readingroodle's reviews
102 reviews

Hat Trick by Eden Finley

relaxing 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? It's complicated

3.5

The Hedge Knight by George R.R. Martin

adventurous 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? No

3.5

Bromantic Puckboy by Saxon James, Eden Finley

funny relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett

challenging mysterious slow-paced

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

5.0

Kind of bizarre how I loved this book cover-to-cover and yet I hate almost every character within it. 

A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin

adventurous challenging dark slow-paced

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

4.0

In Real Life by Cory Doctorow, Jen Wang

relaxing fast-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

3.5

If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales, Cale Dietrich

emotional funny relaxing fast-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

4.0

A Killer's Mind by Mike Omer

adventurous mysterious 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? Yes

4.0

Ground Zero by Alan Gratz

dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Promise Boys by Nick Brooks

adventurous mysterious fast-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

4.5

I read this as an audiobook and let me just say that the decision to have a full cast was definitely the right one. As a good portion of the book (for sure the first half) is spent looking at the same situation through different characters' eyes, the distinct voices really helped to differentiate the characters while also providing a way to connect to them.

I believe this book is definitely more mystery than thriller; there aren't many tense points that have you on the edge of your seat. Instead, the tension grows throughout the book with the reveal of the murderer coming as the relief point. With that being said, the author did a great job in picking who the murderer was while also not making it obvious. At different points of the book, I would have guessed many different characters as being the murderer, but the final choice did not feel like it came out of nowhere either.