moonlightjuju's reviews
85 reviews

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

Go to review page

adventurous

4.0

📚 Book Review: "Norse Mythology" by Neil Gaiman (Audiobook) 🎧


⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


Neil Gaiman has once again proven his mastery of storytelling with "Norse Mythology" in audiobook form. As a devoted fan of Gaiman's audios, I couldn't resist diving into this captivating journey through Norse mythology. Each tale comes to life with Gaiman's enchanting narration, making it a truly immersive experience. 🌟


Exploring the rich tapestry of Norse myths has been an enlightening and enjoyable experience. Gaiman's deep dive into these ancient stories showcases his meticulous research and deep respect for the source material. It's evident that he has poured his heart and soul into bringing these tales to a modern audience, and his efforts shine through in every chapter. 💫


What sets Gaiman apart is his ability to capture the essence of these myths—the humor, the absurdity, the pathos, and the grandeur. His narration adds an extra layer of pleasure, as his skill as an oral storyteller is unmatched. It's as if he's sitting by the fire, regaling listeners with tales of gods and giants, weaving a spell that transports us to another realm. 📖🔮


Listening to "Norse Mythology" feels like embarking on a journey through time and space, guided by the masterful voice of Neil Gaiman himself. Whether you're a mythology enthusiast or simply enjoy a good story, this audiobook is sure to captivate and delight. 🌌


In conclusion, "Norse Mythology" in audiobook form earns a solid four-star rating from me. It's a must-listen for anyone who appreciates the power of storytelling and the allure of ancient myths. 🌿


#BookReview #NorseMythology #NeilGaiman #Audiobook #Mythology #Storytelling #Bookish #Bookworm #Fantasy #Mythical #AudiobookLovers #Bookstagram #ReadingCommunity #MustListen #MythologyLovers #Enchanting #LegendaryReads

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Go to review page

dark emotional funny mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I dove into "The Graveyard Book" audiobook yesterday, and I emerged today with a heart full of wonder and a five-star rating in tow. Neil Gaiman's enchanting tale kept me captivated from start to finish, weaving a spellbinding narrative that felt like a warm embrace. 🌟


From the very beginning, I was drawn into this world of mystery and magic. Gaiman's storytelling is so beautifully endearing that I knew I was in for a treat. As I journeyed alongside Nobody Owens, affectionately known as Bod, I found myself deeply invested in his growth and adventures. 📖


What I adored most was how the story came full circle, allowing me to witness Bod's evolution from a curious child to a courageous young man. Each character, from the ghosts to the living, won my heart with their unique quirks and wisdom. But it was Bod himself who stole the show—my sweet little potato pie, as I affectionately dubbed him. His kindness and intelligence were truly admirable, yet it was his hint of vengefulness that added depth to his character—a trait that I surprisingly found myself drawn to. 💖


The graveyard's inhabitants, with their colorful personalities and poignant life advice, added layers of richness to the narrative. I delighted in every tale from their past lives, each one contributing to the tapestry of Bod's upbringing. 👻🌿


"The Graveyard Book" is not just a story; it's an experience—a journey that will stay with me long after the final chapter. Neil Gaiman's masterful prose and the impeccable narration in the audiobook form breathed life into this tale, making it an absolute delight to immerse myself in. 🎙️


In conclusion, if Neil Gaiman were to pen another novel centered around Nobody Owens, I would eagerly devour it without hesitation. "The Graveyard Book" has firmly secured its place as one of my all-time favorites, earning a well-deserved five-star rating and a permanent spot on my bookshelf. 📚


#BookReview #TheGraveyardBook #NeilGaiman #Audiobook #Bookworm #Bookstagram #ReadingCommunity #FantasyBooks #BookLovers #MustRead #MagicalReads

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

Go to review page

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

3.0

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Go to review page

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

4.0

"Mexican Gothic" presents a compelling narrative reminiscent of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher" (although I have not seen many make this connection) albeit set in Mexico and intertwined with underlying race issues. Throughout the story, the gripping plot held my attention, although it received a rating of 4 stars due to certain areas that left me wishing for further exploration.

