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onthesamepage's reviews
1037 reviews
The Wild Huntress by Emily Lloyd-Jones
adventurous
sad
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
Shocking nobody, the cat was my favourite character. But the other three were good, too.
While I love Moira Quirk's narration, part of me regrets listening to this instead of reading it physically—I tend to zone out a bit during audiobooks, and I don't get the opportunity to highlight specific sections, which feels like a shame in this case. This is my fourth book by the author, and once again she manages to put together a solid story, with compelling characters. I was interested in all three POV characters, and never had the feeling that I wanted to hear more from one perspective over another. Getting to see their friendships (and more) develop was just lovely. And then there's the backdrop of a hunt and a competition, which is an easy sell.
I probably should have anticipated the painful moments (four books in, you'd think I'd know), but it managed to take me by surprise.
While I love Moira Quirk's narration, part of me regrets listening to this instead of reading it physically—I tend to zone out a bit during audiobooks, and I don't get the opportunity to highlight specific sections, which feels like a shame in this case. This is my fourth book by the author, and once again she manages to put together a solid story, with compelling characters. I was interested in all three POV characters, and never had the feeling that I wanted to hear more from one perspective over another. Getting to see their friendships (and more) develop was just lovely. And then there's the backdrop of a hunt and a competition, which is an easy sell.
I probably should have anticipated the painful moments (four books in, you'd think I'd know), but it managed to take me by surprise.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death
Moderate: Dementia
The Golem and the Djinni by Helene Wecker
reflective
slow-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
Somehow not what I was expecting, and yet I felt compelled to keep reading it, which I guess is a testament to the writing quality. This is a very introspective kind of book, focused on two characters that land in New York but don't belong there, and how they find their footing in this strange world. I appreciated the way the author tackled those themes, and the exploration of humanity, found family, and belonging. As usual, however, the synopsis makes it sound a lot more dramatic than it actually is. In fact, the titular characters don't even meet until about halfway through the book. A lot of page time is spent on exploring many other characters, some of them more relevant than others.
I did really enjoy the interactions between the golem and the djinni once they started meeting regularly, but the book could've been a lot shorter. There are convenient plot devices to give the characters (and us by extension) all the information necessary to defeat the villain at the end. I also personally felt that, while the book features a variety of characters, Muslims weren't very represented. There was one character who was Muslim in the past but not anymore. There are references to Suleyman, who is a prophet according to Islam, but that part is never mentioned. It's not necessarily an issue, but it felt off to me in a book that talks a lot about Judaism and different sects of Christianity.
I did really enjoy the interactions between the golem and the djinni once they started meeting regularly, but the book could've been a lot shorter. There are convenient plot devices to give the characters (and us by extension) all the information necessary to defeat the villain at the end. I also personally felt that, while the book features a variety of characters, Muslims weren't very represented. There was one character who was Muslim in the past but not anymore. There are references to Suleyman, who is a prophet according to Islam, but that part is never mentioned. It's not necessarily an issue, but it felt off to me in a book that talks a lot about Judaism and different sects of Christianity.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder
Moderate: Suicide attempt
The Lotus Empire by Tasha Suri
adventurous
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
4.0
This is a very solid ending to a series I've loved, but I do think this is the weakest in the trilogy. This almost felt like a middle book to me—I thought The Oleander Sword was fantastic because so much happened, the pacing was tight, and everything was spot on. The Lotus Empire felt a lot slower, and more than half of it is spent on setting things up for the conclusion, which is usually what happens in the middle book instead. There was a lot of experimenting, which I don't mind, but also journeying, which isn't my favourite thing to read about, and it took a while before things finally started to speed up.
As always, the characters and relationships are a highlight. I loved every interaction between Malini and Priya. Their tumultuous romance is so satisfying to read. I did miss getting to see Bhumika shine the way she did in the previous installments.
