mad_bandersnatch's reviews
55 reviews

Ahsoka by E.K. Johnston

adventurous dark emotional inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Loved this book. As I believe it came out before the release of season 7 of clone wars there is a few discrepancies between this and how things ended up being in the show. But only minor points that don't affect the over all flow between this book, clone wars and rebels.  
Loved how the author filled in the gap of when Ahsoka left the order and then found her way again as Fulcrum for the Rebellion.  The book beautifuly shows the struggles of surviving Jedi as they have to hide themselves but still want to help those in need, and the growing threat and cruelty of the Empire.

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

Wonderfully cozy story about found family and making a new life for one's self while struggling to move on from certain apects the past.  The characters are all interesting and loveable in their own ways and Thimble is the best little cinnamon roll to every cinnamon roll while making cinnamon rolls!! If you know what I mean 😉.   Love the ttrpg fantasy style setting and the world the author built.  Looking forward to the sequel.

Also do not read while hungry, characters reactions to certain pastries for the first time are very reliable in the best of ways.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

adventurous dark funny lighthearted slow-paced

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

4.0

Cute yet slightly spooky story of a young boy growing up in a graveyard between the world of the living and the dead.  The story is told in an episodic style. Each little adventure of Nobody Owens told almost like it's own short story following along the same timeline.  
Tales include ghosts, possible vampires, hellhounds, ghouls, ghosts, secret  murder societies, and other spooky critters.  As all ways Gaiman's little twists and personal takes on such creatures are interesting and his hidden worlds within our everyday world take to the supernatural is wonderful.
The broken up flow of the story into the shorter episodes as it where made it a little harder to get truely invested in the characters and the over all plot.  But as this is intended to be a book for younger audiences I can see this style being more suited to a story time style of reading.

The Shadow of Kyoshi by F.C. Yee

adventurous dark emotional 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

The Rise of Kyoshi by F.C. Yee

adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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

Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

Absolutely fantastic read.  Deals heavily with issues of death, mourning, suicide, murder and moving on so be warned if these things are triggering.  

Ultimately a tale of two oblivious idiots falling in love while dealing with death and all that comes with it, in this life and the next.  Had me both dying of laughter and on the edge of my seat with suspense.

If you like a good supernatural story with love, death and tea this is the book for you.

Castle in the Air by Diana Wynne Jones

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious slow-paced

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

3.5

Another whimsical fantasy journey much like the first of the series Howls Moving Castle.  Rather interesting idea for the story as a whole with kidnapped princess, djinn, genies, magicians, and flying carpets but it unfortunately drags a bit the middle.  The flowery greetings and flattery the main character insists on making every single time he speaks to a person gets old fast!

Would have liked to seen a bit more of the characters from the first book throughout this book, but when they do show up they are just as brilliant as before.

Altogether an ok read, good start, ok-ish middle, and rather fantastic ending.

Civil War by Dexter Vines, Steve McNiven, Mark Millar, Morry Hollowell

adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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

Star Wars: Princess Leia by Mark Waid

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced

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

5.0

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

adventurous funny lighthearted 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? Yes

5.0

Loved the book just as much as the movie. Only recently discovered that this was the source material for the film and was delighted by the things the movie held true too and to discover all the things that were left out.

The book is a delightful tale of a young woman discovering herself and her own powder in the end through a unfortunate curse that is placed upon her.  Her character delvopment through out the book is fantastic.  The shift from timid, exploited girl to old lady with zero shits to give is marvelous and quite hilarious at times.  

Love the magic system with the use of words of power and a person's intent upon the spell.  And how one can have power with out ever realizing it.

5/5 stars all round.  Calcifer as always is the star of the show and may all your bacon burn :).