marginmuse's reviews
63 reviews

Lies on the Serpent's Tongue by Kate Pearsall

medium-paced

4.0

 I couldn't help but become engrossed in the enigmatic and frightening world of Lies on the Serpent's Tongue. I was enthralled with Rowan James and her peculiar, unnerving talent of being able to detect other people's falsehoods from the first page. I could almost feel the weight of the secrets she carried on her shoulders, and it gave the entire novel a tense, unsettling vibe. I was totally engrossed in Rowan's path because of Pearsall's masterful melding of that extraordinary gift with the universally relatable difficulty of trust.

This book brings Caball Hollow, a little Appalachian village with a dark underbelly of secrets and mysteries just waiting to be discovered, to life. There is something almost oppressive about the environment, as if the town itself is concealing something, and I adored how it felt like a character unto itself. I had the impression that I was walking alongside Rowan as the plot developed, negotiating the muddy waters of lies, treachery, and family secrets. The tension increases further when Hadrian Fitch, battered and bleeding, enters the scene. Every exchange between him and Rowan became even more compelling because I wasn't sure if I could trust him.

The way that Lies on the Serpent's Tongue examines the notion that no one is ever precisely who they seem to be was one of the things that truly resonated with me. She must confront this unsettling reality because of Rowan's skill, which is both a boon and a bane for her. It was such a raw and painful journey to watch her struggle with the possibility that those closest to her—friends, family, and even Hadrian—might be lying or concealing something. Pearsall kept me on edge at every turn, and I was always wondering who was telling the truth and who wasn't.

All things considered, this book was a somber, evocative read that held my attention throughout. Lies on the Serpent's Tongue will captivate you if you like mysteries, a hint of the paranormal, and lots of suspenseful, heart-pounding action. I highly recommend it since it's one of those books that stays with you long after you've finished reading it! 

 ✧˖°. ⤷ I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review, and all opinions expressed are entirely my own. 

Dating and Dragons by Kristy Boyce

4.0

 Dating and Dragons by Kristy Boyce is a lighthearted romance that combines the thrill of tabletop gaming with the turmoil of high school. The narrative follows Quinn Norton as she makes her way through a new school and tries to fit in with a D&D group. Boyce immediately conveys the clumsiness of fresh starts and the excitement of entering a world where strategy and imagination clash. Anyone who has ever used a hobby to meet new people will find Quinn's character immediately sympathetic. Her interactions with the gang, especially her relationship with Logan Weber, give the story more nuance. Their conversations are humorous and tense since Logan is initially the endearing, enigmatic man who soon becomes unbearable. The D&D group's rules, which forbid dating, provide the backdrop for some amusing and ingenious banter that propels the narrative along. Boyce finds the ideal balance between lighthearted competitiveness and emotional attachment as Quinn and Logan's relationship develops. Boyce's ability to both capture the spirit of gaming culture and make it understandable to readers who may not be familiar with D&D is what truly makes Dating and Dragons stand out. The similarities between the in-game experiences and real-life difficulties give the plot an interesting depth, and the game itself becomes a metaphor for life's uncertainties—rolling the dice and hoping for the best. The plot moves along steadily because of the humor and the underlying love tension. All things considered, Dating and Dragons is a fun book that combines sentimental moments with nerdy appeal. Readers who enjoy character-driven novels with a hint of fantasy, humor, and romance will adore it. A must-read for anybody who appreciates a new, contemporary take on high school romance, Boyce has created an engaging and accessible romance that will appeal to both gamers and non-gamers. 

 ✧˖°. ⤷ I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review, and all opinions expressed are entirely my own. 

Where Rivers Part: A Story of My Mother's Life by Kao Kalia Yang

emotional informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

5.0

Wow wow wow, I don't normally read memoirs but this book was recommended to me by my sister in law and all I can say is that it's took me on a rollercoaster of emotions. As a hmong women myself, I was able to relate to quite a few things that happend to Tswb so tears may or may not have been shedded. But growing up, I used to hear my grandparents stories about Laos and by being able to read about Tswb experience, it really opened my eyes and perspective on what they had to do to survive. I commend Kao Kalia on writing her mother's story so beautifully. 

