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kayaj's reviews
519 reviews
Long Story Short by Serena Kaylor
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
4.5
Long Story Short is the quintessential summer read. It’s humorous, inspiring, and romantic. You’re rooting for Beatrice Quinn to come out of her shell, to find joy in theater, to discover the depth of platonic and romantic love, all against the bright backdrop of summer camp. I cannot believe the quality of 2022 debuts this year, like where is all this talent coming from (and can I borrow it?)
First of all, I would just like to give a shoutout to the fact that Bea wears glasses??? Like, let’s normalize people not wearing contacts??? And her best friend Mia is African-American and Nik is mixed-race with East-Indian and white-British heritage. This is just such a refreshingly diverse read that defied expectations.
Of course, a lot of the characters do read a little…stereotypical. That didn’t bother me but some might feel upset about it. In all honestly, I think that the theater kid/summer camp stereotypes actually enhanced the book, because it makes it feel like an early 2000s teen movie!
Anyways, while the book felt stereotypical at times, it was just an incredibly fun ride chock-full of friendship, romance, and Shakespeare. THERE WERE SO MANY SHAKESPEARE QUOTES. In fact, Bea (with her insane memory) and Nik (with his love for the Bard) literally made a bet to see who could recite more lines. It’s so wholesome and fun and sweet!
A huge thank you to the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
First of all, I would just like to give a shoutout to the fact that Bea wears glasses??? Like, let’s normalize people not wearing contacts??? And her best friend Mia is African-American and Nik is mixed-race with East-Indian and white-British heritage. This is just such a refreshingly diverse read that defied expectations.
Of course, a lot of the characters do read a little…stereotypical. That didn’t bother me but some might feel upset about it. In all honestly, I think that the theater kid/summer camp stereotypes actually enhanced the book, because it makes it feel like an early 2000s teen movie!
Anyways, while the book felt stereotypical at times, it was just an incredibly fun ride chock-full of friendship, romance, and Shakespeare. THERE WERE SO MANY SHAKESPEARE QUOTES. In fact, Bea (with her insane memory) and Nik (with his love for the Bard) literally made a bet to see who could recite more lines. It’s so wholesome and fun and sweet!
A huge thank you to the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
Wake the Bones by Elizabeth Kilcoyne
mysterious
medium-paced
3.0
Wake The Bones is an eerie, otherworldly story that will leave you unsure of what, exactly, you just read. It’s simmering in the summer heat, ripe with bones and new growth and dead things walking. There are some books that will be favorites for those who connect with them, and I believe that this will be that book for many people.
We follow a girl named Laurel Early who has an affinity for magic involving bones. Unfortunately, when something unearthly awakes on her farm, she is forced to come to terms not just with her magic, but with the truth surrounding her mother’s death and her own life. And that’s probably a terrible synopsis but this is the sort of story where you should dive in blindly and just go where the current takes you.
Personally, I didn’t love this book. It has some great elements: a summery horror atmosphere, a swampy farmland setting, and relatively quirky characters with their own relationship dynamics. It just didn’t all come together the way that I wanted it to. However, I truly do think that it was more of a “me” thing and not the fault of the book.
I genuinely have no thoughts on this book? Like, it’s all some sort of vague “eldritch thrumming*” semblance of something in my mind that cannot be fully separated into the plot, characters, worldbuilding, etc. If you enjoy weird magical stories sprinkled with horror, there’s a good chance you might enjoy this!
*if you’ve seen stranger things 4 with subtitles…then you understand. if not, oh well
This Vicious Grace by Emily Thiede
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
This Vicious Grace is a story that somehow balances the scales of character and plot perfectly, while maintaining one of the most swoonworthy romances I’ve seen in the YA genre.The characters are intriguing, the world is Italian-inspired, and the romance? Well, the romance is very nearly impeccable. I will riot if booktok doesn’t lose its mind over this story because it 1000% deserves it.
