nerdybookster's reviews
678 reviews

Belladonna by Adalyn Grace

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This one was surprisingly good. I kept hearing people talking about how Death more or less harasses Signa from the second he sees her. I found that it kind was almost the opposite. Death was not the aggressor. Signa was. Intentionally doing things in order to see or summon him to her whenever she wanted while he was trying to just do his duties. 

I loved the way he kind of lead her to the clues she needed without outright telling her that they were. Signa had to figure it out for herself. I also really liked the constant almost misdirection with who was truly behind it and how they did it. It didn't go according to plan at all and that just made it better.

I felt for Signa as we go through her life growing up and how one right after the next all they are interested in is the fortune attached to her name. One even going so far as I think to attempt to starve her to death so that the inheritance will pass to them. That was all kinds of messed up. I'm glad she eventually finds the right guardians. Sort of.

I am so excited to get my hands on Foxglove to continue this series and see what happens with Fate (who reminds me of a mix of Desire and Destiny...)

Run, Rabbit, Run by Juniper Hartmann

adventurous challenging dark inspiring tense fast-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

Certainly enjoyed this one. The way we are just unceremoniously dumped into the action like there is nothing else important at all was a unique choice that I really appreciated. Anything else would have kind of spoiled information given later in the book. We follow Barbara "Bunny" Townsend as she is abducted and held captive by what can only be described as a psychopath. She comes to terms with her situation quickly, and while she does resist him at first, she eventually leans into the torture. There were so many scenes that I really should not have been reading in the breakroom at work. Keep that in mind going in. Readers beware: there is spice. 

I did end up taking a star off for a few combined reasons. For one, this book could have been longer. It was a lot of action happening that pushed the plot along more quickly than I would personally would personally have preferred. Then there was the actual BDSM part. I don't know a single DOM that would push someone like that. The one bathtub scene took it too far for my own tastes. I think we should have gotten more on the consent end of the whole thing. 

The twist at the end was stunning! I was not expecting it at all. You go through the entire book thinking its going to be a specific way and then it suddenly shifts gears. I still don't know the point of Michael, though...he seemed kind of extra? What did he contribute to the storyline?

In the Days Before by Renée Shantel

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

This book was well written. I loved the way she kept the attention to detail to keep the readers guessing what was actually happening. We follow Audrey Herringbone as she has to deal with the loss of her friend. Audrey runs a YouTube channel where she reviews missing persons cold cases in order to help spread awareness of them to the public. Then everything goes to hell when her own friend goes missing and people think she had something to do with it in order to promote her channel. 

I thought that was kind of weird. Why would she abduct someone if she only covers cold cases? It made no sense. These people who thought it were really just looking to get their own fifteen minutes of fame. 

I loved the slow reveal of everything. I like to try to guess what's going to happen and this one kept me from guessing the whole way. It was developed nicely and I rather enjoyed when we found out what really happened. 

I do think that her mom should have taken more time off to spend with Audrey and help her through this situation instead of prioritizing work. She really put her job before her family. My own would never behave like that. 

Definitely a 4/5 star read and I'm looking forward to more works by Ms. Shantel!

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder

Mention of murder happening in the past (off-page).

Powerless by Lauren Roberts

adventurous challenging emotional tense 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

4.0

The animosity!! I read this one fairly quickly. I adored the animosity just immediately between Paedyn and Kai. It stands to reason that she didn't recognize him at first when they were in Loot and she was doing her thing. He also seemed to have no idea what Loot was actually like or he wouldn't have behaved the way he did. I didn't like the repetition of reasoning. Like, I got it the first five times, you don't need to tell me five more. The reveals throughout of who did what and how they were all connected was great. I'm looking forward to Powerful and Reckless. 

Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring reflective tense 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? It's complicated

4.0

I really enjoyed this book. We follow these people who are fairly powerful within their own countries as they navigate life in a neutral place. Here Reyna and Kianthe can just exist without worrying. Of course their pasts eventually catch up to them and they have to at least partially step back into the roles they used to have. I enjoyed the story and how we just get this slice of life. They want the simple life, but have to work hard for it. I can't wait to see how some of the plot with the queendom works out and the dragons. 

Who the Hell Is Pansy O'Hara?: The Fascinating Stories Behind 50 of the World's Best-Loved Books by Chris Sheedy, Jenny Bond

informative medium-paced

2.0

I feel like the subtitle of this may be misleading. I did learn about the lives of a few famous authors, but not much about their actual books which what I was expecting. Definitely did not learn enough for me to even remotely consider recommending to anyone. I had hoped it would go over the novels themselves, but no. Rather disappointing read. 

Under the Udala Trees by Chinelo Okparanta

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.0

I liked the idea of this one, but not the execution. It didn't keep me nearly as engaged as I was hoping. It follows someone as they are forced to basically live a lie for most of their life. The book is set during the Nigerian civil war and follows two girls as they bond. I can't really recall much. It was okay. Definitely didn't like how the main character pretty much forced herself into the closet for her whole life because the threat of death was all too real. Probably not going to reread. 

Camp Zero by Michelle Min Sterling

adventurous challenging emotional informative reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This was a very strange book. We follow three groups of people as they figure out life up in northern Canada. The heat in the United States has become nearly unliveable. One of my favorite things was how we had no idea when everything was happening in relation to the groups. All we know is one group is when oil was just being stopped and the other long after it was outlawed. Very good read. I'd love to know what comes next. We get so much interconnected information about people. I loved how Ms. Sterling kept the actual connection between the Blooms and White Alice separate until the very end. And the actual way she revealed it was brilliant. I loved the read, but I am also perturbed by how...accurate...it is becoming? Can't help but wonder what the world will look like when we actually reach the year in the novel. We are already at unprecedented heatwaves. What happens next?

Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation: Mo Dao Zu Shi (Novel) Vol. 5 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective 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? Yes

4.0

I spent way too much of this book going "Are you an IDIOT?!" Once even out loud. We have fully returned to the present and have begun the conclusion to the story. I love how even missing some of the information, Wei Wuxian & Lan Wangji were still able to put together what happened fairly easily and quickly. Do not go in unprepared. The final eight short stories have a lot of spice. One is damn near just porn. I loved the conclusion and how everything was resolved. Now to read Heaven Official's Blessing.

Lord of Eternal Night by Ben Alderson

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring 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

4.0

This book was intriguing. It's a Beauty and the Beast retelling only Belle is a boy. Raised to kill the beast and finally end the curse, he has been sent as the final "Claim" to the castle on the edge of Darkmourn. I loved how immediately they were hostile to one another. They constantly got themselves at odds with each other. The biggest plot device I saw that I loved was th idea of who is the real beast and who is the victim? Marius was nothing but kindhearted to everyone he came in contact with. He went out of his way to help where he could and made sure everything was comfortable for Jak, even though he didn't have to. He and Jak both knew the outcome of Jak's stay. I think the way he ended it was beautiful and I am looking forward to reading more.