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meliflowers's reviews
77 reviews
The Wicked King by Holly Black
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
tense
fast-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
5.0
I did not expect to read it as quickly as I did but it was a very enthralling book. Great world building and even greater scheming. I enjoyed it every twist and turn so much.
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-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? It's complicated
4.75
"All this time I told myself we were born from war - but I was wrong ma. We were born from beauty. Let no one mistake us for the fruit of violence - but that violence, having passed through the fruit, failed to spoil it."
I keep starting over and over. It's hard to put all of my thoughts into words. I'm mostly worried I'll end up putting too many of them.
I cried a few times and then frowned some times. Some of the scene coming dangerously close to my own experiences and feelings and other scenes so far removed from my world I had a hard time imagining them.
This book is filled with beautiful prose and I could quote a hundred things out of it. But the one I chose captures the essence of this book perfectly. It captures the reality of a Vietnamese boy growing up in the United States as a immigrant child. He explores various themes like war, trauma, abuse, addiction, immigration and racism but also gender and sexuality. Despite its heavy themes, the book is well balanced in its storytelling.
I picked this book up for its gorgeous title & cover and I don't regret it for one bit. I would recommend this as a mellow story, preferably read in a warm space with sunlight (the sun ought to compensate for some of the sadness you might feel).
I keep starting over and over. It's hard to put all of my thoughts into words. I'm mostly worried I'll end up putting too many of them.
I cried a few times and then frowned some times. Some of the scene coming dangerously close to my own experiences and feelings and other scenes so far removed from my world I had a hard time imagining them.
This book is filled with beautiful prose and I could quote a hundred things out of it. But the one I chose captures the essence of this book perfectly. It captures the reality of a Vietnamese boy growing up in the United States as a immigrant child. He explores various themes like war, trauma, abuse, addiction, immigration and racism but also gender and sexuality. Despite its heavy themes, the book is well balanced in its storytelling.
I picked this book up for its gorgeous title & cover and I don't regret it for one bit. I would recommend this as a mellow story, preferably read in a warm space with sunlight (the sun ought to compensate for some of the sadness you might feel).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, War
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
relaxing
fast-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
5.0
Holly Black somehow managed to put together some of my least favourite tropes in one book and made me love it!
The story is very fast paced and entertaining. There isn't a word wasted on unnecessary diologue or description. I love the characters. Most of all, I love Jude. I loved her complicated feelings toward Madoc, toward her twinsister, toward Carden. She seems to love and hate at once, feel relieved and betrayed in the same second. I've loved reading her inner monologue.
Surprisingly, by the end of the story I also came to love her dynamic with Carden. I was truly not expecting that to happen. I am really excited to see how it develop in the next books.
Cruel Prince deserves the hype it has, it is by far one of my fave ya novels I've read this year. Can't wait to devour the whole series as soon as possible.
The story is very fast paced and entertaining. There isn't a word wasted on unnecessary diologue or description. I love the characters. Most of all, I love Jude. I loved her complicated feelings toward Madoc, toward her twinsister, toward Carden. She seems to love and hate at once, feel relieved and betrayed in the same second. I've loved reading her inner monologue.
Surprisingly, by the end of the story I also came to love her dynamic with Carden. I was truly not expecting that to happen. I am really excited to see how it develop in the next books.
Cruel Prince deserves the hype it has, it is by far one of my fave ya novels I've read this year. Can't wait to devour the whole series as soon as possible.
The Binding by Bridget Collins
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
would like to describe this book as "enthralling". It had been a hot second since I got so caught up in a book I forgot times exists outside of it.
What I will miss the most about this book, is reading it. I wish I could go back in time and read it for the first time all over again. It worries me that this will stay with me and I will end up comparing every book I will read in the future to this one, simply because of how lovely the journey was.
The last 100 pages had me gripping the edges of my seat and holding my breath, so worried wherever the story would go and not prepared for what it was going to give me. I prepared for the worst, in case I'd have to glue my heart back together, it would've easier to expect the worse. However the ending was exactly how I needed it to be.
I'm so happy I randomly chose to read this because the cover looked so beautiful. I loved every bit of it. I hope I somehow can seal away the memory of having read this book just to read it again for the very first time.
Giving this 5/5, you should definitely read it if you like historical romance fiction. The story is set in modern times, during the industrial revolution, and is about Emmet, a farmer who falls in love with a young lord from the big city. Their love story is riddled with obstacles and throughout the story they keep finding each other again.
What I will miss the most about this book, is reading it. I wish I could go back in time and read it for the first time all over again. It worries me that this will stay with me and I will end up comparing every book I will read in the future to this one, simply because of how lovely the journey was.
The last 100 pages had me gripping the edges of my seat and holding my breath, so worried wherever the story would go and not prepared for what it was going to give me. I prepared for the worst, in case I'd have to glue my heart back together, it would've easier to expect the worse. However the ending was exactly how I needed it to be.
I'm so happy I randomly chose to read this because the cover looked so beautiful. I loved every bit of it. I hope I somehow can seal away the memory of having read this book just to read it again for the very first time.
Giving this 5/5, you should definitely read it if you like historical romance fiction. The story is set in modern times, during the industrial revolution, and is about Emmet, a farmer who falls in love with a young lord from the big city. Their love story is riddled with obstacles and throughout the story they keep finding each other again.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Rape
It's mostly through the memories of one particular victim in the book. This victim commits suicide later in the story and causes a cataclysm in one of the main characters. The main characters are good people.
