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puddlejumper's reviews
737 reviews
The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan
3.75
I enjoyed this a lot more than the first one. I found the trio much more compelling and the storyline interesting.
There are still some issues. It got repetitive, Riordan has some weird issues around femininity, and there were some racist and fatphobic comments.
There are still some issues. It got repetitive, Riordan has some weird issues around femininity, and there were some racist and fatphobic comments.
Acts of Cupidity by E.S. Drake
4.0
This is a really fun story. London based urban fantasy following two cupids as their love matches turn deadly.
I enjoyed how different the world and afterlife was, the characters were all engaging, the romance was an organic slow burn, and it was the right level of humour for me.
I did find it a little difficult to get into. The beginning was exposition heavy and quite slow. After that, it gets much better and I'm glad I stuck with it.
I enjoyed how different the world and afterlife was, the characters were all engaging, the romance was an organic slow burn, and it was the right level of humour for me.
I did find it a little difficult to get into. The beginning was exposition heavy and quite slow. After that, it gets much better and I'm glad I stuck with it.
Bolt from the Blue by Willow Thomas
2.0
I have the final version and it still reads like a first draft. I wonder what the other version was like because this one still has pacing issues, typos, weird dialogue, and it's awkward to read.
It's very safe. Fake dating the bi hockey player because your shitty friends are trying to force you to date someone. But twist! You both have crushes on each other.
Everything is just fine. No fall out from the game dating even though they both like each other and no real miscommunication. The friends are so shitty even NPCs agree.
It's low stakes, low angst, hea.
It's very safe. Fake dating the bi hockey player because your shitty friends are trying to force you to date someone. But twist! You both have crushes on each other.
Everything is just fine. No fall out from the game dating even though they both like each other and no real miscommunication. The friends are so shitty even NPCs agree.
It's low stakes, low angst, hea.
I Want to Kiss You in Public by Zelda French
2.0
Someone watched Skam and thought they could do it in book form. It does not work.
I don't have the patience for toxic teenage friendship. There were too many characters, the MC had no personality, the relationship was forced and I was bored.
I don't have the patience for toxic teenage friendship. There were too many characters, the MC had no personality, the relationship was forced and I was bored.
Natural Twenty by Charlie Novak
2.75
I might be in the minority but I wanted more d&d. With the title and the series name I was expecting more focus on the game or group of people brought together by it.
It did include that, but the majority of the book was them visiting each other's shops and talking. There's no tension, no plot, it's just a bit bland.
It's not a bad contemporary romance, it's just forgettable.
It did include that, but the majority of the book was them visiting each other's shops and talking. There's no tension, no plot, it's just a bit bland.
It's not a bad contemporary romance, it's just forgettable.
Cosplay and Confrontation by Sarah Zane
2.0
I don't think I've read a sapphic romance quite so centered around men before. It was odd, though that was the least of the issues.
It was very repetitive and neither character is likeable. There's some verbal abuse, biphobia (or what I'm interpreting as biphobia because lesbian with a preference for women … is a lesbian), physical assault, and some humiliation.
They should be running away from each other, not getting together.
It was very repetitive and neither character is likeable. There's some verbal abuse, biphobia (or what I'm interpreting as biphobia because lesbian with a preference for women … is a lesbian), physical assault, and some humiliation.
They should be running away from each other, not getting together.
Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb
4.5
The first ¾ of this book are very slow and then it speeds up at the end.
It's the recollections of a royal bastard starting from when he was very young. His memories become clearer as he becomes older, though not always.
Fitz is not a reliable narrator. Whether that is deliberate or because memories are fallible. It's interesting to grow alongside him and learn what he finds value in and the people and events that shaped him.
It can be confusing at times because you're being introduced to this fantasy world and its fantasy politics through a man remembering his childhood.
Author Fitz does not include much context for the reader. I liked this. It felt authentic to the narrative and I can respect a character that is more interested in their dog's wellbeing than the favour currying at court especially when said character is a child.
That said, I do understand why some people find this book boring. Having re-read it for the first time in years, I think I would recommend people to start with the Liveship Traders trilogy which is much easier to get into even though they are chonky books!
It's the recollections of a royal bastard starting from when he was very young. His memories become clearer as he becomes older, though not always.
Fitz is not a reliable narrator. Whether that is deliberate or because memories are fallible. It's interesting to grow alongside him and learn what he finds value in and the people and events that shaped him.
It can be confusing at times because you're being introduced to this fantasy world and its fantasy politics through a man remembering his childhood.
Author Fitz does not include much context for the reader. I liked this. It felt authentic to the narrative and I can respect a character that is more interested in their dog's wellbeing than the favour currying at court especially when said character is a child.
That said, I do understand why some people find this book boring. Having re-read it for the first time in years, I think I would recommend people to start with the Liveship Traders trilogy which is much easier to get into even though they are chonky books!
Supernatural Word Search by Sophia Willow
3.75
I've just fished this and I had fun. It isn't without faults but I thought the fun I had overcame that
Some of the pages were really low res resulting in pixelated text. Usually in word searches if you have multiple words e.g John Winchester then they are written without spaces. This one would include an extra letter between the words which was annoying.
It's not perfect but if you're a fan then it's a bit of fun.
Some of the pages were really low res resulting in pixelated text. Usually in word searches if you have multiple words e.g John Winchester then they are written without spaces. This one would include an extra letter between the words which was annoying.
It's not perfect but if you're a fan then it's a bit of fun.
Thaumaturgic Tapas by Tao Wong
4.0
There was something very meditative about this book. I found a lot of joy in reading it and letting everything slow down.
The food descriptions were absolutely amazing. The ethos of minimising waste by using leftovers to create new dishes was really inspiring and there was a lot of love put into this aspect of the book.
I had not read earlier books in the series so I wasn't sure what to expect in terms of plot. There wasn't much of one. What there was, was not resolved at the end. It felt a little awkward. I would have liked a bit more to keep me engaged.
I really enjoyed it. It was a cosy, fantasy, slice of life that made me hungry and warm all at once.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC
The food descriptions were absolutely amazing. The ethos of minimising waste by using leftovers to create new dishes was really inspiring and there was a lot of love put into this aspect of the book.
I had not read earlier books in the series so I wasn't sure what to expect in terms of plot. There wasn't much of one. What there was, was not resolved at the end. It felt a little awkward. I would have liked a bit more to keep me engaged.
I really enjoyed it. It was a cosy, fantasy, slice of life that made me hungry and warm all at once.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC