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mattiedancer's reviews
125 reviews
The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Writing: 3.5⭐️/5
The writing in this story is serviceable and clear. Personally, I found a hard time getting into the novel. It took me two attempts to get into the novel, despite reading several chapters into the story both times. The lack of a clear and immediate hook presented a problem; however, as the novel went on, the stakes definitely pulled me in and I was more engaged. If you’re thinking of picking up this book, there might be a bit of a waiting period for the writing to grab you.
Characters: 4⭐️/5
The characters were both fun and realistic. I loved learning about their connections, their various personalities, and their motives and dreams. Some of the characters lacked a bit of polish to me, and I certainly would have loved a few more characters to develop a bit more clearly, but overall the characters shined.
Plot: 3.5⭐️/5
The plot is fun – and predictable. I enjoyed the world, honestly, more than the plot. I had fun sinking into this world classified by your connection to the gods, and loved learning about the powers and the trials. The actual plot though felt like an aside to the world and, though it eventually wrapped me in, I would have loved a bit more focus here.
Who Should Read This Book?
- Fans of LGBTQ+ fantasy novels
- Fans of young adult fantasy books
- Those looking for a cute but strained-by-situation love story
- Those looking for something a bit different, but backed by familiar tropes and plotlines
Content Warnings?
- Violence, blood, bullying, dysphoria, child abuse, fire, fire injury, injury detail, classism, child death, death,
Post-Reading Rating: 3⭐️/5
I had fun, but I wouldn’t seek out the next one.
Final Rating: 3.5⭐️/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Writing: 3.75⭐️/5
Serviceably written, with some very fun sections!
Characters: 4⭐️/5
I mean, I might just be in love with Joshua, but I thought the characters we focus on were both fun and fresh in their development. I loved their quirks and personalities, and I loved getting to know both of them. However, the side characters definitely lacked some depth and, despite the fact that I love the main characters, I would have loved to see the development of side characters even just a touch more.
Plot: 4⭐️/5
A coworker who hates you, a merger that pushes you to work hard to save jobs, and a hot guy you have to stare at all day. Throw in a momentary illness, a wedding in which one of you needs a date, and a very hot scene in an elevator, and you have a captivating story. Sure, the paintball section drug on way too long in my opinion. Sure, the wedding section could have been condensed to include all the spicy scenes and fewer tense moments. Sure, I could have gone without the misunderstanding tropes times a few times. Sure, the ending lacked a little something something. But, damn, I had fun.
Who Should Read This Book?
- Fans of a fast slow burn (trust me, it makes sense)
- Fans of enemies to lovers
- Fans of there’s only one bed!
- Romance readers who are looking for a read with a bit more than just spice
Content Warnings?
- Sexual content, vomit, illness, medical content, gaslighting, bullying, toxic family, toxic relationships,
Post-Reading Rating: 4⭐️/5
Cute, I love them.
Final Rating: 4⭐️/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical content, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
City of Nightmares by Rebecca Schaeffer
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Writing: 3⭐️/5
The writing was substantial, but not remarkable. It got the job done and didn’t get in the way of the storytelling, but it wasn’t the strongest part of my read. However, I do believe that the potential for stronger writing could be seen – little kernels of it, if you will – and so I look forward to future books by Schaeffer.
Characters: 3.75⭐️/5
I’m torn here because while the characters definitely pushed the story forward in areas, they also held it back in others. I wanted a bit more from the characters that wasn’t so focused on shock value. I mean, I love that the characters are vibrant and unique, but I wanted to know them deeper and more personally than that.
Plot: 4.25⭐️/5
Okay, so here’s why you should pick up this book: it’s a brilliant concept. I loved learning about the world and how unique the characters had to become in order to survive. I loved the worldbuilding, the substance of the story, and the driving force behind the characters. While certain moments were predictable, the world in which they were happening never was, which made old tropes feel gorgeous and fresh. I personally can’t wait for the next book, despite wanting more from this one. In a way, I think I may be grading it harder because I expect so much next time.
Who Should Read This Book?
- Those looking for a unique fantasy read
- Those who love unconventional worlds
- Fans of enemies to lovers
- Young adult readers who want a memorable world
Content Warnings?
- Death, murder, violence, blood, grief, injury, fire, confinement, toxic relationships,
Post-Reading Rating: 4.5⭐️/5
Very fun. Will read the next one.
Final Rating: 3.75⭐️/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body horror, Trafficking, and Car accident
Strike the Zither by Joan He
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
Writing: 3.75⭐️/5
The writing was strong throughout the story, but it lacked pacing. This is something I’ll mention again in the plot because it’s kind of a fault on both accounts. I really wish that each plot point had been discussed and pulled out longer because, though the story is great, I wanted more time with each moment. It also became a little hard to stay with the emotions of the character because of its pacing.
Characters: 4.5⭐️/5
The characters felt full and realized. Where the story failed to keep my engagement due to some pacing issues, the characters wholly took up the slack. Zephyr was an enthralling main character to follow, even more so as she attempted to take on characterizations that went against her own. I thought the only part of characterization that lacked depth was some deeper understanding of exactly why Zephyr maintained such a strong bond with Ren. I would have loved a bit more time with that.
Plot: 3.75⭐️/5
The overall plot is genius, and yet the pacing of it being told fell short of expectations. Some of the parts of the plot felt far too rushed
Who Should Read This Book?
- Fans of fantasy novels
- Fans of Joan He
Content Warnings?
- War, death, violence, blood, child death, injury, grief, animal death, death of parent, alcohol,
Post-Reading Rating: 4.25⭐️/5
Final Rating: 4⭐️/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Writing: 3.25⭐️/5
How to rate a classic novel that is technically fine but you didn’t enjoy? I wanted the writing to call to me more, but it didn’t. It lept for the page a few times, but they were little hops, too weak to make it too far. I wanted more from it and, despite there being nothing technically wrong, it didn’t sing to me. It’s an incredibly difficult read as well because it displays a stream of consciousness style for certain characters. Again, while I applaud the technical ability it takes to write in that style, nothing jumped out at me.
Characters: 3.5⭐️/5
The majority of characters are horrible people or people who are slowly morphing into horrible people or, perhaps, just people being treated horribly. The characters had moments that gleaned off the page, for better and worse reasons, though, which did in fact make them feel real and horribly vibrant.
Plot: 3.25⭐️/5
Again, the plot is difficult to parse, requiring it to be read slower and with greater intention. I don’t necessarily hate that; however, a book that fixates on the inevitable destruction of a family is hard to love as you watch a few characters fling themselves towards becoming more unredeemable. For some, it could be a necessary story of moral corruption and social decline, and it would be precisely perfect for that.
Who Should Read This Book?
- Fans of classics
- Those looking for a literary challenge with a dark and sombre theme
- Readers wanting to understand the complexities of the southern United States post the Civil War
Content Warnings?
- Abuse, Racial Slurs, Racism, Colonialism, Misogyny, Sexism, Abelism, Suicide, Emotional Abuse, Death, Death of parent, Antisemitism, Alcoholism, Alcohol, substance abuse
Post-Reading Rating: 2.5⭐️/5
I wanted to like it much more than I did. I understand the gist, I get why people think it’s brilliant, but it’s not a story that made me feel anything but sadness and frustration and, though I know that was the point, I didn’t have fun. It may be a book I return to. Maybe I read it at the wrong time.
Final Rating: 3⭐️/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Colonisation
The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten
adventurous
dark
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
Writing: 4.25⭐️/5
The writing was more than serviceable: it was woven into the narrative, supporting it without taking away from it. Several times while reading I found myself enthralled by the words themselves. At other times, the writing was sufficient, technically lacking nothing but in want of something more.
Characters: 4.5⭐️/5
The characters were incredibly fun to read without feeling like caricatures. I loved Lore’s mind, loved to see her interact with her world in such a unique way. And, though the guard-and-prisoner-forced-together trope could feel tired, I appreciated the nuance that refreshed it. I liked reading about Gabe and his history. And our two male interests were distinct and individual, with Bastian, the King, contrasting strongly against Gabe.
Plot: 5⭐️/5
A spy born in the catacombs is traded to the King in exchange for a legal contract after she reveals herself as a deathwitch, a person who can manipulate the essence of death. How can you not love that plot? Or, at the very least, be enthralled by it. I thoroughly enjoyed every page of this plot, and I eagerly await the sequel.
Who Should Read This Book?
- Fans of darker, but not dark, fantasy books
- Fans of love triangles
- Those looking for an interesting high fantasy read with a heavy focus on gods
- Fans of fantasy romances where the love interests are forced together
- Fans of an intriguing fantasy world
Content Warnings?
- Drug abuse, murder, child death, death, death of parent, torture, blood, confinement,
Post-Reading Rating: 4.75⭐️/5
I would like to see the next book please.
Final Rating: 4.5⭐️/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Everyone Knows Your Mother is a Witch by Rivka Galchen
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Writing: 4⭐️/5
The writing is stylized enough to give it a human touch. It does feel, at times, like you’re reading the unedited, unformated thoughts of the characters. And yet, something about it was incredibly hard to get used to. I’ve been thinking lots about it and I’m still not sure exactly what it is, other than perhaps the tone mismatches the time period – or at least my expectations of the time period. Writing with a more modern feel to it, I had a hard time with feeling as though it felt cohesive with the events. Overall though, strongly written, even if a bit hard to get in the flow of.
Characters: 4.75⭐️/5
I really enjoyed Frau Kepler’s, or Katharina’s, sections of the story. She had a strong voice, a strong personality, and it was always incredibly clear when I was reading her sections versus Simon’s. In fact, all the characters felt alive: in the way they lied, in the way they thought, and in the way they remembered.
Plot: 4.25⭐️/5
It’s the story of a woman, accused of witchcraft, who is found victim of a campaign to blame all their problems on her. The story’s plot, while always centered on Katharina’s trial and the accusations thrown at her, goes beyond it in the oddest ways, focusing on her cow, her family, and her thoughts on the neighbours in an intriguing way. My biggest critique here is that it took me a while to get into. But it was a surprisingly fun – and then serious and then semi-sad – story that I’m glad to have read.
Who Should Read This Book?
- Those looking for a fun historical fiction read
- Those who want historical fiction but love modern spins on stories
- Readers looking for stories about witchcraft and mob-mentality-driven witch hunts
Content Warnings?
- Death, death of parent, death of child, manipulation, toxic relationships, injury/injury detail, child loss, pregnancy, grief, torture
Post-Reading Rating: 4.25⭐️/5
A wonderful, apt ending to a fun yet serious story.
Final Rating: 4.25⭐️/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Misogyny, Suicide, Violence, Religious bigotry, Alcohol, War, and Classism
Radiance by Grace Draven
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Writing: 3.5⭐️/5
The writing was a bit unpolished in sections, but overall it read very nicely.
Characters: 4.25⭐️/5
I thought the characters were a lot of fun.
Plot: 3.75⭐️/5
The plot definitely has some really fun aspects. I think certain elements dragged a bit while the ending felt a bit rushed, but overall really entertaining to read.
Who Should Read This Book?
- Fans of fantasy and romance, looking for a fun read
Content Warnings?
- Misogyny, sexual content, blood, gore, murder, grief
Post-Reading Rating: 4.5⭐️/5
Very fun.
Final Rating: 3.75⭐️/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexual content, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Shanghai Immortal by A.Y. Chao
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Writing: 4.75⭐️/5
A.Y. Chao controls the prose and literary figures throughout the book. The integration of multiple languages – even tossed in here and there – was incredibly well-formatted and managed. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book, like a delicious meal. I think my only complaint on the writing end was the pacing near the end of the novel; otherwise, nearly perfect.
Characters: 4.75⭐️/5
Lady Jing is a force of nature. I felt her character so strongly and vividly, I half expected her to chastise me as I wrote this for double-checking her name. I loved her perspectives, I loved that she felt like her own unique person, and I adored that I didn’t feel like she was a carbon copy of any other character. The only complaint I have with any of the characters in the novel is that I wished certain characters were more adequately shown in earlier chapters to get a feel of their importance. I also had a bit of a jarring moment the first time Lady Jing acts courtly – I wish this had been hinted at sooner, that there were even some she wouldn’t dare insult, though maybe that was implied. Her ease of overcoming her water phobia also felt a bit too easy, even though the explanation of her memory helped justify it.
Plot: 4.5⭐️/5
I’ll start with the critique because there was so much to love. I didn’t love how convenient the ending felt. When everyone started walking into Niang Niang’s palace, it started feeling a bit too perfect. I would’ve loved a bit more strife here, a bit more fight to get her to be placed in front of all of these people. However, I loved the rest of the plot. I applaud Chao for managing to put her heroine in so many worlds and in front of so many people without the story reading choppily.
Who Should Read This Book?
- Fans of fantasy novels
- Fans of books based on or inspired by elements of Chinese mythology
- Fans of feisty, feminist, bold female characters
- Those looking for a bit of romance with lots of drama
- Fans of the vampire genre
Content Warnings?
- Blood, injury/injury detail, gore, confinement, abuse, fire/fire injury, death of a parent, death of a child, death, stalking, murder
Post-Reading Rating: 5⭐️/5
Very fun. Would read another one. Would read this one again.
Final Rating: 4.5⭐️/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-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
4.75
Writing: 5⭐️/5
Anne Brontë’s writing, much like her sister’s, is thoughtful, intentional, poignant, and full. Reading a Brontë novel feels filling and, even as these novels tend to start slow, they’re always worth the payout. Most of this novel is beautifully written, even stunningly so. No notes.
Characters: 4.75⭐️/5
It was refreshing to see Gilbert’s immense growth through the story. From starting as a bit of a stuck-up farming boy to a thoughtful and moral man was an entertaining read. Similarly, I love Helen with my whole heart, deeply appreciating her desire to be more than just a wife or mother, while also placing those roles and their corresponding responsibilities on a bit of a pedestal. Her feminism was refreshing and her fight against her husband’s control reminded me a lot of bits and pieces of my own life and how, looking back, you realize how blind you’ve been. I struggled a bit with Lawrence, Helen’s brother, and his slightly inconsistent character, but where he failed to deliver, every other character seemed to step up.
Plot: 4.5⭐️/5
I’m going to start with my critique, which is that one of our main characters, in a fit of rage, horrendously injures our other character’s brother. Gilbert is quick to apologize once he realizes the connection between the characters, but it felt like a large obstacle that was shoved conveniently out of the way. Otherwise, I think this novel’s plot progressed nicely, though slowly. I enjoyed the switch of perspectives as it gave a fullness to the story and, even though the switch was the majority of the novel, it felt perfectly timed and well-structured.
Who Should Read This Book?
- Fans of the Brontë sisters
- Fans of classic literature
- Those looking for a slow, romance-heavy read that bends toward feminism
Content Warnings?
- Misogyny, sexism, infidelity, emotional abuse, classism, death of a parent, death, injury, terminal illness, pregnancy, bullying
Post-Reading Rating: 5⭐️/5
I love Helen and Gilbert.
Final Rating: 4.75⭐️/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism