literaryintersections's reviews
292 reviews

Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews

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medium-paced

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

5.0

I love this series so much and the graphic audio books are just so good

The House at Watch Hill by Karen Marie Moning

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dark mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This is classic KMM for me - a first book where there is so many layers, so much build up, so much confusion. Things that won't pan out until book 3 are in here. Random interactions and interludes are going to be critical but now just add to the confusion. Y'all I am INTO IT. It is so fun to me to highlight things and think - will this come back into play later? It felt very Fever series KMM - young girl loses someone/something (in this it's her mom), travels to a new place to get answers, and is surrounded by mysterious people, hot men, and power.

I can't wait for Zo's power to be revealed.

And that ENDING OMG I SCREAMED. I can't wait for book 2!

Content Warnings

Lightning in Her Hands by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland

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emotional inspiring 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

5.0

Witch Of Wild Things was one of my favorite romances last year and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Teal’s book. Thank you @raquelvasquezgilliland_poet and @berkleyromance for my early copy - I hope you know how much I adore you.

Teal is a tough woman - in WOWT it’s kind of hard to like her. I love an “unlikeable heroine” though because many women deemed unlikeable just aren’t operating within the standards set by society and the patriarchy. Teal isn’t unlikeable to me at all. She’s broken - literally and magically. And this book heals her. Helps her recognize her strengths, the barriers she erected, and the deep sense of abandonment she feels after her mother left and took a piece of Teal with her.

This is a book is Teal healing her inner child. Healing her relationship with herself so she can build better relationships with others. And finding love in her childhood best friend who has loved her forever (Carter 🥹🥹🥹). This book is utterly beautiful. It’s magical and so deeply sad. The relationships that Sage, Teal, and Sky continue to build back conversation by conversation in this book is poignant - that just like plants, relationships need to be loved, cared for, valued. I also loved seeing Grandma Alma who is now my new favorite character because I love a sassy and grumpy grandma.

Raquel - I will read anything you write. Thank you for gifting us with this gorgeous story.

Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma

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dark mysterious 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

4.75

Wow. I absolutely loved this book. The beginning is slow but stick with it - it is dark and filled with trauma and grief and twists and turns. There is a lushness to Girma’s language - so much so that you might want to skim but don’t bedside every word is important.

Kidan is a wonderfully violent and truly messed up character and I loved her. The unlikely friendship with her, GK, Slen, and Yusef gave some levity while also bringing so much trauma.

And Susenyos??????? HOT AND MURDEROUS.

The ending? WOW. I’m just speechless. I loved it.

Content Warnings

Magic Breaks by Ilona Andrews

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Love this series so much

This Cursed House by Del Sandeen

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dark tense slow-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

4.0

This is a great fall October read. It’ll make you reflect on what it means
To have horrible family. The mystery as the center of the book is enthralling and I just wanted to know how it ended. Jemma was a complex and naive and interesting main character and I loved Magdalene.

I do think it gets quite wordy but I enjoyed it nonetheless

Content Warnings

Love and Other Conspiracies by Mallory Marlowe

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medium-paced

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

4.0

This was a solid debut from Mallory. Cryptids and conspiracies are so fun and having a romance book with a theorist and a nonbeliever was different than I’ve read before. Hallie and Hayden were adorable and sad and had legit trauma. I loved how they loved and supported each other. It’s an easy read.

Content Warnings