Dark Rise by C.S. Pacat
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This was insane.
The ending has me left reeling and excited. I have become nothing but a head filled theories for what could happen next. I am just once again amazed by C. S. Pacat's world building. Reading it felt as though I was watching everything unfold in real life. He has a way with words that brings everything swiftly to life.
It started slow and it took me a while before I got into the story but once I got past through the introduction I couldn't put the book down. The author does that to me. I had a very similar experience with the captive Prince trilogy.
I am so excited and scared for what will come next. For how the story will unfold and how the characters will grow.
The ending has me left reeling and excited. I have become nothing but a head filled theories for what could happen next. I am just once again amazed by C. S. Pacat's world building. Reading it felt as though I was watching everything unfold in real life. He has a way with words that brings everything swiftly to life.
It started slow and it took me a while before I got into the story but once I got past through the introduction I couldn't put the book down. The author does that to me. I had a very similar experience with the captive Prince trilogy.
I am so excited and scared for what will come next. For how the story will unfold and how the characters will grow.
Kingdom of the Cursed by Kerri Maniscalco
Well... That was something.
I most definitely enjoyed kingdom of the cursed much more than I have enjoyed kingdom of the wicked. Reading it, I felt that Emilia had become much more of a likeable character but also more relatable. And I am not talking about avenging my sister only to find out she's still alive and falling in love with the devil himself. Rather about the onslaught of emotions she's felt as she was living, seeking truths and falling in love. I like that she wasn't simply reduced to a horny heroine with a destiny. Her tenacity is what makes her great but her honesty about her desires and fears was what made her very lovable. I specifically think of the scene in the kitchen where she confessed to Wrath how much she missed her sister.
On to the next thing I loved about this book. I love that Wrath and Emilia got to bond more throughout the book. It wasn't just sexual tension and desire. There was trust, comfort, safety. I love that the author isn't rushing their relationship. This way we get to know Wrath, too. Together with Emilia. I can't wait to see how their relationship develops in the next book.
On to the storyline. I love how the author manage to build up to the grand revelation without it being too obvious. The author also kept adding more mysteries, weaving them smoothly into the story. It had me brainstorming every little piece of information we'd gotten to try and figure out the next clues.
Also the amount of Easter eggs in the first book I wasn't even aware of? I just realised as I kept reading.
I am very excited for the next book and can't wait to see how that one is going to unravel. I've got some theories of my own and I am pretty confident in them.
I'm giving this story a 4.5/5 ⭐
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I most definitely enjoyed kingdom of the cursed much more than I have enjoyed kingdom of the wicked. Reading it, I felt that Emilia had become much more of a likeable character but also more relatable. And I am not talking about avenging my sister only to find out she's still alive and falling in love with the devil himself. Rather about the onslaught of emotions she's felt as she was living, seeking truths and falling in love. I like that she wasn't simply reduced to a horny heroine with a destiny. Her tenacity is what makes her great but her honesty about her desires and fears was what made her very lovable. I specifically think of the scene in the kitchen where she confessed to Wrath how much she missed her sister.
On to the next thing I loved about this book. I love that Wrath and Emilia got to bond more throughout the book. It wasn't just sexual tension and desire. There was trust, comfort, safety. I love that the author isn't rushing their relationship. This way we get to know Wrath, too. Together with Emilia. I can't wait to see how their relationship develops in the next book.
On to the storyline. I love how the author manage to build up to the grand revelation without it being too obvious. The author also kept adding more mysteries, weaving them smoothly into the story. It had me brainstorming every little piece of information we'd gotten to try and figure out the next clues.
Also the amount of Easter eggs in the first book I wasn't even aware of? I just realised as I kept reading.
I am very excited for the next book and can't wait to see how that one is going to unravel. I've got some theories of my own and I am pretty confident in them.
I'm giving this story a 4.5/5 ⭐
This Is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone, Amal El-Mohtar
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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? No
4.75
The story was confusing in the beginning and the vocabulary quite difficult at times (thankfully I read the ebook and could easily look up everything). However this still manages to be one of the best books I've read so far. The romance blossoming between the two protagonists and their letters evolving to romantic sonnets with some of the prettiest quotes I've ever read. It makes me wonder how some people make words sound so pretty, how they come up with metaphors to describe love so intimately. It was a beautiful, romantic, a bit confusing but a very exciting read.
And despite my confusion at the beginning, it ended with clarity, indirectly explaining all the confusing bits and pieces.
And despite my confusion at the beginning, it ended with clarity, indirectly explaining all the confusing bits and pieces.
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
adventurous
emotional
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? No
4.25
The Wrath & the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
It was a hopeful / comforting book.
It kept me thinking what my own midnight library would be like and unearthed some forgotten memories.
I was worried this would end on a sad note but I'm really happy how it turned out. It seems like the possibilities for Nora are endless and I inspire to view life like that, too.
I'm really happy I bought this book on a whim, maybe it was something I needed to read at this time of my life. Thank you.
It kept me thinking what my own midnight library would be like and unearthed some forgotten memories.
I was worried this would end on a sad note but I'm really happy how it turned out. It seems like the possibilities for Nora are endless and I inspire to view life like that, too.
I'm really happy I bought this book on a whim, maybe it was something I needed to read at this time of my life. Thank you.