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lauren_miller's reviews
762 reviews
An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson
adventurous
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.75
I think I've learned my lesson: anything Margaret Rogerson writes will become a new favorite. I really adored this one.
The turns of phrase, the faerie lore, the craft, the intimacy, the green well... All of it spoke to my little dragon heart; I tried to hoard the minutes, but I was so desperate to know more I listened to it as fast as I could... The only thing I'm still not sold on is the final conflict's resolution, but I did like the resulting twist, so that has left a slightly more positive taste in my mouth. Overall, if you need a cozy, whimsical little faerie stint, this will get the job done!
4.75 out of 5 stars, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The turns of phrase, the faerie lore, the craft, the intimacy, the green well... All of it spoke to my little dragon heart; I tried to hoard the minutes, but I was so desperate to know more I listened to it as fast as I could... The only thing I'm still not sold on is the final conflict's resolution, but I did like the resulting twist, so that has left a slightly more positive taste in my mouth. Overall, if you need a cozy, whimsical little faerie stint, this will get the job done!
4.75 out of 5 stars, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Words to Make a Friend: A Story in Japanese and English by Donna Jo Napoli, Naoko Stoop
this is cute, but I wasn’t necessarily expecting simple romanization; at the very least, maybe a romanized version alongside the hiragana or kanji. also, even for a picture book, it’s so short!! the art is lovely, though.
Raiders of the Lost Heart by Jo Segura
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
4.75
I adore this so much.
The Mummy meets Indiana Jones meets your favorite contemporary romance 🔥🌊🔪
The Mummy meets Indiana Jones meets your favorite contemporary romance 🔥🌊🔪
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism
Dewdrop by K. O'Neill
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
I've been meaning to read this for a while and I'm so glad I finally did!
For some reason, a lot of children's stories opt to use exclusion as a way to drive home the messages of friendship and belonging. I personally LOVE that this is not exclusionary at all; it's supportive, kind, and not at all transactionary. Such a beautifully drawn book, too! Having read most of their material, I've come to expect the best from Kay and I was not disappointed 😊
For some reason, a lot of children's stories opt to use exclusion as a way to drive home the messages of friendship and belonging. I personally LOVE that this is not exclusionary at all; it's supportive, kind, and not at all transactionary. Such a beautifully drawn book, too! Having read most of their material, I've come to expect the best from Kay and I was not disappointed 😊
A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas
adventurous
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
This sent my head spinning in the best way. Like, Veronica Speedwell meets Conan Doyle. The mental faculties one must possess in order to keep up with all those strings… Impressive!
Legends by Lydia Sherrer
adventurous
sad
tense
medium-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
Rewitched by Lucy Jane Wood
adventurous
challenging
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
3.5
As a longtime follower of the author, I was hoping to enjoy this more than I did.
Fair warning, she writes just the way she speaks in her youtube videos—in platitudes, axioms, and generally flowery language. If you're British, even better from the North, you probably will drink it up, but for me, as an American reader, there were many little things (one off comments, descriptions) that felt strange or whose meaning was unclear. Sometimes, these issues are cleaned up between the UK and US versions, but unfortunately, what you see is what you get with this one. I could get past most of this, but I also struggled with the voice; that first 20-30% felt a little try hard?? Like it desperately wanted to be cozy and pretty.
Speaking of which... The first 20% irritated me to no end; simply put, Belle is a bit pathetic. There's lacking confidence and self-worth, and then there's Belle's level of insecure. Often, when you're driven by that much fear, it's more of an unconscious guide, causing you to hesitate and/or ruminate constantly; with her, it was very much a self-aware fear and yet she does NOTHING about it. And even when she starts trying to advocate for herself and gain more autonomy, she refuses to accept help from those around her, for some reason hellbent on being a martyr. What Belle's thoughts just before the scrying scene told me is that the girl needs THERAPY—no amount of support and love and positive affirmations is going to heal what has been hurt and constantly reaffirmed within her mind over the past 15 years.
The middle bits were fun. As I predicted, Arty was a sweetheart and the teaching scenes were some of my favorites. I actually really enjoyed the grimoire rhymes and catching all the foreshadowing. And I was pleased with Rune's development, although he's basically Dimitri Belikov with magic instead of martial arts skills. I would have loved to learn even more about Bonnie's specialty in herbal magic, and the potential paths for each element. I really liked the descriptions of Hecate House, although I wish it were a more sentient force in the story; it's implied that the house has a say in letting people in and such, but all we see is booby traps. I'm curious about the layout and wings too. That stint in the library was too short!!!
The ending was alright for me. I saw the conflict coming (not the sibling thing, but the who done it), so I was more curious about how Belle and the gang were going to handle it. I liked that Belle and Bonnie worked together (so ok, she's not a complete martyr), and that Ariadne was pulled into it. I liked that Belle came out injured (too often the protagonist magically wakes up and everything is peachy) but stronger, and I loved that Lunar Books got the owner it deserved.
All in all, my reading experience was kind of all over the place. 1-40% me would have absolutely said no to a second installment, but the 41-100% me is feeling warily open. I'm still curious about the worldbuilding and intrigued by how exactly the coven will move forward from this.
So, 3.5 I think. Satisfactory, with room for improvement.
Fair warning, she writes just the way she speaks in her youtube videos—in platitudes, axioms, and generally flowery language. If you're British, even better from the North, you probably will drink it up, but for me, as an American reader, there were many little things (one off comments, descriptions) that felt strange or whose meaning was unclear. Sometimes, these issues are cleaned up between the UK and US versions, but unfortunately, what you see is what you get with this one. I could get past most of this, but I also struggled with the voice; that first 20-30% felt a little try hard?? Like it desperately wanted to be cozy and pretty.
Speaking of which... The first 20% irritated me to no end; simply put, Belle is a bit pathetic. There's lacking confidence and self-worth, and then there's Belle's level of insecure. Often, when you're driven by that much fear, it's more of an unconscious guide, causing you to hesitate and/or ruminate constantly; with her, it was very much a self-aware fear and yet she does NOTHING about it. And even when she starts trying to advocate for herself and gain more autonomy, she refuses to accept help from those around her, for some reason hellbent on being a martyr. What Belle's thoughts just before the scrying scene told me is that the girl needs THERAPY—no amount of support and love and positive affirmations is going to heal what has been hurt and constantly reaffirmed within her mind over the past 15 years.
The middle bits were fun. As I predicted, Arty was a sweetheart and the teaching scenes were some of my favorites. I actually really enjoyed the grimoire rhymes and catching all the foreshadowing. And I was pleased with Rune's development, although he's basically Dimitri Belikov with magic instead of martial arts skills. I would have loved to learn even more about Bonnie's specialty in herbal magic, and the potential paths for each element. I really liked the descriptions of Hecate House, although I wish it were a more sentient force in the story; it's implied that the house has a say in letting people in and such, but all we see is booby traps. I'm curious about the layout and wings too. That stint in the library was too short!!!
The ending was alright for me. I saw the conflict coming (not the sibling thing, but the who done it), so I was more curious about how Belle and the gang were going to handle it. I liked that Belle and Bonnie worked together (so ok, she's not a complete martyr), and that Ariadne was pulled into it. I liked that Belle came out injured (too often the protagonist magically wakes up and everything is peachy) but stronger, and I loved that Lunar Books got the owner it deserved.
All in all, my reading experience was kind of all over the place. 1-40% me would have absolutely said no to a second installment, but the 41-100% me is feeling warily open. I'm still curious about the worldbuilding and intrigued by how exactly the coven will move forward from this.
So, 3.5 I think. Satisfactory, with room for improvement.
Breath of the Dragon by Shannon Lee, Fonda Lee
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
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
4.75
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I had not previously read anything by Fonda Lee before picking this up, but if her other works are like this one, I know I'm in for an incredible ride. Fonda and Shannon have crafted a vivid and heart-wrenching tale of exile, betrayal, resilience, and faith. In a lot of ways, the middle bits reminded me immensely of Yu Yu Hakusho—a deadly tournament, odds NOT in favor of the protagonist(s), and friendships that somehow develop and strengthen in the most difficult of circumstances. Though to be clear, Jun is not the Yusuke you expect; in fact, Yin Yue gives me those vibes, I think. Jun feels like a really strange mix of Kuwabara and Genkai—somewhat foolish and self-absorbed but with an incredible heart and self-awareness strong enough to recognize the wisdom being imparted by those around him. It made for such an interesting, complex character arc.
And as someone who reads a lot of romance alongside fantasy, I was also surprised how much I did not care about the lack thereof. The little hints here and there were nice emotional pauses, but the lack of focus on it, and the supposed love triangle developing, was so refreshing. I love that Jun and Yin Yue's friendship was ultimately not impacted by their affections. I hope this remains the case in future installments.
Speaking of which, I am in physical pain thinking of how long I will have to wait for book 2!!! I cannot wait for more.
