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piakau's reviews
362 reviews
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.5
Really liked the writing and the story. Stayed up late reading and didn't want it to end.
Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn
adventurous
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 didn't love all the plot choices but overall I had a lot of fun with this. So many middle books in series feel like they're just building up to the next book and end in a huge cliffhanger but this had its own plot and I felt satisfied with the ending. I'm looking forward to seeing where things go in the next book when it comes out. I'm even less of a fan of the romance with Nick after an entire book where he wasn't even present, but I appreciate the strong connection between Nick and Sel and I've got high hopes for how this love triangle will play out..
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I was so close to giving up on this book about a third of the way in. Once I decided to keep pushing through, I ended up staying up past midnight two nights in a row to finish. I found the setup a bit silly and the main love interest to be pretty cringy and boring, but once the story picked up and some other characters started playing a bigger role I got really into it. I liked how this ended and I’m looking forward to reading the next one! I’m a fan of the enemies to lovers trope so hoping for more Sel and less Nick in the next book…
The Push by Ashley Audrain
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book broke me out of a reading slump - I devoured it in a couple of sittings. I loved the raw non-traditional depiction of motherhood, having to question the reliability of the narrator, and the creepy vibes. Overall would recommend, though check the content warnings especially if you are a parent..
Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe
informative
slow-paced
4.5
Like with Say Nothing, Patrick Radden Keefe does such a great job going deep into a subject and showing different angles and layers. While this is about the Sacklers, it's also about the opioid crisis more broadly, the pharmaceutical industry, philanthropy, wealth, corruption... So good!
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This started off really strong for me and ended (just as I felt the story was getting going) in disappointment. It was a quick read and there's potential here so maybe I'll pick up the next book at some point.
I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
challenging
emotional
funny
fast-paced
5.0
I never watched iCarly and didn't really know who Jenette McCurdy was but I came away loving her. Funny, heartbreaking, relatable, unbelievable. I listened to the audio version read by the author.
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
All the stories were weird and compelling in their own way, with some Black Mirror-esque vibes throughout. I’m just not a short story person. I don’t feel I have enough time to process each story before being thrown into a new one.