jcreads85's reviews
357 reviews

White Gold by Rachel Amphlett

adventurous dark informative mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

Cursed Princess Club, Volume One by LambCat

funny hopeful mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

My Roommate Is a Vampire by Jenna Levine

funny lighthearted 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

3.0

This book was a good pallet cleanser, a bit of fluff to follow up some other recent books. I enjoyed the read, it was lighthearted, had some decent character development but lacked any real substance that would make me aching for more or jumping on sequels.

For those who like slow-burn, minimal spice (there is one scene - decently written - near the very end), and of course an interest in cross species/monster/paranormal romance, then this book is for you.

It’s not a deep book, though I think it was trying to be at least in the way of our MC, Cassie. Unfortunately, she wasn’t written as a very strong lady lead. She lives the typical “starving artist” life and lacks self confidence. So while the love interest Frederick commends her on being self-sacrificing, I found her a little frustrating and perhaps a bit of a doormat. Or at least too much of a “helper”. And it’d be great if we could have a lady without the cliche background of bad boyfriends, falling for the wrong guy, etc.

Also, there were weird moments where I thought the author was trying to add depth, and maybe a little bit of mystery and darkness, but it just didn’t have enough. It was more daytime sitcom - too funny, too many endearing moments that broke up the story. For example, I thought our MCs reaction to discovering vampirism is real a little understated. And the kidnap-rescue plot was a flop, totally unbelievable. It felt really anticlimactic and a cop-out for trying to figure out an ending for the story that led to the happily ever after. 

The story is written first person, single point of view…except when it wasn’t. And this I loved. The story was epistolary, a favorite of mine. We get the notes written between Cassie & Frederick within many of the chapters. But on top of this treat, most of the chapters started with journal entry’s, text exchanges, and letters between our leading man and others. Or about him from another’s point of view. It basically gave us a bit of his POV and fed into the vampire world subplot. 

In general, I wouldn’t discourage a read of this book. It was unique, lighthearted, and quick. I’m not mad I read it. And I looked forward to the moments we saw into Frederick’s mind and world. It’s a solid, middle of the pack, sort of romance. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood

Minor: Body horror and Kidnapping

A Fate Inked In Blood by Danielle L. Jensen

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman

adventurous dark funny mysterious tense 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

4.25

4.25/5 🌟 

I want to thank the bookverse for recommending this title. My husband and I listened to this Dungeon Crawler Carl on our drive to Texas last week. And boy it was a riot.

All I can say is wow. And check the trigger warnings, y’all. 

This is more than a dystopian. The world as we know it is gone. And now you’re a dungeon crawler - a real life role playing gamer fighting for your life while it’s live streamed and watched by trillions across the universe. 

If you like litRPG, can stomach gore, intensity, monsters, and love taking animals, this is the series for you! 

We started book 2 on the drive back and I’m already trying to scheme when we can continue listening. (I’m already having Princess Donut withdrawal!) The audio is fabulous and definitely ups the intensity. You can just feel the chaos and WTF moments.

Carl, our main man, isn’t too over the top. He’s clever, witty, with just enough background story to make his skill set believable without being obnoxious or over the top. And having Princess Donut as his sidekick and party member is my fave thing. Who doesn’t love a prize winning flood that can shoot lasers from her eyes?! 

Give it a try, I dare you!

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced

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

4.0

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced

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

4.25

A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

4.75/5 stars 

 

First, I want to thank St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC. I was drawn in by the cover and the initial book blurb, and in the end blown away by the quality of writing and enfolding tale. 

 

You discover early on that this is a retelling by Xishi, our main protagonist. It’s a recollection of a specific 5-ish years. It’s given away, along with some foreshadowing, with statements such as “if I’d known then”, etc. I imagined one of three scenarios for when this was being retold: 1. She was living an inconspicuous life and finally telling the tale of these fantastical events; 2. There was a twist of events and she had come into a place of power, or 3. She was in exile recalling how that came to be. And none of those were correct. The ending is much, much stranger. But I’ll get to that in a minute. 

