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moodreaderhan's Reviews (630)
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Thank you NetGalley, Bindery Books, and Kay Synclaire for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
Thoughts:
House of Frank is described as a cozy fantasy and while it is at times, it is also a much deeper and darker read than one may expect due to the topics of loss, death and grief all throughout the book. This read comes with many surprises in store for its readers, and some of them heavier than expected.
I immensely enjoyed getting to see creatures that I don’t often run into in a lot of other reads as of recent. This book is unique and touching and charming and fun and lovely in so many parts of it.
For some of the things I didn’t love in the book as much, first on the list is the romance. While it had some beautiful moments and was overall kind of cute, I wanted more. It felt very background, and if that was intentional… well I still wanted more lol. Additionally, the narration perspective wasn’t done flawlessly and felt choppy as it bounced back from 1st and 2nd.
This is a plot over character development read, but still gives you enough to become attached to at least a few of the characters! (Frank - I adore you to bits!) However, I did find myself craving more to some of the other side characters.
I wouldn’t recommend this to everyone, but I would say this one that someone could take a chance on for sure!
Paperback/Hardcover/Audiobook/E-book:
E-book
Pace:
Slow/Medium
Cover thoughts:
Drew me in right away!!
Triggers:
Death, Dementia, Grief, Suicidal Thoughts, Suicide, Injury, Illness, Abandonment, Transphobia, Animal Cruelty, etc.
Thank you NetGalley, Feiwel & Friends, and CG Drews for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
Thoughts:
I wish I had good things to say, but I am heartbroken by how much Don’t Let the Forest In disappointed me. 7 chapters in, and I believed this had a promising start to an amazing read. However, from there the story completely flopped. The plot truly lost its way. I can’t say that my attention wasn’t grabbed the entire time, but the confusing journey only continued to get more confusing. Not in a way that makes the readers think you have to be buckled up for the mystery or left with your own interpretation or understand that the narrator was unreliable, but because so many things that were pertinent to the story were never circled back to or answered. Ever.
The romance…. I don’t know if I am ready to talk about it all yet without losing my mind. All I can say is that romance is shoved down our throats without much build, and we are supposed to just follow along blindly with a tell over show chemistry (which I don’t even know if I like using that word because there was none in my opinion)! I’m here for a protective touch-him/her-and-you-die kind of love, but I have to like the two characters together for me to be in for the ride.
The writing was gorgeous, but it is style or substance all the way. I honestly finished this and don’t know if I am more mad, confused or upset by it all in the end.
P.S. I wish this story was told from Lana’s POV! My favorite character from the beginning and still is now.
P.P.S. Chill, you guys are only in high school lol
Paperback/Hardcover/Audiobook/E-book:
E-book
Pace:
Medium
Cover thoughts:
Obsessed with it!
Triggers:
Death, Gore, Eating Disorder, Violence, Bullying, Self Harm, Panic Attacks, Homophobia, Grief, Toxic Relationships, Abuse, etc.
