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lucybbookstuff's reviews
366 reviews
adventurous
informative
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Still loving this series!
The pacing in this one was incredibly fast, without feeling rushed. I got through it so quickly because something was always happening and the intrigue was always high!
Still love the political maneuverings the most, as well as the history and folklore. It's SO well-researched, but never feels boring or bogged down with unnecessary information. The way she's chosen to impart this Irish history is so engaging and exciting, while still being very informative. If the same time period were presented to me in a nonfiction format, I'd probably be very reluctant. But these books make it fun.
The characters are very well-done and I enjoy following them (even if I loathe some of them, including one of our main characters π). I love getting to see them use their magic more, and how they cross paths and interact and figure each other out. However, this is definitely a more plot-forward book and the character work doesn't quite have that emotional oomph to make these 5 stars for me.
Still a huge fan, though, and I recommend highly and widely! So excited for book 3!
The pacing in this one was incredibly fast, without feeling rushed. I got through it so quickly because something was always happening and the intrigue was always high!
Still love the political maneuverings the most, as well as the history and folklore. It's SO well-researched, but never feels boring or bogged down with unnecessary information. The way she's chosen to impart this Irish history is so engaging and exciting, while still being very informative. If the same time period were presented to me in a nonfiction format, I'd probably be very reluctant. But these books make it fun.
The characters are very well-done and I enjoy following them (even if I loathe some of them, including one of our main characters π). I love getting to see them use their magic more, and how they cross paths and interact and figure each other out. However, this is definitely a more plot-forward book and the character work doesn't quite have that emotional oomph to make these 5 stars for me.
Still a huge fan, though, and I recommend highly and widely! So excited for book 3!
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Capote's prose is beautiful, and he weaved such an atmospheric and engrossing story about this real crime. Though it does make one wonder how much of it is just that - a story.
I do believe that most of the facts here are correct, and I'm even willing to believe that a lot of the dialogue is accurate enough. However, for at least some parts of the book, the writing was flowery enough and the narrative so fiction-esque, that I have to assume some of it is fabricated, or at the very least, embellished and possibly spliced. I did also read elsewhere that some of the quotes and scenes depicted in the book were indeed supposedly fabricated.
So, that is one reason I can't give this book 5 stars, even though I started out thinking I might. The other main reason is just that some parts of the book felt the opposite of flowery and embellished - taking on a more traditional nonfiction structure that I find a bit tedious to read. That's kind of inevitable in any informational nonfiction read, but alas, it still affects my experience. Especially when so much of the book is gripping, beautifully-written, and so easy to turn pages.
That said, on the whole, this really was a gripping and fascinating read. I wasn't sure how I'd do with it as both an older classic and a work of nonfiction. But like I said, I really liked Capote's writing. He got me emotionally invested very quickly by sharing all about the victims' final days, and what well-loved community members they were. And he kept me on the edge of my seat, unfolding all the information of just how improbable this crime was, and how morbidly, psychologically fascinating the perpetrators were.
I do wish a bit more time had been spent on the victims, but also I'm not sure he could have gotten more information without harrassing the bereaved.
Overall, a great read. Highly recommend to fans of true crime, narrative nonfiction, and/or classics.
I do believe that most of the facts here are correct, and I'm even willing to believe that a lot of the dialogue is accurate enough. However, for at least some parts of the book, the writing was flowery enough and the narrative so fiction-esque, that I have to assume some of it is fabricated, or at the very least, embellished and possibly spliced. I did also read elsewhere that some of the quotes and scenes depicted in the book were indeed supposedly fabricated.
So, that is one reason I can't give this book 5 stars, even though I started out thinking I might. The other main reason is just that some parts of the book felt the opposite of flowery and embellished - taking on a more traditional nonfiction structure that I find a bit tedious to read. That's kind of inevitable in any informational nonfiction read, but alas, it still affects my experience. Especially when so much of the book is gripping, beautifully-written, and so easy to turn pages.
That said, on the whole, this really was a gripping and fascinating read. I wasn't sure how I'd do with it as both an older classic and a work of nonfiction. But like I said, I really liked Capote's writing. He got me emotionally invested very quickly by sharing all about the victims' final days, and what well-loved community members they were. And he kept me on the edge of my seat, unfolding all the information of just how improbable this crime was, and how morbidly, psychologically fascinating the perpetrators were.
I do wish a bit more time had been spent on the victims, but also I'm not sure he could have gotten more information without harrassing the bereaved.
Overall, a great read. Highly recommend to fans of true crime, narrative nonfiction, and/or classics.
