marie_thereadingotter's reviews
1262 reviews

And the Sky Bled by S. Hati

adventurous slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

2.25

I received this book from NetGalley for review.

I wanted to like this book more than I did. The premise was promising, but I didn't care about the characters. A lot happened very early on, to the point that it felt like info-dumping. Paragraphs of explaining how things are made me bored and disconnected. I grew bored with the events of the book to the point that the narrative voices of the three POVs sounded the same to me. This book also feels a little more like a middle book in a larger world than a standalone story. I feel like I'm missing information, even with all the info-dumping. 

It boils down to this not being a book for me over much else. 

Farilane by Michael J. Sullivan

adventurous challenging emotional tense medium-paced

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

5.0

RTC

Heir by Sabaa Tahir

adventurous challenging emotional tense 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? Yes

4.75

I recieved this book from NetGalley for review.

How dare I forget how much Ms. Sabaa likes to see her characters suffer? But did she once again craft a compelling story with a wonderful cast of characters? Yes she did. Will I be buying this ASAP? Also yes. 

I had no inkling how this story was going to progress. I wasn't sure who the antagonist was going to be, and when that was revealed I got angry with that character. It made it hard to sympathize with them, even when I initially understood their motives. I don't think they deserves any kind of redemption arc in the next book, and I hope they doesn't get one.

We do get to see a lot of familiar faces in this book. But I wish one had more of a presence, I hope she plays more of a role in the next book. I feel like her role could be helpful. 

While I did enjoy and love this book, I do feel that the story is progressing really fast. Ember gave us time to breathe and grow with the characters, but this book it's action scene after action scene. Even then the "down" times are wrought with tension. The moments that are supposed to be, aren't given enough time for me to connect to the characters and believe the romance. 

It's really hard to do what I feel is a "proper" review on a book that isn't out yet that relies on her other series, And Ember in the Ashes, being read first. Some of what I can be said about this book would spoil the outcome of everything from that other series. 

It truly is amazing, and I can't wait for it to come out so I can see a map, the eARC doesn't have one that I could reference while reading. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and War

Moderate: Child death, Sexual content, and Murder

The Apothecary Diaries, Volume 5 by Natsu Hyuuga

adventurous informative medium-paced

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

4.75

Snow White with the Red Hair, Vol. 26 by Sorata Akiduki

hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

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

5.0

It has been a hot minute since a volume in this series released. I was so happy to get back to these characters. I was really happy that Zen and Shirayuki got to see each other and spend some quality time together. Ryu joining the team in Lilias. He's grown a lot in the past few volumes. 
I hope the realese of this volume means the series is continuing, I love these characters, and I want to see Zen and Shirayuki get married at some point. 

Mao, Vol. 14 by Rumiko Takahashi

adventurous tense medium-paced

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

4.5

I feel like the series is finally picking up. I still don't know what the Goko clan was up to before they betrayed Mao, and I still don't know why that one guy is trying to restart the clan and why. 
The characters are the real driving force of this series. 
Nanoka was such a badass in this volume. I like that she's getting stronger and I wonder what will happen with her and Byoki the demon cat that cursed her with his blood. We haven't seen him much lately, and I thought he was supposed to be a really important part of the story.

Mao, Vol. 13 by Rumiko Takahashi

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

This volume was one of those "side-quest" stories.  More characters were introduced, and we're no closer to learning the main goal of the Goko clan. 

Mao, Vol. 12 by Rumiko Takahashi

adventurous tense medium-paced

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

5.0

It's about time Nanoka had some stronger character development, and she finally got her own weapon. 
I liked seeing Natsuno again. I'm curious about her character and what her role will be in the larger story. Why was she compelled to collect parts, and who was it that compelled her? What does it mean now that the body is complete?

Mao, Vol. 11 by Rumiko Takahashi

adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I like when books/manga explain a villain's motives. And this series has a cast of villains. 
I think this is the first time in the series when I almost sympathize with one of them.  Renji has good reasons targeting certain people. But the way he does it is a little misguided, he's trusting the wrong people. I have a feeling they will betray him when he's no longer useful to them.

Daindreth's Traitor by Elisabeth Wheatley

adventurous tense medium-paced

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

4.0

It's not that I don't like this series, it's that I still don't know what caused these two to fall in love so fast. It seems like insta-love Sstarting in book 1, but I still don't understand what it was.
I know in real life it's hard to put into words what it is that makes people fall in love, but I don't see what it was. It's my consistent complaint about this series. 

I'm going to finish reading it because the rest of the plot interests me, I'm still not sold on the romance.