quinn_caddel's reviews
22 reviews

Out of My League by Sarah Sutton

emotional funny inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

The Bullet Swallower by Elizabeth Gonzalez James

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Heartsong: A Gargoyle Monster Romance by S.E. Wendel

emotional hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.0

Whispers of the Deep by Emma Hamm

adventurous dark 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? It's complicated

4.0

Easily a favorite. Fastest I've read through a book in a long time. It's just an achingly good monster/human romance book with danger on the side. It can be so hard to find mer romance books and this one hits every trope I love. A little cheesy at times, but loved it and so so excited to jump into the second book. 

Christmas As We Know It by Sarah Sutton

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

Super cute Christmas friends to lovers romance 

Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense 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

4.0

This Spells Love by Kate Robb

emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.5

Musseled Out by Barbara Ross

adventurous lighthearted mysterious fast-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

3.25

Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

adventurous dark reflective tense fast-paced

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

3.5

A classic of horror, survival, and teeth.

A cautionary tale about the dangers of genetic engineering: Jurassic Park thrills and terrifies its characters and readers alike when dinosaurs are genetically cloned and recreated in the modern world and those in charge of the park overestimate their ability to control them.

I loved the movie and finally decided to pick up the book, which I enjoyed just as much. It was a fun time picking out which parts of the novel were used in the movies! I also really enjoyed the more in-depth science talk in the book that we missed out on in the movie. It was still digestible for the average reader and fun to think about. The encounters with the dinosaurs felt harrowing and easily my favorite scenes to read.

The book is plot-driven first and foremost. It’s slow in the beginning with frequent jumps from character to character as events take place, putting the reader at the forefront of the action wherever it is. The characters were introduced fairly quickly with brief glimpses into their lives before going to the park. However, the characters do come off as somewhat one-dimensional with no big changes in who they are by the time the story is over. The likable characters were still very likable by the end, and when the unlikeable characters didn’t make it, I wasn’t too heartbroken over their deaths.

I’ll also say that the book is of its time, and I was cringing at some descriptions and actions of the characters as I read, but it didn’t ruin the overall experience of the book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Blood, Death, and Animal death

Moderate: Violence and Sexism

Minor: Child death, Fatphobia, and Vomit

Flowers in the Attic: 40th Anniversary Edition by V.C. Andrews

challenging dark emotional 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? Yes

4.5