4.75 out of 5 stars, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I had not previously read anything by Fonda Lee before picking this up, but if her other works are like this one, I know I'm in for an incredible ride. Fonda and Shannon have crafted a vivid and heart-wrenching tale of exile, betrayal, resilience, and faith. In a lot of ways, the middle bits reminded me immensely of Yu Yu Hakusho—a deadly tournament, odds NOT in favor of the protagonist(s), and friendships that somehow develop and strengthen in the most difficult of circumstances. Though to be clear, Jun is not the Yusuke you expect; in fact, Yin Yue gives me those vibes, I think. Jun feels like a really strange mix of Kuwabara and Genkai—somewhat foolish and self-absorbed but with an incredible heart and self-awareness strong enough to recognize the wisdom being imparted by those around him. It made for such an interesting, complex character arc.
And as someone who reads a lot of romance alongside fantasy, I was also surprised how much I did not care about the lack thereof. The little hints here and there were nice emotional pauses, but the lack of focus on it, and the supposed love triangle developing, was so refreshing. I love that Jun and Yin Yue's friendship was ultimately not impacted by their affections. I hope this remains the case in future installments.
Speaking of which, I am in physical pain thinking of how long I will have to wait for book 2!!! I cannot wait for more.
4.75 out of 5 stars, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus: Revelations by Lydia Sherrer
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
the first installment was such a ridiculous, lighthearted read that this second installment kinda has me shocked; it took a few violent turns I was not expecting, as well as added a historical surprise (hello Morgan, fancy seeing you here) that definitely has me intrigued... i feel like I have to continue now, solely to find out what the hell kind of power Lily is actually capable of.
Love Requires Chocolate by Ravynn K. Stringfield
adventurous
lighthearted
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
3.0
Note: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is a super sweet contemporary YA romance that features a lot of my favorite things: France, sugar, falling in love, and theater. Was it a perfect combination? Not necessarily, but it was still pretty enjoyable.
Whitney is your stereotypical theater kid—confident, loud, and painfully unaware despite supposedly being self aware. She irritated me a bit in the beginning b/c she was so stereotypical, but that also probably means I would have really identified with her as a teenager, so I guess I have to give it a pass... And Thierry was just the right amount of grumpy for me, and such a romantic at heart!! That scene in Chocolat Doré was SO. CUTE. omg. Their chemistry felt very natural and warm to me. But that third act conflict?? Sorry, Whitney, but it was so. dramatic. for. no. reason.
And on a pedantic note, I really did not understand the author's baseline for Whitney's French. She uses some nearly intermediate phrases in the beginning, but then Thierry has to teach her the passé composé for avoir and être?? And while I loved the sense of improvement regarding her French, there is no way a high schooler with those basics would feel comfortable at a market alone, as she put it.... Admittedly, my French degree was out in full force and feeling VERY judgy during this read; she simply can't be tamed!!!
I think this is book is a lot of very light, easy fun, perfect for actual tweens and teenagers who may not have been to France and are itching to go; for everyone else (i.e., everyone older than 18), I'd probably recommend skipping.
3 out of 5 stars, ⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is a super sweet contemporary YA romance that features a lot of my favorite things: France, sugar, falling in love, and theater. Was it a perfect combination? Not necessarily, but it was still pretty enjoyable.
Whitney is your stereotypical theater kid—confident, loud, and painfully unaware despite supposedly being self aware. She irritated me a bit in the beginning b/c she was so stereotypical, but that also probably means I would have really identified with her as a teenager, so I guess I have to give it a pass... And Thierry was just the right amount of grumpy for me, and such a romantic at heart!! That scene in Chocolat Doré was SO. CUTE. omg. Their chemistry felt very natural and warm to me. But that third act conflict?? Sorry, Whitney, but it was so. dramatic. for. no. reason.
And on a pedantic note, I really did not understand the author's baseline for Whitney's French. She uses some nearly intermediate phrases in the beginning, but then Thierry has to teach her the passé composé for avoir and être?? And while I loved the sense of improvement regarding her French, there is no way a high schooler with those basics would feel comfortable at a market alone, as she put it.... Admittedly, my French degree was out in full force and feeling VERY judgy during this read; she simply can't be tamed!!!
I think this is book is a lot of very light, easy fun, perfect for actual tweens and teenagers who may not have been to France and are itching to go; for everyone else (i.e., everyone older than 18), I'd probably recommend skipping.
3 out of 5 stars, ⭐️⭐️⭐️