modernmatilda's reviews
100 reviews

The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland

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challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

WOW. If you thought House of Hollow was a wild ride, buckle up! 

The Invocations follows three girls with dark magic who rile against the patriarchy to find a killer who is targeting women and stealing their powers. We meet Jude, the cursed and exiled daughter of a billionaire, Emer the feisty witch, and Zara, who is trying to bring her sister back from the dead. 

I am so thankful to have received an advanced readers copy from my favorite indie bookstore and I am looking forward to conversing with Krystal Sutherland at my Library in February! 
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A Ruin of Roses by K.F. Breene

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adventurous hopeful lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I went to the bookstore looking for a spicy fairytale retelling and this one delivered! It had all of the wonderful Beauty and the Beast vibes and I was genuinely wrapped up in the lore of the village. I'm so sad that it is a trilogy because I want to spend more time with the characters and I want to find out what happens, but a three-book commitment is a lot.
You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron

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adventurous emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

An absolutely brilliant ride!!
The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 74%.
Hit too close to home with my dad having a stroke, it was stressing me out trying to finish it, plus the mc was annoying/boring 
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Wolfsong by TJ Klune

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challenging emotional slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

S L O W paced and repetitive, but it made me happy to carry around this book for months and pop in on the characters every now and then, will definitely be reading the others
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Painted Devils by Margaret Owen

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adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I wish I could give this book 10/5 stars. It's incredible and perfect and I'll hopefully write more words later. 
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Cat's Cafe by Gwen Tarpley

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funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

ADORABLE comic with cute little sassy and sweet and coffee-loving animals. Great representations of mental health, asking for help, lending a hand, and being a good neighbor. Also features animals communicating by signing!
Bittersweet in the Hollow by Kate Pearsall

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emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Another incredible "girl is missing, flowers on the cover" book, this time by a debut author! 
⁣
If you love...⁣
Witches⁣
Stories of sisters⁣
Moth man⁣
That scene in Kiki's delivery service where she lives above and works in a bakery (but make it magic)⁣
...you need this book! ⁣

I loved the main character and her ability to taste emotions. The sister/female witch family vibes were *chefs kiss* and the twist was amazing. 
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Out of the Blue by Jason June

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

4.0

I absolutely loved Out of the Blue! It was a perfect, predictable, lovely queer summer romance that just felt like a warm hug. I loved the discussion around depression, especially because it came from an adult parent character. If you want another fantastic read about mermaids (of the Renaissance Faire variety), check out Breathe and Count Back From Ten, it's one of my favorite YA books of all time. 

One thing really bothered me about the book. Crest/Ross repeatedly talks about the fact that Mer don't have genders, they are all fluid and nonbinary, but then gives every single human he meets a gender-specific description, like "female-presenting". It bothered me and I'm not sure why the author chose to do this? 

Can't wait for next months book!
Once More Upon a Time by Roshani Chokshi

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adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A sweet, lovely, adorable "swoon" of a book, perfect for fans of The Princess Bride, road trip romances, and second-chance love. Also, at only 131 pages, it's a perfect little read.