This story’s official synopsis starts out with the line “Three weddings. Three funerals.” I MEAN, HELLO??? We follow a girl named Alessa, who is a Finestra charged with saving an entire continent from a swarm of demons that come every couple of decades. A Finestra is able to amplify the abilities of people called Fontes, who essentially have magical abilities. Unfortunately, Alessa keeps killing Fontes whenever she touches them. As time runs out to find her Fonte, she enlists the help of a very dark, brooding, grumpy bodyguard name Dante to protect her.
I am obsessed with this book! Alessa is an amazing main character. She’s funny, smart, caring…and just wants to be able to touch another human being. The romance in this is so slowburn and perfect because any sort of touch has a heavier weight to it than in other books. Her relationships with the Fontes, Dante, and her twin brother are all handled so incredibly well. I rarely felt like any aspects of any of the relationships were rushed.
Alessa’s struggle to control her powers (and, you know, not kill the limited number of people who could help save the entire continent from destruction) made this book more character-focused than I originally thought it would be. Don’t get me wrong, there’s definitely a lot of excitement since Doomsday is on its way but the quiet moments in this story were very well-done.
And the Italian influences! My 25% Italian heart was so happy! Dante (Alessa’s bodyguard) occasionally spoke Italian, and there were Italian proverbs at the beginning of every chapter. The world just felt simultaneously familiar and fantastical.
ANYWAYS time to talk about Dante! First of all, he READS. Second of all, I don’t have to continue because I know you all just gasped at my first point. The romance in this book is slowburn, funny, and feels genuine. My issue with a lot of YA fantasy books is that I feel like they just throw a romance in there because the characters are hormonal, have no other options, and apparently don’t care that the world’s going to end. But this romance worked. I want more bodyguard romances in fantasy, please and thank you.
This story’s official synopsis starts out with the line “Three weddings. Three funerals.” I MEAN, HELLO??? We follow a girl named Alessa, who is a Finestra charged with saving an entire continent from a swarm of demons that come every couple of decades. A Finestra is able to amplify the abilities of people called Fontes, who essentially have magical abilities. Unfortunately, Alessa keeps killing Fontes whenever she touches them. As time runs out to find her Fonte, she enlists the help of a very dark, brooding, grumpy bodyguard name Dante to protect her.
I am obsessed with this book! Alessa is an amazing main character. She’s funny, smart, caring…and just wants to be able to touch another human being. The romance in this is so slowburn and perfect because any sort of touch has a heavier weight to it than in other books. Her relationships with the Fontes, Dante, and her twin brother are all handled so incredibly well. I rarely felt like any aspects of any of the relationships were rushed.
Alessa’s struggle to control her powers (and, you know, not kill the limited number of people who could help save the entire continent from destruction) made this book more character-focused than I originally thought it would be. Don’t get me wrong, there’s definitely a lot of excitement since Doomsday is on its way but the quiet moments in this story were very well-done.
And the Italian influences! My 25% Italian heart was so happy! Dante (Alessa’s bodyguard) occasionally spoke Italian, and there were Italian proverbs at the beginning of every chapter. The world just felt simultaneously familiar and fantastical.
ANYWAYS time to talk about Dante! First of all, he READS. Second of all, I don’t have to continue because I know you all just gasped at my first point. The romance in this book is slowburn, funny, and feels genuine. My issue with a lot of YA fantasy books is that I feel like they just throw a romance in there because the characters are hormonal, have no other options, and apparently don’t care that the world’s going to end. But this romance worked. I want more bodyguard romances in fantasy, please and thank you.
I saw a couple of reviewers complaining about the final climax, but I thought it was pretty well-written. It was just exciting enough without overstaying its welcome!
After I finished This Vicious Grace, my initial instinct was to give it 5 stars. And I’m sort of going to do that, but with a few caveats. You see, this had just a few hiccups that can be chalked up to this being a debut. I love supporting debut authors because they don’t always get the chance to publish another book, and to learn and grow from their mistakes. So this book certainly had some rushed worldbuilding, a few tropey moments, and some slight plotting issues, but they didn’t really detract from my enjoyment of this novel. So while this is essentially 4.5 stars, I’m giving it “The Debut 5 Stars” because I truly do think that Emily Thiede has the potential to take the genre by storm and become one of my favorite authors!
A huge thank you to the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
A huge thank you to the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
The Agathas by Liz Lawson, Kathleen Glasgow
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
The Agathas is the best of both worlds: a charmingly classic mystery with a modern twist. I seriously had so much fun with this book, it reminded me of the first book in the A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder series. It’s the perfect summer beach read.
This mystery follows a girl named Alice Ogilvie, a rich girl who disappeared for five days after her boyfriend Steve dumped her, and she won’t tell anyone what happened. After Steve’s new girlfriend (and Alice’s former best friend) Brooke Donovan goes missing and Steve is arrested, Alice takes it upon herself to prove his innocence. With the help of Iris Adams, Alice’s fellow classmate and tutor, the two girls try to figure out the mystery of Brooke Donovan with the knowledge of Agatha Christie’s works.
SEE. It’s books like these that make me wish I’ve read all of Agatha Christie’s books! I mean, sure, there’s like 76 of them but still. Every chapter of this book began with a relevant Agatha Christie quote! It adds to the charm of the entire story, especially if you know Agatha Christie’s books.
Alice and Iris are very much modern teenagers worrying about modern things. I actually liked that aspect, because it kept the story from being too “cozy-mystery-esque”. The entire story takes place in a little beach-side town, so you’d think it would be very calm right? NOPE! I love how both of our main characters kept secrets, and while they took inspiration from Agatha Christie’s works, they always did their own thing.
Alice and Iris are very much modern teenagers worrying about modern things. I actually liked that aspect, because it kept the story from being too “cozy-mystery-esque”. The entire story takes place in a little beach-side town, so you’d think it would be very calm right? NOPE! I love how both of our main characters kept secrets, and while they took inspiration from Agatha Christie’s works, they always did their own thing.
The PLOT. YES. I have several major complaints with the majority of YA mystery-thrillers but one of the biggest ones is the lack of complexity which leads to predictability. Luckily, The Agathas doesn’t have that problem. Even if I predicted something, it would be close to when it was revealed. The entire story is well-plotted, with plenty of twists and turns that keep it constantly exciting. It also rarely feels contrived. And most of the characters aren’t obnoxious and surrounded by useless drama that’s supposed to make it feel like a “thriller”.
I seriously wish that this were a series because Alice and Iris have great friendship chemistry. They’re willing to do a lot of things to get the truth, and they have solid deduction skills! Plus, the side characters (particularly Iris’s friend group) are a ton of fun. I just genuinely had a great time reading this for countless reasons.
So that’s it! Tell me: do you enjoy YA mysteries? This is by far one of my favorites that I’ve ever read. This comes out May 3rd! A huge thank you to the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
Cinder & Glass by Melissa de la Cruz
adventurous
medium-paced
3.0
Cinder and Glass is honestly just a lot of fun. It’s sort of like if The Selection met the classic Cinderella story in a fully historical setting. We follow a girl named Cendrillon (or Cinder for short) who goes to The Ball to escape her wicked stepmother…and unknowingly is entered into a competition for Prince Louis’s hand, even as she is distracted by the prince’s younger brother Auguste.
I LOVED the fact this had little to no “magic” in it. Which is so weird for me considering that I adore magic? And all the best fairytale retellings usually have it. However, Melissa De La Cruz did such a fantastic job describing the atmosphere of Paris and capturing the subtle intricacies of the Cinderella story that this story felt like a real fairytale nonetheless. And that’s something I really respect.
A lot of the characters in this book feel more two-dimensional than I expected, and truly feel at home in this French tale. My biggest complaint? I feel like I’m the wrong audience for this book. It felt more juvenile in comparison to a book like Cinder, and much more so than Throne of Glass. I guessed the “plot twist” almost immediately.
A lot of the characters in this book feel more two-dimensional than I expected, and truly feel at home in this French tale. My biggest complaint? I feel like I’m the wrong audience for this book. It felt more juvenile in comparison to a book like Cinder, and much more so than Throne of Glass. I guessed the “plot twist” almost immediately.
Cendrillion also was just not my favorite heroine. She didn’t have that Cinderella charm that I so wanted. If you’ve ever seen Cinderella III: A Twist In Time then you’ll know that Cinderella isn’t just kind, she’s also determined, witty, and clever. Her stepsister Anastasia also got a great redemption arc in that movie. Reading CInder and Glass felt like reading a younger adaptation of that movie (minus the time-travel stuff).
