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margo_lindner's reviews
332 reviews
Gallant by V.E. Schwab
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Lakesedge by Lyndall Clipstone
3.0
This book was fine.
The vibes are definitely inclusive of gothic horror elements. We have the dark creepy mansion, we have the monsters, we have the eerie descriptions of everything.
However, where it was lacking was in the character development and the writing.
This read like a very young YA, and Violeta was written to be really annoying. She was an individual to an extreme extent she never wanted any help, even though it was freely offered. It really seemed like she wanted to take the credit for everything, despite other people being capable of helping her along the way.
Violeta is the "heroine" who I just really didn't care about and really didn't vibe with. And that really broke the book for me.
I ended up really enjoying Rowan, he's a fascinating dark, broody, monster of a love interest. But at the same point I'm obsessed with the Lord Under. He offered a whole new complexity to the story. A character that you're definitely not supposed to like really took my heart and saved this book for me.
I was sitting at a 2 star review until the end of the book. The end was explosive, it was interesting, and made me keep wanting to turn the pages. I am still very intrigued to see where the story will go in the sequel and will keep on reading.
The vibes are definitely inclusive of gothic horror elements. We have the dark creepy mansion, we have the monsters, we have the eerie descriptions of everything.
However, where it was lacking was in the character development and the writing.
This read like a very young YA, and Violeta was written to be really annoying. She was an individual to an extreme extent she never wanted any help, even though it was freely offered. It really seemed like she wanted to take the credit for everything, despite other people being capable of helping her along the way.
Violeta is the "heroine" who I just really didn't care about and really didn't vibe with. And that really broke the book for me.
I ended up really enjoying Rowan, he's a fascinating dark, broody, monster of a love interest. But at the same point I'm obsessed with the Lord Under. He offered a whole new complexity to the story. A character that you're definitely not supposed to like really took my heart and saved this book for me.
I was sitting at a 2 star review until the end of the book. The end was explosive, it was interesting, and made me keep wanting to turn the pages. I am still very intrigued to see where the story will go in the sequel and will keep on reading.
All Systems Red by Martha Wells
4.0
Murderbot is one of the most relatable characters that I’ve ever read. They prefer to entertain themselves through any means possible rather than have to converse with humans. The way Murderbot told this story was so very intriguing. They are such an intelligent, witty, charming character.
This story flew by (granted it is a novella so what did I expect really). It is thoroughly entertaining. The writing flowed nicely once I got used to Murderbot’s tone and humorous asides. I grew attached to Murderbot and their companions throughout this novella.
All in all I really enjoyed this and I recommend it to anyone who wants a quick, easy, fun, sci-fi read!
This story flew by (granted it is a novella so what did I expect really). It is thoroughly entertaining. The writing flowed nicely once I got used to Murderbot’s tone and humorous asides. I grew attached to Murderbot and their companions throughout this novella.
All in all I really enjoyed this and I recommend it to anyone who wants a quick, easy, fun, sci-fi read!
The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling
3.0
I'm feeling very conflicted about this book. Objectively it was fine. It wasn't written spectacularly. The story wasn't something I was obsessed with, however it was so dang charming.
Where I hold my issue is the fact that how this curse started was after THREE MONTHS of dating one summer in college at 19 years old. Vivi was an immature witch who seemingly didn't understand the strength of her power. Rhys was a very bland character who somehow never stopped pining for Vivi over the 9 years they had been separated from 3 months of dating.
Also, this book was very predictable as to how they were going to reverse the curse. And the manner in which they lifted the curse was something they could have tried honestly right at the beginning. Like obviously the power in Vivi's family is strong enough to set things right, but I digress.
Overall, I did enjoy the book, but it wasn't groundbreaking. It certainly is not a new favourite book of all time, but it was fine. It was good. It was entertaining enough to keep me reading the whole time. Which is why I have to settle on 3 stars.
Where I hold my issue is the fact that how this curse started was after THREE MONTHS of dating one summer in college at 19 years old. Vivi was an immature witch who seemingly didn't understand the strength of her power. Rhys was a very bland character who somehow never stopped pining for Vivi over the 9 years they had been separated from 3 months of dating.
Also, this book was very predictable as to how they were going to reverse the curse. And the manner in which they lifted the curse was something they could have tried honestly right at the beginning. Like obviously the power in Vivi's family is strong enough to set things right, but I digress.
Overall, I did enjoy the book, but it wasn't groundbreaking. It certainly is not a new favourite book of all time, but it was fine. It was good. It was entertaining enough to keep me reading the whole time. Which is why I have to settle on 3 stars.
Beach Read by Emily Henry
2.0
Beach Read is one of those books that is really going to work for some people and it's really not going to work for others, and I fall into the latter category. Both January and Gus were content to make more problems for themselves as they struggled through writing their books, and fumbled through the relationship that they started. As a reader, I was not convinced that there was ever any chemistry between January and Gus, and I didn't find myself rooting for them as the book carried on.
January was a very emotional character where if anything didn't go her way she would start crying immediately, and Gus was very closed off (at least he had a valid reason to be). I could honestly have a whole rant review based around the problems I had with these characters.
I also really didn't care about the writing process for each of them. I know just how much research needs to go into a novel, but there was a lot of stuff I simply did not care about. Now I do wonder if Gus personally answered the question he was trying to sort through during his writing process. I would have loved to see the in depth analysis of what they each thought of each others books.
I just found this story to be annoying, the ending was not believable. I know for a fact I would have rated it higher if I had read the UK ending, and that's frustrating for me.
But my mostly negative review is based on my thoughts alone and I know that this book has certainly found its audience, and I was not that audience and that's completely fine. By no means am I giving up on Emily Henry as an author. She writes very well, I simply did not vibe with these characters.
January was a very emotional character where if anything didn't go her way she would start crying immediately, and Gus was very closed off (at least he had a valid reason to be). I could honestly have a whole rant review based around the problems I had with these characters.
I also really didn't care about the writing process for each of them. I know just how much research needs to go into a novel, but there was a lot of stuff I simply did not care about. Now I do wonder if Gus personally answered the question he was trying to sort through during his writing process. I would have loved to see the in depth analysis of what they each thought of each others books.
I just found this story to be annoying, the ending was not believable. I know for a fact I would have rated it higher if I had read the UK ending, and that's frustrating for me.
But my mostly negative review is based on my thoughts alone and I know that this book has certainly found its audience, and I was not that audience and that's completely fine. By no means am I giving up on Emily Henry as an author. She writes very well, I simply did not vibe with these characters.
In My Dreams I Hold a Knife by Ashley Winstead
4.0
Honestly what a debut.
I rarely find thrillers that work for me, and this definitely did. I adore reading about unlikeable characters and this whole group was problematic. It was so interesting to see the motivations of each character and understand what made them lowkey terrible. And the way that the author spun the story and told it in various timelines was so good. I am very intrigued to see what else they will publish in the future.
I rarely find thrillers that work for me, and this definitely did. I adore reading about unlikeable characters and this whole group was problematic. It was so interesting to see the motivations of each character and understand what made them lowkey terrible. And the way that the author spun the story and told it in various timelines was so good. I am very intrigued to see what else they will publish in the future.