leannj's reviews
2111 reviews

Just Like Magic by Sarah Hogle

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

5.0

This might sound cheesy, but Sarah Hogle just gets me when it comes to writing romances that I will enjoy. This was silly and goofy, even borderline chaotic, but at the same time it was heartwarming and heart-wrenching. Never thought I'd find my perfect holiday romance book in April, but I'm not complaining.

Portrait of a Thief by Grace D. Li
Did not finish book. Stopped at 61%.

Empress of All Seasons by Emiko Jean

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.25

 From the synopsis and the start of this book I thought this would fall in line with the more typical young adult fantasy books out there, but as the story progressed it reminded me more of dark fairy tales. Definitely subverted some of my expectations and overall was a enjoyable reading experience, if not super memorable. 

Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo

dark mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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

3.25

As I was reading I was enjoying the story, but after finishing I realized I was waiting for the plot to build into something without fully getting the payoff. It felt like I never really got to know the characters and their different relationships with each other as much as I would have liked to, across a longer period of time.

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective 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? Yes

4.25

I was so pleasantly surprised by this book. It took a setup that could have easily become very cliche and subverted expectations, instead telling a beautiful  story about fate, love, and sacrifice. All the characters had their compelling motivations, even the antagonistic ones, and the setting felt really vivid.

A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal

adventurous 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

4.5

I'm so glad to be reading a book by Hafsah Faizal again; this one might be my favorite so far. All the characters felt distinct, and I enjoyed all of their different dynamics with each other. I also really liked the word building, and how the fantasy and historical aspects felt seamless. Loved the twist on Arthurian mythology and I liked how the lore world from Faizal's previous books was integrated into this book in an authentic way, without feeling too much like fan service. The last fifty/sixty pages had my jaw on the floor, leaving me eagerly waiting for the next book.

Bird Summons by Leila Aboulela

informative mysterious reflective medium-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

3.0

At the end of the day, I like a lot of the ideas the author put forth while finding the execution of said ideas a bit lacking. Definitely still interested in checking out other books by this author.

Season of Love by Helena Greer
Did not finish book. Stopped at 39%.

The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang
Did not finish book. Stopped at 14%.

Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative reflective 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? Yes

4.5

I liked Warrior Girl Unearthed even more than Firekeeper's Daughter. While I enjoyed Boulley's debut, I had a couple of critiques about some of the technical aspects of the writing. With this book, it feels like the author was able to improve those aspects of her writing while still weaving the themes and message expertly into the story. Reading from Perry's perspective was a delight.