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mikasana's reviews
177 reviews
Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
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
A multi-threaded tragedy featuring dark academia, dystopian themes, magic and a world full of injustices.
I really don’t have any criticisms of it other than maybe my heart took too much of a beating after consuming it (haha).
The storytelling is phenomenal, the characters are well-developed (can I have my own Thomil pls?), and the pacing is perfect. It is an exceptional story.
I really don’t have any criticisms of it other than maybe my heart took too much of a beating after consuming it (haha).
The storytelling is phenomenal, the characters are well-developed (can I have my own Thomil pls?), and the pacing is perfect. It is an exceptional story.
Ruthless Creatures by J.T. Geissinger
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
75% smut, 25% plot
Heavenly Bodies by Imani Erriu
Did not finish book. Stopped at 8%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 8%.
DNF @ 10%
I could not get into this. The worldbuilding sounded so interesting but everything else just fell flat for me. I struggled trying to get through the first few chapters.
I will try it again one day to see if I can finish this but for now it’s just not going to work out…
I could not get into this. The worldbuilding sounded so interesting but everything else just fell flat for me. I struggled trying to get through the first few chapters.
I will try it again one day to see if I can finish this but for now it’s just not going to work out…
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
Okay uh… so I LOVED Fourth Wing and Iron Flame to death. Loved them.
This one felt like the first few chapters were trying to jump to the finish line before it was even developed. There were so many times I had to flip back and reread prior pages because suddenly someone did something and I didn’t get the context. It felt like I was trying to read a draft of someone in full ADHD mode and I could not figure out just what the hell was going on. Where was a proper edit for this?
But it got easier later… felt less rushed and you could follow along.
Until it felt like maybe it should have been rushed because the whole first 500 pages stuff is *happening* but it’s a whole lot of running around with not much success. And then rinse and repeat. Honestly I struggled just trying to get through these parts because even though they had highlights, everything again, just felt lackluster… you’re in a new area surrounded by new cultures, why is it so dull?
Then things finally start getting interesting the last 200ish pages or so where I was fully invested.
This was purely a setup book to get us to this ending and you can tell. The ending and the first 60% are not the same. I actually ended up with MORE unanswered questions than answered questions. We don’t even find out her signet until waaaay the heck towards the last 30% of the book. And with THAT ending I understand why she has that signet because she will probably need it for the remaining 2 books, but still.
I feel like too much of the book felt like more filler than necessary. I may try to reread this again to do a plot analysis/theory for later books but this was definitely my least favorite of the 3 because it felt too messy and repetitive for far too long.
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Okay uh… so I LOVED Fourth Wing and Iron Flame to death. Loved them.
This one felt like the first few chapters were trying to jump to the finish line before it was even developed. There were so many times I had to flip back and reread prior pages because suddenly someone did something and I didn’t get the context. It felt like I was trying to read a draft of someone in full ADHD mode and I could not figure out just what the hell was going on. Where was a proper edit for this?
But it got easier later… felt less rushed and you could follow along.
Until it felt like maybe it should have been rushed because the whole first 500 pages stuff is *happening* but it’s a whole lot of running around with not much success. And then rinse and repeat. Honestly I struggled just trying to get through these parts because even though they had highlights, everything again, just felt lackluster… you’re in a new area surrounded by new cultures, why is it so dull?
Then things finally start getting interesting the last 200ish pages or so where I was fully invested.
This was purely a setup book to get us to this ending and you can tell. The ending and the first 60% are not the same. I actually ended up with MORE unanswered questions than answered questions. We don’t even find out her signet until waaaay the heck towards the last 30% of the book. And with THAT ending I understand why she has that signet because she will probably need it for the remaining 2 books, but still.
I feel like too much of the book felt like more filler than necessary. I may try to reread this again to do a plot analysis/theory for later books but this was definitely my least favorite of the 3 because it felt too messy and repetitive for far too long.
The Serpent and the Wolf by Rebecca Robinson
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Slowburn romance. Politics. A sassy female lead. This was entrancing from the get-go and I rarely set this down.
I really appreciate how the relationship between Vaasa and Reid slowly built up and just how powerful they were as a team. A slow burn done right? You bet it was!
I did feel there were some parts I would have liked to see more from. For example, I felt she got too cozy too fast with the other members of the coven and despite how many there were I felt they were just vapid personalities used as chess pieces to move the plot forward. I didn’t have any attachment towards any of them (including Amalie) besides Melisina who we got more insight into. I would have liked more character depth in general.
I did like how all of the reveals and twists were unpredictable and I honestly could not guess much of anything. I felt like the little teases about who the con people were be were just enough to throw me in the wrong direction. Made the reveals very surprising to me and I definitely enjoyed.
I also appreciated how the world very much felt like its own place with culture and lore and not just another cookie cutter place inspired by other popular works. I would like to see more from Vaasa’s home too.
All in all I really enjoyed myself and this story was able to evoke alllll the emotions out of me so I know none of my enthrallment with it is exaggerated. I definitely will be reading the next book.
4.75/5 for now but I’ll let it simmer and decide if I want to change it later…
I really appreciate how the relationship between Vaasa and Reid slowly built up and just how powerful they were as a team. A slow burn done right? You bet it was!