Everything else was either really fun (the surprisingly endearing romance, the ball, a few other moments) or predictable in an unbearable way. The princes sometimes felt like people and other times felt like the equivalent of a love interest written for a book directed at sixth graders*. On the other hand, I enjoyed that there were two of them and that part of the book featured a competition. So now you see my dilemma!
Everything else was either really fun (the surprisingly endearing romance, the ball, a few other moments) or predictable in an unbearable way. The princes sometimes felt like people and other times felt like the equivalent of a love interest written for a book directed at sixth graders*. On the other hand, I enjoyed that there were two of them and that part of the book featured a competition. So now you see my dilemma!
*okay but tell me why my first thought was to compare them to geronimo stilton💀
I would definitely recommend this if you like retellings geared towards a younger audience, or if you just want something fun to pass the time.
I would definitely recommend this if you like retellings geared towards a younger audience, or if you just want something fun to pass the time.
The Lost Dreamer by Lizz Huerta
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
The Lost Dreamer is an absolute must-read for 2022. In fact, I predict that it will be quite the underdog. You see, I haven’t read a debut with such rich worldbuilding, beautiful writing, and enthralling magic in a long time.
We follow two perspectives: Indir, who is a Dreamer among the main Dreamers at the capital city of Alcanezeh. After the king dies, his son returns to the city with no regard for traditions. Indir’s entire world is thrown into upheaval. We also follow Saya, a seer (not an official dreamer) who travels constantly with her mother who takes credit for Saya’s gifts. Both girls will have to stand up for themselves, and the world they live in.
There is so much to unpack here. One of the things I loved about this novel was the worldbuilding. I seriously don’t think that there is a book I’ve read in recent times that manages to be so creative and unique in its magic system. I would love to discover more about Mesoamerican culture and mythology now! Especially because the author notes in her acknowledgments that this was a book specifically based off of the Kumeyaay tribe of people.
“When the Twin Serpents shed their first skin, they did so weeping in joy, and so the seas and rivers and waters of the world were formed.”
So there’s this concept of the Dream, where only Dreamers can go. Spirits live there and can help if offerings are made. I loved how you had so many different types of Dreamers. For example, Indir is a Dreamer of truth, while her sister Dreams possibility. There are also healers who sing Songs of healing through water, and the Fire Warriors are uh…basically the Fire Nation. There are also these amazing women named the Ilkan (who remind me of the Amazons from Greek mythology) who are very in tune with jaguar spirits. This book is just chock-full of creative magic!
Also, can we please appreciate the women??? They’re often described as having round hips and bellies, being tall and short, and having all different body types. And you know what? Each body type is considered to be equally beautiful and perfectly natural. I personally loved that. Also! I’m pretty sure only women are Dreamers? Which is awesome? The synopsis describes this book as tackling the themes of dismantling a patriarchal society and I can 100% see that.
“My mother always said that chaos is a womb. What will be birthed?”
And oh my gosh the writing is just…I’m speechless. So many sentences were strung together by an almost ethereal combination of adjectives and nouns and verbs, creating metaphors and similies effortlessly. I will say that sometimes the story dragged, though. It felt slow, and I had to really focus to envision the rich world and complex characters.
I’m not totally happy with one romantic plotline (personal preference y’know) but other than that, I really enjoyed the plot of this book. There were a few minor twists throughout the story but the last 25% really took me on a trip. I’m still reeling. Saya and Indir’s stories are just really well-done.
Overall, it is my opinion that this will be one of the most underrated books of the year. I definitely didn’t find myself as invested at certain points as I wanted to be, but I think that’s because this is a story that requires more than one brain cell. I’m giving this 5/5 stars! This releases March 1st.
thank you Macmillan for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review :)
thank you Macmillan for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review :)
When You Get the Chance by Emma Lord
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
4.5
When You Get The Chance is going to be one of the best contemporaries of the year. Yeah, I said it. There’s so much to it: musical references, strong characters, a great focus on family and friend relationships, discovering oneself, and a rivals-to-lovers romance. And every single element works well together, without infringing on the others.
