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rjsetserauthor's reviews
863 reviews
Of Tangles and Tinsel by T.A. Lawrence
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-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? Yes
5.0
Of Tangles and Tinsel is a cozy, winter romance that had me giggling and kicking my feet.
Now, I must offer a disclaimer that I am not the target audience for rom-coms; the only reason I read this one was because of the tiny Christmas dragon and the fact that the characters are fae. So, it's a fantasy Christmas rom-com, and now that I know this genre exists, I'm going to be hunting for it next Christmas!
Olwen and Quill are entertaining with their banter, the setting is beautiful, and the story is easy to binge. The Repunzel aspects of the story had me laughing, and Olwen is a hysterical representative of Repunzel, and I loved her every second of this book. And Quill...well, let's just say I liked him, too.
Overall, I recommend Of Tangles & Tinsel to readers of holiday rom-coms, but especially to those like me who need an element of fantasy to enjoy the rom-com properly!
Content disclaimers {possible spoilers here}: Romance is "closed door", though there are plenty of descriptions of thinking about kissing and dreaming of each other. Some mentions of a creepy and sleazy dude who makes advances, but he's stopped. There's no cursing. Very mild action mentioned.
Now, I must offer a disclaimer that I am not the target audience for rom-coms; the only reason I read this one was because of the tiny Christmas dragon and the fact that the characters are fae. So, it's a fantasy Christmas rom-com, and now that I know this genre exists, I'm going to be hunting for it next Christmas!
Olwen and Quill are entertaining with their banter, the setting is beautiful, and the story is easy to binge. The Repunzel aspects of the story had me laughing, and Olwen is a hysterical representative of Repunzel, and I loved her every second of this book. And Quill...well, let's just say I liked him, too.
Overall, I recommend Of Tangles & Tinsel to readers of holiday rom-coms, but especially to those like me who need an element of fantasy to enjoy the rom-com properly!
Content disclaimers {possible spoilers here}: Romance is "closed door", though there are plenty of descriptions of thinking about kissing and dreaming of each other. Some mentions of a creepy and sleazy dude who makes advances, but he's stopped. There's no cursing. Very mild action mentioned.
Revenant Prince by T.A. Hernandez
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
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? No
5.0
"Sometimes we need to find new ways to continue doing what we love," Kamaal said. "If that creative spark is still there, then let it shine."
Revenant Prince was the sequel I hoped it would be! While I enjoyed Tethered Spirits (book 1), I had a few issues with the pacing of that book and the lack of suspense, but with Revenant Prince, I had no complaints. This series is a true epic fantasy, so the story takes place over the course of several months and there's lots of traveling. The story overall is a slow pace, however, unlike the first book, there is a sizzling suspense that will keep you biting your nails. Sometimes, the plot thickened so much that I'd have to stick the book in "time out" just because I couldn't handle it!
I loved the character development portrayed by ALL of the characters. There were many characters that I didn't expect to grow to care about, but this diverse group kept things interesting. The story world is beautiful, and even though I didn't reference a map, I didn't have any issues with imagining the layout of the land. I felt incredibly comfortable reading it, never confused or lost, which is hard to accomplish with epic fantasy.
I've read several of T.A. Hernandez's books, and this one is easily my favorite. I'm on the edge of my seat with these characters and I'm bracing myself for the trauma that I will surely suffer in book 3. I recommend it to readers who enjoy epic fantasy sagas with very detailed world-building and intricate political plots.
Content disclaimers: No on-page romance (not even kissing). A somewhat major plot point is an MM romance, where there are only feel-good vibes. Some mild mentions of concubines. Mild action/gore and mentions of injuries and war. I didn't take notes of any cursing, but I seem to remember some mild language used sporadically, but I might be wrong about that.
Revenant Prince was the sequel I hoped it would be! While I enjoyed Tethered Spirits (book 1), I had a few issues with the pacing of that book and the lack of suspense, but with Revenant Prince, I had no complaints. This series is a true epic fantasy, so the story takes place over the course of several months and there's lots of traveling. The story overall is a slow pace, however, unlike the first book, there is a sizzling suspense that will keep you biting your nails. Sometimes, the plot thickened so much that I'd have to stick the book in "time out" just because I couldn't handle it!
