justkrissy's reviews
61 reviews

Circe by Madeline Miller

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

There are times where you will come across a piece of media that will stick with you for an immensely long time. This story will stick in my brain for many, many years. The writing, the story, the character work... beautiful from start to finish. If there were a 6 star option available, I would choose it immediately. Circe, you will always be famous to me!!!

A Magical Girl Retires: A Novel by Park Seolyeon

adventurous hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? Yes

4.0

Such a fun little novella; very easy to read. Sailor Moon adjacent! Very thought-provoking, ranging from "Who the hell am I and what am I meant to do in this world?" to the battles of climate change. Finished this in just a couple of hours! 

Next to You by Hannah Bonam-Young

slow-paced

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

2.75

DNF at 30%

Unfortunately, I like the side characters more than the main character. 
Lane feels like a cringe millennial you see on tiktok that makes far too many pop culture references. 
The most relatable this got for me was Lane's moments of vulnerability with her anxiety, but nothing else really stuck with me. 

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted tense 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

3.75

The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful 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? No

4.75

Star Wars: The Living Force by John Jackson Miller

adventurous emotional funny hopeful tense medium-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

4.5

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

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

3.5

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

funny lighthearted tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I would also like a man who is so desperately in love with me. This book was really fun; a little cringe and cliché at times, but fun nonetheless. However, if I have to hear how big this man is one more time...

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

adventurous dark funny 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

4.0

Wonderfully magical!

The majority of us are well versed in Studio Ghibli's version of Howl's Moving Castle, so it's really neat picking apart the two mediums. While the film has a more romantic, whimsical feeling to it, the novel is a smidge more gritty while keeping it's magical flare. It's nice to see the bones which made up my favorite movie of all time. 

If you can believe it, Howl is even more of a snarky drama queen. Sophie is as hardheaded as ever. Now the Witch of the Waste was a shock. She seems so docile in the film compared to how she is on paper; truly an evil woman. 

I'd really recommend reading the novel if you love the movie. It's great to make connections and see what was taken from the story to build what felt like a new one. Incredibly funny, and of course, magical in many ways. Adding this to the "cozy fantasy" pile, for sure!

The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black

adventurous emotional funny hopeful medium-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? Yes

5.0

"I knew little else, but I always knew you."

Have y'all ever finished a series you've grown to fall in love with and just... cried after it's done? From such interesting politics and a fight for the throne, to the blossom of romance between Jude and Cardan, I was hooked the whole time.

Jude Duarte and Cardan Greenbriar, you will always be famous to me!!!!!!!!!!!! Those two stepping up into their roles was such an amazing thing to witness. The character development is real and I just love them so much. Both characters have shown such tough skin and ruthlessness throughout the series, and while they still remain hardened to the world that formed them, there is a sort of softness we get to see throughout. They've both come such long ways from where they started. 

I know that there's still other novels based in this world with many of the characters I've fallen in love with, but I'm really gonna miss it when it's all over with. This main story was ended beautifully (and maybe a little cheesy, but I will never pass on a happy ending!) This is definitely a 5 star series and has taken the place as my favorite series of all time.