and it felt a little...empty. However, this wasn't a major issue.
- The writer wants you to hate the villains (of which there are many of every type) and they do a good job of it
What I didn't like:
- The daughter was insufferable. She had maybe two out of thirty scenes where she was being nice (or rather, not a complete jerk). Since the whole story hinges on wanting to protect her, I wish the character had at least one redeeming quality. She is bratty, rude, and incredibly selfish. I am aware that teenagers, in general, may act that way but it's so extreme that it made me wish she would be out of the picture.
- It was a bit tiring to have nearly every character be evil (especially in the first half). Luckily, this changed in the last quarter (and worked to help you be unsure who was on who's side) but it can be tiring to have the MC constantly be battling bratty people all the time
Overall, it was a good story with phenomenal pacing. It isn't anything groundbreaking but for a thriller about dealing drugs under pain of death, as well as showing a mother trying to protect her daughter, it did a great job. I would recommend it to be people who love this genre.
What I liked:
- The main character was pretty solid. While she didn't have any particularly likable traits, she did feel relatable and proactive.
- The pacing was excellent. Every time I went to read it, I found myself going through thirty pages really fast. It never felt like it was dragging or full of filler.
- The story itself is pretty good, though I wish we got a chance to see her husband when he was still alive, so we can form some kind of opinion on him earlier. A lot of it is just taking other characters' words for it and it felt a little...empty. However, this wasn't a major issue.
- The writer wants you to hate the villains (of which there are many of every type) and they do a good job of it
What I didn't like:
- The daughter was insufferable. She had maybe two out of thirty scenes where she was being nice (or rather, not a complete jerk). Since the whole story hinges on wanting to protect her, I wish the character had at least one redeeming quality. She is bratty, rude, and incredibly selfish. I am aware that teenagers, in general, may act that way but it's so extreme that it made me wish she would be out of the picture.
- It was a bit tiring to have nearly every character be evil (especially in the first half). Luckily, this changed in the last quarter (and worked to help you be unsure who was on who's side) but it can be tiring to have the MC constantly be battling bratty people all the time
Overall, it was a good story with phenomenal pacing. It isn't anything groundbreaking but for a thriller about dealing drugs under pain of death, as well as showing a mother trying to protect her daughter, it did a great job. I would recommend it to be people who love this genre.