Millie Price is a Broadway-aspiring, extroverted girl who is on a mission to find her mom after her dad turns down her dreams of going to a precollege across the country. In a sort of reverse Mamma Mia situation, Millie juggles an internship competing against her biggest rival Oliver, making friends with a girl who might possibly be her half-sister, and taking dancing classes all to narrow down which woman out of three is her biological mother.
I adored this book. It was entertaining in all the best ways. There were so many musical references! Sure, I didn’t get half of them but if you’re a die-hard theater fan? Please stop reading this review right now. Just go read this book. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Even if you’re not a musical theater fan (how could you not be one…?) there is still so much to love about this story. Millie’s sweet relationship with her single dad and her close friendship with her neighbor Teddy are all high points for sure. Friends-to-lovers is an amazing trope, don’t get me wrong, but it’s so nice to read about soulmates that are just platonic. Speaking of which, the romance isn’t the biggest feature in this book and you know what? It works. There’s just enough pagetime for our two leads (rivals-to-lovers can be a complicated trope) to have chemistry, while never taking away from Millie’s arc.
One thing I love about New York is that if you get the right writer, it can feel like the most magical place on earth.
One thing I love about New York is that if you get the right writer, it can feel like the most magical place on earth.
“There’s this nonstop hopefulness, this weird charge that never leaves the air, like anything can happen. Like your destiny is constantly right around the corner.”
And Emma Lord does it so well. I, the person who cannot sing worth a dime and has two left feet and couldn’t play the role of Peppa Pig if my life was on the line, wanted to do musical theater after this book. No joke. On another note, I also appreciate how Lord touched on some of the racism that is in the industry from the perspective of Oliver Yang, a Chinese-American boy. She didn’t go into depth with it but it’s still touched on.
The tone of this book somehow manages to be serious and light at the same time. Millie has such a loud personality, but at her most vulnerable moments one can’t help but relate to her. Watching her do all of these crazy things just to find out her mom is, and then discovering what exactly is so important about her discovering this fact is just…really well-done.
Overall, When You Get The Chance is very nearly a perfect contemporary novel for me. It’s an effortless blend of musical theater, self-reflection, family/friend relationships, chaotic happenings, and sweet, believable romance that has cemented it as an all-time favorite for me. I’m giving this 4.5/5 stars!
The Resting Place by Camilla Sten
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
The Resting Place terrified me. I was reading it on my Kindle in the dark, and the atmosphere just got to me. I suppose that is the mark of a well-written book. One of my goals this year was to read more translated books, and I’m sad to say that this is the first I’ve read (unless you count The Illiad). However, I am especially impressed that this is a translated book because it read so smoothly!
This follows a woman named Eleanor, who deals with prosopagnosia (face blindness). So when she walks into her grandmother Vivianne’s apartment and comes face-to-face with the person who killed her…she has no idea who it is. When Eleanor goes to see the house she’s meant to inherit, she realizes that perhaps that house holds more secrets to her grandmother’s life than she originally thought.
Oh my gosh. You guys. We don’t just read from Eleanor’s perspective, but also diary entries from Vivianne’s maid Anushka back in the 1960s. Immediately, it becomes clear that something terrible has happened in that house. This is such a brilliantly written thriller that very nearly crosses the line into horror. The atmosphere is just too good. A dark, creepy estate with a blizzard whirling around outside? Eleanor being unsure if Vivianne’s murderer is just around the corner, or if she’s seeing things? Terrifying perfection.
The farther along into this book I read, the more intrigued I became. Both POVs were tense and mysterious. I don’t think that the ending is totally “WHAT THE HECK JUST HAPPENED” but it is incredibly satisfying and makes sense for the plot as a whole. I genuinely enjoyed my entire ride with all of the crazy characters and surprising developments.
I do wish that Eleanor’s prosopagnosia was implemented a little bit better. I feel like the more deeply we were entrenched into the plot, the vaguer that particular aspect of her became. Like, sometimes she could recognize people and other times she couldn’t? It was definitely strange. And I will say that the ending didn’t pack quite the punch that I was expecting. I certainly didn’t hate it, but I wouldn’t have minded if it was a little more dramatic.