![Ruthless Fae (Part 1 of 1) [Dramatized Adaptation] by Susanne Valenti, Caroline Peckham](https://cdn.thestorygraph.com/h04mjikqi0w1u9v28t968y3jei9r)
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This series is so ridiculous. π It's so stupid and trashy. And it knows it is just ridiculous, stupid, and trashy. Therefore, I'm free to just have fun with it and not worry about any kind of critical analysis.
I'm a bit more invested than I was after book 1 and I'll definitely continue for the hell of it. But I still haven't found much to latch onto to give it more than 3 stars.
Even so, I'm thoroughly enjoying the ridiculousness for now. π And I hope for / look forward to the eventual emotional investment that my friends tell me is forthcoming.
I'm a bit more invested than I was after book 1 and I'll definitely continue for the hell of it. But I still haven't found much to latch onto to give it more than 3 stars.
Even so, I'm thoroughly enjoying the ridiculousness for now. π And I hope for / look forward to the eventual emotional investment that my friends tell me is forthcoming.
fast-paced
Really great installment in the Gael Song series! This definitely answers some questions from book 1 and has me very excited to pick up book 2. I freakin love RΓ³nnat.
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Woof.
So I went into this book as an intentional hate read. Which is not something I do often. I wanted to see for myself how the story would go AND, to be honest, I wanted to pick apart the bad writing and even worse editing. I'd had fun doing that with the first two books.
I had some positive expectations for both Powerless and Reckless. But those were both so disappointing that my expectations for this one were subterranean. So it could really only meet those, or pleasantly surprise me.
And well... honestly, some things semi-pleasantly surprised me, but for the most part... it met my ocean-floor expectations. π But along with that, it did give me AMPLE opportunities to tear the writing to shreds. As expected, the purple prose came back with a vengeance. The ham-fisted alliteration. The weird vocab choices and occasional made-up words and complete nonsense sentences. The cringey one-liners. There was MUCH to pick through.
But besides the line-level prose, the grander storytelling was also a mess. This book was SO LONG and for what??? There were numerous HUGE events that each were started and finished within like 5 pages. Always so anticlimactic, and then moved on from SO quickly. The rest of the insane page count was just repetitive romantic filler and very poor build-up to ridiculous twists.
I predicted the main huge twist VERY early, and it was such a wild theory that I was flabbergasted to find out I was right. There were some twists that actually threw me. Some I was entertained by, some confused by, and some infuriated by.
Compared to the last two books, I honestly was okay with the romance this time. Probably because she was done failing miserably at enemies-to-lovers (and thus Kai wasn't SO insufferable) and moved on to forbidden love, which she did a bit better with. Though eventually, I remembered that this relationship is built on literally nothing, which ruins it. π«
It's honestly such a shame, because there are elements of this story that I like, and there were some scenes in this that I kind of enjoyed. But it's just RUINED by the way she puts it all together. And the way her editors completely phone it in. Honestly, I feel like I paid closer attention to this book than anyone who was actually paid to. Simon and Schuster, I demand compensation!!!!
Kidding. Kind of. π
I'm not sure what else to say. I expected this to be garbage, and it was. Though I liked a couple things enough, and had enough fun ripping it to shreds that it gets 2.25 instead of something worse.
I think Lauren Roberts is still so young and does have potential to write a decent story that isn't borderline plagiarism and repetitive nonsense. If her editors can GET THEIR SHIT TOGETHER and actually help her grow. I cannot promise I'll read it if it happens, but I wish it for her. ππ» Good luck, girlie...
So I went into this book as an intentional hate read. Which is not something I do often. I wanted to see for myself how the story would go AND, to be honest, I wanted to pick apart the bad writing and even worse editing. I'd had fun doing that with the first two books.
I had some positive expectations for both Powerless and Reckless. But those were both so disappointing that my expectations for this one were subterranean. So it could really only meet those, or pleasantly surprise me.
And well... honestly, some things semi-pleasantly surprised me, but for the most part... it met my ocean-floor expectations. π But along with that, it did give me AMPLE opportunities to tear the writing to shreds. As expected, the purple prose came back with a vengeance. The ham-fisted alliteration. The weird vocab choices and occasional made-up words and complete nonsense sentences. The cringey one-liners. There was MUCH to pick through.
But besides the line-level prose, the grander storytelling was also a mess. This book was SO LONG and for what??? There were numerous HUGE events that each were started and finished within like 5 pages. Always so anticlimactic, and then moved on from SO quickly. The rest of the insane page count was just repetitive romantic filler and very poor build-up to ridiculous twists.
I predicted the main huge twist VERY early, and it was such a wild theory that I was flabbergasted to find out I was right. There were some twists that actually threw me. Some I was entertained by, some confused by, and some infuriated by.
Compared to the last two books, I honestly was okay with the romance this time. Probably because she was done failing miserably at enemies-to-lovers (and thus Kai wasn't SO insufferable) and moved on to forbidden love, which she did a bit better with. Though eventually, I remembered that this relationship is built on literally nothing, which ruins it. π«
It's honestly such a shame, because there are elements of this story that I like, and there were some scenes in this that I kind of enjoyed. But it's just RUINED by the way she puts it all together. And the way her editors completely phone it in. Honestly, I feel like I paid closer attention to this book than anyone who was actually paid to. Simon and Schuster, I demand compensation!!!!
Kidding. Kind of. π
I'm not sure what else to say. I expected this to be garbage, and it was. Though I liked a couple things enough, and had enough fun ripping it to shreds that it gets 2.25 instead of something worse.
I think Lauren Roberts is still so young and does have potential to write a decent story that isn't borderline plagiarism and repetitive nonsense. If her editors can GET THEIR SHIT TOGETHER and actually help her grow. I cannot promise I'll read it if it happens, but I wish it for her. ππ» Good luck, girlie...
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Oof. π It pains me to give this book a 3.5 when I gave the first two 4.5. It's possible I'm even being a bit generous.
This review is going to be mostly complaints, so I want to preface it by saying:
I love this series! I like the characters, I'm generally on board with the over-arching story, I think the magic is very cool and smart, and the social commentary is very necessary and well-done (especially for young readers). I still recommend it, and I'm very much looking forward to the conclusion.
This book, however... was a bit of a dud for me.
The first 30% or so I really enjoyed. I was hooked back in right away (despite reading book 2 a year ago). I am a huge fan of multi-POV, so that was very exciting, and I was really liking how it was being used. The plot started slowing down a bit after that, but I was still going with the flow.
And then... it started to get boring. Nothing was progressing on page, the multi-POV went out the window (at a time when it could have been used so well!!), the characters were stuck in the same place and having the same discussions ad nauseum, AND a lot of real estate was being used on a romance that honestly does absolutely nothing for me. (This series has a fun love triangle but only my least favorite side of it was featured in this book. π© This love interest is just too golden and perfect, and thus SO boring, and it sounds harsh, but I don't think I'd bat an eye if he died. π)
I was already finding all of that boring and pointless after just a few chapters, and THEN it was announced that they'd be stuck in that same location for THREE WHOLE DAYS!!! And for what??? It was so unnecessary and completely stopped any momentum the book previously had.
Unfortunately, once they got out of there, it remained painfully boring. I think a majority of the reason for me was the emphasis being on this romance that I just don't care about at all. But also, the abandonment of multi-POV and the general sidelining of some characters who I reeeaaaally wanted to see more of. Plus a few plot points and devices that were definitely underbaked.I think the memory loss device was not used to its full potential and felt mostly pointless. And the missing girls, who were meant to be this huge motivator for Bree, felt like a complete afterthought. The combination of all of that just made this a slog.
The ending was interesting. Like literally the last 4 chapters. I'm very intrigued for the finale. But I honestly don't think this series needed to be extended into 4 books. Even if it would have made the last book 800 pages or something, I would have preferred that to these hundreds of unnecessary pages. This was the longest book of the series yet, but it honestly could have been a novella. Or like, 400 pages AT MOST.
So yeah. A dud in the midst of a great series. I have full faith that the conclusion will be awesome.
Also, let it be known...I am Team Sel all the way and I'm still holding out hope for the endgame... But I would NOT say no to the throuple. π If Tracy and the publisher can be brave and make it happen. I just don't think they will.
This review is going to be mostly complaints, so I want to preface it by saying:
I love this series! I like the characters, I'm generally on board with the over-arching story, I think the magic is very cool and smart, and the social commentary is very necessary and well-done (especially for young readers). I still recommend it, and I'm very much looking forward to the conclusion.
This book, however... was a bit of a dud for me.
The first 30% or so I really enjoyed. I was hooked back in right away (despite reading book 2 a year ago). I am a huge fan of multi-POV, so that was very exciting, and I was really liking how it was being used. The plot started slowing down a bit after that, but I was still going with the flow.
And then... it started to get boring. Nothing was progressing on page, the multi-POV went out the window (at a time when it could have been used so well!!), the characters were stuck in the same place and having the same discussions ad nauseum, AND a lot of real estate was being used on a romance that honestly does absolutely nothing for me. (This series has a fun love triangle but only my least favorite side of it was featured in this book. π© This love interest is just too golden and perfect, and thus SO boring, and it sounds harsh, but I don't think I'd bat an eye if he died. π)
I was already finding all of that boring and pointless after just a few chapters, and THEN it was announced that they'd be stuck in that same location for THREE WHOLE DAYS!!! And for what??? It was so unnecessary and completely stopped any momentum the book previously had.