 

This was a grim but beautiful story. I knew early on that whatever end lay before us it would break my heart, but I couldn’t stop. The short of it is that this is a historical fiction, a tale of political espionage by a village woman turned concubine for the enemy court. It was devastating and heartbreaking, but one where it’s hard to look away. 

 

I appreciated the reality of it all – we didn’t get a sugar-coated story where there really couldn’t be one. War is ugly, and as a central part of taking down a kingdom, Xishi’s own tale could not be expected to be other than it is. And because of that, loved it even more. In the end, I was happy to see Xishi be so conflicted, and recognize her own part in the devastation. 

 

The writing was superb. I lived the world, learned the rules of the court, saw each swish of the robes, and admired the lanterns hung for the banquets. It was mystical without there being magic. I loved the immersion into these foreign lands. 

 

We had several strong female characters, each clever and deadly in their own ways. We have a forbidden love with a high official, Fanli, but this was not a romance. At least not in the typical sense. It was admiration and longing from the edges. A pull and push that carried over years, and though it fed into the tension of the story, I did not feel it was the main plot. The main plot was complicated, but direct. There was one goal – capture the Wue King’s eye and heart - just challenges achieving it. And in the end Xishi’s wins…but at what cost? 

 

This story was a 5 star at the 32% mark, the 68%, and up until the very end – right up until Xishi received official news that she had completed her mission. Unfortunately, the last few chapters from that point on felt like a completely different novel. I felt it got lost. 

 

Don’t get me wrong. As I stated previously, I knew early on, while Xishi was receiving her initial training, that this was a tale of tragedy. I even correctly assumed who would be lost first. So, I’m not looking for or expecting a happy ending. However, I was looking for something more in line with the tale and motivations of the characters. 

 

To be honest, from what we learn in the tale, including the current ending, I don’t feel that the King of Yue would have acted so direct and swiftly in the case of Xishi. She wasn’t a Wu turned traitor. She was a symbol. Even his soldiers knew who she was, and she was celebrated back home. I feel he would have paraded her for a while, the perfect propaganda and distraction. War is ugly but she was beautiful. 

 

I feel it would have made more sense if he had gone after her later, and possibly through an order to Fanli, a test of his loyalty. And at that point we could have a change of point of view…instead of what we got. 

 

The end as it is written really is just too odd. It turned historical fiction into a fantasy – maybe magical realism. It really was strange, and for that dropped my overall rating. 

 

I still recommend this book. I’m sure there are plenty of others who will say the same. It was powerful and splendid writing. I loved the time period, the setting, and the characters. And would possibly read it again at some point. 

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.5

4.5 Stars

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I was dragged in by the hype and continuous posts…and the fact it finally became available through the library. But I’m glad I gave it a chance. I’m not always about YA, especially when it’s young people and romance - it can feel icky, or shallow; like they haven’t lived long enough. The circumstances set this apart, more believable and I didn’t feel as if I was reading about children. 

This book read as if from an alternative reality, one where World War 1 still happened - trenches, gas/chemical warfare. But we are now in a world where Gods walk the earth and mortals are pawns for them to move around the board. In that setting we find our main characters: journalists who head to the front lines. 

But before we get there, it’s just young people trying to carve out a name for themselves, rivals for one columnist spot at the leading publication in the city. From there we follow their journey, in a dual point of view tale, that brings us found family, rivals-to-lovers, and a civilian view of war. 

I loved the romance built over magic typewriters. Pen-Pal relationships are underrated. And I’d love if this series made typewriters cool again. 

The rivals-to-lovers was believable; the chemistry was there when they fought and you could see the care even when they “didn’t” even like each other. And what an amazing gesture to follow the other to the field. 

And though the tale is grim, it read warmly, a little softened around the edges even though it is largely a war story. That might sound odd, but the lyrical prose makes it work. Makes sure you don’t get lost in the dark. 

I was invested in the tale from start and even went to get the second book the moment I finished just to find it on hold. But I know the wait will be worth it. 

The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs: A New History of a Lost World by Stephen Brusatte

adventurous challenging funny informative lighthearted reflective slow-paced

4.25