I did feel there were some parts I would have liked to see more from. For example, I felt she got too cozy too fast with the other members of the coven and despite how many there were I felt they were just vapid personalities used as chess pieces to move the plot forward. I didn’t have any attachment towards any of them (including Amalie) besides Melisina who we got more insight into. I would have liked more character depth in general.
I did like how all of the reveals and twists were unpredictable and I honestly could not guess much of anything. I felt like the little teases about who the con people were be were just enough to throw me in the wrong direction. Made the reveals very surprising to me and I definitely enjoyed.
I also appreciated how the world very much felt like its own place with culture and lore and not just another cookie cutter place inspired by other popular works. I would like to see more from Vaasa’s home too.
All in all I really enjoyed myself and this story was able to evoke alllll the emotions out of me so I know none of my enthrallment with it is exaggerated. I definitely will be reading the next book.
4.75/5 for now but I’ll let it simmer and decide if I want to change it later…
Understanding Fate by Amanda Nichole
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I liked some parts of this but most of it dragged a bit too much for my liking. I struggled staying engaged. Glad to see (most) of the ending results though.
2.5/5
2.5/5
Amid Clouds and Bones by Ella Fields
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Ok after reading this my immediate first thought/critique is—change the title. It’s too vague. It gives 90’s contemporary romance on an Arizona cattle ranch, not an enemies to lovers fae seelie/unseelie fantasy romance. Call it Serpentine or something more sinister or whimsical.
ANYWHO~
Congrats Cruel Prince fans, here is another book with similar yet crueler vibes AND spice.
Honestly, I wasn’t liking it much in the beginning because I don’t like reading about toxic relationships, but uhhh yeah things changed later on and ummm. Yeah. I liked it. Muuuuch better.
It also had some very memorable lines that I found to resonate strongly with me so I enjoyed the writing immensely. Though there were some parts where I had to reread to understand some of the context though—that was my main issue.
And without spoiling too much…
I do recommend this, yes. Thoroughly enjoyed it, yes. It will be invading my headspace for the next several days, yes. Will reread at some point, yes.
ANYWHO~
Congrats Cruel Prince fans, here is another book with similar yet crueler vibes AND spice.
Honestly, I wasn’t liking it much in the beginning because I don’t like reading about toxic relationships, but uhhh yeah things changed later on and ummm. Yeah. I liked it. Muuuuch better.
It also had some very memorable lines that I found to resonate strongly with me so I enjoyed the writing immensely. Though there were some parts where I had to reread to understand some of the context though—that was my main issue.
And without spoiling too much…
I do recommend this, yes. Thoroughly enjoyed it, yes. It will be invading my headspace for the next several days, yes. Will reread at some point, yes.
The Wraith King by Juliette Cross
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
It’s… okay. A dark romantasy through and through. But I will never take the word “cunny” seriously; that was a choice.
It started great and pulled me in and then lost me completely around the 70% mark despite some weird moments before then. Lost me as in, I was so bored and miserable I had to force myself to continue.
I did like the main two characters but felt everything around them was pretty flat and uninteresting. I liked the character descriptions and the uniqueness about each fae race’s culture and religion.
I think my main issue was that the main plot was absent for a long period of time (other than the romance) and then suddenly gets forced in there and rushed. There was all this build up about a traitor and when the traitor is revealed it’s almost over as soon as it started. I couldn’t believe it.
But the rest of it I did enjoy. Mostly the first 60%, if I am being honest.
It started great and pulled me in and then lost me completely around the 70% mark despite some weird moments before then. Lost me as in, I was so bored and miserable I had to force myself to continue.
I did like the main two characters but felt everything around them was pretty flat and uninteresting. I liked the character descriptions and the uniqueness about each fae race’s culture and religion.
I think my main issue was that the main plot was absent for a long period of time (other than the romance) and then suddenly gets forced in there and rushed. There was all this build up about a traitor and when the traitor is revealed it’s almost over as soon as it started. I couldn’t believe it.
But the rest of it I did enjoy. Mostly the first 60%, if I am being honest.
Variation by Rebecca Yarros
Did not finish book. Stopped at 10%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 10%.
Too much info about ballet, not enough character chemistry. Zzz fest.
Kingdom of the Cursed by Kerri Maniscalco
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Slow pacing, but this one focused on the actual Kingdom of the Wicked so it took its time showing the world, its occupants, and its various places of interest. Then we got the budding romance between our main characters and even more twists to the plot. I honestly had no idea who was responsible for what for like 90% of the book.
Though I loved the introduction to the world and all the sweet scenes, I did feel the pacing was just a pinch too slow for my liking. Like damn. I mean I love a slow-burn romance as much as anyone else, but the overall plot was just slower than I would have liked. Just a tad.
ALSO ARE YOU JOKING WITH THAT ENDING?? IT CUT OFF THERE??? RUDE
Though I loved the introduction to the world and all the sweet scenes, I did feel the pacing was just a pinch too slow for my liking. Like damn. I mean I love a slow-burn romance as much as anyone else, but the overall plot was just slower than I would have liked. Just a tad.