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onthesamepage's reviews
1035 reviews
A Thousand Questions by Saadia Faruqi
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.0
I don't read a lot of middle grade anymore, but I really enjoyed this. The writing flowed nicely, and the characters kept me engaged. I loved getting to experience Karachi through the eyes of Mimi and Sakina.
The only thing I did find confusing is that it's never clear what language they're communicating in. This is relevant because Sakina's English and Mimi's Urdu are both not very good, and they're supposed to be learning from each other, but it's usually Sakina not understanding something Mimi says. Either way, though, while her English is broken at the beginning, that stops really quickly, which felt a bit unbelievable if they're speaking in English the entire time.
Also, there's a bit too much of "how you say" used here when Urdu-speaking characters try to use English phrases.
The only thing I did find confusing is that it's never clear what language they're communicating in. This is relevant because Sakina's English and Mimi's Urdu are both not very good, and they're supposed to be learning from each other, but it's usually Sakina not understanding something Mimi says. Either way, though, while her English is broken at the beginning, that stops really quickly, which felt a bit unbelievable if they're speaking in English the entire time.
Also, there's a bit too much of "how you say" used here when Urdu-speaking characters try to use English phrases.
Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation: Mo Dao Zu Shi (Novel) Vol. 3 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
I wasn't expecting this volume to be mostly flashbacks, but I loved everything about this. Finally getting to see how Wei Wuxian got into the demonic arts was so good, and the scenes where he was putting that to use were appropriately chilling.
Now that I'm 3 volumes in, I'm starting to really appreciate how the author set the story up, and how the layers of both the story and the characters are slowly getting peeled back. There's a maturity to the characters and the way they act that really appeals to me. There is still only a whiff of romance, but that doesn't mean that there isn't depth to the emotions between Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian, and I'm really enjoying the subtlety.
I think this will be a very rewarding series to reread, because I'm sure I missed a lot of minor details in the first two volumes. I can't wait to read the rest, and then come back and reread it all.
Now that I'm 3 volumes in, I'm starting to really appreciate how the author set the story up, and how the layers of both the story and the characters are slowly getting peeled back. There's a maturity to the characters and the way they act that really appeals to me. There is still only a whiff of romance, but that doesn't mean that there isn't depth to the emotions between Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian, and I'm really enjoying the subtlety.
I think this will be a very rewarding series to reread, because I'm sure I missed a lot of minor details in the first two volumes. I can't wait to read the rest, and then come back and reread it all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence
Moderate: Body horror, Torture
The Hollow of Fear by Sherry Thomas
mysterious
tense
medium-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 think this was my favourite installment so far. The mysteries keep getting better, and the relationship between Charlotte and Lord Ingram has me properly hooked. Ingram being the suspect in the murder case makes for very high stakes. There were plenty of surprising twists, and while I thought one in particular felt a bit too easy, it didn't lessen my enjoyment all that much.
There's finally some progress in the romance as well, although I have to wonder where it's going, considering how this book ends.
There's finally some progress in the romance as well, although I have to wonder where it's going, considering how this book ends.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Murder
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Rape
The Smuggler and the Warlord by KJ Charles
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The warlord gets mentioned quite a bit throughout the series, so it's nice getting to see how, exactly, Merrick got Lucien out of that situation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse
Five For Heaven by KJ Charles
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This just makes me want more of Lucien and Stephen's adventures in Japan, but it was a really sweet epilogue to a fantastic series.
An Earl to Remember by Stacy Reid
Did not finish book. Stopped at 27%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 27%.
I either totally missed that the plot was amnesia when reading the synopsis, or I did notice it but figured it might work for me since I like the author's writing. Either way, it does not work for me, and I'm quitting while I'm ahead. Georgianna keeps heaping lies upon lies, and everything that happened at the beginning, with him mistaking her for a new lover, and his actual lover becoming extremely jealous even though she was about to engage in a foursome with him, was equally not my thing.
The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I love it when a mystery has me up way past my bedtime because I'm fully hooked by the story.
I guessed one of the twists, and was way off about most of the rest, but I had so much fun with this. The story is told through emails, WhatsApp messages, and transcribed conversations, which is along the lines of what the author usually does in her books. Something about this format makes for very fast reads for me, but it won't appeal to everyone, since it doesn't really give you the best sense of the characters. I don't mind that for these kinds of books, and the way it all comes together in the end is very satisfying.
I guessed one of the twists, and was way off about most of the rest, but I had so much fun with this. The story is told through emails, WhatsApp messages, and transcribed conversations, which is along the lines of what the author usually does in her books. Something about this format makes for very fast reads for me, but it won't appeal to everyone, since it doesn't really give you the best sense of the characters. I don't mind that for these kinds of books, and the way it all comes together in the end is very satisfying.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison
hopeful
lighthearted
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
3.5
The Mask of Mirrors by M.A. Carrick
adventurous
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The GraphicAudio experience was interesting. Could definitely do without the weird grunting whenever two characters kissed, though.
This was a reread and I still had a really good time with it.
This was a reread and I still had a really good time with it.