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katieb94's reviews
657 reviews
Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Thank you to Netgalley for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I almost DNFed this book- almost. The first 100 pages were really hard to read, both with how it’s written and the characters personality.
But it picked up as soon as they opened their bookshop- all I needed was books to get me more hooked into the story.
Our two main characters are Reyna, a palace guard, and Kianth, a mage (we’re told this in every other sentence that describes her) who are badass lesbians, escaping their roles and running away to open a bookshop and serve tea. It’s cute and they do make a good couple, but obviously things all crash around them. The drama added to the story but I also felt that things seemed to happen just to cause trouble.
That being said, both characters end up needing medical assistance and the other then frets and worries.
At one point I was wondering why?
They don’t listen to each other so it seemed a fight was on the horizon and then although it never happened it just felt like the author was putting the couple in danger just for the sake of it.
Overall though, the story is good and the ending wasn’t what I expected. I liked the prequel story at the end which adds to their relationship and you realise where they started.
I don’t think I’ll be reading the sequel though.
3/5 stars.
I almost DNFed this book- almost. The first 100 pages were really hard to read, both with how it’s written and the characters personality.
But it picked up as soon as they opened their bookshop- all I needed was books to get me more hooked into the story.
Our two main characters are Reyna, a palace guard, and Kianth, a mage (we’re told this in every other sentence that describes her) who are badass lesbians, escaping their roles and running away to open a bookshop and serve tea. It’s cute and they do make a good couple, but obviously things all crash around them. The drama added to the story but I also felt that things seemed to happen just to cause trouble.
That being said, both characters end up needing medical assistance and the other then frets and worries.
At one point I was wondering why?
They don’t listen to each other so it seemed a fight was on the horizon and then although it never happened it just felt like the author was putting the couple in danger just for the sake of it.
Overall though, the story is good and the ending wasn’t what I expected. I liked the prequel story at the end which adds to their relationship and you realise where they started.
I don’t think I’ll be reading the sequel though.
3/5 stars.
Descendant of the Crane by Joan He
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I’m very fussy when it comes to fantasy and this was on I actually enjoyed. The only fantastical element of it was the soothsayers and although a main part of the plot it wasn’t thrown in your face.
We follow Hesina who becomes Queen of a kingdom called Yan after her father dies- or murdered, as she thinks. She wants to find the truth, even if it means going against the people she is supposed to protect.
There’s some great world building and I may have had to look up whether the setting was an actual region of China and although it isn’t, it felt real.
The characters also feel very well rounded and although I found Hesina really irritating in places, I could understand why she was acting the way that she was.
It’s a good fantasy, encompassing Chinese lore as well as family drama, to make the reader really feel for the characters.
Beautifully written.
4/5 stars
I’d recommend
We follow Hesina who becomes Queen of a kingdom called Yan after her father dies- or murdered, as she thinks. She wants to find the truth, even if it means going against the people she is supposed to protect.
There’s some great world building and I may have had to look up whether the setting was an actual region of China and although it isn’t, it felt real.
The characters also feel very well rounded and although I found Hesina really irritating in places, I could understand why she was acting the way that she was.
It’s a good fantasy, encompassing Chinese lore as well as family drama, to make the reader really feel for the characters.
Beautifully written.
4/5 stars
I’d recommend
Ariel and the Curse of the Sea Witches (Disney Princess) by RH Disney
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
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
5.0
Marie of the Cabin Club by Arnold Petri, Ann Petry
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Short and sweet! I could understand the emotions of the protagonist but felt it could have been longer
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
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? Yes
5.0
Considering this was Holly Jackson's debut novel, this book is fantastic! It was so gripping and I couldn't put it down. I wanted to read it before the tv adaptation came out (as it was filmed where I live) and I’m so glad I did!
We follow 17 year old Pip, who is writing her EPQ before she goes to uni. Her focus of the project is a five year old murder. Sal Singh didn’t kill Andie Bell and Pip wants to prove it.
She researches everything and I loved reading her notes on interviews, see text exchanges, and emails etc. The multi media aspect was really clever and made it feel like you were looking through her project.
Obviously, looking into a murder can have its repercussions and this definitely happens to Pip, not only is she threatened but things also happen for the worst. Poor Barney :( :( :(
I know a book is good if it makes me cry.
I was hooked from the very beginning and I definitely want to read the rest of the series now!
5/5 stars
Highly recommend!
We follow 17 year old Pip, who is writing her EPQ before she goes to uni. Her focus of the project is a five year old murder. Sal Singh didn’t kill Andie Bell and Pip wants to prove it.
She researches everything and I loved reading her notes on interviews, see text exchanges, and emails etc. The multi media aspect was really clever and made it feel like you were looking through her project.
Obviously, looking into a murder can have its repercussions and this definitely happens to Pip, not only is she threatened but things also happen for the worst. Poor Barney :( :( :(
I know a book is good if it makes me cry.
I was hooked from the very beginning and I definitely want to read the rest of the series now!
5/5 stars
Highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Murder
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Drug use
Supergirl: Being Super by Mariko Tamaki
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? Yes
3.0
Solitaire by Alice Oseman
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
sad
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? Yes
5.0
I loved Heartstopper so I wanted to read this book as it follows Tori (Charlie’s sister) and her struggles with who she is, as well as dealing with Charlie’s mental health struggles too.
Everything is normal and boring for Tori until Solitaire happens- a blog, posted anonymously, which starts to cause chaos around the school. No one knows who did it, but with Lucas Ryan re-entering her life and Michael Holden becoming a new friend, Tori isn’t quite sure who she can trust.
I was surprised how much I actually enjoyed this, I was hooked and couldn’t put it down. Tori is a great character and although there isn’t a lot of character development for her but I didn’t mind that as you don’t want her to change too much.
I did manage to predict who Solitaire was, but apart from that, I liked that we, as readers, found out what Solitaire was doing.
Each of the characters felt rounded and I like that I could link it to the events of Heartstopper too.
A really good book and I’d recommend it if you like Heartstopper but want to know more about the other characters!
5/5 stars!
Everything is normal and boring for Tori until Solitaire happens- a blog, posted anonymously, which starts to cause chaos around the school. No one knows who did it, but with Lucas Ryan re-entering her life and Michael Holden becoming a new friend, Tori isn’t quite sure who she can trust.
I was surprised how much I actually enjoyed this, I was hooked and couldn’t put it down. Tori is a great character and although there isn’t a lot of character development for her but I didn’t mind that as you don’t want her to change too much.
I did manage to predict who Solitaire was, but apart from that, I liked that we, as readers, found out what Solitaire was doing.
Each of the characters felt rounded and I like that I could link it to the events of Heartstopper too.
A really good book and I’d recommend it if you like Heartstopper but want to know more about the other characters!
5/5 stars!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder and Self harm
All the Pieces of Me by Libby Scott, Rebecca Westcott
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? Yes
3.0
This was a book that gives autism in young people the representation it needs. The only reason I’ve given it 3 stars as being someone who isn’t autistic, I can’t say how real it is because I’ve never experienced that situation (although I know one of the authors does have autism).
The story follows Tally, a twelve year old girl, who has to navigate around school without her best friend Layla who moved to America. She’s autistic and has to live a daily struggle which the people around her, her sister, her parents and her “friends” assume is just defiance.
As the story moves on she accepts who she is and has the strength to stand up to the others that made her feel small. This was my favourite part because she did it in her own special way, through song, and it was written beautifully.
The target audience for this book is middle grade readers but anyone can read it.
I would recommend it as there need to be more books out there that give autism a starring role. I feel like I wasn’t the target audience and although I did enjoy it, I didn’t emphasise as much as I could have done, so my rating reflects that.
3/5 stars.
The story follows Tally, a twelve year old girl, who has to navigate around school without her best friend Layla who moved to America. She’s autistic and has to live a daily struggle which the people around her, her sister, her parents and her “friends” assume is just defiance.
As the story moves on she accepts who she is and has the strength to stand up to the others that made her feel small. This was my favourite part because she did it in her own special way, through song, and it was written beautifully.
The target audience for this book is middle grade readers but anyone can read it.
I would recommend it as there need to be more books out there that give autism a starring role. I feel like I wasn’t the target audience and although I did enjoy it, I didn’t emphasise as much as I could have done, so my rating reflects that.
3/5 stars.
Batman: White Knight by Matt Hollingsworth, Sean Murphy
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
Fantastic Batman story! Great arc
Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor Vol. 3: The Fountains of Forever by Nick Abadzis
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0