millennialbookreview's reviews
541 reviews

The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros

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2.0

 The first 90% or so of this book was pretty great. The two leads were compelling and had chemistry. The romance that bloomed between them was engaging and the story had some really great moments. The last 10% of the book is why I'm rating it only 2 stars. The "final twist" comes out of nowhere and felt unnecessary. It felt like tragedy for tragedy's sake, or for shock value, and I didn't pick this book up for that. I can see what the author was trying to do with that plot point, but it didn't work. 
To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods by Molly X. Chang

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4.0

 ** I received an advanced copy from Netgalley

To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods was a book that mostly lived up to my expectations. The plot was engaging and compelling, though there were some aspects I had mixed feelings about. The characters were complex and morally grey, for the most part. The writing was amazing, but it had some pacing issues. It’s a great novel, it sets up the series’ very well, and tells an important, and intriguing story.

My full review can be found here 
Salt & Broom by Sharon Lynn Fisher

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4.0

 Salt & Broom was an entertaining and engaging book. It took a familiar story and added a twist to keep it feeling fresh. Unfortunately, some of its weaknesses comes from the fact that it is a Jane Eyre retelling, as it prevents the story from taking too many chances or for the characters to feel unique. The magical additions to the plot were compelling for the most part without becoming delving too deeply into fantasy. It’s a nice read and something I’d recommend to readers who know they like historical fiction, and want to give fantasy or magical realism a try.

 My full review can be found here 
The Last Outpost by Hannah Ross

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2.5

The Last Outpost is a book I thought was good, but not great. It had an interesting plot, and the blurb introduced a compelling idea, but didn’t quite live up to its promise. The plot feels torn in two, attempting to balance the mystery of an unknown culture and the conflict occurring in the wider world. It had characters worth rooting for, but they weren’t stand-outs. The writing was good and it was an easy read. It was a fun story overall, but I’m not sure how memorable it is.

 My full review can be found here 
Hounds of Gaia: The Marrower Saga: Book One by Sean Tirman

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4.0

** I received a review copy from the author.

Hounds of Gaia was a book that I enjoyed overall. It had an action-packed story with plenty of mystery and a compelling hook. The characters were fun and engaging. I had some issues with the writing, but the reading experience was still enjoyable. On the whole, it is an entertaining and exciting piece of science fiction, and a good start to a new series.

 My full review can be found here 
The Secret Gift by Bethany Atazadeh

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2.5

The Secret Gift was a book that I have mixed feelings about. The blurb promised an interesting premise, but the execution didn’t quite match my expectations. The narrative as a whole was missing something. The protagonist had a compelling arc, though not perfectly executed, but other characters lacked depth. It was a quick read, and the novel works well as a standalone, but it wasn’t a good fit for me.

 My full review can be found here
Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli

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1.75

This book wasn’t for me. The writing flows very well and the story has some good world-building, without becoming too complicated. However, the plot became stagnant past a point. The story becomes so focused on the romance that the rest of the plot falls by the wayside until the end. This novel is described as “enemies to lovers” but I don’t think that label applies here, since they never stop being enemies. Many of the characters have compelling backstories, but they aren’t compelling characters on their own. 
What You Are Getting Wrong about Appalachia by Elizabeth Catte

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4.0

This was a fascinating read, not only exploring the unique history of appalachia, but also tackling the common misconceptions about the region. It was eye-opening and covered a lot of ground regarding stereotypes of the region and the unique issues citizens there faced, both internally and externally.