rachachisaur's reviews
339 reviews

This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron

medium-paced

3.0

A cute YA haunted house-adjacent story. The ending felt a bit contrived and the romantic relationship was kind of random and halfhearted. But overall likable characters and interesting enough story. 

The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri
Did not finish book. Stopped at 61%.

I was so excited by the premise, magic, and setting of this book that it took me a while to realize most of the characters were pretty two-dimensional and all of the interactions and conversations were very dry and overly simple. 

Not a fan of insta-love, so I really didn’t feel the “sapphic” aspect of this story. Especially bc Priya is the only one of the pair with any personality or depth. 

I think a combination of horribly slow pacing and lackluster dialogue is what finally did me in. 

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

Really well done historical fiction zombie novel with dark and heavy topics that are handled quite well throughout. The pacing struggled and I really wanted more of the backstory and the outside world, but I still enjoyed it and I’m glad I stuck through the slower parts. 

Song of the Beast by Carol Berg

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

My favorite fantasy stand-alone of all time and one of my favorite approaches to dragons in a fantasy world. Phenomenal world-building, great plot, and I love a book that doesn’t need a traditional happy ending!

Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier
Did not finish book. Stopped at 34%.

The story was very slow to get going and none of the characters stood out or had enough development to care about them. 

A Wolf for a Spell by Karah Sutton
Did not finish book. Stopped at 25%.

I’m not really sure what this was trying to be? Read like fanfiction where the main characters are recast as wolves, with all the missing context and nonexistent world building to go with it. 

The audiobook narrator was also very choppy in a way that kept the story from flowing. 

The Heart Forger by Rin Chupeco

5.0

Always Be My Banshee by Molly Harper
Did not finish book. Stopped at 48%.

Unfortunately we have lost not only the plot, but also the vibes. 

This reads like mediocre fanfiction set in the Mystic Bayou world.

Twilight Crook by Eva Chase

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

Lighthearted and funny, with just enough background plot and tension to keep you interested. 

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by S.A. Chakraborty

adventurous slow-paced

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

4.25

Phenomenal, absolutely immersive. I love Amina so much and her crew of friends and sailors were just as engaging, although I would have liked a bit more of their stories and personalities throughout. 

The audiobook narrator was 10/10. She added a depth and nuance to the story that I would not have gotten simply reading the book. Highly recommend.