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readsforlove's reviews
828 reviews
Silver Under Nightfall by Rin Chupeco
5.0
This is ... the most underrated book I've ever read. From the first page, I was completely hooked. The first chapter alone is a masterpiece. I've read it at least three times. It's so well written and masterfully done. And then the whole rest of it ... god, this book is so FREAKING GOOD. I can't think of another book that I've felt so strongly about right off the bat.
Everything about this book is perfection. Normally, authors tend to ace one aspect really well and other elements of the story are a bit lacking for me (like having great characters but a predictable plot). But after the first chapter, I knew I was in good hands with Rin Chupeco. They proved they knew what they were doing from that first chapter, showing Remy to readers immediately as a complex character filled with empathy, drive, compassion, anger, determination, and grief. I knew he was a character I would trudge through hell and back for--or through plot holes and slow scenes for. But those didn't come.
The pacing of this book was perfect--we had the action, and then time to process that action and get to know the characters even better in the quieter moments. And then when Malekh and Xiaodan enter the scene ... wow. They are both so uniquely complex, and they work so well together. And Remy joining them creates a bond that is so special and strong. They all work so well together, and their relationship is impeccably done. Remy has a lot of sexual trauma, but the book is definitely an insta-lust scenario. As an ace reader, I'm not noramlly a fan of that sort of story, but I ate this shit up with a spoon because while it was insta-lust, it wasn't insta-love. The love aspect was a slow burn through the whole book that we built up to, giving Remy time to process his feelings and what he actually wanted and needed, and it was so fucking beautiful I want to cry. I'm also not normally a spice reader--I avoid books with a lot of it and then skip over it when it comes--but the scenes in this book were so tender and gentle and EMOTIONAL. I couldn't skip a single word.
My only qualm with the book was the ending--it left off in a place that would have RUINED ME if I hadn't had an ARC of the sequel already downloaded on my kindle. After I read the first chapter of the sequel, I was able to calm down, but I really think they should have ended book one with that assurance. So if you read and finish, just know that everything works out in the end, and our loves get a happy ending together. (I think that's really important for underrepresented types of relationships like this one--we need some happy endings.)
I could write a whole essay on this book, but I'll wrap up by saying go read this incredible book about. a love story between two vampires and a hunter, and how they love and cherish each other through the craziness that is happening in their world that the three of them are left to face and stop.
Everything about this book is perfection. Normally, authors tend to ace one aspect really well and other elements of the story are a bit lacking for me (like having great characters but a predictable plot). But after the first chapter, I knew I was in good hands with Rin Chupeco. They proved they knew what they were doing from that first chapter, showing Remy to readers immediately as a complex character filled with empathy, drive, compassion, anger, determination, and grief. I knew he was a character I would trudge through hell and back for--or through plot holes and slow scenes for. But those didn't come.
The pacing of this book was perfect--we had the action, and then time to process that action and get to know the characters even better in the quieter moments. And then when Malekh and Xiaodan enter the scene ... wow. They are both so uniquely complex, and they work so well together. And Remy joining them creates a bond that is so special and strong. They all work so well together, and their relationship is impeccably done. Remy has a lot of sexual trauma, but the book is definitely an insta-lust scenario. As an ace reader, I'm not noramlly a fan of that sort of story, but I ate this shit up with a spoon because while it was insta-lust, it wasn't insta-love. The love aspect was a slow burn through the whole book that we built up to, giving Remy time to process his feelings and what he actually wanted and needed, and it was so fucking beautiful I want to cry. I'm also not normally a spice reader--I avoid books with a lot of it and then skip over it when it comes--but the scenes in this book were so tender and gentle and EMOTIONAL. I couldn't skip a single word.
My only qualm with the book was the ending--it left off in a place that would have RUINED ME if I hadn't had an ARC of the sequel already downloaded on my kindle. After I read the first chapter of the sequel, I was able to calm down, but I really think they should have ended book one with that assurance. So if you read and finish, just know that everything works out in the end, and our loves get a happy ending together. (I think that's really important for underrepresented types of relationships like this one--we need some happy endings.)
I could write a whole essay on this book, but I'll wrap up by saying go read this incredible book about. a love story between two vampires and a hunter, and how they love and cherish each other through the craziness that is happening in their world that the three of them are left to face and stop.
Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree
3.0
This had all the ingredients to an amazing novel that I would love. Sleepy seaside town. Bookshop. Cute pet with an even cuter name. Mystery. Fantasy magic. Bakery goods. Lesbians. But everything just fell so flat for me. None of the characters felt REAL for some reason (I can't quite put my finger on why, which is infuriating). The whole time I was reading, I just kept wanting to care yet not caring much at all. Even though I was in Viv's head, I didn't feel like I knew her, and I felt the same way while reading book one. An overall really underwhelming story that I'm glad I finished but will not be reading again or recommending. (It's also infuriating because I looked at last year's challenge and realized I'd ended the year struggling through the same mediocre series LOL. This was better than Legends and Lattes though, thanks to the more interesting plot.)
Izzy at the End of the World by K.A. Reynolds
5.0
I'm so pumped to talk about this book! Izzy at the End of the World has my whole heart. Our heroes are two lil’ neurodivergent, anxiety ridden, disabled middle schoolers doing their best to survive the apocalypse. They go on to brave the horrors of the alien goop monsters invading earth to find their families and save the world.
Talk about an empowering story. Seeing these kids in the full light of their disabilities and neurodivergencies and still rising to fight and facing their fears made me tear up multiple times. All the supernatural elements were so fun, too, and emotionally impactful.
Also, as an ace reader, I was soooo relieved when the main character spelled out the fact that she was getting a crush on the boy she's traveling with. I was able to just shrug off the allo-typical expectation that they were probably going to be romantically involved and see that yes, they were, and they were freaking cute. It’s always confusing to me when I think characters are friends and then they kiss at the end because “clearly” their feelings were “deeper” *cue all the cringey faces* So knowing that the author was planning this to be a romantic relationship in nature allowed me to prepare for it, instead of expecting them to be friends and then hit with a surprise kiss at the end. I do realize that’s a personal thing, but it was kind of startling to realize how relieved I felt when the nature of her feelings were spelled out for me. Just another reason to love this book!
Go read it and be empowered.