justabookishreader's reviews
157 reviews

The Power by Naomi Alderman

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective tense fast-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? No

4.25

This was a buddy read with me and my mom (well my mom read the whole book roughly a week before I finished it but whatever) and it's the first one we've had since I was in eighth grade and had to read the Book Thief. Anyway, this standalone dystopian novel is honestly remarkable. The pacing is genius, with a general idea and level of violence throughout but only a select few scenes that are explicitly, disgustingly detailed, and the last fifty pages or so I could feel my heart rate increasing with the anticipation of how it would all end. 

All the different points of view were incredibly told, each with their own voice separate from any of the others, and the discussions that are brought up throughout - especially about religion and its impacts - are discussions that are needed today, six years after it came out. I also still cannot believe this book wasn't over 400 pages, much less under - at 381 pages, and I think it takes a specific type of writer to pull off not just a standalone but a relatively shorter one at that, considering the themes and events explored. 

I hope more people read this book - even if it is because of the tv show (which I'll be starting soon). Thank you for this intensely written book!

Neverwhere Illustrated Edition by Neil Gaiman

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Oh my god, this is an amazing book. I had no idea what to expect going into it, and when I started nearing the ending, I had no clue how it was going to end. There are plot twists that I feel like I should have seen coming but didn't, which are my favorite plot twists of all time. I'm not gonna spoil the ending of the novel, but I will say that up until the last page, I thought I was gonna be crying over a Neil Gaiman book AGAIN. I was happily proven wrong and I cannot tell you how satisfying that ending was. This whole book is just amazing!

Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious tense slow-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? No

4.5

Speak: The Graphic Novel by Laurie Halse Anderson

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

adventurous dark mysterious 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? No

4.0

The Fates Divide by Veronica Roth

3.0

Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense 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

4.0

The Wicked King by Holly Black

adventurous mysterious tense 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

aaaand Holly Black does it again. I swear I looked for problems. I did! (Then again, I am likely HEAVILY biased after her being a part of the very specific authors I read as a child, I'm referring to the Spiderwick Chronicles here) The characters still felt true to themselves, it was exciting to watch the development of the characters! I was buddy reading the series with my sister (well except for the first cuz I'd already read it) and I've sworn not to spoil the ending but folks, THAT ENDING. I felt so dumb, rug pulled out from under me, I should have seen it coming the second Cardan said that whole thing about Faeries not needing witnesses to a marriage, and a royal marriage at that, UGH MY HOPELESS ROMANTIC SELF. DAMN IT. 

I literally made a very angry face at the book in my hands, sent a snapchat of me freaking out without spoilers to all my friends, then got up, moved some books on my lovely color coordinated bookshelves so it would fit, and then started muttering "fuck" a bunch of times at myself and the book. I wanted to yell so bad but when I finished it was past midnight, but now it's already almost 1:30 am and I have an essay to do at 7 am before classes (yay...). Anyway, I have never been happier that I am getting a special signed copy of an authors future book (WHICH COMES OUT IN PRETTY MUCH A MONTH FROM NOW) - even though they aren't connected at all. I also may or may not have immediately placed my order for Queen of Nothing. 

Last thing I'll say is this - I was born at just the right time to be a young kid reading the Spiderwick Chronicles, then for Holly Black to start publishing this series when I was around 16 or 17 (can't remember exact year) and coming out with her first adult fantasy a month before I turn 21. I don't know what the odds of that are, but its so magical to me and I love it so much. Anyway now I'm going to bed or writing a 750 word essay.

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

adventurous challenging dark tense slow-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

Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

adventurous mysterious tense 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

So, I hadn't read Margaret Rogerson before this book. I had just finished Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim (I'll have a review for that one out soon) and found out it was a series thanks to my kindle, and I was begging for a stand alone. So before I started this book I looked it up to see if it was indeed a standalone. I was very happy to report that it was indeed, and I was interested to see how a high-ish fantasy could be developed and wrapped up in a single book. Well I can say that Ms. Rogerson definitely did it. Now for a bit of context in my personal life; I work in a university library and I absolutely LOVE my job! So when I started reading with no idea what this book was about, and got magical libraries and grimoires and a murder mystery, Oooooh I was hooked. (I also finished this book in about 24 hours). Though after Nathaniel was introduced, I about rolled my eyes and highlighted a line describing him and commented "sad moody broody boi," and was mentally prepared for this to be a 3, maybe 4 star read. As you can see I was very VERY wrong. I loved the developments, the twist made sense, the fight scenes were fun - and some LGBT rep? Oh my God one of my favorites now!

I've seen some people say to start with Enchantment of Ravens when reading this author, and I've seen others say if you do it'll turn you off from this author. Well, it's the next book of hers on my list to read so I don't know if I would be so excited for another one of her books if the order were reversed. This book has opened my eyes to a whole almost, well, genre of ya fantasy books with fantastical or magical libraries, and I want each and every one of these books. After sitting with my thoughts on this book, I don't see any massive unnecessary things, or anything that doesn't make sense, or anything that stood out as a negative to me. So, five stars, why not? Why look for a reason to give it four stars instead?