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miawgicalbooks's reviews
167 reviews
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
3.0
So many books with great premises, even better first acts, but why do they fall flat at the end? The first act, fabulous, great, page turner in all its glory, then we got to the second act and it just went down hill.
Overall, it’s not a bad book, has a good story and clearly, it was well thought, I liked it as a whole, but the second act and the ending was definitely not that good and it felt completely flat. However, it’s not a bad book, it’s a semi-quick and entertaining read.
Overall, it’s not a bad book, has a good story and clearly, it was well thought, I liked it as a whole, but the second act and the ending was definitely not that good and it felt completely flat. However, it’s not a bad book, it’s a semi-quick and entertaining read.
The Chalice of the Gods by Rick Riordan
adventurous
challenging
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
This is not my favorite Percy Jackson book, it’s obviously good, the characters are still amazing, the writing is still good and it’s still funny as hell and the whole vibe is still vibing, but I wasn’t really vibing with it, at least not as much as I wanted to. I liked it, I just didn’t love it.
That doesn’t mean it’s a bad book, not at all, I liked it a lot and I just missed Percy Jackson so much, and I’m so glad he’s back. Overall, there’s a lot charm in the whole Olympians story, and I just love it so much, I want more Percy books and I’m just glad Riordan decided to go back at it, I cannot wait for the next one.
That doesn’t mean it’s a bad book, not at all, I liked it a lot and I just missed Percy Jackson so much, and I’m so glad he’s back. Overall, there’s a lot charm in the whole Olympians story, and I just love it so much, I want more Percy books and I’m just glad Riordan decided to go back at it, I cannot wait for the next one.
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
informative
medium-paced
3.0
I mostly read “fiction” books and this book is me trying to get into “non-fiction” and I honestly think it was a good one. I really liked the writing style and how the author laid the foundation of what was to come in the first few chapters, made it easy to understand.
I did feel like there were a few paragraphs that dragged a little, but still, it was a nice read and I learned a thing or two about habits and maybe, myself.
I did feel like there were a few paragraphs that dragged a little, but still, it was a nice read and I learned a thing or two about habits and maybe, myself.
The Teacher by Freida McFadden
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- 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? No
3.5
I’m sorry, what? What was this? This was INSANE, in a good way and in a bad way.
In a good way because it’s literally a page turner, I couldn’t stop reading, I just had to confirm what I was suspecting, and that’s the bad way, it was somehow predictable, not completely but it was.
Oh, and I wasn’t really a fan of the characters, they were awful for the most part, but I guess it’s okey due to the fact that they’re in fact awful people.
Also, I don’t know, I don’t think this book has trigger warnings and idk, I think it should, I won’t say why because I would spoil some of the plots, but yeah, trigger warnings.
Honestly, great read, extremely fast paced and as I said, a page turner, so it’s more like a 3.5 stars, mostly because I’m not fully sold on the ending, the last reveal and how the author resolved everything, but overall, good book.
In a good way because it’s literally a page turner, I couldn’t stop reading, I just had to confirm what I was suspecting, and that’s the bad way, it was somehow predictable, not completely but it was.
Oh, and I wasn’t really a fan of the characters, they were awful for the most part, but I guess it’s okey due to the fact that they’re in fact awful people.
Also, I don’t know, I don’t think this book has trigger warnings and idk, I think it should, I won’t say why because I would spoil some of the plots, but yeah, trigger warnings.
Honestly, great read, extremely fast paced and as I said, a page turner, so it’s more like a 3.5 stars, mostly because I’m not fully sold on the ending, the last reveal and how the author resolved everything, but overall, good book.
La cocinera de Frida by Florencia Etcheves
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
La verdad es que no esperaba mucho (o nada) de este libro, pero al final se me hizo que es bueno.
Otra verdad es que tengo un buen de problemas con la historia, la primera es que a mí Frida Kahlo me tiene sin cuidado, no soy fan, y honestamente me costó trabajo empatizar con ella como personaje ficticio, hasta me cayó mal. La segunda es que la cantidad de personajes e historias que hay que seguir durante las 500+ páginas que tiene el libro es bastante exagerada, casi ridícula y el problema es que al final, la historia principal se resuelve abruptamente y las historias secundarias quedan ahí, sin resolución.
No estoy diciendo que la historia no sea buena, la verdad es que me pareció bastante decente y original. Es en general, una buena lectura.
-
The truth is, I wasn’t expecting much about this book (or nothing), but at the end I thought it’s good.
Another truth is that I have a bunch of problems with the story, the first one is that I don’t care about Frida Kahlo (as a Mexican I know that’s a sin, but idc), I’m not a fan, and honestly had a hard time empathizing with her as a fictional character, I disliked her a lot. The second one is the amount of characters and stories to be follow along the 500+ pages, it’s insane, and at the end, the main story is resolve within a few pages and very abruptly and the other stories just cease to exist.