I loved the character development portrayed by ALL of the characters. There were many characters that I didn't expect to grow to care about, but this diverse group kept things interesting. The story world is beautiful, and even though I didn't reference a map, I didn't have any issues with imagining the layout of the land. I felt incredibly comfortable reading it, never confused or lost, which is hard to accomplish with epic fantasy.
I've read several of T.A. Hernandez's books, and this one is easily my favorite. I'm on the edge of my seat with these characters and I'm bracing myself for the trauma that I will surely suffer in book 3. I recommend it to readers who enjoy epic fantasy sagas with very detailed world-building and intricate political plots.
Content disclaimers: No on-page romance (not even kissing). A somewhat major plot point is an MM romance, where there are only feel-good vibes. Some mild mentions of concubines. Mild action/gore and mentions of injuries and war. I didn't take notes of any cursing, but I seem to remember some mild language used sporadically, but I might be wrong about that.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, War
Shadows of Memory by Abigail Hammond
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
Shadows of Memory was such a delight to read.
I've started calling it "cozy sci-fi" because while it has science-fiction elements, it's more of a cozy romance within the realm of science fiction. Holly and Oliver are charming and loveable characters with complex emotional backgrounds. At first, I wasn't sure if I'd like Oliver, but the reasons for his actions were explained fairly early on, so he quickly had me rooting for him.
The story is easy to follow and moves quickly. I binged the majority of it in one sitting, so it's great for fast readers. This doesn't mean the story is without depth, though. Holly and Oliver both deal with grief and complicated ethics that come with technological advancements. Overall, Shadows of Memory surprised me with how simple, yet complex, it is and how cozy its vibes are.
I recommend it to readers looking for a sweet romance story set in a science fiction world with some emotional depth and creepy bad guys.
Content: Romance vibes and cute dates (no on-page romance, no descriptive kissing). Heavy themes of loss and grief. No cursing.
I've started calling it "cozy sci-fi" because while it has science-fiction elements, it's more of a cozy romance within the realm of science fiction. Holly and Oliver are charming and loveable characters with complex emotional backgrounds. At first, I wasn't sure if I'd like Oliver, but the reasons for his actions were explained fairly early on, so he quickly had me rooting for him.
The story is easy to follow and moves quickly. I binged the majority of it in one sitting, so it's great for fast readers. This doesn't mean the story is without depth, though. Holly and Oliver both deal with grief and complicated ethics that come with technological advancements. Overall, Shadows of Memory surprised me with how simple, yet complex, it is and how cozy its vibes are.
I recommend it to readers looking for a sweet romance story set in a science fiction world with some emotional depth and creepy bad guys.
Content: Romance vibes and cute dates (no on-page romance, no descriptive kissing). Heavy themes of loss and grief. No cursing.
Content Warnings
Minor: Grief, Stalking
Willowmere by Andrea Cox Christen
adventurous
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
"That tree was probably fed on dreams, water and soil. I wonder if that tree misses her like we do."
Rating Willowmere is difficult for me because I appreciate the heart and emotion that was certainly poured into this story, but there was just something that kept me from enjoying it to the extent that I expected to. Looking at the story as a whole, it's very sweet, nostalgic, and adventurous. It has vibes that remind me of Alice in Wonderland in some ways, but also a very fresh storyline that makes it stand out.
The things that just didn't do it for me were the dialogue and the way Pea acted throughout most of the story. I understand a lot of her actions are typical of 12-year-olds going through traumatic circumstances (like the loss of a mother), but it was still very difficult for me to sympathize with her and like her as a character (especially since this is fiction). The way she treated those around her was often out of line and she rarely apologized for it, instead justifying it in her thoughts. I actually sympathized with Laur more than Pea because I felt that Laur at least tried to be friendly; Pea was downright mean to Laur, very often, before she even had reason to be. So, that made it really difficult for me to root for her.
The other thing was the dialogue, which I really feel is going to be a personal preference. Renault annoyed me. Every time there was dialogue from Renault, I cringed, and again, that's a personal preference. Some middle graders might laugh at it, other readers might find it cute and endearing, but I struggled with it. I read a lot of middle grade books with the silly and charming side-characters so I'm not unfamiliar with this type of character (think Bing Bong from the movie Inside Out or Dobby from Harry Potter), but I just never could get myself to find him "cute".
