le_terrier_oh_livres's reviews
52 reviews

The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton

adventurous funny lighthearted slow-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

2.5

I had a hard time getting invested in this book. The premises are promising, but once they've been established in the first few chapters (pirate aristocracy, attempted assassination, flying houses, etc) it doesn't evolve past that. The romance is not spared : it is kind of the same be it at page 30 or at page 300.
Still, I think someone else could totally enjoy this book, if they are receptive to the humor and the spicy love-at-first-sight romance.

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

funny lighthearted slow-paced

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

3.0

This book is unlike any other from Jane Austen. The tone is clearly satirical, however I didn't find it subtle at all and on the contrary quite heavy at some times.
I struggled immensely to like the plot and characters during the first 1/3 but it gets more interesting after that. I thought I'd end up liking the book, until the ending rushed everything. Overall it was a bit of a disappointment.

Lady Susan, the Watsons, Sanditon by Jane Austen

lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Those 3 unfinished/unpublished novellas prove -if anyone still needed to be convinced- Austen's talent in terms of character and plot writing. Makes you wish they could have been completed!
A must-read for Jane Austen's fans. Casual readers of the author might not see the purpose.

The Monsters of Rookhaven by Pádraig Kenny
Did not finish book. Stopped at 60%.

From the story events to the characters to the plot twists, it all fell flat for me. I felt there was something missing wherever I looked. It is all a bit surface-level, more than the type of surface-level that you typically find in childhood literature.
A big meh that made me loose motivation to read.

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Reading this book is an experience in itself and the true definition of "it's all about the journey, not the destination". The whole point of this book is not only to let you know about this weird house on Ash Tree Lane, but also to make you question the story, the meaning, the hidden clues...
House of Leaves may not be for everyone or may not change the life of every reader that comes by it like some fans say it does, but no one can deny it is one of the most ambitious and carefully crafted work that exists in book form.

Une fantaisie du docteur Ox by Paul Verne, Jules Verne

funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

A nice and funny story. Delightful if you enjoy the writing style typical of that time and the absurd humor.

Dark Moon by David Gemmell

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Truly excellent.
The plot is a never ending string of turning points and reveals. Even the plot points you think are obvious all have their own twists.
The characters are all well-rounded and believable and endearing. I rooted for every single one of them.
For a story with so much uncensored violence, the message is surprisingly hopeful, touching and human.
Gemmell shows how good of a storyteller he is with this book and it convinced me to read more of his work.

Morningstar by David Gemmell

adventurous hopeful fast-paced

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

4.5

Excellent book.
A fast pace that will not allow you to put the book down once you've started it, a very welcome reflection on philosophical questions like Good and Bad and Kindness, a light and funny tone to contrast with the harsh life conditions in this universe...

Mostly faultless if some events weren't happening *too* fast and most importantly, if the characters weren't so surface level. Except for the 2-3 main characters, the others all have more or less the same personality and are more there to take up well-known roles (the first to die, the one that gets kidnapped, the one whose death impacts the hero...) than to be independent characters. A shame, because this would have easily been a 5-star if it weren't for that.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Murder, War

The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien

adventurous emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

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

4.75

The trilogy ends with a seriously good note thanks to a story packed with tense events and deep dives into the way of thinking and future of beloved characters.
Tolkien shows in this book all his talent in terms of lore and character building, in a stronger way thank in the 2 other books of the trilogy.
Still, I had a hard time concentrating on the book and finishing it, which is why this isn't a 5-star.

A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske

adventurous emotional mysterious 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? Yes

4.25

This book starts off really strongly thanks to an intrigue immediately tense and a charming romance between two loveable characters with a true alchemy. I genuinely was convinced this was going to be a 5-stars up until the 10th chapter.
However, as you read you realize that the plotline diminishes in terms of logic and quality to leave the room for the romance that unfortunately looses its salt once the characters kiss and thus stop chasing, challenging, playing with one another. The pace also sometimes slows almost to an halt and makes it hard to get back to the story onces it picks up again. 
For this reasons, I did not give a 5-stars although I found this a pleasing and entertaining read.