I’m not saying this isn’t a good story, it’s actually pretty decent and original, it’s overall, a good read.
Otra verdad es que tengo un buen de problemas con la historia, la primera es que a mí Frida Kahlo me tiene sin cuidado, no soy fan, y honestamente me costó trabajo empatizar con ella como personaje ficticio, hasta me cayó mal. La segunda es que la cantidad de personajes e historias que hay que seguir durante las 500+ páginas que tiene el libro es bastante exagerada, casi ridícula y el problema es que al final, la historia principal se resuelve abruptamente y las historias secundarias quedan ahí, sin resolución.
No estoy diciendo que la historia no sea buena, la verdad es que me pareció bastante decente y original. Es en general, una buena lectura.
-
The truth is, I wasn’t expecting much about this book (or nothing), but at the end I thought it’s good.
Another truth is that I have a bunch of problems with the story, the first one is that I don’t care about Frida Kahlo (as a Mexican I know that’s a sin, but idc), I’m not a fan, and honestly had a hard time empathizing with her as a fictional character, I disliked her a lot. The second one is the amount of characters and stories to be follow along the 500+ pages, it’s insane, and at the end, the main story is resolve within a few pages and very abruptly and the other stories just cease to exist.
I’m not saying this isn’t a good story, it’s actually pretty decent and original, it’s overall, a good read.
Funny Story by Emily Henry
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I’m a sucker for corky romance novels, and this one is one of my favorites, Emily Henry has a gift.
It’s not perfect, has some downs and tbh, I felt like it drags a little in some parts, but aside from that, it was such a nice and fresh read. As most romance novels is predictable, but it doesn’t matter because the ride is fun and a bit ridiculous, which happens to make the book even better.
I’ll forever read anything Emily Henry does, and I recommend you to do the same.
It’s not perfect, has some downs and tbh, I felt like it drags a little in some parts, but aside from that, it was such a nice and fresh read. As most romance novels is predictable, but it doesn’t matter because the ride is fun and a bit ridiculous, which happens to make the book even better.
I’ll forever read anything Emily Henry does, and I recommend you to do the same.
Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
adventurous
challenging
dark
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This book was amazing, I really really enjoyed it. The characters are great, even the ones that are completely awful. And the story, I’m in love with the story, it’s so beautiful and full of heart and magic.
I’m a huge fan of Silvia Moreno-García’s books, she knows how to write a good story, she’s excellent at story telling and I really appreciate that.
Also, the first city the main characters visit in the book is Veracruz, and that’s my hometown, and reading about it and how it was depicted made so emotional, because that’s exactly how it is “rinconcito donde hacen su nido las olas del mar” (“little corner were the waves of the sea make their nest” is the literal translation, and it’s a song by Agustin Lara), it was beautiful and yes, I’m bias because my Veracruz was mentioned in the book.
Anyway, I really loved the book, the story, the characters, everything about it.
I’m a huge fan of Silvia Moreno-García’s books, she knows how to write a good story, she’s excellent at story telling and I really appreciate that.
Also, the first city the main characters visit in the book is Veracruz, and that’s my hometown, and reading about it and how it was depicted made so emotional, because that’s exactly how it is “rinconcito donde hacen su nido las olas del mar” (“little corner were the waves of the sea make their nest” is the literal translation, and it’s a song by Agustin Lara), it was beautiful and yes, I’m bias because my Veracruz was mentioned in the book.
Anyway, I really loved the book, the story, the characters, everything about it.
Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I really thought this was going to be about serial killer, but it wasn’t, at all and I was left very disappointed about that specific thing.
However, I liked the book, it was a nice and weird, easy to read little romance book about a girl who thinks everyone is a serial killer (I can actually relate to that).
I will definitely gravitate towards more books written by the author for the easy to read stories.
However, I liked the book, it was a nice and weird, easy to read little romance book about a girl who thinks everyone is a serial killer (I can actually relate to that).
I will definitely gravitate towards more books written by the author for the easy to read stories.
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
adventurous
challenging
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Cute, adventurous and silly, very creative in terms of story and characters, but not my favorite from Dahl.
Galatea by Madeline Miller
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I wasn’t really invested in this short story, maybe because I’m not a short story person, but find it a bit tedious to get through, however, the story is beautifully written and it’s so powerful. It’s just the format was not my cup of tea.
That doesn’t take away from it and as we know with Miller, she writes beautiful stories and always delivers.
That doesn’t take away from it and as we know with Miller, she writes beautiful stories and always delivers.