linkalipski's reviews
288 reviews

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

When I started the book, I find it quite hard to understand who is who and what is going on during about a third of the book. Mostly that’s down to not enough physical descriptions and the use of several names for one character (eg, first name, last name and nickname). Therefore, it was a little difficult to get into it.

I was also not enthralled by the story because of the money as sole motivation at first. But once the heist got going, I found the story captivating and I liked their personal stories too. That took quite a long time so I’d say the book is a slow burner.

Every character is distinctively unique but that is not reflected in dialogue as they all speak similarly. Worse, despite being teenagers from the street, they somehow all know and use upper class vocabulary from the past centuries, which doesn’t match their characteristics. As teenagers from non-academic backgrounds, there is no reason for them to know so many posh words. Even I don’t know so many and I’m a thirty-something-year-old avid reader. That aspect is something that bothered me greatly and pulled me out of the story repeatedly. The posh adult talk would have made sense if the characters were in their late twenties or not from the streets.

Ending was a disappointment for me: it’s a cliff hanger but feels like it was stopped right in the middle rather than concluding this story and creating an open end to a sequel. Perhaps a better ending would have been to stop at penultimate chapter or add a small chapter with Kaz, who is reflecting on what is over (closure-satisfying ending) and what he is brewing (announcing sequel).

All in all, it was not necessarily a book for me but I did get attached to the character and I do want to know what happens to them next. So I had a good time once I was in it. It’d be a great show or movie too.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

This is an amazing story! Simple and easy to read yet reaches deep inside of you. I weeped a great deal, so much so that my sleeve was proper wet at the end of the book and my eyes tired from the experience.
And while this is a heart breaking story (I was warned as to it’s sadness) don’t be put off as it’s well worth a read! Especially for those people whose life is more challenging than that of others.

The teachings of the monster are brilliant and truly wise, exposing the nuance of fairness in life and the paradox of conflicting emotions and desires. The story doesn’t shy away from BIG emotions with problematic behaviours and tell them from the most human perspective.

Greatly recommend!

Content Warnings

Tasting Sunlight by Ewald Arenz

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dark mysterious sad slow-paced

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

3.0

This story is fine, simply not one for me. I did enjoy the simplicity of the farm’s life and the bond that develops between young Sally and old Liss.
However, the characters are not the kind of people I enjoy in real life either so I don’t find them relatable. They are both overly quiet, yet impulsive and angry.
I don’t know who would enjoy this story so can’t tell who it is for but it’s still a decent read!

Ten Days in a Mad-House by Nelly Bly

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adventurous challenging emotional informative fast-paced

5.0

It’s insane (pun intended) to see how easily woman could be considered « insane » and the abuse that went on there.
This woman is my new inspiration as she infiltrated an asylum so she could report on it.

Heartless by Marissa Meyer

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious 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

5.0

I loved this story as it was a smooth pleasant read! I love how it goes from hopeful and romantic to tragedy and heartless. I also really enjoyed how metaphors used bakery comparison as a reference to Catherine Pinkerton’s (who will become the queen of heart) passion for baking. All in all, a great story that would be amazing in a movie!

Hell.Com by Patrick Senécal

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced