meirinasoe's reviews
167 reviews

Infamous by Lex Croucher

adventurous challenging emotional funny inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective 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

4.25

The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo

adventurous reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

Someone recommended this book in a queer/sapphic list but if you’re looking for an actual Sapphic romance, you’re gonna be disappointed.

Cleric Chih of the Singing Hills Monastery visits an abandoned palace, Thriving Fortune, after the death of the Empress. They are accompanied by a talking hoopoe named Almost Brilliant. They meet Rabbit, an elderly woman who was once the Empress’s servant. She tells Chih about Empress In-yo’s life as they catalogue the contents of the palace.

Although a number of characters are vividly queer, their queerness don’t really come into the plot or story. I think the relationship between Rabbit and the Empress is more of a queer-platonic than romantic.

I do like the plot twist.

Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-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? Yes

4.5

Interview with the Vampire: Claudia's Story by Ashley Marie Witter

challenging dark emotional fast-paced

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

5.0

Taken by the Dark Elf King by Charlotte Swan

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad fast-paced

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

4.5

Fence, Vol. 5: Rise by C.S. Pacat

adventurous challenging emotional funny inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing 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

5.0

Fence, Vol. 4: Rivals by C.S. Pacat

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing 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

5.0

Fence, Vol. 3 by C.S. Pacat

adventurous challenging funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing 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

5.0

The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing 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

5.0

Now this is a contemporary romance I love!

From someone who's partial to fantasy and have been disappointed by a lot of popular, big names contemporary romance, I am so in love with this book!

The premise is an easy 5-stars, but I've read a lot of books with interesting premises which turned out to be a total letdown. I say The Charm Offensive really delivered it! Dev and Charlie's character are explored deeply, the subject of mental health and sexuality are being handled carefully, and the diverse characters isn't just for diversity points!

I love Charlie, and I love how he's truly allowed to be vulnerable, because blondes are usually depicted as assertive, self-assured people (and assholes, more often than not).

The portrayal of Fun Dev vs real Dev is excellent, since not many people could see how a lot of "happy-go-lucky", cheerful people are actually struggling inside, and that they're just using humor and bubbly persona as a cover.

The romance is slowburn, there's no rushed sex scenes for the sake of "spice". It's a really tender, heartwarming, feel-good romance.

I totally see the plot twist, but I don't mind

Song of Phoenix and Ink by Margherita Scialla

adventurous challenging lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.0

ARC provided by the Author in exchange for honest review.

Nadzia is a writer who was one day transported into the fantasy world she created, and involved in a polyamorous romance with her two MMCs. It was, sometimes, a writer’s ultimate dream.

I got questions if there would be a lot of “dramas” because it’s a poly. And I’ll tell you, no, there won’t be dramas. The relationships are fully consensual.

This book is very fast-paced, and I like how we jump right into the action without too much filler scenes.

It is also light-fantasy, and good for readers who aren’t into heavy world-building.

The premise is very interesting. However, I found so many themes of this book could be explored more deeply. Like the romance, for example. It’s a bit of a letdown that we couldn’t see more of Kagen and Xavyion bond and develop feelings between themselves before they confessed to Nadzia, only for it to be explored in the bonus content. I think it should be included in the main story.

I like the antagonists, like, Malkiya and Cael, and I wished their personalities and character arcs could be shown more throughout the story.

My favourite character is probably Kagen. He was a breath of fresh air amidst the other protags who showed up before him.

I love the diversity and inclusivity of the characters, and I like the ending. I find it both heartwarming and bittersweet!