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loreandlullabies's reviews
67 reviews
Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Lagoon by Nnedi Okorafor
adventurous
challenging
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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? No
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Transphobia, Violence, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Cursing and Drug use
Wonderscape by Jennifer Bell
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Takakush: Genus Magica Book 1 by Raine Reiter
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
3.0
Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
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? No
3.0
I think this one is gonna stay with me for a little bit
Every Heart a Doorway is beautifully written, dark, a little gory and yet whimsical and had an underlining innocence to it for me.
I got so much more than I expected when I picked this book up! All I knew was that it was about a school for kids that had travelled to Alice in Wonderland-like worlds and come back to this one.
The representation in it was great and specific. And though it did use labels, it helped the reader understand ie the difference between asexual and aromantic. TW - does contain some transphobia.
I enjoyed the mystery aspect of the story and the band of misfits that naturally formed to help solve it. The characters were varying shades of grey but made perfect sense from their POV and the experiences they'd had.
Their love wanted to fix her and refused to see that she wasn't broken.
The reason this story will really stick with me though is the way the student's parents are. Regardless of whether they love their children or not, they are simply unable to accept, understand or love them as they are. Seeing this first hand struck a chord with me. As a parent it made me see how we can ostracise our children even through our best intentions.
Thoroughly enjoyed this though I do recommend going into this expecting a novella and not a novel as it could change how you feel about it
Every Heart a Doorway is beautifully written, dark, a little gory and yet whimsical and had an underlining innocence to it for me.
I got so much more than I expected when I picked this book up! All I knew was that it was about a school for kids that had travelled to Alice in Wonderland-like worlds and come back to this one.
The representation in it was great and specific. And though it did use labels, it helped the reader understand ie the difference between asexual and aromantic. TW - does contain some transphobia.
I enjoyed the mystery aspect of the story and the band of misfits that naturally formed to help solve it. The characters were varying shades of grey but made perfect sense from their POV and the experiences they'd had.
Their love wanted to fix her and refused to see that she wasn't broken.
The reason this story will really stick with me though is the way the student's parents are. Regardless of whether they love their children or not, they are simply unable to accept, understand or love them as they are. Seeing this first hand struck a chord with me. As a parent it made me see how we can ostracise our children even through our best intentions.
Thoroughly enjoyed this though I do recommend going into this expecting a novella and not a novel as it could change how you feel about it
Throwing Shade by Deborah Wilde
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I honestly love this new genre!!! This is my 3rd series of the Seasoned Paranormal Women genre and it GIVES ME LIFE...And hope 😬 I am steadily but surely approaching midlife (33) and reading MCs in their early 20s just doesn't do it for me like it used to. Reading about badass women who know, accept and love themselves, their cellulite, their muffin tops and their life choices, is just 💋🤌
'Throwing Shade' was slightly different than what I thought it would be. But it delivered what I was wanting. Fast action, sexual tension, wit, badassery and humour within the paranormal UF setting. Thoroughly enjoyed it and will be continuing this series for some good light hearted easy reading
I received a copy of this for review from the publisher via NetGalley (thank you so much!) All opinions are my own.
'Throwing Shade' was slightly different than what I thought it would be. But it delivered what I was wanting. Fast action, sexual tension, wit, badassery and humour within the paranormal UF setting. Thoroughly enjoyed it and will be continuing this series for some good light hearted easy reading
I received a copy of this for review from the publisher via NetGalley (thank you so much!) All opinions are my own.
The Power of Hades by Eliza Raine, Rose Wilson
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Of Wicked Blood by Olivia Wildenstein, Katie Hayoz
The world-building is beautiful. The old architecture, the never ending fog set the scene for old magic and lore nicely. I really enjoyed the way each POV from the MCs was different and fit with their personalities. It was believable and added to the continuity of the characters and their traits.
