mirva's reviews
31 reviews

Funny Story by Emily Henry

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

5.0

The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo

dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

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

4.5

I'm a simple reader: Bardugo writes, I wait with bated breath for every book.

There's a great cast of characters and Bardugo is great at keeping the strings of the story in her hands. She combines real historical elements and myths with magic in a seamless way.

Luzia and Santangel's dynamic shares some similarities with leads of her other work, and it's a dynamic I am always happy to read more of.

There is a feel to the story that reminds me a little bit of Joanne Harris' works.

Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital by Elise Hu

informative fast-paced

4.25

I really enjoyed this book - the author has an open-minded approach to K-beauty on a personal level, but peppers the book with critical thought on societal pressures faced by women in South Korea and elsewhere. It's an interesting mix of personal and straight non-fiction writing. Her journalistic background is evident in the high-quality research and writing that reflects on contemporary political affairs as well. I think this book will be best enjoyed by someone who has curiousity towards the beauty industry and contemporary South Korea, and is interested in reading an outsider's perspective.

Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett

adventurous funny informative lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

hopeful lighthearted 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? It's complicated

4.0

Beyond the Wand by Tom Felton

funny reflective slow-paced

3.75

Very enjoyable to listen to Felton reading the book. I enjoyed him lifting the curtain on the experience of growing up in the Harry Potter film sets.

My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.5

It's not a comfortable read. Very thought-provoking. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism and Addiction

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Abandonment, Body shaming, Confinement, and Sexual assault

My Roommate Is a Vampire by Jenna Levine

funny lighthearted

2.5

The concept of the story is great, and the story has its funny moments. It wasn't a complete hit to me.

Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This book is the perfect mix of gothic romance, historical elements and the supernatural. There is a lot of romantic tension and passion in the story.

The author also manages to use a romance trope - miscommunication-  which I tend to dislike. There are many moments in the story where Nena and Nestor's budding relationship stumbles because they keep things to themselves, or misinterpret each other's meanings. But both characters are so well-formed that as a reader you're just following along the heart-wrenching twists and turns. 

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

adventurous dark medium-paced

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

4.0

Hunger Games books always have a lot more to say under the surface. It's an exploration of theories of human nature as much as it is a story of Snow growing into the villain of later books.