madgec's reviews
33 reviews

I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara

dark mysterious sad medium-paced

4.0

Michelle's writing is incredible and it's so sad she didn't get to finish the book. As other reviewers have stated it's disjointed and seems out of order in parts which makes it a bit hard to follow. Michelle's afterword though was so beautiful, especially knowing that the scumbag has been caught. 

Emperor Mage by Tamora Pierce

adventurous funny hopeful 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

4.5

I don't know how I missed this series as a teen. A magical girl

bringing dinosaurs back to life to trash a castle

is badass. 

A few things didn't age super well but what do you expect? 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery

The Encounter by Michael Grant, K.A. Applegate

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Just a beautiful hit of nostalgia. Really well adapted for the medium. Love the very subtle emphasis on the trans parallels with Tobias too! 

A City on Mars: Can We Settle Space, Should We Settle Space, and Have We Really Thought This Through? by Zach Weinersmith, Kelly Weinersmith

funny informative inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

4.25

Off to a strong start but I found the stuff about laws and wars really dragged. Very funny book though. Really appreciated the perspective. 

Floriography: An Illustrated Guide to the Victorian Language of Flowers by Jessica Roux

informative lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

5.0

It does great at being a reference book. Beautiful pictures and creative bouquets at the end. Some historical context to the flower's meaning and place in history without getting bogged down in too many details (ie no growing guides or anything like that). 

It feels weird to give it 5 stars when it's usually what I'd rate a novel that was a page turner, but I really can't think of how to improve it short of adding more flowers to it. The index by meaning in particular is a highlight! 

Wolf-Speaker by Tamora Pierce

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing 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

4.0

Such a cute book. Really loved all the wholesome interactions with the animals. The human centric plot was comparitively bland, some of the antagonists felt a bit cartoonish. But I guess it is middle grade fantasy! 

Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce

adventurous 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

3.75

It had a really good back half but it took me a while to get on board with Daine as a character. Once I did it was really engaging. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series! 

The Sleeper and the Spindle by Neil Gaiman

3.0

I just wasn't even slightly grabbed by this book. I read it as an ebook over several sittings so maybe it would have been better as a physical book in one sitting? 

Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey

adventurous medium-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

4.5

Really enjoyed the world building, such a detailed set of cultures.

Plot was interesting, something very implausible happened but I felt that it was really well justified and mysterious. It was mystical but in a scientific way. 

Lioness Rampant by Tamora Pierce

adventurous lighthearted 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? No

4.0

This is a great final instalment for the Lioness series. It shows Alanna growing into a mature adult and having healthy relationships with her friends and partners. Lots of action and intrigue with two major confrontations against Big Bads and a worthy final villain. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Suicide