The writing is beautiful as always, but I do think the ending felt a bit too neat. There was also a prologue that never goes anywhere, and I don't understand why it was included at all.
Regardless, The Burning Kingdoms is a fantastic trilogy, and one I would recommend to any fantasy reader.
As always, the characters and relationships are a highlight. I loved every interaction between Malini and Priya. Their tumultuous romance is so satisfying to read. I did miss getting to see Bhumika shine the way she did in the previous installments.
The writing is beautiful as always, but I do think the ending felt a bit too neat. There was also a prologue that never goes anywhere, and I don't understand why it was included at all.
Regardless, The Burning Kingdoms is a fantastic trilogy, and one I would recommend to any fantasy reader.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Misogyny
The Disabled Tyrant's Beloved Pet Fish: Canji Baojun de Zhangxin Yu Chong (Novel) Vol. 1 by Xue Shan Fei Hu
funny
lighthearted
slow-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? No
3.5
It took a while for me to really get into this, and I think the right expectations are key to enjoying this book. It's funny, and ridiculous, and for those of you who have read fanfiction, the best comparison I can make is to say that this is basically crack fic. If you're not in the mood for that, you might not enjoy this. And I wasn't looking for that when I started, which is why I put it down for a while.
I do think the pacing picks up after the first 30% or so, and I started to really enjoy myself and the characters. Li Yu is adorable, and I will be using "sob sob sob!" in the future. I also really liked Prince Jing and the way he cares for his pet fish. The plot is full of humorous shenanigans, and I am genuinely interested in seeing what happens in the next volumes.
I do think the pacing picks up after the first 30% or so, and I started to really enjoy myself and the characters. Li Yu is adorable, and I will be using "sob sob sob!" in the future. I also really liked Prince Jing and the way he cares for his pet fish. The plot is full of humorous shenanigans, and I am genuinely interested in seeing what happens in the next volumes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Death
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Another Tolkien book, another 3.5 star rating.
I had similar issues as with book 1—it takes a while to ramp up, but the second half is a lot more interesting. I did think that whole part after the battle of Helm's Deep takes way too long, but that's probably because I actually wanted to follow Frodo and Sam, instead of Gandalf.
Andy Serkis once again delivers a fantastic narration, and this one is extra good because we get Gollum. I really enjoyed that part of the story, and it's different from the movies in a way that I actually liked a lot more.
I had similar issues as with book 1—it takes a while to ramp up, but the second half is a lot more interesting. I did think that whole part after the battle of Helm's Deep takes way too long, but that's probably because I actually wanted to follow Frodo and Sam, instead of Gandalf.
Andy Serkis once again delivers a fantastic narration, and this one is extra good because we get Gollum. I really enjoyed that part of the story, and it's different from the movies in a way that I actually liked a lot more.
Drowned Country by Emily Tesh
adventurous
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 enjoyed getting to spend more time with Finch and Silver, but I did spend the first part of the book trying to remember the events of the first book to try and understand what was going on with them. Of course, I only saw the flashbacks after I'd gone back and reread the ending of part 1.
I still really liked the writing and the characters, but I don't know if this follow-up was really necessary? Or at least, I think there could've been more interesting discussions about Silver growing beyond humanity, and the impact on his relationships. There is a bit of that, but it still feels too human, and the ending was too neat for my taste.
I still really liked the writing and the characters, but I don't know if this follow-up was really necessary? Or at least, I think there could've been more interesting discussions about Silver growing beyond humanity, and the impact on his relationships. There is a bit of that, but it still feels too human, and the ending was too neat for my taste.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Kidnapping
Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross
adventurous
emotional
medium-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? No
3.0
Part of me was a bit worried where the sequel would go. Divine Rivals ends with our main characters torn apart, so I knew going in that they wouldn't be together initially. The romance was a big part of why I enjoyed it so much—the world itself, the magic, and the war plot weren't impressive on their own. The sequel does elaborate a lot more on the lore of the world, but it wasn't enough to compensate for me.
