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noriboo's reviews
641 reviews
Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Well, this was a gut punch.
I've always been fond of Haymitch' character in the books. After reading his story, I only love him more.
This story shows us how Haymitch got chosen as a tribute and how subsequent events played out. From his earlier portrayal in this series, I had made a few assumptions as to why he behaved the way that he did. That Haymitch is a very damaged man who lashes out to keep people safe from the Capitol by seemingly not having anyone that he cares about. You'll have to read the book to see if my assumptions were correct, though.
Suzanne Collins has done a great job in portraying what it does to a person to constantly be living in survival mode, go through horrendous situations, and keep losing. How a resistance can be built up out of smaller acts and that oppressors aren't overthrown by a singular act. Going into this, we know that the sitiation doesn't get resolved until Katniss enters the stage in 25 years. This didn't ruin the story for me; it made it all the more painful.
Reading this as an adult who's much more aware of the ongoings in the world, I also shed a few tears for the people who are currently being 💥 and 💀 in different parts of the world. While this book is fiction, the parallels that can be drawn to real-life events, unfortunately, are not.
I've always been fond of Haymitch' character in the books. After reading his story, I only love him more.
This story shows us how Haymitch got chosen as a tribute and how subsequent events played out. From his earlier portrayal in this series, I had made a few assumptions as to why he behaved the way that he did. That Haymitch is a very damaged man who lashes out to keep people safe from the Capitol by seemingly not having anyone that he cares about. You'll have to read the book to see if my assumptions were correct, though.
Suzanne Collins has done a great job in portraying what it does to a person to constantly be living in survival mode, go through horrendous situations, and keep losing. How a resistance can be built up out of smaller acts and that oppressors aren't overthrown by a singular act. Going into this, we know that the sitiation doesn't get resolved until Katniss enters the stage in 25 years. This didn't ruin the story for me; it made it all the more painful.
Reading this as an adult who's much more aware of the ongoings in the world, I also shed a few tears for the people who are currently being 💥 and 💀 in different parts of the world. While this book is fiction, the parallels that can be drawn to real-life events, unfortunately, are not.
The Windweaver's Storm by Antoine Bandele
4.5
TJ can't catch a break. He's finally admitted to Ifa Academy for magic. He couldn't be happier to reunite with his friends. Unfortunately, the deadline of his promise to the deity Olokun is looming on the horizon, and TJ's feeling the pressure.
Seeing TJ and his friends grow is a true joy. Even when they're fighting, I love seeing them pull through for each other when it matters most. And even though a lot of people seem to forget that he's just a kid, his parents and little brother won't let him forget it - in a positive manner.
The story has multiple layers and isn't predictable. The characters have a real feel to them. The ending, though, phew. I needed a couple of days to recover.
Seeing TJ and his friends grow is a true joy. Even when they're fighting, I love seeing them pull through for each other when it matters most. And even though a lot of people seem to forget that he's just a kid, his parents and little brother won't let him forget it - in a positive manner.
The story has multiple layers and isn't predictable. The characters have a real feel to them. The ending, though, phew. I needed a couple of days to recover.
Jagged Souls by Miranda Grant
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
"No notes, just crying." is what I DM'd to the author at the halfway mark of this book.
I couldn't have asked for a better ending to Micha's and Varius' story (the first being Tethered Souls and the second Broken Souls).
This was a tough read, so much more than the previous books in this series. It felt hopeless at times, and I won't lie: what pulled me through was knowing that the author had promised that Micha would get her happy end. Everyone suffers in this book. Everyone. Now, I can hear you thinking:"Noriboo, then why are you reading this book?" Because Miranda is an incredibly talented author. She doesn't write gruelling scenes just because. Within the rape and torture scenes, the focus is more on the emotions of the victim: the fear, the denial of what is happening. The fight, flight, and freeze response. The shame and the choices a person is forced to make as they're trying to survive. While what's described is gruesome, it's unfortunately also something that's the lived experience of far too many people. I want to commend the author for having consulted therapists about how best to structure the depicted conversations surrounding the topic of healing after prolonged sexual trauma.
