mkjacobswrites's reviews
563 reviews

Peace and Turmoil by Elliot Brooks

4.0

I enjoyed Brooks' debut a lot! This is a political fantasy with lots of POVs, action, and intrigue. The magic system is super cool, though I thought the explanations sometimes got out of balance (some aspects were repeatedly explained, while others were never addressed). There were also multiple grammatical/mechanical concerns that pulled me out of the story. I felt like the pacing and character development, as well as some choices, were not always consistent. But overall the world felt richly populated, the fantasy elements were engaging, the character emotions were compelling, and the action was gripping. I'll definitely be excited for a sequel! 

The Traitor Queen by Danielle L. Jensen

4.0

This was a decent sequel to the first, keeping the same mood and level of action with, but I would've liked higher stakes (it felt inevitable that they'd get the support they needed, survive everything, etc.) and more reasonable advances in character arcs. I felt like the forgiveness happened too quickly as did the ending in general. I wish we got more development on the sisters.

The Love Lyric by Kristina Forest

4.25

This was a fun light romance read about a famous singer falling for a widow and writing a song for her. Some moments were cheesy; other times felt very real. A few minor points took me out of the story; for example, some of the dialogue was stilted, there were long passages of exposition that approached info dumps, and the main character Iris had a daughter named Calla who definitely read as older than her age. My favorite aspect was "Tom Wyatt," a joke Iris made early on and kept carrying through the book. 

Other People's Houses by Abbi Waxman

3.75

This book focuses on a neighborhood of relatively close families that are going through a lot: big trials like infidelity and cancer, as well as the ordinary minutiae of carpools, teenagers, etc. There were some really poignant reflections and vivid moments; other times, the tone was too angry and even nihilistic for me.

The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict, Victoria Christopher Murray

4.0

Belle is an intriguing historical figure, and the authors did her justice, plus it was cool to see two writers' styles merge so seamlessly here. I wish we got to see more familial interactions; that would've been more interesting than a romance I didn't care much about and then various "suitors" never actually shown on the page. Still, this was a compelling read.

You Are Here by Jennifer E. Smith

4.5

All of Smith's romances have a uniquely wistful quality, and I actually really like that this one barely starts before the end. The scenes with Emma's family are so vivid - I wish we got more! I didn't think the dog was necessary, especially the trip to the vet. The third person narration was fine but I wanted more character observations of the trip besides police check ins, like a tour guide at a battlefield or something. But overall this is a nostalgic romance that also has familial grief told well.

Pivot: The Only Move That Matters is Your Next One by Jenny Blake

4.0

This was a well-explained concept with lots of broader applications: "the only move that matters is your next one," "you don't need to wait for THE answer, just try out an answer," etc. I wished the examples were more diverse even just across different fields; my career path has never been as straightforward as what she describes.

Foul Days by Genoveva Dimova

5.0

This book is what I want the Witcher series to be: engaging monster-fighting with a coherent consistent plot and characters who realistically change. It was especially nice to see a protagonist with a believable and relevant history with the main antagonist. The mythological elements were compelling without being over-explained. I really liked the balance of intense stakes and day-to-day logistics. I'm also obsessed with the first line - it leads into the world so well.

The Fall Risk by Abby Jimenez

5.0

You wouldn't think a story about people trapped in their apartment because the stairs were removed by accident would be heartwarming, especially if one is on crutches and the other has a stalker after her - yet this was a cute, sweet romance that worked very well. In the little space we had, you could see the characters grow and grow together. The conversations felt believable and even the side plot worked - impressive considering this is less than 100 pages!

The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen

4.0

This was an interesting fantasy concept - a bridge kingdom that controls trade and a treaty made to secure an arranged marriage - that could have had more depth in execution. For example, why are they using our modern American curses, games, and drinks? I definitely wanted more worldbuilding in terms of kingdom interactions and histories and I felt like most character interactions were predictable or surface-level.  Yet overall this was an engaging story that I enjoyed reading.