Scan barcode
lightsnack's reviews
62 reviews
Spell Bound by F.T. Lukens
4.0
What I enjoy about all of Lukens' books, this one included, is how seamlessly they bring you into their fantasy worlds. Sci-Fi and fantasy are genres I really enjoy, but like a lot of people I often struggle to get started do to the sometimes overwhelming world-building and info-dumping needed to set the stage. Lukens never has that problem, throwing you straight into the story and giving you pieces of information as you need them. This makes you easily able to delve into the story without having to worry about keeping up.
This story is very warm and cotton-candy sweet. The stakes don't feel high, and I would never say I was at the edge of my seat or unable to put the book down. But, that can be a very good thing. Sometimes you want to relax and just be happily entertained by an easy, happy story, and that's what this is.
The four main characters are all lovely and engaging. You are rooting for Rook and Sun from the start, and instantly like both of them. The main conflict doesn't start until you are halfway through the book, so this isn't the book to read when you are wanting a heavily plot driven page turner. But this is the book to curl up with on a rainy day to make you feel warm and happy and peaceful.
This story is very warm and cotton-candy sweet. The stakes don't feel high, and I would never say I was at the edge of my seat or unable to put the book down. But, that can be a very good thing. Sometimes you want to relax and just be happily entertained by an easy, happy story, and that's what this is.
The four main characters are all lovely and engaging. You are rooting for Rook and Sun from the start, and instantly like both of them. The main conflict doesn't start until you are halfway through the book, so this isn't the book to read when you are wanting a heavily plot driven page turner. But this is the book to curl up with on a rainy day to make you feel warm and happy and peaceful.
Teach the Torches to Burn: A Romeo & Juliet Remix by Caleb Roehrig
4.0
Very lovely retelling that changed the plot enough to keep you on the edge of your seat until the end. The romance was sweet and compelling, and the characters you know from the classic Romeo and Juliet are compelling in their changes. I finished this all in one sitting, unable to put it down.
The only thing that disappointed me was the somewhat abrupt ending, but isn’t that sometimes the sign of a really enjoyable story? Being upset that it doesn’t just keep going?
I’m sad this will take so long to properly be released, because I already know I will be telling everyone I know go read it.
The only thing that disappointed me was the somewhat abrupt ending, but isn’t that sometimes the sign of a really enjoyable story? Being upset that it doesn’t just keep going?
I’m sad this will take so long to properly be released, because I already know I will be telling everyone I know go read it.
In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune
4.0
This book was so wildly imaginative, as expected from TJ Klune. It was moving and heart wrenching and bittersweet, completely compelling from start to finish. I didn’t know that it was a sort of retelling going in, but all of the references were handled well and were very enjoyable, and the story wasn’t so close to any other it paid homage to to make it tedious or predictable. Completely lovely, I can’t wait for this to officially release so I can read it again.
Northranger by Rey Terciero
3.0
I'm a huge horror fan and a gay person from a more rural area, so I was very excited for this graphic novel! It was definitely enjoyable, though several points got a little repetitive and the ending explanations felt a little rushed. The rest of the story though was simultaneously very sweet and suspenseful, a really fun combination.
Cutting Your Teeth by Caylan MacRae
2.0
Though the book is now officially out, I was lucky enough to receive an ARC copy. Therefore, some of my thoughts and feedback may be no longer relevant.
That said:
This book had a very good premise, but it was not well executed. The book is non-stop action, which is great because you don't want to have a lull in the story...but nothing was given a chance to breathe. As a result, none of should have been huge emotional payoffs felt earned. The main character laments that he doesn't know when he was last cared for or feels like he can't have love, etc....but he was broken up with less than a week prior to the start of the book and has a guy calling him "my love" two days after they officially meet. Towards the end of the book the love interest says he had "long abandoned" a plan...but that plan had been abandoned less that a week before he said that. The characters weren't given time to have character growth, and there was so much happening that things were being solved too quickly and too easily. Need a quick escape? No worries, theres inexplicably two horses tied right outside. It's sad because the world building is there, the concept was there, but this almost felt like it needed to be split into two books and then had the emotions and personal relationships grow more.
The Goodreads profile for this author says that this is their first book, and I sincerely hope they continue writing. I feel that they have some wonderful ideas, and I would love to read future books from them, I just hope they can delve a little more into the much needed emotional resonance of story telling.
That said:
This book had a very good premise, but it was not well executed. The book is non-stop action, which is great because you don't want to have a lull in the story...but nothing was given a chance to breathe. As a result, none of should have been huge emotional payoffs felt earned. The main character laments that he doesn't know when he was last cared for or feels like he can't have love, etc....but he was broken up with less than a week prior to the start of the book and has a guy calling him "my love" two days after they officially meet. Towards the end of the book the love interest says he had "long abandoned" a plan...but that plan had been abandoned less that a week before he said that. The characters weren't given time to have character growth, and there was so much happening that things were being solved too quickly and too easily. Need a quick escape? No worries, theres inexplicably two horses tied right outside. It's sad because the world building is there, the concept was there, but this almost felt like it needed to be split into two books and then had the emotions and personal relationships grow more.
The Goodreads profile for this author says that this is their first book, and I sincerely hope they continue writing. I feel that they have some wonderful ideas, and I would love to read future books from them, I just hope they can delve a little more into the much needed emotional resonance of story telling.
Junior High by Tegan Quin, Sara Quin
4.0
I didn’t know much about this graphic novel going in, but I knew it was geared towards kids and I loved Texan & Sara’s memoir “High School”, so I was excited for it. This is largely their memoir, but adjusted for a contemporary setting and for kids. As such, I didn’t connect with it nearly as much….but as I am 33 I am hardly their target audience. I’m sure that kids will find it as heartwarming and relatable as I found their autobiography, though. And it is certainly a more age appropriate choice for their younger fans, or younger members of the LGBT community looking for a cute and fun graphic novel they can relate to in general.
The Alchemy of Moonlight by David Ferraro
4.0
This book was WONDERFUL, and will be loved by fans of classic horror. There are several references to horror classics, the mood is well established, and there was several times I was at the edge of my seat for the story's hero and his companions. I'm a sucker for a main character who is a self professed romantic, so Emile endeared himself to me immediately. Even though I saw the ending coming, it was still lovely and the journey made the expectation a good thing instead of a let down.
Beautiful writing, wonderful sense of place, fun characters....I would strongly recommend this book to any fans of classic horror.
Beautiful writing, wonderful sense of place, fun characters....I would strongly recommend this book to any fans of classic horror.
Something Spectacular by Alexis Hall
4.0
This book is very much for a niche taste, but if you loved Something Fabulous you will certainly love this one too. You have many cameos and longer reappearances of your favorite characters, and the very silly over-the-topness is back in full force. If you loved SF, read this for sure.
Darkhearts by James L. Sutter
4.0
I really didn’t like the main character at first, which made it hard to get started…but once I was a few chapters in the story was GREAT. Grief, jealousy, friendship, missed chances…this book covers a lot. Even though the main character continues to be kind of a bad person, you still root for him and Chance, hoping for him to turn himself around and earn his happily ever after. I love a flawed protagonist, and this book delivers
The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by KJ Charles
4.0
This book was so amazing! There was so much action that I was biting my nails until the very last page, but so much swoony romance that kept it balanced. The many antagonists were properly threatening, and the many allies were each uniquely lovely. And there’s beetle hunting!
I cannot WAIT for the sequel, which deals with one of the amazing side characters, since this is a book with many amazing side characters you want to see again.
I cannot WAIT for the sequel, which deals with one of the amazing side characters, since this is a book with many amazing side characters you want to see again.