Through all the pain within this book, there was, at times, humour. One of my notes read:"How dare you make me laugh in the middle of these horrors, Miranda!".
I was happy for that, as it gave some levity and reprieve to know that my beloved characters were still able to find silver linings.
Varius has grown tremendously from where he stood in Tethered Souls. He has grown on an emotional level as a person, as a husband, and as head of the family. Micha, oh my dear Micha. I wept for her. For them.
Without a doubt, the bonds of the members of the Shadow family are what makes this series so amazing. They are the light in the darkness.
⚠️ There's graphic depictions of rape and sexual torture - I read the "hard" edition. These scenes are not included in the "soft" edition.
⚠️Your mental health is important. Full list of cw can be found on the authors website.
I couldn't have asked for a better ending to Micha's and Varius' story (the first being Tethered Souls and the second Broken Souls).
This was a tough read, so much more than the previous books in this series. It felt hopeless at times, and I won't lie: what pulled me through was knowing that the author had promised that Micha would get her happy end. Everyone suffers in this book. Everyone. Now, I can hear you thinking:"Noriboo, then why are you reading this book?" Because Miranda is an incredibly talented author. She doesn't write gruelling scenes just because. Within the rape and torture scenes, the focus is more on the emotions of the victim: the fear, the denial of what is happening. The fight, flight, and freeze response. The shame and the choices a person is forced to make as they're trying to survive. While what's described is gruesome, it's unfortunately also something that's the lived experience of far too many people. I want to commend the author for having consulted therapists about how best to structure the depicted conversations surrounding the topic of healing after prolonged sexual trauma.
Through all the pain within this book, there was, at times, humour. One of my notes read:"How dare you make me laugh in the middle of these horrors, Miranda!".
I was happy for that, as it gave some levity and reprieve to know that my beloved characters were still able to find silver linings.
Varius has grown tremendously from where he stood in Tethered Souls. He has grown on an emotional level as a person, as a husband, and as head of the family. Micha, oh my dear Micha. I wept for her. For them.
Without a doubt, the bonds of the members of the Shadow family are what makes this series so amazing. They are the light in the darkness.
⚠️ There's graphic depictions of rape and sexual torture - I read the "hard" edition. These scenes are not included in the "soft" edition.
⚠️Your mental health is important. Full list of cw can be found on the authors website.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Pedophilia
Space for Growth by Emily Antoinette
4.5
This story was everything. Emotional, adventurous, about love and acceptance and all of that while floating through space with a ragtag group of aliens.
Paul is the human mc (bi, he/him) who's accidentally kidnapped by our other mc, Hadrell (nb, he/they).
I absolutely adore Paul. His anxiety and how awkward he gets when people flirt with him: he's a great representation of a chaotic disaster bi and I felt seen 😂
Hadrell is an absolute gem, and the way they did their best to accommodate Paul as a friend and later as a romantic partner was heartwarming. Hadrell and the crew as a whole were a beautiful example of how one can be supportive of one another while simultaneously holding them accountable and helping them to grow.
Emily Antoinette writes steamy scenes like no other person. It's never just about the physical aspect. The emotions of the characters always come through beautifully. Through her writing, she shows that consent and boundaries are to be discussed and that they don't dilute the mood. If anything, it enhances it because mutual respect is sexy AF.
I'm sad that we've come to an end of the Spire series. I'll definitely re-read these!
Paul is the human mc (bi, he/him) who's accidentally kidnapped by our other mc, Hadrell (nb, he/they).
I absolutely adore Paul. His anxiety and how awkward he gets when people flirt with him: he's a great representation of a chaotic disaster bi and I felt seen 😂
Hadrell is an absolute gem, and the way they did their best to accommodate Paul as a friend and later as a romantic partner was heartwarming. Hadrell and the crew as a whole were a beautiful example of how one can be supportive of one another while simultaneously holding them accountable and helping them to grow.
