patienceholmes's reviews
158 reviews

The Agathas by Liz Lawson, Kathleen Glasgow

adventurous lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

The River Has Teeth by Erica Waters

dark mysterious medium-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

5.0

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

adventurous challenging emotional tense 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

4.5

My only real criticism is that sometimes the messages were a little heavy handed. I think the author felt the need to make things very clear but in some bits it was a bit overdone and came off a little cringey. I think considering this is her first work though that’s totally understandable. 

I personally found it a little too cliche with the romance aspects but I think so many people would love it for that and that’s personal taste. 

Aside from that it was really great. I loved the focus on grief, I loved the magic system and learning how it all worked, I loved the way the characters were expanded on and delving deeper into their backstories. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Grief, Racism, and Death of parent

Moderate: Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Gaslighting, Death, Abandonment, War, Slavery, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Misogyny, Car accident, and Bullying

Minor: Infidelity, Rape, Pregnancy, Child abuse, and Racial slurs

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

challenging 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

4.75

Want to make it very explicit that the SA referenced in the content warnings in one instance refers to a minor/p*dophilia. The scene is very graphic. Be safe. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Murder, Sexual assault, Death, Violence, Toxic relationship, Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Blood, Bullying, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Abandonment, Gore, Grief, Sexism, Torture, Racism, Sexual harassment, Terminal illness, Alcohol, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Medical content, Vomit, Antisemitism, Cancer, Classism, Cursing, and Gaslighting

A Castle in the Clouds by Kerstin Gier

adventurous lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune

adventurous emotional hopeful medium-paced

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

5.0

My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh

dark emotional reflective slow-paced

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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Body shaming

Moderate: Grief, Toxic friendship, Cancer, Mental illness, Alcoholism, and Eating disorder

Minor: Abortion, Suicide, and Toxic relationship

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto

emotional hopeful lighthearted mysterious 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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Murder, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio

dark reflective sad slow-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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Addiction, Bullying, Alcohol, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Death, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Physical abuse

Next of Kin by Kia Abdullah

dark sad tense fast-paced

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

2.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Medical trauma, Terminal illness, Chronic illness, Miscarriage, Infertility, Grief, and Child death

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Body horror, Infidelity, Misogyny, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Death, Blood, Sexism, and Suicide