kaadie's reviews
158 reviews

A House With Good Bones by T. Kingfisher

lighthearted mysterious slow-paced

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

2.0

Boring and predictable plot. Obstinate and stupid character. Hermes was a nice touch though. 

Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

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

4.0

I loved this bite-sized (ba-dum-sss) novel. It was written in a lovely ye olden times fashion with long poetic sentences. Gotta love some good old-fashioned Sapphic literature. 

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

Engrossing and devastating. 

The author maintained a really good balance of reveal and withhold. I was invested in Cadence's story til the very end. I did find the reveal clichéd and expected but the impact can not be understated. 

The book did end on a positive note but I was sincerely horrified on behalf of the character when the truth was revealed.

I don't know how one even begins to forgive oneself after a tragedy like that. The realization that she had played a role in the death of not one, not two, but three people who were her world. It leaves me feeling nauseous with horror.

The character wasn't the best and the story wasn't the most unique but I find myself leaving the book quite affected and deeply upset. 

Some Like It Sinful by Deborah Raleigh, Alexandra Ivy

lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

1.5

Banal.

The Cat Who Saved Books by Sōsuke Natsukawa

adventurous lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

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

4.0

This book was quite lovely. It had all of the hallmarks of an engaging middle-grade fantasy novel and was a nostalgic read for me. I loved the focus on books and the writing style. The book is a lovely blend of fun and insightful. 

To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf

reflective slow-paced

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

3.5

I weirdly did enjoy this book. The narrative style was fun and the existential musings interesting. The end of the book was a little drab though. 

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

emotional funny hopeful informative reflective medium-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? No

3.75

This book was very readable. Once I had picked it up it was nigh on impossible to put it down. However, it was quite sad and Elizabeth Zott was sometimes a frustrating character. Her tenacity and stubbornness in the face of sexist male colleagues was admirable and I did love how her faith in herself and her abilities prevented any person from being able to convince her that she was less than. However, I didn't like how obtuse she was sometimes to social cues. Women often can't afford to be such without facing severe exploitation  or abuse. Especially because she was so smart it was definitely something she could have learnt. 
I did also think that it was an odd choice to have most of the book revolve around Calvin Evans. Much of the plot depended on him and people's relationship to or preoccupation with. 

Six-thirty was without a doubt the best character. 

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.5

Plath deftly and vividly depicted depression and its pathology in her novel. It is a sad and suffocating read. 

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

adventurous lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

2.5

Honestly this book just felt like a massive waste of time. The first few chapters were interesting and plot relevant but everything after Alina received the fetter to the final battle could have been summed up in a lengthy flashback. Also, everyone was really annoying in this book. 

Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

adventurous emotional funny medium-paced

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

3.0

I do still think the characters are all a little juvenile and could do with little more nuance but I did like the resolution of the main conflict. I thought it was insightful and unique, quite a pleasan  surprise. I also really appreciated the happy ending.