The characters themselves were realistic. Cadence was kind and mild but had a strong core and I love a nice girl that isn't afraid to swear but doesn't do so just for the sake of it. Slate was very much an anti hero in this story and to be honest, a bit of an arrogant prick and yet... You couldn't help cheering for him. He is so protective of his younger brother I couldn't help but see past his unlikeable traits and cheer him on. The good girl vs Bad boy/ enemies to lovers trope evident. There were a couple of moments that I was annoyed at Cadences jealousy but it didn't detract from the plot.
By far the best parts of the book were the Quatrefoil scenes. They were full of action and the pacing was perfect. I couldn't stop reading/ listening needing to know how it went down immediately. Everything from the writing to the short chapters and changes in POV fit well and had the pacing on point
The only thing I didn't really like was the ending. It was a bit anti-climatic for me. I was left with more questions than answers. I kept thinking I had missed something and had to go back. As this is a series I'm hoping it all is explained. I would've preferred a cliffhanger ending in this one which is something I haven't said EVER.
I really enjoyed this urban fantasy and have no idea where it is going next. I'm not dying to read the next one but I will be reading it. (view spoiler)
I received a copy of this for review from the publisher via NetGalley (thank you so much!) All opinions are my own
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This book confirmed my thoughts that old French men are skeezy and not to be trusted. Just kidding... kinda
Of Wicked Blood is the first in The Quatrefoil Series. We follow the dual POV of MCs Cadence, the well-mannered, well off, 17 year old daughter of a university head in Brume, France. And Slate, an orphaned, thief who has been summoned to the university with the promise of knowledge about his parents and his past, and a scholarship to the university. However, thieves gon' thieve, and Slate's latest acquisition finds him cursed and in a world of hurt that will kill him by the new moon if he can't find a way to assemble the quatrefoil.
I listened to the audio of this book and found it just as, if not more enjoyable than I would've had I read it.
The premise of this book is what drew me in as both authors are new to me. A cursed bloodstone ring that brings together an unlikely group of people (well just Slate really) to find artifacts to break the curse. YES!
Of Wicked Blood is the first in The Quatrefoil Series. We follow the dual POV of MCs Cadence, the well-mannered, well off, 17 year old daughter of a university head in Brume, France. And Slate, an orphaned, thief who has been summoned to the university with the promise of knowledge about his parents and his past, and a scholarship to the university. However, thieves gon' thieve, and Slate's latest acquisition finds him cursed and in a world of hurt that will kill him by the new moon if he can't find a way to assemble the quatrefoil.
I listened to the audio of this book and found it just as, if not more enjoyable than I would've had I read it.
The premise of this book is what drew me in as both authors are new to me. A cursed bloodstone ring that brings together an unlikely group of people (well just Slate really) to find artifacts to break the curse. YES!
The world-building is beautiful. The old architecture, the never ending fog set the scene for old magic and lore nicely. I really enjoyed the way each POV from the MCs was different and fit with their personalities. It was believable and added to the continuity of the characters and their traits.
The characters themselves were realistic. Cadence was kind and mild but had a strong core and I love a nice girl that isn't afraid to swear but doesn't do so just for the sake of it. Slate was very much an anti hero in this story and to be honest, a bit of an arrogant prick and yet... You couldn't help cheering for him. He is so protective of his younger brother I couldn't help but see past his unlikeable traits and cheer him on. The good girl vs Bad boy/ enemies to lovers trope evident. There were a couple of moments that I was annoyed at Cadences jealousy but it didn't detract from the plot.
By far the best parts of the book were the Quatrefoil scenes. They were full of action and the pacing was perfect. I couldn't stop reading/ listening needing to know how it went down immediately. Everything from the writing to the short chapters and changes in POV fit well and had the pacing on point
The only thing I didn't really like was the ending. It was a bit anti-climatic for me. I was left with more questions than answers. I kept thinking I had missed something and had to go back. As this is a series I'm hoping it all is explained. I would've preferred a cliffhanger ending in this one which is something I haven't said EVER.
I really enjoyed this urban fantasy and have no idea where it is going next. I'm not dying to read the next one but I will be reading it. (view spoiler)
I received a copy of this for review from the publisher via NetGalley (thank you so much!) All opinions are my own
Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
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
3.75
The Surface Breaks by Louise O'Neill
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75