Scan barcode
mpurdy's reviews
196 reviews
A Wolf Steps in Blood by Tamara Jerée
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Fragile Animals by Genevieve Jagger
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-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
5.0
Thank you, Netgalley, and the publisher 404ink for this arc copy.
I had to sit with this for a bit. This spoke to me in so many ways. You know, when a book leaves you staring at a wall after finishing the last page, that it is something that will stick with you for life. This is one of those times, and this is one of those books. In starting Fragile Animals, I really enjoyed the writing of this quirky main character and the setting, but by reading the last page, I didn't realize how cathartic it was.
I went into this book knowing that it was about a girl dealing with leaving catholicism behind and a potential relationship with a vampire. For me, I was intrigued instantly and with my own relationship with catholicism being strained after a childhood in a Catholic private school. I couldn't help myself. My life wasn't like this but it still helped me heal a bit. And to me that is what makes an amazing book and I will probably think about this for years to come.
In this story, we are jumping back in fourth from the present and past as our MC Noelle grapples with traumatic childhood experiences and the fallout of internalizing it. Noelle finds herself in a small seaside town in Scotland as she essentially forces herself to shake up her current routine. She has isolated and alienated herself from others and has reached a breaking point. On this journey, she stays at a bread and breakfast where we are Introduced to some interesting charachters.
Through this experience, Noelle embraces her demons as she comes to grips with her own identity and tries to forgive herself and others from past decisions. Lastly, yes, there is a "vampire" named Moses, who is a taxidermist, but was he really or was he just what she needed to face herself in the mirror.
This story is full of beautiful imagery and lyrical writing. There are also quite a few dark scenes. These scenes were uncomfortable but in my opinion necessary to push Noelle forward in healing and self discovery.
I think this author is amazingly talented and am blown away by this debut novel. I will definitely pick up more.
I had to sit with this for a bit. This spoke to me in so many ways. You know, when a book leaves you staring at a wall after finishing the last page, that it is something that will stick with you for life. This is one of those times, and this is one of those books. In starting Fragile Animals, I really enjoyed the writing of this quirky main character and the setting, but by reading the last page, I didn't realize how cathartic it was.
I went into this book knowing that it was about a girl dealing with leaving catholicism behind and a potential relationship with a vampire. For me, I was intrigued instantly and with my own relationship with catholicism being strained after a childhood in a Catholic private school. I couldn't help myself. My life wasn't like this but it still helped me heal a bit. And to me that is what makes an amazing book and I will probably think about this for years to come.
In this story, we are jumping back in fourth from the present and past as our MC Noelle grapples with traumatic childhood experiences and the fallout of internalizing it. Noelle finds herself in a small seaside town in Scotland as she essentially forces herself to shake up her current routine. She has isolated and alienated herself from others and has reached a breaking point. On this journey, she stays at a bread and breakfast where we are Introduced to some interesting charachters.
Through this experience, Noelle embraces her demons as she comes to grips with her own identity and tries to forgive herself and others from past decisions. Lastly, yes, there is a "vampire" named Moses, who is a taxidermist, but was he really or was he just what she needed to face herself in the mirror.
This story is full of beautiful imagery and lyrical writing. There are also quite a few dark scenes. These scenes were uncomfortable but in my opinion necessary to push Noelle forward in healing and self discovery.
I think this author is amazingly talented and am blown away by this debut novel. I will definitely pick up more.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Animal death, Sexual content, and Emotional abuse
Sip Happens by Irene Bahrd
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Of Darkness and Ruination by Rachel Fallon
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
THANK YOU to the author for trusting me with her book, baby @rachelfallonauthor I loved it and am excited to read more of Asterias' story!
This releases tomorrow and will be available on KU! Also, if you sign up for the authors newsletter, I heard you may get some bonus content of Asterias story!
This was a chunky read, but dang, did it pay off with an ending that caught me off-guard! I was able to predict a few things, but that didn't take away from the story it just built the anticipation up to those plot points coming to fruition.
There were some scenes that really stuck with me and got you feeling for the characters, but please read trigger warnings as these scenes may cause distress! But the found family and following the main character as she learns to allow people in made the journey all worth it.
There were some similarities for me with ACOTAR but in complimentary ways only. We do have a shadow daddy with wings he gave me rysand mixed with azriel, and I was so happy lol
If you like a long, medium paced fantasy with political intrigue, fated mates, and the chosen one trope, this one is for you!!
4.5☆
The pacing in some parts slowed me down a bit and made it hard for me to really get into the story until about 30%, and then I felt like the pacing and plot were evenly paced. Cannot wait to continue this series that I believe will be a trilogy!
This releases tomorrow and will be available on KU! Also, if you sign up for the authors newsletter, I heard you may get some bonus content of Asterias story!
This was a chunky read, but dang, did it pay off with an ending that caught me off-guard! I was able to predict a few things, but that didn't take away from the story it just built the anticipation up to those plot points coming to fruition.
There were some scenes that really stuck with me and got you feeling for the characters, but please read trigger warnings as these scenes may cause distress! But the found family and following the main character as she learns to allow people in made the journey all worth it.
There were some similarities for me with ACOTAR but in complimentary ways only. We do have a shadow daddy with wings he gave me rysand mixed with azriel, and I was so happy lol
If you like a long, medium paced fantasy with political intrigue, fated mates, and the chosen one trope, this one is for you!!
4.5☆
The pacing in some parts slowed me down a bit and made it hard for me to really get into the story until about 30%, and then I felt like the pacing and plot were evenly paced. Cannot wait to continue this series that I believe will be a trilogy!
Rope the Moon by Ava Hunter
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
5.0
This is officially my favorite romance. I loved everything about this book. The setting, smut, romance,and all the side characters. I am not normally into a pregnancy trope but this one isn't the normal approach and I appreciated it. I also loved that our fmc was a baker and loved her and her sister rekindled relationship. Lastly I want to touch on how the abusive relationship was handled. I think it was done well and the resulting ptsd felt well researched and accurate.
Bunny Hunting by H.N. DeFore
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Yes, there is steam, but that's not all you get. I was pleasantly surprised how the author was able to craft a meaningful relationship and talk about problems that can arise when kinks dominate a relationship and how it's not all about that lust! I don't want to say much more as this is a short novella.
Army of One Vol. 1 by Yishan Li, Bryan Valenza, Tony Lee
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
At first, I wasn't super sold on this. I was confused on the plot, but as I continued reading but it sucked me in, and I finished this in a day! The artwork is stunning. There is soo much detail especially in the facial expressions that i really appreciated. We are following Carrie a regular girl who's world is turned upside down when she finds out she is a clone of a great sorceress and has identical shards spread through out multiple universe's! I don't want to say anymore because u feel like it's important to go in kinda blind! This is Vol 1 in a series, and I am so excited to see where this story will go! My heart was ripped out at the end and it felt like those dreams where you feel like you are falling only to realize you are safe in your bed and it's all gonna be okay, lol