Firstly, I longed for more depth into the character of Catalina, the cousin at the center of the tale. While glimpses of her backstory and personality were provided through flashbacks and Noemí's commentary, they proved insufficient. Strengthening the narrative could have been achieved through dual perspectives, offering insights from both Catalina and Noemí or by dedicating several chapters—perhaps 5 to 10— to Catalina's experiences post-marriage, leading up to her pivotal letter to Noemí.

Additionally, greater insight into Francis would have enhanced comprehension surrounding his motivations, particularly concerning his
betrayal of his mother
. While Noemí's burgeoning feelings for him were evident, his own sentiments remained unclear. Did he reciprocate her affection, or was there another driving force behind his actions?

Overall, "Mexican Gothic" delivers a captivating narrative with echoes of classic literature, but the potential for deeper character exploration leaves room for improvement. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Marie-Antoinette: The Making of a French Queen by John Hardman

Go to review page

informative reflective

3.5

Very informative and I did enjoy the read. I studied the French Revolution and culture intensely from 2014-2020, but somehow never came across this book. This book focuses on Marie-Antoinette and her involvement in French politics and the large role she began to play in it. You can tell a lot of research went into this, with records and letters from key players being explored. The only reason why I do not give it a higher rating is because there were some points where Hardman just would repeat what was already stated a few chapters before, and it did become repetitive. Overall, this is a book that I wish I had when completing my undergrad European classes as it is full of information and evidence.

The Push by Ashley Audrain

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0


This book gave me so many emotions from start to finish.  Audrain writes gripping story of motherhood, mental health, and adultery.

This book provides a jarringly accurate portrayal of the thoughts/feelings women often go through after traumatic pregnancies/births and the effect this has on their family and the bond with they have with their child. 

This book follows the shame, self-doubt, and isolation that comes with regretting motherhood, which became heavy at some points. This book does a beautiful job at encapsulating the negatives that can come with motherhood. This book does the rare job of exposing this

Now with characters 
Fox was so unsupportive and seemed to only want a child,
then cheating on his wife after the lost of a child was horrible in more ways they one. 

This book does a great job handling the first person POV. It was interesting reading from a first person‘s point of view that included the character being an , unreliable source. Readers are left questioning whether or not the daughter Violet is truly evil or if this is all overly exaggerated due to the underlining issues, the main character is going through.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas

Go to review page

adventurous medium-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

4.0

Took me a while to get into just because I did not like Chaol (still not really a fan of him but I can tolerate him a little more now). I do feel like Sarah has a bad habit of always needing to make couples out of characters, not allowing characters to be on their own once they have grown, it's like their reward is just jumping straight into a relationship. Choal also treats a lot of the women in his life like objects, he lusts after them and then once he gets what he wants he figures out he never really likes them.
For example, When he said he never loved Nesryn and when he went on a whole rant about not being happy that Aelin found Rowan. Chaol is just a very selfish character and to me, he started off a 1/10 and ended off being a 3/10. He is not a character that I can ever find myself respecting due to his treatment of many of the women in the series


Anyway, I was REALLY invested in Nesryn's character development and storyline. TOD does a great job at exploring her WITHOUT Chaol and I am happy with where her story left off.

One thing I was not expecting was the twist with who the villain was, however, I am VERY tired of Sarah "killing" characters just to bring them back to life 2 pages later, tbf it's getting old and it no longer keeps me at the edge of my seat because I KNOW she won't let that character REALLY die.

I'm looking forward to finishing the story and I can't wait to see all the characters brought together again.
Romanov by Nadine Brandes

Go to review page

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I love reading about the revolutions and historical fiction and this was a very interesting take on what happened with the once two missing bodies of the Romanovs. Loved the mix of magic, I will look into more stories written by this author.
Elektra by Jennifer Saint

Go to review page

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

4.0

I really did like the multiple POV's, beautifully written, and full of tragedy due to many misunderstandings with the main characters and those around them. Saint never misses the mark with these retellings.