jessicamusch's reviews
205 reviews

The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black

adventurous medium-paced

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

4.0

The Cruel Prince series is not your run of the mill romantasy, even though it is marketed as such. Instead, it is a story of political intrigue told in a fantasy realm, with about 1% of the series dedicated to romance. 

This final instalment did not disappoint, capping off the series really well. 

Demian: The Story of Emil Sinclair's Youth by Hermann Hesse

challenging dark medium-paced

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

2.0

I think I just don’t understand enough about bible stories to be able to appreciate this 

Heartless Sky by Caroline Peckham, Susanne Valenti

adventurous challenging funny lighthearted slow-paced

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

3.0

3 stars because the ending was good, and there were some laugh out loud funny parts. But for the incredibly long first half of the book, nothing happens, and it is incredibly boring. I think I’ll take a break before the next book.

The Reptile Room by Lemony Snicket

adventurous dark lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

It was good when I was 10

It’s still good now I’m 30 

House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas

adventurous mysterious slow-paced

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

2.0

It hurts me to say I didn’t love this 

The characters felt too one dimensional, and Hunt just feels too much like a character written by a woman. There is no clear distinction in the way the main characters think, which erases the need to get each of their povs.

The writing - too many repeated lines. The world building is great, but it didn’t feel like it paid off in this book, as the list of characters and places we get to know is small. 

I guess I’ll read the next one since I am a fan of SJM’s other work but think I’ll need a break in between 

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

challenging dark hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

Straight to the pool room

“Is there any point in being alive without helping one another?”

What a powerful little book. During a cold Irish Christmas, Bill Furlong works hard delivering coal to look after his family. He discovers the horror of the local Magdalen laundry, and the silence of the Catholic community causes him to reflect on his own origins. 

The book is deeply about morality. I found interesting (and welcome) the choice to have a male protagonist in a story about the mistreatment of young women and children, predominantly by other women within the structure of the church (with state complicit). I think this broadens the audience. 

“‘What have I against girls?’ he went on. My own mother was a girl, once. And I dare say the same must be true of you and all belonging to us?'”

Furlong is nostalgic about Christmases as a child, and remembers wishing for a jigsaw puzzle from Santa, but receiving a nail file instead. Later, when his own daughter is writing a letter to Santa and asks him what he received from Santa as a child, he lies and says he got the jigsaw puzzle. His daughter replies “Is that all?”. Juxtaposed with the girls of the Magdalen laundry, this is a reminder to be grateful for all that we have - for Furlong, this is the roof over his head, and the people looking out for him. 

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh

adventurous hopeful fast-paced

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

4.5

"That there is no place you can go so far away from forgiveness. Not from someone who loves you."

In this retelling of the classical Korean novel the Tale of Shim Cheong (심청전), Mina sacrifices herself in an attempt to appease to the Sea God and stop the storms that are ravaging her village. Mina emerges into the world of the spirits and gods, and sets off on a quest to save her people. 

The story and world building is so vivid and colourful, making this story really fun. 

It has all the hallmarks of a fun-read romantasy: enemies to lovers, forced proximity, good vs evil, interesting magic system, found family. 

0.5 of a star off because this could have been longer. Each chapter is action packed, but I think many plot lines could have been dragged out to increase impact. 

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Fantasy with just a small splash of romance and an original magic system? Say no more 

Twisted Love by Ana Huang

dark lighthearted mysterious 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? Yes

2.0

That’s the last time I take a recommendation from booktok

Dune by Frank Herbert

adventurous challenging mysterious fast-paced

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

4.0

Having not seen the movie, I was surprised that Dune is a religious allegory. While it is packed with action and philosophy, it also has a  strongly environmental message. In summary, a lot is packed within Dune’s pages! 

Some quotes I liked: 

He fought the temptation to choose a clear safe course, warning: that path leads ever down into stagnation.

The vision of time is broad, but when you pass through it, time becomes a narrow door.