naimar's reviews
174 reviews

The Magicians by Lev Grossman

adventurous dark tense slow-paced

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

3.75

I have to say I don’t really know what to think about this book. It was rather strange. I think I liked it? But I’m having a hard time deciding. Eliot was my favorite character and Quentin was decidedly not

The Daughters of Izdihar by Hadeer Elsbai

adventurous fast-paced

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

3.75

I wish it hadn’t ended on such a cliffhanger for Nehal! This was enjoyable plot-wise, although I found the writing style not fully to my tastes. 

The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins

adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. So much better than the work it inspired (the sign of four). 

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

adventurous hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.0

This book was adorable! I loved it, it was heartwarming and a fun read 

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire

sad slow-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

1.0

This book  sucked I’m so sorry. It was an absolute slog to get through. There was so many nothing plot lines. So much going on and simultaneously it felt like nothing really happened. Everything was explicitly told to the reader constantly. I didn’t care about the characters much because they felt like cardboard cutouts. 

The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani

adventurous lighthearted 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

2.75

I read this book for the nostalgia and to recover from reading Wind and Truth. It served its purpose well! I remember being obsessed with this series when I was younger and Agatha is still a beloved character (though I don’t get what she sees in Tedros…). I could pick at its flaws forever but I cut it some slack since it’s a book for kids. 

Wind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring reflective 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? Yes

5.0

Wow. Just wow. This ending. I’m still comprehending everything that just happened. Everything that is slated to happen. I’m reeling. This was so masterfully done. Twists, not huge ones, but small ones that made all the difference while making sense for the characters. So many beautiful moments between people, within internal struggles. The central core of this book was love. That no one could avoid or extinguish love. Love and forgiveness. Because in the end, finding forgiveness heals. If I could give this book more than 5 stars I would. It’s the perfect wrapping up of this story.

also now we know that the power of gay love saves the world sometimes. go rlainarin so happy for them to be the first major gay romance in a sanderson book and for them to hit it out of the park.

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

adventurous dark fast-paced

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

3.25

Was it fun? Yes. Was it incredibly predictable? Also yes. I did like it more than I expected, the overall plot and characters were fun. I even liked the dark and moody male love interest more than the protagonist which surprised me. The twist at the end I saw coming from pretty much the first page but that’s okay. It was a good light read before I pick up Wind and Truth. 

Oh yeah also the writing was mostly serviceable, and the smutty scenes were good, but my god some of the sentences were just unintelligible. It was only occasionally but enough for me to take note.

Tranny: Confessions of Punk Rock's Most Infamous Anarchist Sellout by Laura Jane Grace

dark emotional reflective fast-paced

4.5

A beautiful and raw book. I bought this a couple years ago and even though I don’t really listen to Against Me! anymore, this was still really impactful to read. I love you Laura Jane Grace

Fingersmith by Sarah Waters

adventurous dark emotional mysterious slow-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

oh I loved this book! It was very well done in the style of Victorian Gothic fiction, the plot was so interesting and surprising, the characters were great… I had so much fun. A pearl