raenyreads's reviews
285 reviews

The Ending Fire by Saara El-Arifi

dark emotional tense 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'm kind of torn on this one. I love a lot of the world building and magic system that the author has created for this series. I also love the characters themselves, Hassa will always be a fave and I would absolutely read a spin off of hers if she got one. I also find the plot of the series to be a really interesting one and I flew through this book because I wanted to know what happened next.

However, I have a few problems. Though I like the main couple in the series, I never could get invested in the level of devotion they show considering the time they spent together. I also found many plot points in this book occurred too quickly and/or were resolved a bit too easily which left me feeling a bit disappointed overall

for example Anoor being so easily rescued and then recovering from brainwashing basically immediately

. 
I think my biggest gripe is with the ending though, considering so much was built up to it . I did find it to be satisfying in how it was all wrapped up but the way it was told left me disappointed.

I enjoyed some of the new POVs presented at the end and liked how they tied up some loose ends. However, introducing essentially new characters in the last 50 pages and having to quickly give their backstory just to get a page of relevant content, and having one of the main moments from the perspective of a creation, just really took me out of it.

I also think just one more chapter would have done this book a world of good.

So even though I've ranted a bit here, I still enjoyed the book and it was a solid 4 star read for me - I think I was just hoping it would be more of a favourite than it was.

Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang

dark emotional tense 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

5.0

This is such an amazing book. I was hooked from the first chapter and read through it so quickly. Yes some twists were a bit predictable but I was always caught up in how they were revealed. I loved the inclusion of the dual POV and I think it added a lot to the story. The worldbuilding/magic system though a little complicated at times was explained really well and I had no problem getting immersed into it. This is my second five star book from this author, I can't wait to read what they write next!

Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Futures by Merlin Sheldrake

informative reflective medium-paced

3.0

I think this is a really good book and I did learn some new facts and ways of thinking about some things from it. The information is interesting and the way the book is structured helps make it digestible. However it just never grabbed me, I was never hooked or surprised. I'm not sure why, it just didn't hit for me. Still glad I listened to it though.

Miss Phryne Fisher Investigates by Kerry Greenwood

mysterious fast-paced

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

3.5

A fun, fast paced read with a great main character and side characters. It has some dark topics but I think they are tackled well and the tone is still kept mostly light with the antics of Phryne.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug use, Rape, Abortion, and Murder

The Coral Bones by E.J. Swift

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring reflective 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

5.0

This book is climate fiction focusing on the ocean, which is an important topic for me to start with but this book tackled it perfectly. It made me angry, wistful, inspired, heartbroken, and so many more emotions
Each of the POVs are as good as the next and had me hooked in their stories. However, the joyfulness of the historical POV has my heart.
It made me immediately want to go jump in the ocean and go snorkelling/diving.

I can't stop thinking about this book.

Children of the Sea, Volume 5 by Daisuke Igarashi

adventurous mysterious reflective slow-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

This is a rating/review of the series overall. 
First of all, the artwork was the selling point for me on this series and still at the end it's my favourite part. It's really phenomenal and being a marine biologist I was sucked in by the depictions of marine creatures and ocean imagery. Highly recommend on that alone.
As for the story, I found it had a lot of depth and I really enjoyed the characters introduced along the way. I loved the weaving in of the marine science points. I think I didn't grasp all the ideas presented within the series but I appreciate the overall message of interconnectedness.
It's a really heartfelt and meaningful series, illustrated spectacularly.

Swimming with Seals by Victoria Whitworth

reflective slow-paced

2.5

This book had some great parts such as the descriptions of the sea swimming, the beaches, the local folklore, and the details of the authors life. I enjoyed these parts and felt emotional towards the end.
However, I'm not going to lie, 13 years of catholic school has made me not want to read about christianity ever again and so each time it was brought up it made check out. Which was quite often. Definitely just a me problem though.
Overall I'm glad I read it, but I wish it focused on the seals more.

You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi

emotional hopeful reflective 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? It's complicated

4.0

Another great book by Akwaeke Emezi. Only Emezi could bring so much trauma and grief into a summer romance read and make it work. I love the character work in this book and the exploration of deeper topics. I knew the love interest going in and was surprised by how the well written relationship development made me root for them. Emezi can do no wrong for me so far. Only not rated a five star as I think the second half of the book felt a bit slower and there wasn't a moment that made me go 'wow' which I want from a 5 star read.

Winter Harvest by Ioanna Papadopoulou

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

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

4.0

This is a really great read. I wanted to read a Greek mythology book by a Greek author and was recommend this one by a friend. It was darker than I was expecting as I didn't look into it much before reading and I loved it. I loved how it focused on the diverse aspects of Demeter rather than just the 'overbearing mother' she is often portrayed to be. 
My only criticisms of this book are it felt like it was dragging a bit at times, I think in part because the chapters are quite long and so some scenes feel extended.
Overall I'd really recommend this book!

Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology by Shane Hawk, Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

This was a really good story collection. As with all story collections, for me some were stronger than others, I didn't think any were terrible they were just outshined by some of the stronger stories. I read one story a day and I think that really helped separate the stories and have them shine on their own. I look forward to looking up some of the authors other works!