Overall, I would recommend this one if you enjoy atmospheric thrillers, or are looking for a good translated novel!
This follows a woman named Eleanor, who deals with prosopagnosia (face blindness). So when she walks into her grandmother Vivianne’s apartment and comes face-to-face with the person who killed her…she has no idea who it is. When Eleanor goes to see the house she’s meant to inherit, she realizes that perhaps that house holds more secrets to her grandmother’s life than she originally thought.
Oh my gosh. You guys. We don’t just read from Eleanor’s perspective, but also diary entries from Vivianne’s maid Anushka back in the 1960s. Immediately, it becomes clear that something terrible has happened in that house. This is such a brilliantly written thriller that very nearly crosses the line into horror. The atmosphere is just too good. A dark, creepy estate with a blizzard whirling around outside? Eleanor being unsure if Vivianne’s murderer is just around the corner, or if she’s seeing things? Terrifying perfection.
The farther along into this book I read, the more intrigued I became. Both POVs were tense and mysterious. I don’t think that the ending is totally “WHAT THE HECK JUST HAPPENED” but it is incredibly satisfying and makes sense for the plot as a whole. I genuinely enjoyed my entire ride with all of the crazy characters and surprising developments.
I do wish that Eleanor’s prosopagnosia was implemented a little bit better. I feel like the more deeply we were entrenched into the plot, the vaguer that particular aspect of her became. Like, sometimes she could recognize people and other times she couldn’t? It was definitely strange. And I will say that the ending didn’t pack quite the punch that I was expecting. I certainly didn’t hate it, but I wouldn’t have minded if it was a little more dramatic.
Overall, I would recommend this one if you enjoy atmospheric thrillers, or are looking for a good translated novel!
These Deadly Games by Diana Urban
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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
5.0
These Deadly Games is one of the most addicting, well-plotted thrillers I’ve ever read. It’s unique in its presentation, the characters are likable, and I found myself genuinely surprised by the ending. Diana Urban’s debut wasn’t bad but it is her sophomore novel that showcases her brilliant writing abilities to their full extent.
Crystal is an interesting main character. She’s clever and cares deeply for her little sister. On the other hand, this entire book is driven solely by her desperation to get her sister back. That means that we as readers don’t always agree with her decisions. However, I thought that both Crystal and this book were so well-written I actually couldn’t help but consider what would happen if I were in this situation. Would I make the same choices? And I mean sure, some of the things she does go a little bit too easily for her but that’s okay. I love how she and her whole friend group bonded over a video game. I love how we had gamer girls doing gamer things and no one was shaming them for it. And it’s a relatively diverse cast as well! There were a few moments where some racist remarks are made that are quickly shut down since Crystal’s best friend, Akira, is half-Japanese. Little moments like that really helped to flesh out the group that we don’t get a perspective from.
Anyways, this was a thrill ride from start to finish. Despite the fact that the title of this book is literally These Deadly Games, I wasn’t quite expecting just how dark it got. Some of what Anynomous1 told Crystal to do seemed innocent at first, and I couldn’t predict how terrible the endgame would be. This book is non-stop in its pace. Every time it seems like we get a breather, something new comes up and BAM! Back on that bullet train of death-defying games. My mind was theorizing whenever it got a chance but I still didn’t totally guess the ending.
Speaking of the ending…WOW. My heart was racing. There were so many twists and turns that even if I half-guessed one thing, it never played out the way I expected it to. I’m unsure if there’s going to be a sequel though? The last line especially felt a little bit open-ended. While there were a few moments throughout the story that had me rolling my eyes (y’all already know my thoughts on teenagers in thrillers) this is one of the most well-plotted books I’ve ever read. At this point, Diana Urban is on my list of favorite mystery/thriller authors, joining the ranks of Holly Jackson…and that’s it. That’s my list. It’s clearly very prestigious so if nothing else convinces you to read this book I hope that does.