Emily Antoinette writes steamy scenes like no other person. It's never just about the physical aspect. The emotions of the characters always come through beautifully. Through her writing, she shows that consent and boundaries are to be discussed and that they don't dilute the mood. If anything, it enhances it because mutual respect is sexy AF.
I'm sad that we've come to an end of the Spire series. I'll definitely re-read these!
An Island Princess Starts A Scandal by Adriana Herrera
5.0
This sapphic historical romance had me swooning, and the steamy scenes had me kicking my feet! The audiobook narration has been brilliantly done, once again, by Nneka Okoye.
The banter and chemistry between Manuela and Cora had me in a chokehold. The yearning they both feel while simultaneously being scared of what giving in would mean to the social standing of not just them, but also their loved ones.
Aside from the romance, I really enjoyed the friendship dynamic between La Lionesa's.
As soon as I realised that Manuela's story takes place in parallel to Luz' romance, I felt joyful relief that we were about to learn more about the shenanigans that the women got up to in the moments that were off screen in the previous book. The described friendship between these women and their found family is so incredibly precious.
What I found most touching is that the author has taken inspiration from a women's "parlour" catering to women, that actually existed in Paris in the 19th century and written accounts and observations of the queer culture in Paris and Europe during that time. As a reader, I could tell that the author has done her proper research by the way it was described.
I can't recommend this series enough!
The banter and chemistry between Manuela and Cora had me in a chokehold. The yearning they both feel while simultaneously being scared of what giving in would mean to the social standing of not just them, but also their loved ones.
Aside from the romance, I really enjoyed the friendship dynamic between La Lionesa's.
As soon as I realised that Manuela's story takes place in parallel to Luz' romance, I felt joyful relief that we were about to learn more about the shenanigans that the women got up to in the moments that were off screen in the previous book. The described friendship between these women and their found family is so incredibly precious.
What I found most touching is that the author has taken inspiration from a women's "parlour" catering to women, that actually existed in Paris in the 19th century and written accounts and observations of the queer culture in Paris and Europe during that time. As a reader, I could tell that the author has done her proper research by the way it was described.
I can't recommend this series enough!
Submit To Me by N. Slater
5.0
Another great novella in the Mated Queens series by N. Slater. This time, we get to see how Helvania finally finds the right person for her. In the previous novellas, I was genuinely put off by Helvania's behaviour. In this story, we see that she's grown since we've last seen her and also gain insight into why she behaved in the way that she did. Yasemia crossed her path at exactly the right time. This story is quick, steamy and cosy with some light angst. This story is set in a series of interconnected standalone and can be read by on it's own.
The Gatekeeper's Staff by Antoine Bandele
4.0
This is definitely one of those books that has me berating myself that I've let it sit on my TBR for so long.
The worldbuilding in this YA story is very well done. What I enjoyed most about this story is that while the magic is a secret to the world in general, TJ's family is very much aware and a part of the magical society.
The Orisha deities were new to me, and as readers, we get introduced to their lore throughout the story in a way that doesn't make all the information feel overwhelming. If anything, it further stoked my personal interest to look up further information.
TJ isn't a typical chosen one: he doesn't become this invincible mmc overnight, and I'm happy that's the route the author chose. He's a real teenager who's struggling with grief for his elder sister while simultaneously being done with feeling the pressure of never being as good as her.
The book is the first of a trilogy, and it's clear that this part is meant to set the stage. The characters have realistic reactions and displays of emotions. I was surprised multiple times throughout the story, which definitely kept me on toes as I tried to figure things out. Above all, I adore TJ. The middle of the story seems to slow down as he takes the time to process all of his emotions and tries to adapt to all the ways his life has changed. He's a good kid with his heart in the right place. I'm looking forward to seeing his further growth as the series progresses.
I'd definitely recommend this story to people who've ever felt like they would never belong and people who've enjoyed Rick Riordan's work.
The worldbuilding in this YA story is very well done. What I enjoyed most about this story is that while the magic is a secret to the world in general, TJ's family is very much aware and a part of the magical society.