Unfortunately, once they got out of there, it remained painfully boring. I think a majority of the reason for me was the emphasis being on this romance that I just don't care about at all. But also, the abandonment of multi-POV and the general sidelining of some characters who I reeeaaaally wanted to see more of. Plus a few plot points and devices that were definitely underbaked.
The ending was interesting. Like literally the last 4 chapters. I'm very intrigued for the finale. But I honestly don't think this series needed to be extended into 4 books. Even if it would have made the last book 800 pages or something, I would have preferred that to these hundreds of unnecessary pages. This was the longest book of the series yet, but it honestly could have been a novella. Or like, 400 pages AT MOST.
So yeah. A dud in the midst of a great series. I have full faith that the conclusion will be awesome.
Also, let it be known...
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm wrecked. I loved it. It was exactly what I expected and wanted it to be. And more, honestly. (Very vague spoilers ahead.)
I was expecting a Haymitch prequel, going into detail with his backstory. I was not expecting just how different his story was compared to what we think we know from the trilogy. Suzanne Collins really went hard with the propaganda theme.
Both prequels I think lean way more heavy-handed (to the point of maybe being slightly contrived) with their specific commentary than the trilogy. That may be part of why I can't bring myself to give either of them 5 stars. But even so, I don't mind the heavy-handedness nearly as much as I usually do. For a combination of reasons, I imagine: I already know and love the world and I want to know all the lore, plus Suzanne is just so good at exploring her themes. I can't possibly mind very much how she goes about conveying them.
All that to say. It really is amazing how thoroughly the propaganda machine wiped out Haymitch's true story. So much so that Katniss and us readers are completely clueless. We're all ready to believe Haymitch was just that cocky jackass, and he was punished just for using the forcefield.
Then, based on the Haymitch we know by the end of the trilogy, it's also very easy to believe that he was this loving, protective boy with so much to lose.
The easter eggs got slightly gratuitous and erred on the side of fanservice... but do I care? Nope. I ate them all up, and, for the most part, they made sense.
I'm not entirely sure where I'm going with this. I just loved getting to know Haymitch better, and learning the truth. And getting another brilliant and VERY timely bit of theme exploration from Suzanne Collins.
I was expecting a Haymitch prequel, going into detail with his backstory. I was not expecting just how different his story was compared to what we think we know from the trilogy. Suzanne Collins really went hard with the propaganda theme.
Both prequels I think lean way more heavy-handed (to the point of maybe being slightly contrived) with their specific commentary than the trilogy. That may be part of why I can't bring myself to give either of them 5 stars. But even so, I don't mind the heavy-handedness nearly as much as I usually do. For a combination of reasons, I imagine: I already know and love the world and I want to know all the lore, plus Suzanne is just so good at exploring her themes. I can't possibly mind very much how she goes about conveying them.
All that to say. It really is amazing how thoroughly the propaganda machine wiped out Haymitch's true story. So much so that Katniss and us readers are completely clueless. We're all ready to believe Haymitch was just that cocky jackass, and he was punished just for using the forcefield.
Then, based on the Haymitch we know by the end of the trilogy, it's also very easy to believe that he was this loving, protective boy with so much to lose.
The easter eggs got slightly gratuitous and erred on the side of fanservice... but do I care? Nope. I ate them all up, and, for the most part, they made sense.
I'm not entirely sure where I'm going with this. I just loved getting to know Haymitch better, and learning the truth. And getting another brilliant and VERY timely bit of theme exploration from Suzanne Collins.
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
A comprehensive and engaging work of narrative nonfiction. I learned A LOT. I hadn't known much about the Troubles at all, and now I feel very informed. I never fully realized or appreciated just how violent it all was, and how long it went on for. And how contentious the IRA was and still is. I'm generally on the side of struggles against colonialism, but the IRA seemingly did a lot of things against their own people's self-interest.
The book did feel a little dense at times, but that's entirely user error. I love me some investigative reporting, but my eyes don't love the long paragraphs with very little dialogue.
I do wish this book weren't marketed so much as true crime. I'm glad I got the sense that it's more general investigative reporting, and mentally prepared myself for that. I'd say the contents of the book are around 20% about the specific murder and 80% history & background of the Troubles. I understand the use of this murder to provide focus for the information in the book. It was done well and it does all tie together. I just want people to know going in that this isn't so much a book about one crime as it is about the IRA.
