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ladygetslit's reviews
817 reviews
A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas
emotional
reflective
relaxing
fast-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? It's complicated
3.0
A Court of Frost and Starlight is a cute interlude after the high stakes political drama that was A Court of Wings and Ruin.
I enjoyed getting to see the Court of Dreams interact in a less stressful environment, and there is certainly some setup for what’s to come next. My favorite part was getting different perspectives instead of only reading from Feyre’s POV.
That being said, if/when I reread the series, I will likely skip this book. It was light and cute, but I don’t feel like it added that much to the storyline of the ACOTAR series as a whole. It felt like the Christmas special of your favorite TV show that you skip while re-binging, but you put it on in the background while decorating your house for the holidays.
I enjoyed getting to see the Court of Dreams interact in a less stressful environment, and there is certainly some setup for what’s to come next. My favorite part was getting different perspectives instead of only reading from Feyre’s POV.
That being said, if/when I reread the series, I will likely skip this book. It was light and cute, but I don’t feel like it added that much to the storyline of the ACOTAR series as a whole. It felt like the Christmas special of your favorite TV show that you skip while re-binging, but you put it on in the background while decorating your house for the holidays.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Blood
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
4.5
A Court of Thorns and Roses takes you on a wild emotional ride.
What starts as a take on Beauty & the Beast, with a human falling for a powerful High Lord of the fae, eventually winds up in a high stakes battle for control of the entire realm.
I enjoyed this much more on re-reading, once I realizedthat Tamlin and Feyre aren’t the endgame romance of the entire series. Which, honestly, I think says something deeper about love in general. When you’re young and less experienced, you think your first love is EVERYTHING. It’s only when you’ve been through some stuff that you grow and change, and so do your romantic desires.
Can’t wait to re-read Book 2!
What starts as a take on Beauty & the Beast, with a human falling for a powerful High Lord of the fae, eventually winds up in a high stakes battle for control of the entire realm.
I enjoyed this much more on re-reading, once I realized
Can’t wait to re-read Book 2!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Gore, and Violence
Kiss Her Once For Me by Alison Cochrun
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Biphobia, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Mental illness
The Grace Year by Kim Liggett
Did not finish book. Stopped at 41%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 41%.
I would have loved this in high school. The world-building is reasonably interesting, and I love how the main character wants to protect other women and bring them together. I just couldn’t get past the mean girl antics of the main antagonist. I understand why it’s written this way, but I just don’t care to invest any more time in stories of women against women… even if it’s to prove a point.
The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes
Did not finish book. Stopped at 27%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 27%.
I didn’t dislike this book. What I read of it was cute, and I love the sibling relationships. It just didn’t hold my attention - probably because it hit close to home with the religious school setting.
Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019 by Ibram X. Kendi
Did not finish book. Stopped at 17%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 17%.
Will come back to this when I have the mental capacity.
The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Homophobia, Physical abuse, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Alcohol
Patina by Jason Reynolds
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
4.5
I learned so much from this second installment in the Track series. Patty stole my heart right from the beginning of the story. I loved her relationship with her little sister, how protective she is of her family. I loved the nuanced representation of a non-traditional family: Patty lives with her aunt and uncle because her mother is a double amputee, but she’s still very close with her mom and they all support each other so beautifully. I loved Patty’s growth as she goes from feeling like she has to do it all to someone who’s doing what she can. My main struggle with this one was that Patty felt a little judgmental of her schoolmates, understandably so, but that felt repetitive to me. Overall, I loved this one and I think many of my middle school students would connect with it too.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Ableism, Chronic illness, and Medical content
Minor: Car accident
Ghost by Jason Reynolds
I read this entire book in an afternoon. It’s very fast-paced as Castle “Ghost” Cranshaw tries to outrun his past and runs straight onto an elite track team.
I learned a lot about track from less than 200 pages. I loved the way Ghost tries so hard to do right by his mom, the way he makes big mistakes and ultimately confronts his demons. I just wish that there was more development. Ghost is dealing with a pretty big trauma, and it’s something that I am curious if it will come up in other books. The relationship between Ghost and Coach really made this book what it is. It gave me hope that kids like Ghost have people to turn to who support their growth.
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
“You can’t run away from who you are, but what you can do is run toward who you want to be.”
I read this entire book in an afternoon. It’s very fast-paced as Castle “Ghost” Cranshaw tries to outrun his past and runs straight onto an elite track team.
I learned a lot about track from less than 200 pages. I loved the way Ghost tries so hard to do right by his mom, the way he makes big mistakes and ultimately confronts his demons. I just wish that there was more development. Ghost is dealing with a pretty big trauma, and it’s something that I am curious if it will come up in other books. The relationship between Ghost and Coach really made this book what it is. It gave me hope that kids like Ghost have people to turn to who support their growth.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Gun violence
Into the Light by Mark Oshiro
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Into the Light is a story about Manny, a teen who's living on the streets after his adoptive parents kick him out. As he travels with the Varelas, a family who takes him along on their van ride around California, Manny reveals his story of growing up in foster care, being adopted into a religious cult, and escaping to wander the streets for the last year.
The story itself, about a kid who's struggling to trust again after all the abuse he went through, is incredible. I was fully bought in with Manny's fear and his determination to go back for his sister, Elena. The more he revealed about his past, the more heartbroken for him I felt. No one should feel unwanted, passed along from one placement to the next, but this is the reality for so many children in America. This book really sheds light on how broken our foster care and adoption system is, along with the disturbing truths about powerful religious organizations that do more harm than good.
My issue with this book, as other reviewers have stated, is the supernatural twist that comes at around 80% of the way in. I knew on some level that it was coming, but it just didn't sit well. Throughout the book, Manny's past and present narratives are woven with the story of Eli, the golden child within the cult community Manny left behind. When a body is found, Manny goes to identify it, thinking that it's his sister, and it turns out to be...Manny himself? Which we then find out is Eli. Because Manny's self was miraculously split into two halves, the one that wanted to belong in the cult, and the one that rejected their lies and abuse. And sure, maybe it's a powerful metaphor, but what threw me off and ultimately made the book less powerful, in my opinion, was the fact that this supernatural element is never explained. The characters just accept it as truth, despite its impossibility in the real world, and it's never explained how it happens. I think there could have been a way to connect the dots of the story without the twist, and as it stands, this aspect of the story really takes away from the powerful narrative about religious abuse, trauma, and the life of a kid who goes from foster care to being unhoused.
The story itself, about a kid who's struggling to trust again after all the abuse he went through, is incredible. I was fully bought in with Manny's fear and his determination to go back for his sister, Elena. The more he revealed about his past, the more heartbroken for him I felt. No one should feel unwanted, passed along from one placement to the next, but this is the reality for so many children in America. This book really sheds light on how broken our foster care and adoption system is, along with the disturbing truths about powerful religious organizations that do more harm than good.
My issue with this book, as other reviewers have stated, is the supernatural twist that comes at around 80% of the way in. I knew on some level that it was coming, but it just didn't sit well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Abandonment, and Religious bigotry