There was a repetitiveness to the story. It almost felt like we were starting over, with letters exchanged between two people, one of them knowing who they're talking to, and the other not having a clue. It's not what I was hoping for, and it failed to hold my interest or capture my imagination and emotions the way Divine Rivals did.
I also thought that the story didn't fully come together in general. The next part contains general spoilers about Roman and Iris's relationship, and some plot points related to the army.
While Roman and Iris do encounter each other a handful of times, it is never for very long, and they spend most of the book apart. I knew that this would be the case at the beginning, but I was hoping that they'd end up together about halfway through the book, and continue fighting as partners. Instead, even at the points of high tension/conflict, they each have to deal with their own problems. I missed getting to see them work together, and I missed more interactions between them.
One other thing that struck me is that the army ends up pretty useless, which is strange considering how much is made of them until about 50% through. The army is the only thing standing between Dacre and Oath, except when they get to Oath, they're forced to stay outside, and have no further role in defeating Dacre until it's over and done with. I found this an odd choice, but it does track with my feelings about Divine Rivals. The magic, the lore, and the war are all secondary to the romance in this duology, so when the romance is also lacking, there's not much else to hold onto.
I would still recommend this series, however. Rebecca Ross's writing truly is beautiful, and my feelings about Divine Rivals haven't changed.
There was a repetitiveness to the story. It almost felt like we were starting over, with letters exchanged between two people, one of them knowing who they're talking to, and the other not having a clue. It's not what I was hoping for, and it failed to hold my interest or capture my imagination and emotions the way Divine Rivals did.
I also thought that the story didn't fully come together in general. The next part contains general spoilers about Roman and Iris's relationship, and some plot points related to the army.
One other thing that struck me is that the army ends up pretty useless, which is strange considering how much is made of them until about 50% through. The army is the only thing standing between Dacre and Oath, except when they get to Oath, they're forced to stay outside, and have no further role in defeating Dacre until it's over and done with. I found this an odd choice, but it does track with my feelings about Divine Rivals. The magic, the lore, and the war are all secondary to the romance in this duology, so when the romance is also lacking, there's not much else to hold onto.
I would still recommend this series, however. Rebecca Ross's writing truly is beautiful, and my feelings about Divine Rivals haven't changed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gaslighting, War
Minor: Vomit
Hope Ablaze by Sarah Mughal Rana
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Note: this review was written in March 2024, but I refrained from posting it at the time due to the SMP boycott.
I was really excited to read this book when I first heard about it. I still think it's important that this book exists to challenge Islamophobia, and to give voice to so many Muslim teens out there, who feel voiceless and powerless. I appreciated the Muslim representation, specifically Nida's attachment to her hijab.
But this book has a lot of issues as well.
Look, I'm a fairly logical reader. It's not that I set out to poke holes into every story, but sometimes they're so blatant that I can't not notice them, and that was sadly the case here. Throughout the book, regular chapters are interspersed with some of Nida's poetry about the things that are happening to her. I thought it was too much poetry, but that's my personal preference, and not something I count against the book. A big part of the plot is how Nida loses the ability to write poetry, and thereby loses her voice. But the poetry continues. And it's not old poems, because they're all relevant to where the plot is at that point. But Nida can't write them.
There's also a kind of weird magical realism element, which honestly wasn't necessary, but also not really an issue, until the author uses it to conveniently allow Nida to see the past, give us a history lesson, show her exactly what happened to her family before she was born, so she could then use this information to talk to her mother.
I think the part that annoyed me the most was how the author chose to wrap this up, and the message that they will still vote for the Islamophobic politician, because the other choice is worse! And I don't think that's the lesson I want teenagers to learn, because there are other options. I am not American, but I asked an American friend a few questions about how elections work, and granted, it's a complicated system. I don't remember what state this takes place in, and even if I did, I wouldn't know what laws apply in this state. But there could have been an independent candidate as a third option. There could have been a write-in campaign as a show of protest. There could have literally been any other message to teenagers, in 2024, when we are seeing a live genocide, than "vote for the bad guy anyway because the other guy is worse".