The book did feel a little dense at times, but that's entirely user error. I love me some investigative reporting, but my eyes don't love the long paragraphs with very little dialogue.
I do wish this book weren't marketed so much as true crime. I'm glad I got the sense that it's more general investigative reporting, and mentally prepared myself for that. I'd say the contents of the book are around 20% about the specific murder and 80% history & background of the Troubles. I understand the use of this murder to provide focus for the information in the book. It was done well and it does all tie together. I just want people to know going in that this isn't so much a book about one crime as it is about the IRA.
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
This was fun! Thank you to Tiffany McDaniel for sending me a signed copy for Middle Grade March 2025! :)
I really wish I knew a kid of the right age to read this with, because just reading it as an adult, it wasn't really for me. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I could have seen a kid having fun with it!
But that said, I can still see why this would be fun for kids! I think this would be great for kids from 6-12 or so. Either reading on their own or being read to. Some of the things that bothered me as an adult are things I'm sure most kids would enjoy or not notice.
I got overwhelmed very quickly by the amount of magical creatures and objects and descriptions being introduced. Whereas kids would probably have a blast with all of that (and rightly forget most of it by the next page - as an adult reader I'm too used to little details being significant π).
I found the pacing pretty slow and that it didn't need so many pages to work up to the action. But kids would probably enjoy being immersed in the world, and find some of the smaller plot points more shocking and interesting.
One thing I did really enjoy about this as an adult was recognizing McDaniel's writing style and values within it! I read her adult novel Betty (based on her mother's childhood) in January and LOVED it. I definitely noticed in Wand Keepers McDaniel's talent for creating a lush atmosphere. And even moreso, the respect for the earth and all its creatures that she was raised with and taught her readers about in Betty. Loved that that was a central theme in this book, too! Also enjoyed the found family and self-acceptance themes. :)
In summary: this didn't quite work for me as an adult reader, but it is a great middle grade book and I think its target audience will eat it up!!
I really wish I knew a kid of the right age to read this with, because just reading it as an adult, it wasn't really for me. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I could have seen a kid having fun with it!
But that said, I can still see why this would be fun for kids! I think this would be great for kids from 6-12 or so. Either reading on their own or being read to. Some of the things that bothered me as an adult are things I'm sure most kids would enjoy or not notice.
I got overwhelmed very quickly by the amount of magical creatures and objects and descriptions being introduced. Whereas kids would probably have a blast with all of that (and rightly forget most of it by the next page - as an adult reader I'm too used to little details being significant π).
I found the pacing pretty slow and that it didn't need so many pages to work up to the action. But kids would probably enjoy being immersed in the world, and find some of the smaller plot points more shocking and interesting.
One thing I did really enjoy about this as an adult was recognizing McDaniel's writing style and values within it! I read her adult novel Betty (based on her mother's childhood) in January and LOVED it. I definitely noticed in Wand Keepers McDaniel's talent for creating a lush atmosphere. And even moreso, the respect for the earth and all its creatures that she was raised with and taught her readers about in Betty. Loved that that was a central theme in this book, too! Also enjoyed the found family and self-acceptance themes. :)
In summary: this didn't quite work for me as an adult reader, but it is a great middle grade book and I think its target audience will eat it up!!
I just can't π
There's something about the writing that is making this such a chore and keeping me from caring about literally anything. I was very into the first couple chapters, but have been dragging myself through each one since. Got through 8 and decided I'd had enough.
I was really hoping to enjoy this and just have fun with the promised enemies-to-lovers plot. But now that the love interest has been introduced and their hatred established, I just couldn't care less.
The whole thing feels so flimsy to me, and just too cliche and familiar. The worldbuilding and exposition has been clunky, and she spent way too long building up to the first big moment, without using any of that time to actually tell me anything. Just keeping it all intentionally vague, which I hate.
I MIGHT try again another time, but other books are calling to me too loudly right now, and I just can't drag myself far enough to find out if this gets better.
There's something about the writing that is making this such a chore and keeping me from caring about literally anything. I was very into the first couple chapters, but have been dragging myself through each one since. Got through 8 and decided I'd had enough.
I was really hoping to enjoy this and just have fun with the promised enemies-to-lovers plot. But now that the love interest has been introduced and their hatred established, I just couldn't care less.
The whole thing feels so flimsy to me, and just too cliche and familiar. The worldbuilding and exposition has been clunky, and she spent way too long building up to the first big moment, without using any of that time to actually tell me anything. Just keeping it all intentionally vague, which I hate.
I MIGHT try again another time, but other books are calling to me too loudly right now, and I just can't drag myself far enough to find out if this gets better.