So that’s it! Again, I hate going into too much detail with thrillers but I really don’t have anything bad to say about this one. A few cliche YA thriller moments couldn’t overcome the unique plot and perfect pace of These Deadly Games. Overall, I’d give this 5/5 stars. Thank you so much Wednesday Books for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Crystal is an interesting main character. She’s clever and cares deeply for her little sister. On the other hand, this entire book is driven solely by her desperation to get her sister back. That means that we as readers don’t always agree with her decisions. However, I thought that both Crystal and this book were so well-written I actually couldn’t help but consider what would happen if I were in this situation. Would I make the same choices? And I mean sure, some of the things she does go a little bit too easily for her but that’s okay. I love how she and her whole friend group bonded over a video game. I love how we had gamer girls doing gamer things and no one was shaming them for it. And it’s a relatively diverse cast as well! There were a few moments where some racist remarks are made that are quickly shut down since Crystal’s best friend, Akira, is half-Japanese. Little moments like that really helped to flesh out the group that we don’t get a perspective from.
Anyways, this was a thrill ride from start to finish. Despite the fact that the title of this book is literally These Deadly Games, I wasn’t quite expecting just how dark it got. Some of what Anynomous1 told Crystal to do seemed innocent at first, and I couldn’t predict how terrible the endgame would be. This book is non-stop in its pace. Every time it seems like we get a breather, something new comes up and BAM! Back on that bullet train of death-defying games. My mind was theorizing whenever it got a chance but I still didn’t totally guess the ending.
Speaking of the ending…WOW. My heart was racing. There were so many twists and turns that even if I half-guessed one thing, it never played out the way I expected it to. I’m unsure if there’s going to be a sequel though? The last line especially felt a little bit open-ended. While there were a few moments throughout the story that had me rolling my eyes (y’all already know my thoughts on teenagers in thrillers) this is one of the most well-plotted books I’ve ever read. At this point, Diana Urban is on my list of favorite mystery/thriller authors, joining the ranks of Holly Jackson…and that’s it. That’s my list. It’s clearly very prestigious so if nothing else convinces you to read this book I hope that does.
So that’s it! Again, I hate going into too much detail with thrillers but I really don’t have anything bad to say about this one. A few cliche YA thriller moments couldn’t overcome the unique plot and perfect pace of These Deadly Games. Overall, I’d give this 5/5 stars. Thank you so much Wednesday Books for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Racism, and Violence
These Deadly Games is one of the most addicting, well-plotted thrillers I’ve ever read. It’s unique in its presentation, the characters are likable, and I found myself genuinely surprised by the ending. Diana Urban’s debut wasn’t bad but it is her sophomore novel that showcases her brilliant writing abilities to their full extent.
Crystal is an interesting main character. She’s clever and cares deeply for her little sister. On the other hand, this entire book is driven solely by her desperation to get her sister back. That means that we as readers don’t always agree with her decisions. However, I thought that both Crystal and this book were so well-written I actually couldn’t help but consider what would happen if I were in this situation. Would I make the same choices? And I mean sure, some of the things she does go a little bit too easily for her but that’s okay. I love how she and her whole friend group bonded over a video game. I love how we had gamer girls doing gamer things and no one was shaming them for it. And it’s a relatively diverse cast as well! There were a few moments where some racist remarks are made that are quickly shut down since Crystal’s best friend, Akira, is half-Japanese. Little moments like that really helped to flesh out the group that we don’t get a perspective from.
Anyways, this was a thrill ride from start to finish. Despite the fact that the title of this book is literally These Deadly Games, I wasn’t quite expecting just how dark it got. Some of what Anynomous1 told Crystal to do seemed innocent at first, and I couldn’t predict how terrible the endgame would be. This book is non-stop in its pace. Every time it seems like we get a breather, something new comes up and BAM! Back on that bullet train of death-defying games. My mind was theorizing whenever it got a chance but I still didn’t totally guess the ending.
Speaking of the ending…WOW. My heart was racing. There were so many twists and turns that even if I half-guessed one thing, it never played out the way I expected it to. I’m unsure if there’s going to be a sequel though? The last line especially felt a little bit open-ended. While there were a few moments throughout the story that had me rolling my eyes (y’all already know my thoughts on teenagers in thrillers) this is one of the most well-plotted books I’ve ever read. At this point, Diana Urban is on my list of favorite mystery/thriller authors, joining the ranks of Holly Jackson…and that’s it. That’s my list. It’s clearly very prestigious so if nothing else convinces you to read this book I hope that does.
So that’s it! Again, I hate going into too much detail with thrillers but I really don’t have anything bad to say about this one. A few cliche YA thriller moments couldn’t overcome the unique plot and perfect pace of These Deadly Games. Overall, I’d give this 5/5 stars.
Anatomy: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
Anatomy: A Love Story is a story carved straight out of the darkest corners of 1800s Scotland. If you enjoyed The Corpse Queen by Heather Herrman, then believe me when I say you’ll love this one. We follow mostly the perspective of Hazel, a girl who wishes to be a surgeon in a world where the wishes of women are often denied. We also get to see a little bit from Jack’s perspective, who’s a resurrection man and also works in a theater.
Let’s begin this chaotic review at the end, shall we? It always irks me in these sorts of novels when the ending is unrealistic. Why should there be a subtle Chosen One trope where all historical accuracies bow at the feet of our Quirky Main Character! I mean, I feel like if the author spends hours and hours and has 120 tabs open for researching and portraying history accurately, the fates of the characters should make sense, no? Luckily, Anatomy didn’t fall into this trap. The entirety of the book is spent discussing the pressures and limitations women faced in 1800s Scotland. Hazel and Jack have a complex relationship and have complex character arcs. And that’s honestly what I loved most about this story: the ending fell perfectly within the boundaries it had already established. Sure, there’s a slight dash of fantastical happenings which weren’t present in most of the book. But the last few pages were so beautifully written, I truly believe that there is not an ending out there more perfect than what Anatomy already has.
I’m a little befuddled as to why Anatomy is pitched as a love story. It’s in the description and the sub-heading. But the romance isn’t a big focus in this story. In fact, it’s not even until the end that we as readers truly feel the weight of what Jack and Hazel feel for each other. Up until this point, it’s more a story of surgeon dreams and stolen kisses. I’ve read thriller books where romance is more prevalent. Although, that’s more a knock to said thrillers than this book because Anatomy has the perfect balance of romance and plot. It’s a shame the expectations are pitched differently though.
All of this being said, the atmosphere of 1800s Scotland was wonderful! I fell into this book every time I opened up my Kindle since it’s so easy to be immersed. The author did a great job at portraying this time period and showing every gilded, high-society edge, while never shying away from the darker parts of the world where Hazel and Jack live in. The friendships in this book are also so well-written and wholesome.
Now unfortunately, I do have a few issues.
Now unfortunately, I do have a few issues.
For example, Hazel and Jack never felt like real people to me. It wasn’t just that Hazel had more pagetime than Jack, it was that I could barely tell if we were even in Jack’s perspective half the time. I feel like each character had a couple of main goals, and every thought they had tied to said goals. Therefore, I never felt like the characters themselves really came alive off of the page.
I’m going to be honest here: it was hard reading this so soon after The Corpse Queen, mostly because they share so many elements and it definitely altered my expectations. Anatomy is a little less gothic than I would have hoped. The mystery is barely a mystery, it’s more or less a conversation about some strange happenings every couple of chapters. That doesn’t make Anatomy a bad book exactly. It just makes it a book that I wish I had different expectations going into.
Sometimes, I’d see sparks of writing genius. That ending that I can’t seem to shut up about? An absolutely brilliant piece of writing. Other times, this book felt so incredibly juvenile. We’d gloss over important details because apparently everything fell right into place for Hazel but then some random thing would come up that we’d spend more time on. I think this story was unsure if it wanted to be a romance, a mystery, a gothic historical novel, or a coming-of-age narrative. The romance was paced perfectly, but there wasn’t enough of it to be considered underneath the category of “love story”. I have no idea what I would even categorize this one as because the only genre it ever fully leans into is historical.
So that’s it! There were some highs and some lows to this book for sure but I think overall it’s a solid 3 stars for me. It’ll definitely appeal to so many people but I think my expectations were just too wrong for this one.