maggies's reviews
641 reviews

Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

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

2.0

This series feels like a personal curse on me at this point. I am so annoyed after this book that I don't think I could stomach going back to re-read the series and try to figure out what I've missed/don't understand, but I also want to keep reading the series, which will guarantee that I'm more and more confused! This book felt like Plot Hole Central. Violet was so insufferably dumb, and the reveal of her second signet was such a disappointment. I don't remember any of these characters and I can't keep their dragons/gryphons or signets straights. The relationship between Violet and Xaden was absolutely intolerable. And honestly, what the heck is a venin and why is Xaden able to "control" it when other people apparently can't? The only interesting thing was the truth about Andarna and her family, but that hardly makes up for *gestures wildly* everything else.
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Settle the Score by Kris Ripper

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emotional funny hopeful sad fast-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

4.0

Given that the entire premise of this book rests on one character forcibly outing the other, I was not sure about it, but Ripper's sensitivity and humor really redeemed it in the end, and I fell in love with Orion and Des's love story. It would maybe have benefitted from a dual POV so that the audience could better grasp what Orion saw that enabled him to look past Des's terrible judgment. The snowed-in, forced proximity trope was really fun though!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang

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

3.0

This was a hard read due to the subject matter, and that's not really what I was looking for. Ah well
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A Woman of Opinion by Sean Lusk

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challenging funny informative reflective medium-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? Yes

4.0

I'd never heard of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu prior to reading this novel, based on her letters and published works, and it is a shame—she is fascinating. From her feminist ideals to her advocacy for inoculation against smallpox and anti-war sentiments, there is much to be admired for a woman of her time. Lusk brought her to life with his own prose like poetry, complementary to hers. However, this doesn't read like a traditional historical fiction novel but more like a fictionalized biography.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens

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emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-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

Second Sophie Cousens book this month, and I think I'm on a kick. Cried this time too.
The Push by Ashley Audrain

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 30%.
Giving me Verity vibes. Not in a good headspace for this kind of book.
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Just Haven't Met You Yet by Sophie Cousens

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emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

I cried
The Wedding Menu by Letizia Lorini

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 13%.
Not capturing me. Next.
Hang the Moon by Alexandria Bellefleur

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 59%.
I didn't love the first book in the series and this is more of the same - Annie's hangups are not justified enough for me to feel anything for her, Darcy's selfish, and Brendon's immature. I'll not try any more in this series.
The Looming Tower by Lawrence Wright

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challenging informative reflective tense slow-paced

4.0

*Read as part of my challenge to (attempt to) read all 100 of NYT's best books of the 21st century*

I was a child on 9/11/01, so my memories are of a child, and this account is the most I've ever read on the events leading up to the attack. I appreciated Wright's attempt to humanize the major players, from Bin Laden and other members of Al-Qaeda to the American intelligence officers, but I did struggle to keep them all safe. The whole story reminded me of the idea that the intelligence team trying to prevent attacks like this have to get it right 100% of the time, but the attackers only have to get it right once. The intelligence failures were absurdly frustrating, considering how lucky the attackers had to be to carry out their plan. A difficult read, to say the least.
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