rene_kampfer's reviews
9 reviews

Rhapsodic by Laura Thalassa

mysterious 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? It's complicated

3.25

It wasn’t bad, the smut scenes were vanilla and disappointing. The main character is okay ig, my only issue is the relationship between the mc and the love interest. This is bc of the age gap and the love interest catching feelings with her when she was a minor. The author was walking a very thin line the whole time and idk how to feel abt it.

A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

4.25

This book is both sensual and devastating. The author somehow managed to deal with heavy topics of abuse in a way that isn’t glorified but is also tragically seductive. The author took everything I love about vampires and threw it into a book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Drug use and Alcohol

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

adventurous mysterious 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? No

3.75

So I really did like this book. Im just a little said the the way the author took the mc’s character. I really like the the blood thirsty and out for revenge female lead type and I wished we could’ve seen more from the mc. I also feel lowkey pick me energy by how the other rights specifically Katlain as antagonist. I just feel like the author didnt do her character justice. The book was also predictable which isnt necessarily a bad thing.

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

adventurous emotional funny mysterious relaxing fast-paced

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

4.5

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

adventurous dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

This book was amazing! This is by far my favorite book. This story is so captivating and interesting, I love the magic system in this book. The characters were also amazing. Chapter 21 was a bitch, and made me cry.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Infertility, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Trafficking, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, War, and Classism

Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective relaxing tense slow-paced

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

4.5

So I really enjoyed this book however I didn't “finish” it. I had 40 pages left and just didn’t feel like finishing it, the way Louis talks can be so drawn out and boring sometimes I just lost interest at that point, plus I already know how the book ends. Lestat was definitely a character and I loved him. The book was also over all amazingly written however, some of the topics in this book were just a bit too mature for me to fully understand. I will definitely be revisiting this book at a later date.

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

adventurous mysterious relaxing tense fast-paced

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

4.0

It was a great book. I loved Pips and Ravis characters and relationship and the plot was pretty good. This was my first murder mystery and I think I fell in love with a new genre. However, I dont think I will be reading the next book in this series. While I do enjoy the relationships within this story I dont think another book is necessary.
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I also love that the killer is a person with the least evidence pointing to them.

A Touch of Ruin by Scarlett St. Clair

adventurous emotional funny tense slow-paced

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

3.5

The arguing between Hades and Persephone in this book is a bit to much, they’re always arguing and while I understand why I find it annoying. This book finally give Persephone some character development compared to the first book in which the main focus was to introduce relationships and world building. I dont know if it is a good thing or not that I got so lost in the unique world that I forgot this was a retelling of the story of Persephone and Hades (I only remembered at the end). Additionally, there were so many sub plots I felt a bit overwhelmed and many of these sub plots felt forced or just completely uninteresting.

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

adventurous emotional sad 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? It's complicated

4.5