Overall, Willowmere has a sweet message of overcoming the sadness of loss, mending broken relationships, and exploring the world within the Willow Tree. I'd recommend it to readers who love unique characters and books where the main character has a lot of flaws to overcome.
I received this book from the author/publisher for free. All comments and opinions are entirely my own and this review is voluntary.
Rating Willowmere is difficult for me because I appreciate the heart and emotion that was certainly poured into this story, but there was just something that kept me from enjoying it to the extent that I expected to. Looking at the story as a whole, it's very sweet, nostalgic, and adventurous. It has vibes that remind me of Alice in Wonderland in some ways, but also a very fresh storyline that makes it stand out.
The things that just didn't do it for me were the dialogue and the way Pea acted throughout most of the story. I understand a lot of her actions are typical of 12-year-olds going through traumatic circumstances (like the loss of a mother), but it was still very difficult for me to sympathize with her and like her as a character (especially since this is fiction). The way she treated those around her was often out of line and she rarely apologized for it, instead justifying it in her thoughts. I actually sympathized with Laur more than Pea because I felt that Laur at least tried to be friendly; Pea was downright mean to Laur, very often, before she even had reason to be. So, that made it really difficult for me to root for her.
The other thing was the dialogue, which I really feel is going to be a personal preference. Renault annoyed me. Every time there was dialogue from Renault, I cringed, and again, that's a personal preference. Some middle graders might laugh at it, other readers might find it cute and endearing, but I struggled with it. I read a lot of middle grade books with the silly and charming side-characters so I'm not unfamiliar with this type of character (think Bing Bong from the movie Inside Out or Dobby from Harry Potter), but I just never could get myself to find him "cute".
Overall, Willowmere has a sweet message of overcoming the sadness of loss, mending broken relationships, and exploring the world within the Willow Tree. I'd recommend it to readers who love unique characters and books where the main character has a lot of flaws to overcome.
I received this book from the author/publisher for free. All comments and opinions are entirely my own and this review is voluntary.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
The Wishing Spell is a fresh yet familiar story. Alex and Connor jump into The Land of Stories and encounter the fairytales we've all grown up reading. Each fairytale has a new twist and Alex & Connor's adventure is packed with surprises, funny moments, and bittersweet emotion.
I loved Alex and Connor's twin dynamic. They complimented each other so well and brought an entertaining balance to the story. Connor's humor had me laughing out loud at times and Alex was so relatable in wanting to explore every inch of her favorite stories brought to life.
The only reason I'm giving it 4.5 stars instead of 5 stars is because this book is aimed at the target age of 12, and there were a few things (included below in the "spoiler" text) that I noted that might turn some parents/guardians/teachers away from recommending it to their young readers. However, I found the story to be heartwarming, entertaining, and appropriate for the general majority of middle-grade readers.
Also, the audiobook is wonderful. There are additional sound effects used during the narration, so it's extremely engaging!
I loved Alex and Connor's twin dynamic. They complimented each other so well and brought an entertaining balance to the story. Connor's humor had me laughing out loud at times and Alex was so relatable in wanting to explore every inch of her favorite stories brought to life.
The only reason I'm giving it 4.5 stars instead of 5 stars is because this book is aimed at the target age of 12, and there were a few things (included below in the "spoiler" text) that I noted that might turn some parents/guardians/teachers away from recommending it to their young readers. However, I found the story to be heartwarming, entertaining, and appropriate for the general majority of middle-grade readers.
Also, the audiobook is wonderful. There are additional sound effects used during the narration, so it's extremely engaging!
