millennialbookreview's reviews
571 reviews

Still the Sun by Charlie N. Holmberg

3.5

 Still the Sun isn’t my favorite book by this author, but I enjoyed it. It had a compelling plot, though some readers may find the way the plot unfolds to be frustrating and confusing. The characters were intriguing because of how mysterious their histories were, even to themselves in some cases. The writing won’t be for every reader, but it worked very well for me. This is definitely a book that needs to be read in its entirety for a reader to fully understand both the story taking place and the characters. This book definitely won’t be for everyone but I think readers who like a lot of mystery with their fantasy stories would enjoy it. 

 My full review can be found here

 

Scorpio by Marko Kloos

2.75

 Scorpio is a book that I find myself struggling to succinctly review and give a rating to. I would give the first half of the book a higher rating than the second half. The blurb promises a lot of creative ideas. The first half of the book has a thrilling plot, which feels disconnected from the second half of the story, which is much slower. The characters are intriguing at the beginning of the story, but lose some of their complexity as the story goes on. On the whole, it feels like two books, each telling a distinct story, in the same binding, rather than one fluid narrative. It was entertaining and it was an easy read, but its disjointed nature was disappointing.

 My full review can be found here 

Queens of Moirai by Rhiannon Hargadon

3.0

Queens of Moirai was a book that I liked, but didn’t love. It had a compelling and engaging story, though some twists were easy to predict. The cast of characters is intriguing, but I could not connect with the protagonist. The writing is good, and the story introduces a lot of interesting ideas. It’s an interesting read, and an entertaining one, but not an instant-favorite like I was hoping for

 My full review can be found here 

Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe

4.0

 This story was equal parts funny and emotional. It had moments were I was laughing out loud, and others where I nearly cried. Margo was a compelling character and very easy to root for, even as she made questionable or bad decisions. She was resourceful, but naive and unprepared for the situation she found herself in. The story really encapsulated how it feels to be young and on your own with no idea what you're supposed to do with your life and responsibilities you can't avoid. It also touched on a lot of relevant and modern problems, such as addiction and doxxing. 

Secrets of the Octopus by Sy Montgomery

5.0

 This book is very clearly a labor of love, written by someone with a clear dedication to teaching about octopuses. I learned a lot of fascinating things about octopuses from this book, about a variety of species. The photographs were amazing as well. 

None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell

3.0

 I thought this book was fine, but not great. The first half to two-thirds were incredibly compelling and it was easy to become immersed in the story. I liked the unreliability of several of the characters, as they kept me guessing and wondering what was true, and how much of it was true. The last section of the book is where the story kind of started to fall apart for me. The revelations felt anti-climactic on most counts. I also felt like certain plot twists were so heavily foreshadowed that they were obvious and the attempts to subvert my expectations were equally so. I think I liked the idea of the book more than the execution. 

Blood Wisp by Sarina Langer

1.75

Blood Wisp was a book that I felt missed the mark. The author set up some great ideas in terms of characters and plot, introduced a lot of promise, but did little with it. The ideas themselves are intriguing, and the series could go in an interesting direction from where this book ended, but I wasn’t able to gauge much from this first entry. In short, this was a book I neither loved nor hated, and I wish there was more to it.

 My full review can be found here 

Bad Blood by Bella Jacobs

4.0

 Bad Blood was a nice, fun read overall. It had an amusing story that was easy to become invested in. I enjoyed the two romantic leads together, though the use of certain tropes didn’t sit well with me. The writing was smart and funny, while not shying away from suspense when it was needed. I picked up this book looking for an easy and entertaining read, and I found it.

 My full review can be found here 

Mouthful of Forevers by Clementine von Radics

4.0

 This was an engaging and thought-provoking collection of poems. I didn't love every poem, but overall they were poignant and emotional and raw. Her words are powerful yet have a vulnerability that's difficult to describe. 

Truthwarden: An Action Adventure Epic Fantasy by Russel Storm

2.0

Truthwarden was an entertaining book overall, but not one I think I’ll remember. It had an engaging plot, though it got a bit messy at times. Characters had compelling backstories or circumstances, but lacked depth. The premise was solid, but the world-building was lacking. I didn’t dislike the novel, but little about it stands out to me. The cover of this book was beautiful, and I wish it lived up to my expectations.

 My full review can be found here