moiratheexplorer's reviews
77 reviews

The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

Paladin's Grace by T. Kingfisher

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious fast-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

A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher

emotional mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell

emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez
Did not finish book. Stopped at 6%.

I fear this book is just not meant for audio format. The story seems to be told in a unique was, changing voices/brief quotes from other POVs to enhance the storytelling experience. It's a very unique book, but I struggled with it on audio. 
DNF'd but not opposed to giving it a second try in physical form. 

Skyhunter by Marie Lu

adventurous dark fast-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

3.0

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
Did not finish book. Stopped at 21%.

Why the hell don't these books have more clear trigger warnings? Nothing like a fun Monday morning surprise of child rape. Love that. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, and Blood

Moderate: Drug abuse and Self harm

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

dark mysterious slow-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? No

2.0

Picked up the book at random after seeing it around for a while. The story was so-so, but I was highly surprised by the (TW)

rape scene

. I thought it was a one off, powered through, but it happened again and in more detail. It was a surprise and really threw me. 

Beyond that, the book itself was ok. I wish it spent more time connecting Noemi's early established knowledge of chemistry or interest in anthropology to the resolution of the plot. It really feels like a red Herring almost. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Rape, Sexual violence, and Violence

Grey Bees by Andrey Kurkov

emotional tense fast-paced

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

3.5

A Novel Summer by Jamie Brenner
Did not finish book. Stopped at 16%.

Writing is repetitive and mediocre at best. 
The most disappointing part is the incorrect and unrealistic information, at times bordering on propaganda. 
I'll suspend disbelief that a mid-20's first time author fresh out of grad school could get a NYT best seller and a book tour at launch. Sure why not. 

But I draw the line at the hypocrisy. First cheering major corporations (Goodreads/Amazon) then complaining about housing prices. Next we explore Red Algae, a real threat to coastal ecosystems often caused by the dumping of chemicals in our waters, but then follow it up with our ecologist character being anti-wind power, with the author proclaiming the dangers of turbines for sealife. 

I'd encourage the author to read any research that isn't funded by major corporations and oil companies, and better educate themselves before writing a book full of propaganda they don't even understand.

0/10 would never recommend