The Orisha deities were new to me, and as readers, we get introduced to their lore throughout the story in a way that doesn't make all the information feel overwhelming. If anything, it further stoked my personal interest to look up further information.
TJ isn't a typical chosen one: he doesn't become this invincible mmc overnight, and I'm happy that's the route the author chose. He's a real teenager who's struggling with grief for his elder sister while simultaneously being done with feeling the pressure of never being as good as her.
The book is the first of a trilogy, and it's clear that this part is meant to set the stage. The characters have realistic reactions and displays of emotions. I was surprised multiple times throughout the story, which definitely kept me on toes as I tried to figure things out. Above all, I adore TJ. The middle of the story seems to slow down as he takes the time to process all of his emotions and tries to adapt to all the ways his life has changed. He's a good kid with his heart in the right place. I'm looking forward to seeing his further growth as the series progresses.
I'd definitely recommend this story to people who've ever felt like they would never belong and people who've enjoyed Rick Riordan's work.
Het Paleis Onder De Sterren by Ella Mina
4.0
Dit is een historisch fantasy verhaal met romantische elementen dat is geïnspireerd door culturen uit het Midden-Oosten en Noord-Afrika.
We worden aan het begin van het verhaal gelijk het diepe in gegooid en maken de eerste hoofdstukken een paar sprongen door de tijd. Mayira is een doortastende, veerkrachtige jonge vrouw. Haar leven heeft een verassende en pijnlijke wending genomen en desondanks staat het welzijn van haar zusje op nummer 1.
Mijn grootste ergernis in romantasy is wanneer een hoofdpersoon verliefd word en daardoor hun missie op een tweede plaats komt. Niet bij Mayira. Tussen Omar en Mayira zit er spanning en als lezer vond ik het grappig hoe zij elkaar op de zenuwen werkte. Ook hoe zij beiden worstelden met hun gevoelens van begeerte en toch besloten om trouw te blijven in hun convictie niet fysiek te zijn voor zij met elkaar gehuwd zijn.
Dit verhaal leest lekker weg. Er worden hier en daar Arabische woorden gebruikt en dat verhoogde voor mij de sfeer van het boek. De vertalingen kan je terug vinden in het boek.
Het Paleis Onder de sterren is een aanrader voor personen die op zoek zijn naar een stoer fantasy verhaal, zonder draken, maar wel met een ijzersterke hoofdpersoon die zich niet zomaar uit het veld laat staan en in een andere setting (de woestijn).
Ik zou het niet erg vinden om meer verhalen te lezen die zich afspelen in deze wereld.
Vanaf ongeveer 15 jaar.
We worden aan het begin van het verhaal gelijk het diepe in gegooid en maken de eerste hoofdstukken een paar sprongen door de tijd. Mayira is een doortastende, veerkrachtige jonge vrouw. Haar leven heeft een verassende en pijnlijke wending genomen en desondanks staat het welzijn van haar zusje op nummer 1.
Mijn grootste ergernis in romantasy is wanneer een hoofdpersoon verliefd word en daardoor hun missie op een tweede plaats komt. Niet bij Mayira. Tussen Omar en Mayira zit er spanning en als lezer vond ik het grappig hoe zij elkaar op de zenuwen werkte. Ook hoe zij beiden worstelden met hun gevoelens van begeerte en toch besloten om trouw te blijven in hun convictie niet fysiek te zijn voor zij met elkaar gehuwd zijn.
Dit verhaal leest lekker weg. Er worden hier en daar Arabische woorden gebruikt en dat verhoogde voor mij de sfeer van het boek. De vertalingen kan je terug vinden in het boek.
Het Paleis Onder de sterren is een aanrader voor personen die op zoek zijn naar een stoer fantasy verhaal, zonder draken, maar wel met een ijzersterke hoofdpersoon die zich niet zomaar uit het veld laat staan en in een andere setting (de woestijn).
Ik zou het niet erg vinden om meer verhalen te lezen die zich afspelen in deze wereld.
Vanaf ongeveer 15 jaar.