minilibrary's reviews
87 reviews

Blood and Gold by Anne Rice

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

My favorite parts of the book were the parts with Armand (but he's my favorite so I am a bit bias), but overall it was an okay book. I don't particularly care for Marius and I find the characters around him to be more interesting.

The Company of Fiends by Kathryn Moon

dark funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious 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? Yes

4.5

This book was good. An excellent amount of spice with the plot following along gently. I love that the boys got more involved with each in this one compared to the first as well! Constantine was my favorite, so menacing to the eye but so so sweet. I think the plot felt more solid in this one too (although, I will be honest it is still very plot light, but that is not a bad thing). Love the character development, it had more of the depth I had been craving in the first one. Also particularly loved chapter 41, iykyk. Looking forward to reading the 3rd!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Violence

Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

adventurous funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

So originally I was going to DNF this book. I don't like the overly flowery writing or the way the main character speaks (it doesn't sound natural). That being said, about half way through I began to like it more as the plot finally progressed, which changed my original 1 star thinking into almost a 3! I like Bambleby, he's funny. I found the pacing to be a bit strange, it was slow in parts and then would have a lot happening all at once and the emotional development between characters is a bit oddly paced too. That being said it ended up being a decent read.

Absolution by Jeff VanderMeer

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

So. I loved the first book, hated the second, really enjoyed the third so I thought "Sure, I'll read the fourth! His writing is kind of odd and surreal, I like that." I'm going to be honest, the majority of the time I read this book I had no idea what was going on. I think this one was too surreal and disjointed that, personally, I just couldn't follow and I felt really stupid that I couldn't.

I did find the book interesting and the visual imagery never lets me down, and like most, I did struggle with the "fuck" chapter, that being said I do always enjoy reading about Area X so the beginning and last parts of the book were my favorite (particularly the last). I think it was a cool book, but I could not even begin to explain it to someone.

Vampire Hunter D Volume 2: Raiser of Gales by Hideyuki Kikuchi

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

0.25

I love Vampire Hunter D. I love the movie and the manga, just not this. It reads as though you're having the manga narrated to you, which if you like that sort of thing, then you'll probably like this! But that's not how I like to read things. There's no delving into the characters' minds which is what I was really hoping for, but instead was left with them feeling shallow.

The Last Templar by Raymond Khoury

2.0

I love the Templar time period, I think it's interesting, so when I saw this, I figured I'd pick it up! Sadly, it's not really that interesting. Most of the book takes place in the modern day, which is fine, but I would've liked more about the Templars themselves. And, after all the work they did to get a certain artifact at the end, it didn't end up mattering at all so that was disappointing.

The House of Thunder by Dean Koontz, Leigh Nichols

5.0

A great book if you're looking for something creepy with a mystery that keeps you guessing! I find that Dean Koontz has an excellent way of creating tense moments that continues to make me want to read more until I find out what exactly is going on. This one was amazing. I could never have guessed the ending and I love the supernatural aspect it has to it too, I won't spoil anything, but it sure keeps you on your toes!

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

5.0

A great book with great humor! I'd always heard good things about it and was able to pick it up in a thrift shop one day, definitely lived up to my expectations! The characters are fun and quirky which is a nice contrast to the overall dark tone of the goings on in the book. Would recommend.

The Bone Labyrinth by James Rollins

4.0

This one was a nice surprise. I've never read one of James Rollins' books before so I wasn't sure what to expect, or if I'd like it. But he writes action very well and definitely had me turning the pages through the last half of the book! It explores some interesting aspects of the start of human intelligence which I found quite interesting.
My only complaint would be that part of the ending was a bit abrupt, but it didn't tarnish the book to where I wouldn't read it again. The romance aspects could use a little more work too. But in those pages lie some intense moments that keep you going.

Assassin's Creed: Renaissance by Oliver Bowden

2.0

I really wanted to like this one more since I love the Assassin's Creed video game series, but overall, this met what I expected. I understand it's hard to translate video games into a written form, and I do think it was done reasonably well, but the personality and action of the characters just doesn't shine as much as it could. Honestly, I think going a bit off the game script probably would've done it some good. Not a bad book, but I probably wouldn't read it again.