nerdybookster's reviews
678 reviews

Jackaby by William Ritter

adventurous challenging informative inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.25

The Last Heir to Blackwood Library by Hester Fox

fast-paced

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

3.5

Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious 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

4.75

I enjoyed how this book was written.  How we follow the same person through different parts of their life and how we get the actual (kind of) story of how Medusa became the monster she was known for being.

The Traitor's Game by Jennifer A. Nielsen

adventurous challenging informative inspiring mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

Blood at the Root by LaDarrion Williams

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

I did enjoy the book for the most part. I could not understand some of the things that were spoken about, though, as the slang/speech patterns are not generally used where I live. 

I felt bad for Malik having everything kept from him and having to learn over and over and over about different betrayals while trying to harness this power that he has.

The Cloisters by Katy Hays

challenging fast-paced

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

2.5

Mister Memory by Marcus Sedgwick

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.25

That poor man. He has an eidetic memory, but before it was known as that. This is set in Paris between like 1895 and 1910. The First World War has not happened yet. People go to see Mesmerists and Memorists, people basically with eidetic memories who can remember everything. Accused of a murder, we follow Marcel du Pries (Pres? I don't know, I had the audiobook!) as he is looked after by an alienist. It was all very interesting. I loved the sections we got from Inspector Petit as he basically sat down, looked at a picture, and solved the whole case. Sounding a lot like Kronk in The Emperor's New Groove when he suddenly detailed the plot. I think the ending was a little abrupt for me, the way it just sort of stopped almost mid-thought. 

Only Time Will Tell by Jeffrey Archer

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.5

This was definitely interesting. My dad recommended it. Now he normally reads procedurals and thrillers. This was outside of his normal. I did enjoy this one. It's another in the same vein as Louis L'Amour series, the Sacketts, where we follow a family from its founding in England to its present day in the United States. Only this one starts in the 1920s, not the 1560s. Makes it much more approachable I think. We follow a young Harry Clifton as he learns about himself and travels through school. It was curious and I'm looking forward go going back to my dad's to exchange this one for the next volume. 

Ink, Iron, and Glass by Gwendolyn Clare

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

3.75

I liked it pretty well. I think I'd rate this one a solid 3.75/5. I'm not convinced that things could have happened the way they did in the book. We follow this girl who apparently has all manner of power and everyone knows about it, yet won't talk to her and properly train her. Then they're all surprised when she does dangerous stuff. I am wondering how Leo got away with what he did. Elsa is very observant. It shouldn't have worked. I am quite curious to get the sequel and see how the plot plays out.

Letters to Half Moon Street by Sarah Wallace

adventurous challenging emotional informative inspiring lighthearted tense fast-paced

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

4.0

This book was actually much better than I was originally anticipating. I loved how it was set in an alternate history where magic is a thing and no one cares a jot what orientation you are. The whole thing is set up in letters between Gavin, Charles, Gertrude and a few others. I loved the epistolaric (is that a word? Looks like it should be...) style this was in as we only get letters back and forth between the characters. It was obvious from the get go, what persuasion Gavin and Charles both had. Though I did like the way it was revealed. Quite intriguing and I will be looking forward to more books by Ms. Wallace.