peppersbookpicks's reviews
199 reviews

The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver

emotional hopeful sad slow-paced

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

3.5

This was as good as I could have hoped for I think, considering the plot of the story is deeply sad. I didn't enjoy the pacing of the book all that much, it was mostly very slow and I felt like the climax of the story didn't happen until the last 100 pages. Although this is my least favorite book by Josie Silver, she is still able to build dynamic characters and draw out the rawest of emotions with her expressive writing style. Despite all of the sorrow, Silver manages to shape a beautiful ending to the story, so overall I would rate this book a 3.5.

Storm and Fury by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Did not finish book. Stopped at 50%.

DNF'd this at 50%. I powered through most of this book because I found the plot somewhat interesting even though every bit of the dialog was extremely cringy. I finally DNF'd after reading the main character's line "crap on a cracker the size of Texas." I have read and really enjoyed other YA books by JLA, so I don't even think this is a genre specific problem, I just could not deal with the immaturity of the main character in this story specifically.

Vengeance of the Pirate Queen by Tricia Levenseller

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 was happily surprised with how much I enjoyed this book, especially considering how skeptical I was going into it. The FMC was so closed off and mysterious in the original duology that I didn't really like her all that much, so I thought the character development for her in this story was really well done. The plot wasn't the absolute best, but the "epic romance" saved the day.

One Night on the Island by Josie Silver

emotional inspiring 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

5.0

Favorite Quote: "That's the way it is sometimes, isn't it? 

Life is the stuff that happens in the cracks between your plans and expectations." 

Josie Silver really has a special way of spinning a simple romance into a magical story. Every time I have finished one of her books, I just cannot bring myself to give it anything less than 5 stars. These characters are so dynamic and beautiful, and their story made me feel every emotion in the deepest way. I am thankful for the reminder that choosing yourself is just as important as connecting with others.

Daughter of the Siren Queen by Tricia Levenseller

adventurous fast-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? No

4.0

This book gave a good ending to a fun and adventurous story. I enjoyed how fast paced this book was, although there were some characters and parts of the plot that felt lackluster. The author abandoned a couple of characters and plot points altogether and never circled back, so that left me feeling a bit aggrieved. The ending seemed somewhat rushed as well, especially after such a long build up to the final confrontation with the villain. 

Honestly without the romance between the two main characters, I likely would have lost interest in the story altogether. With the next book in this series focusing on a different character, I am not as excited for the next installment, but I will still give it a shot!

Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller

adventurous fast-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? It's complicated

4.0

A well done and lighthearted pirate fantasy. I enjoyed the banter and slow burn pacing of the romance and storyline. It kept me interested and excited to continue reading the next book.

A Fire In The Flesh by Jennifer L. Armentrout

adventurous emotional medium-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? It's complicated

3.0

This book was one of my most anticipated releases of 2023, and although I love JLA, this just did not live up to my expectations. The first two books in this series were automatic 5 stars, so the bar was set pretty high. The writing is great, but it seemed so drawn out and repetitive for no reason. I truly do not understand why she couldn't have kept this spinoff series as a trilogy. 

All that to say... I freaking love Sera and Nyktos. For that reason, even though I am disappointed in this installment, I will continue reading this series through the end. I really hope the next book is the action-packed, epic finale the characters deserve.

Obsession by Jennifer L. Armentrout

tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I cannot believe I waited so long to read this book. If you've read the Lux series you might feel the same 

hesitation as me, because Arum is supposed to = bad... 

but do yourself a favor and give this a read. I really enjoyed the characters even when I expected not to. This made me wish the entire Lux series was Adult instead of YA 🙈

Once Upon a Dream by Liz Braswell

lighthearted slow-paced

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

1.0

I deeply regret not DNF-ing this book. At one point I thought "it's not that bad, maybe my niece would enjoy it one day"... but the longer it went on the more boring it got. 

Would not recommend to anyone, even a kid.

A Fire Endless by Rebecca Ross

adventurous medium-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

3.0

I really enjoy Rebecca Ross's writing style and overall I enjoyed this duology. The second part of this story was just not as captivating as I hoped it would be, but it did give a satisfying ending.