Note: this review was written in March 2024, but I refrained from posting it at the time due to the SMP boycott.
I was really excited to read this book when I first heard about it. I still think it's important that this book exists to challenge Islamophobia, and to give voice to so many Muslim teens out there, who feel voiceless and powerless. I appreciated the Muslim representation, specifically Nida's attachment to her hijab.
But this book has a lot of issues as well.
Look, I'm a fairly logical reader. It's not that I set out to poke holes into every story, but sometimes they're so blatant that I can't not notice them, and that was sadly the case here. Throughout the book, regular chapters are interspersed with some of Nida's poetry about the things that are happening to her. I thought it was too much poetry, but that's my personal preference, and not something I count against the book. A big part of the plot is how Nida loses the ability to write poetry, and thereby loses her voice. But the poetry continues. And it's not old poems, because they're all relevant to where the plot is at that point. But Nida can't write them.
There's also a kind of weird magical realism element, which honestly wasn't necessary, but also not really an issue, until the author uses it to conveniently allow Nida to see the past, give us a history lesson, show her exactly what happened to her family before she was born, so she could then use this information to talk to her mother.
I think the part that annoyed me the most was how the author chose to wrap this up, and the message that they will still vote for the Islamophobic politician, because the other choice is worse! And I don't think that's the lesson I want teenagers to learn, because there are other options. I am not American, but I asked an American friend a few questions about how elections work, and granted, it's a complicated system. I don't remember what state this takes place in, and even if I did, I wouldn't know what laws apply in this state. But there could have been an independent candidate as a third option. There could have been a write-in campaign as a show of protest. There could have literally been any other message to teenagers, in 2024, when we are seeing a live genocide, than "vote for the bad guy anyway because the other guy is worse".
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Islamophobia
The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson
adventurous
dark
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
Reading this on audiobook was just as amazing, highly recommend.
This Dark Descent by Kalyn Josephson
adventurous
dark
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
4.0
I love it when a book has me fully engaged from the very beginning and doesn't let up, and even more when that comes paired with great characters and meaningful character development. The book is told in two perspectives—one is Mikira, a jockey who enters the race of her life for the sake of her family, and the other is Arielle, an unlicensed enchanter who is carrying a lot of secrets with her. The other two main characters don't get chapters from their perspectives, but I think that actually worked well here, since it leaves their motivations obscure, which is infinitely more interesting for the story. Reid was probably my favourite (grumpy on the outside, soft on the inside, what's not to love?), but I really appreciated Damien as well, and specifically how he treated Arielle.
There were moments here where the author could have chosen the path of hiding secrets upon secrets, but I was pleasantly surprised to find the characters be (somewhat, at least) open with each other about their difficulties. The relationships that develop between all of them were great—I especially loved the bond between Mikira and Arielle.
The races were a lot of fun to read about, although there are some dark moments there, and I would advice checking out the content warnings before picking this up.
There's a great balance between character/relationship development, exciting moments when the characters are scheming or racing for their lives, and a mystery subplot that looks like it'll get more page time in the sequel. I'm really excited to see how everything unravels.
There were moments here where the author could have chosen the path of hiding secrets upon secrets, but I was pleasantly surprised to find the characters be (somewhat, at least) open with each other about their difficulties. The relationships that develop between all of them were great—I especially loved the bond between Mikira and Arielle.
The races were a lot of fun to read about, although there are some dark moments there, and I would advice checking out the content warnings before picking this up.
There's a great balance between character/relationship development, exciting moments when the characters are scheming or racing for their lives, and a mystery subplot that looks like it'll get more page time in the sequel. I'm really excited to see how everything unravels.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Violence
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Torture