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas

adventurous dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.0

Skyward by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous challenging emotional 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

4.0

I have never read a book by Brandon Sanderson and I’m quite sad I didn’t start earlier. His world building is amazing. Every scene I read played out in my head like a movie. I was so immersed in his story that I devoured Skyward in a day. This story is moderately fast paced with an intense climax that had me sitting on the edge of my seat. I’m honestly glad that I picked up book two and three.

Spensa is branded a coward’s daughter after her father deserted his team while they were under attack. Despite what people believed of her father, Spensa still looked up to him and hoped to restore his legacy. Even after making it into flight school, she’s denied the ability to use the school facilities with her peers. Spensa endures the rough treatments as she uncovers the truth about her father alongside her trusty AI, M-bot.

The one aspect of the book I appreciated was how Sanderson was unafraid to show the consequences of war. From death, to the emotional/mental trauma to losing dreams. He was able to portray the sacrifice and loss and the effects they had on the characters.

I’m glad I randomly picked this book up since I wanted to branch out of reading only fantasy stories. I can’t wait to begin Starsight and continue Spensa’s adventure! I still have so many questions left unanswered. 

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

adventurous dark emotional slow-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? It's complicated

4.0

 "𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐧𝐨 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞, 𝐦𝐲 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞'𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐰𝐧."

ᴿᵉᵈ Qᵘᵉᵉⁿ ˢᵉʳⁱᵉˢ ᵇʸ ⱽⁱᶜᵗᵒʳⁱᵃ ᴬᵛᵉʸᵃʳᵈ

I'm not going to lie. The first book was great, I love it but the longer the story went on, the more bored I got. The plot line dragged when it could've been summed up in two, possibly three books. The only thing that blew my mind was the betrayal, which I did not expect at all. The ending definitely did not leave me satisfied and I wished we got a bit more content to tie it all up.

This series had a lot of tropes and a ton of angst. It is also similar to many other YA book that it's not that memorable. I almost forgot what the second and third books were about and had to skim through it since it took me so long to finish it. Overall, I don't know if I'd re-read it again. Maybe in the long run but as of now, I think I'm good. 

Skyward by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious 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

4.5

The Keeper of Night by Kylie Lee Baker

adventurous challenging dark medium-paced

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

4.0

 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘒𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘕𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘣𝘺 𝘒𝘺𝘭𝘪𝘦 𝘓𝘦𝘦 𝘉𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘳

When I first bought this book, I didn’t think too much of it. The title drew me in so I brought it home and I wished I had read it earlier. I literally could not put this book down and ended up finishing it in one day. I mean who wouldn’t especially when it involves a morally gray main character and Japanese folklore.

The Keeper of Night is an enthralling adventure about a character named Ren who has trouble finding where she belongs due to her mixed heritage. Ren and her brother, Neven, venture to Japan, in hopes to find a new home.

The story does an amazing job developing the cultural differences between creatures of death from the Reapers of London to the Shinigami of Japan and the complex hierarchy of divinity in death. And given Ren’s background, it was fascinating how it all came to play.

The only thing that disappointed me was the ending. It felt incomplete and very rushed. Since this is a duology, I hope that the second book can wrap up everything that happened in a more satisfying way. 

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

adventurous challenging dark slow-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? It's complicated

4.0

 "𝐖𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐟𝐬."

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙊𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙏𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝙗𝙮 𝙎𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙝𝙖 𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙣

Wooo! I ended 2021 beginning this novel and started it, by finishing it. I cannot tell you how much I adore this book. From the dragons to the romance and all the crazy stuff in-between. This story takes you on a roller coaster from day one. Although at times, the story does drag and starts slowly. But when I found a chapter interesting, I couldn't put it down. It had me sitting on the edge of my seat till 3 in the morning, trying to read as much as I could. By the end of the story, I realized why so many people praise this book and I can assure you that it's worth it. If it's been sitting on your tbr, take the plunge and read it.