mad_bandersnatch's reviews
54 reviews

The Great Hunt by Robert Jordan

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.0

Had to see what the hype was all about. Solid fantasy world of fairies and other creatures of the fae courts.  So far liking the way the courts are set up, not to much has been explained about the magic system yet so we shall see on that part.
I had seen some people talk about how it is a retelling of beauty and the beast and must say I did find my self amussed if all the coralations. 
With out to many spoilers the wolfs in the forest/fae monsters, the library/art studio, the injured paw/hand, shapshifting beast mode, and other bits that become clearer towards the end of the book.
Main drawback for me was it seemed to be walking a fine line towards ABO fiction with all the talk of mating bonds and all the neck bitting which is no go for me. But seems to be handling it more in a soul-mate sort of way so will have to wait and see how that develops in further books.

Mortal Follies by Alexis Hall

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

4.5

Fantastic story of love, curses, spiteful gods, high society shinanagains and friendship.   The mix of both urban fantasy and period romance is a new one for me but was done quite well. Loved how both the wrath of a powerful fae or god was equally important to worry oneself over as to how a society scandal could ruin ones reputation/standing.  The story it's self being told from the pov of Puck gave it a particularly entertaining perspective.   
The main character Maelys could use a bit more character development out side of her growing gay panic and revelation but her supporting cast are delightful.  I particularly loved Lizzy and her preoccupation with the other worlds and their wonders.  
The narrator of the auto book was absolutely fantastic and I will be looking for other things she has done.

The Princess Bride by William Goldman

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.75

Love the style and humor of this book.  The authors notes and inserts are wonderful funny, sometimes cutting off the parts you realy want to get to but it is supposed to be all the good parts so we will trust his judgement ;).

Original only ever had seen the movie adaptation and absolutely love it.   The joy of realizing that most of the dialogue is taken straight from the book word for word 10/10.  

Only reason I'm giving this particular edition a 4.75 is the last bit that includes Buttercups Bady.  That last chaper is all over the place and leaves one with more questions then answers at the end.  If you like a more closed ending to your stories probably best to give it a skip, even if the original part of the book does end a bit more openly then to movie.

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Delightful dark and creepy "childrens tale" (probably don't read this to small children).  
Love how Gaiman writes other worldly entities that defy human explanation, that hunger for things of our world and can reach for us across the veils that separate us.  
In this book in particular, love the slow shift into the darker and creepier aspects of the story as we read along till we are at true nightmare fuel levels.
Those hairless jelly skinned dog bats, along with the cocoon might be burned into my imagination a bit.
Also highly recommend any auto book narrated by Gaiman himself. His voice is just so soothing, yet adds to the creepy factor somehow.

Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

A wonderful follow up to Insignificant events on the life of a cactus. Returning characters and new friends as we follow the main character in to high school.  
This one is a bit heavier on the teenage angst, but still full of fun moments.  Beware the last couple of chapters are emotional but all works out again in the end.

Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious sad slow-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

5.0

Not my usual read but this book was wonderfully wholesome and funny with a bit of an emotional sucker punch at the end that all works out for the best.  The narrator has a wonderful sence of humor and imagination that pulls you in. 

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

3.75

Realy liked the story, but I think the narrator of this particular edition of the autobook through me off a bit. He did a really good job of depicting the story as told by a 12 year old but the somewhat goofy voices he but on some of the characters realy broke the tention in places. Especially the whole bit in the underworld and talking to Hades. 

Other then that interested to see where the rest of this series goes and the authors twist on urdan fantasy and the gods.  I love that he addressed the problem of writing a world where the ancient stories are considered real yet the monsters who are supposed to be dead, are still running around for the antagonists to fight.  Not a super complex solution but was explained and addressed in story.

The characters and world are fun and on a whole a nice little young adult adventure. I'm told trama awaits in future books and I look forward to it ☺️.

Nimona by ND Stevenson

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-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

Dune by Frank Herbert

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Loved the world building and different schools of human computing in this world were thinking machines and computers are outlawed.  The different ways the Bene Gesserit, Mentat and Spacing Guilds approached this, and the different facets of humanity they focused on was fascinating.  

The political structure of the world is very intricate, but unfortunately tends to drag the story out with all the exposition.  The Harkonnen chapters are exceptionally bad at this, going around and around in detail about their schemes within schemes, fients with in fients.  It's all very evil villian 'look at me I'm so crafty and schemey!' But then are completely blindsided by the biggest threat to them that was obvious to literally everybody else.

Also wish the identity of the traitor was kept a secret rather than shown pretty much right out the gate.  Although it was fun and a good bit of suspense to watch all the characters get so close but get misdirected to someone else. 

On a whole love to world, character dynamics, and the lore created here.