lilith_bookshelf's reviews
146 reviews

Deathmaker by Lindsay Buroker

lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.0

Second book in the trilogy, enjoyable despite pacing issues. This one follows Cas Ahn, a pilot from Zirkander's Wolf Squadron captured by the enemy and rescued by the pirate Deathmaker against all odds. What could possibly go wrong? The chemistry wasn't as strong as with the couple from the first book, but I still found the story engaging.

Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell

dark emotional lighthearted reflective tense fast-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? N/A

4.5

What a captivating thriller. It's quite different from what I'm used to because we know from the start that Ellie is gone and probably deceased. The story unfolds by switching between different characters' perspectives and alternating between past and present, which was truly engaging. I really enjoyed this book. The shifts in point of view were well done, making it easy to feel the change in perspective and believe we had transitioned from one character's viewpoint to another. However, there were a few things that didn't quite add up by the end of the book, particularly certain characters' choices that seemed inconsistent based on what we knew about them. For this reason, I wouldn't rate it 5 stars, but I'd still give it a 4.5 because it's so gripping that it pulled me out of a reading slump. I would definitely recommend it.

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I absolutely love this book and I give it 5 stars without any reservations. I have been a fan of the movie Coraline since I was a child and I finally got around to reading the book that inspired it. Gaiman's ability to immerse readers in the story and create a chilling atmosphere is truly remarkable. The character of the Other Mother gives me goosebumps.

Kowloon Bay by Ty Hutchinson

mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Pretty much the same. Abby is suddenly involved in a non-official investigation that has to do with his late husband's murder and she will need to learn how to delegate when the case is no longer hers. Fair read, not good but not bad either. 

Coit Tower by Ty Hutchinson

mysterious fast-paced

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

3.0

I was quite disappointed with the ending of the Chasing Chinatown trilogy. The villain's role didn't seem well-developed, and many things didn't make sense. The resolution felt too convenient and relied heavily on luck. Additionally, one of the teams we followed throughout the story didn't ultimately contribute much, which felt like a wasted opportunity. Furthermore, the titles' significance is important in previous books, and here the Coit Tower was barely mentioned. Overall, the book seemed rushed and lacked strong ties to the rest of the trilogy.

Lumpini Park by Ty Hutchinson

mysterious fast-paced

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

3.0

I've been really enjoying this book series. I bought a bundle of 6 books on Kindle and I'm reading them one after the other. The writing style isn't the best, but the mysteries are intriguing. Right now, I'm reading Chasing Chinatown Part 2, where Abby and her partner have to travel to defeat a game developer who has created a game where people can sign up with "teams" to kill others for money. They have to take pictures of the crime and upload them to the game, and the most creative team wins an absurd amount. The story is not the best, but it's really engaging and well-executed.

Russian Hill by Ty Hutchinson

mysterious fast-paced

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

3.0

I preferred this book more. The points of view still lack a bit of personality, but the story is getting better. I still don't like how the "feminine urges" are portrayed, but the author being a man makes it understandable. The Chasing Chinatown trilogy is also well executed, and I enjoyed the cat-and-mouse chase between Abby and the killer.

El nombre de la rosa by Umberto Eco

informative slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

 Si bien la trama de "El nombre de la rosa" resulta intrigante y el final bien elaborado, la lectura en sí me resultó tediosa. La densidad del texto, sumado a las frases en latín sin traducción inmediata (obligándome a consultar el apéndice constantemente) dificultaron la fluidez de la lectura.

Además, considero que se incluyeron detalles innecesarios que alargaban la historia sin aportar valor. Hubo capítulos enteros donde la trama avanzaba muy poco, lo que me generaba frustración como lectora.

Sin embargo, debo destacar algunos aspectos positivos. La discusión sobre la posesión de bienes materiales por parte de Jesús, entre los frailes que apoyaban a Juan y los defensores del emperador, me pareció muy interesante.

También disfruté de la relación entre Guillermo y Adso, y del misterio en sí, que estaba muy bien diseñado. El desenlace es coherente y me pareció una resolución justa para los seis asesinatos, motivados por el deseo de un monje de ocultar que

la abadía poseía la única copia de un libro de Aristóteles que probaba que Jesús había reído. 

 

El título del libro cobra sentido con el último texto en latín, lo que me pareció un detalle ingenioso.

En definitiva, "El nombre de la rosa" no se encuentra entre mis lecturas favoritas, ya que su ritmo lento y la abundancia de detalles hicieron que me costara casi un mes terminarla. No obstante, reconozco la calidad de la trama y el ingenio del autor. 

Tenderloin by Ty Hutchinson

dark funny mysterious fast-paced

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

3.0

I didn't notice any improvements in the issues with the first book. If you want to see the details, you can find my review of the first book on my profile or check the actual book. The problems include typos, writing style, issues with points of view, and the fact that the female character is written from a man's perspective. However, this book is still decent. The mystery is engaging once again. I didn't anticipate the final twist, even though it was subtly hinted throughout the book (maybe I'm not that perceptive), and I liked how everything unfolded. It's still a fast-paced, decent read that's worth a try, but I would recommend reading the first book beforehand. I would rate it as a fair 3 stars.

Corktown by Ty Hutchinson

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.0

Wow... I am at a loss for words to describe how much I enjoyed this book when I didn't expect to. I've given it 5 stars, but I did notice some typos and the writing style isn't my favorite. The issue I had with the writing style is that the point of view (POV) didn't always fit the character. Some chapters were in Abby's POV and others were in third person or from the perspective of secondary characters. I didn't realize the change in narrator until I saw "her" or "she" and then I realized we weren't in Abby's POV anymore. I also noticed that this is clearly a female character written by a male author, which personally doesn't bother me much, but it might bother others, so I thought it's worth mentioning. Overall, the plot is engaging, the mystery is well done, and the pace is fast. It was a decent read.