maartabarrales's reviews
392 reviews

Chain of Thorns by Cassandra Clare

adventurous emotional reflective slow-paced

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

2.75

A disappointment.

A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G. Summers

dark funny reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson

adventurous emotional mysterious slow-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? No

4.0

The Divines by Ellie Eaton

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

2.75

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

5.0

Alone with You in the Ether by Olivie Blake

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.75

Comemadre by Roque Larraquy

dark tense fast-paced

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

2.75

There is a scene, almost at the beginning of this book, where one character tells a morbid little story that leaves the rest of the cast wondering at it. The narrator eventually expresses that in his opinion the sharing of the story has no other purpose than its own morbidity. I feel the same way about this entire book.

It is purposefully gross and at times unhinged, yet never clever enough to be funny, or vile enough to be entertaining. It failed to capture my attention and left, at the most, only a faint distaste in my mouth. 

The Rachel Incident by Caroline O'Donoghue

emotional funny reflective 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? Yes

4.75

New favorite.

A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes

adventurous emotional reflective sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

Incredible.

The Guest by Emma Cline

sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75