liab's reviews
81 reviews

Encyclopedia of Crystals, Revised and Expanded by Judy Hall

Go to review page

informative slow-paced

5.0

Good to keep for the crystal collection
The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I’m glad to continue this book but now I’m left with the worry that there story is done. I am super glad that the protagonist also chooses one of the love interests, love triangles can be so boring. This book is full of more danger and near death experiences, all for the sake of the answers. I wouldn’t mind giving a shot to the 3rd book coming out but I am not sure if Avery has anything else in their story.
The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Go to review page

adventurous mysterious tense 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

5.0

I enjoy how easy it is to read, the only thing that tends to get me is ages sometimes. The house is one of my favorite things and the puzzles, although sometimes I had moments to myself thinking “the obvious option is to do x y and z” but it’s just me thinking ahead. All the boys have such a complicated history and it’s interesting as a reader to be in the same foot as the protagonist. Xander is my personal favorite honestly. Going to the ending it is cemented how nerve racking and full of adrenaline you can have while reading, definitely continuing.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
S by Doug Dorst, J.J. Abrams

Go to review page

adventurous mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

So interesting, Straka writes so symbolic and strange. Plus I had to find myself start writing notes specifically on the two readers, it’s a bit hard to keep track if you are slowly reading like me. What I really like is that with the unorthodox situation that the characters are in it becomes a slow burn romance plus that the story Straka tells is paralleled. I find it fun to have cards, letters, pictures and more through the pages of the book, sometimes it made me think of the possibility that the reader might be important? But it’s just a fun thought.
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Go to review page

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

4.0

I personally thought that the title was meant to be symbolic but having the book starting from the perspective of the artist is so interesting. Harry is sexist and annoying specially since he always wants to talk about how someone should live. The painter is acting very… how you say it… flamboyant! Haha. But I find the concept interesting and specially since the element of the picture. There is a paragraph that is giving very colonizer specially when describing tribes, their own items and instruments, as well as the people. Yet there’s a twist in this book that just changes things.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Go to review page

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

5.0

It’s almost poetic how this book is written. I agree with the majority that Frankenstein is hugely misrepresented by media. Once things started to more along I simply think that Victor deserves all the agony feelings he is going through. Shelley has a great way to show how imperfect beings can bring sympathy
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Go to review page

emotional 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

5.0

I like the articles in the book, ironically makes it more interesting and dynamic. Heavily reminds me of Gossip girl but without a lot of the mystery. Monique is so relatable that it makes me laugh. Once the story starts rolling I’m sure no one would want to stop reading. I couldn’t help but cry this book has some twists.

Last thing

GAY GAY GAY
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
House of Gucci: A True Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed by Sara Gay Forden

Go to review page

informative medium-paced

3.0

I love love love the beginning of this book and the family tree is just helpful. One of the biggest questions I always had on fashion brands is on why they are so popular in the first place and personally was able to understand it since the author included cultural context and how the company started. The book is able to show more on the people and their personality and how it has transformed over time. I think some chapters should have been cut down a bit like chapters 10 and 11, talking about employees is fine but giving life stories can be so excessive specially when they aren’t the focus at all. I understand the liking to making all characters personal but is like either delaying or deliberately distracting the reader, like once I got to the crime I wanted to have the attention on it instead of knowing the live stories of the detective or anyone else tied unless it gave context. It comes without saying that it is better get the book if you want more of a complete story. I personally don’t like the choice of paper it was used for the book, you have to be very delicate.

I can’t help it but to think of the movie, it is not a bad movie but the book gives so much more that having a movie to only focus on one part of this big family, company and culture is like a step down. It should probably be a series, maybe a documentary series.
Fabled Lands: Cities of Gold and Glory by Russ Nicholson, Jamie Thomson, Dave Morris

Go to review page

adventurous lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Even so the adventure is not really over, I need the other books to keep going. I like the world and the simple system, only thing to point out is that it can be repetitive and it is sometimes hard to know where the next item is.
No Humans Allowed! by Madeleine Roux

Go to review page

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

5.0

When I read the description I thought that it was a human intentionally going out of her way to attend the academy, that’s not what’s happening. The kid is attending because they were adopted by Minotaurs and one of the mothers is a teacher. This is a cute book with a simple goal and it is nice to read when you don’t want a heavy book with a lot of lore. I have wondered the age of the characters but it seems to be teenage years, the art kinda makes the protagonist looks like a middle schooler a bit but I won’t complain. It’s so good and natural how the team got together. I think it is a good book to give for those that want lighthearted stories specially if they like dnd or even to younger kids.