Content Warnings
Minor: Slavery
(please note, I only mention these for awareness and for whomever is reading this review to make a personal judgment for themselves or their child)
Humans are enslaved by trolls & goblins, and the children witness humans being whipped by the trolls & goblins in one scene which causes fear and crying. There is a decent amount of romance included considering this is a middle-grade book. There are several scenes in which adult characters are described as "passionately kissing" and "wanting to touch each other" and Connor typically makes comments such as "let's go before more happens" or "glad they can't get any closer" (and on the topic of Connor's comments, he and Alex are in a cold lake at one point and he says "Let's get out of here because I'm pretty sure we're twin sisters now", which admittedly, I laughed pretty hard at. But I recognize that some parents may not deem that "appropriate humor" for 12-year-olds); again, these are just mostly just comments and mild descriptions, but I was surprised by how much the theme of romance was included in a middle-grade book. There's also a humorous scene in which Connor must kiss a troll girl in exchange for his and Alex's escape. Another scene describing fairies lists all the types of clothing that they wear and a small phrase was slipped in that made my eyebrows raise: "some wore nothing at all". Nothing else is mentioned on the topic, thankfully. There is no cursing, however, there was one use of "son of a witch" during the height of the final battle. And the last thing I'll mention is the justification of a slap from one character to another when she said "I deserved that". I really don't like books that illustrate hitting or slapping as "deserved" to children audiences. That's all the content that I made note of, so hopefully, it helps you!
Marzipan's First Christmas by Jordan Taylor Nilan
lighthearted
medium-paced
5.0
Marzipan's First Christmas is as charming of a story as it looks! I bought a copy of this book for each of my nieces this year for Christmas, and the white fluffy bunny exploring the Christmas lights is an instant winner.
This book highlights the coziness and comfort of Christmas and the illustrations pair with it perfectly. I highly recommend it for boys and girls alike; especially those little kiddos who love animals.
This book highlights the coziness and comfort of Christmas and the illustrations pair with it perfectly. I highly recommend it for boys and girls alike; especially those little kiddos who love animals.
Thoughts in Water, Feelings on Sand by Madelyn Fischer
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
"I floated from 'hi' and drowned from 'bye'."
Poetry is so beautiful and widely unique because it feels like tiny clippings of the poet's soul. Thoughts in Water, Feelings on Sand is a collection of short and direct poems with piercing undertones. The poems are lyrical and often inspired by nature and imagery of the ocean; exactly what one would expect from the title.
You won't encounter any vulgarity in this collection. There are no curse words or explicitly romantic poems, though that certainly doesn't mean the poems lack emotion or affect the reader. I highlighted many poems that I found so beautiful.
Thoughts in Water, Feelings on Sand is a collection for you if you enjoy modern poems of a few lines or less and occasional storytelling poems. I look forward to future poetry releases from the author!
Poetry is so beautiful and widely unique because it feels like tiny clippings of the poet's soul. Thoughts in Water, Feelings on Sand is a collection of short and direct poems with piercing undertones. The poems are lyrical and often inspired by nature and imagery of the ocean; exactly what one would expect from the title.
You won't encounter any vulgarity in this collection. There are no curse words or explicitly romantic poems, though that certainly doesn't mean the poems lack emotion or affect the reader. I highlighted many poems that I found so beautiful.
Thoughts in Water, Feelings on Sand is a collection for you if you enjoy modern poems of a few lines or less and occasional storytelling poems. I look forward to future poetry releases from the author!
Bleached Reminders: A Gothic Anthology About Bones, Magic, and Grief by Effie Joe Stock, Effie Joe Stock
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This took me back to being 12 years old on my farm. The first story hit me so hard...I had expected the emotions associated with losing pets because of the premise of the anthology, but I wasn't fully prepared for how much I'd see myself in those opening pages.
Bleached Reminders is a treasure of a book. It could've just been a short story and a good one at that, but instead, the author has a unique skill-set to work outside the obvious and she setup a beautifully styled anthology that I feel was far more impactful than a singular short story would've been (even at only 66 pages). I saw myself in Sacrifice Rock, I was inspired by the poem (Bleached Reminders), and then I was pulled into the life of Espie and taken on an adventure that perfectly summed up the first two. I've read a few of Effie Joe Stock's writings now and I have to say, her talent for packing a punch in very few words astounds me. Her prose is exquisite and her poetry is powerful. I really loved reading this anthology!
As far as content goes: No cursing or romance. This is a gothic, autumnal collection so, as the blurb clearly states, there darker themes and magic contained within, but no gore or anything spooky.
Bleached Reminders is a treasure of a book. It could've just been a short story and a good one at that, but instead, the author has a unique skill-set to work outside the obvious and she setup a beautifully styled anthology that I feel was far more impactful than a singular short story would've been (even at only 66 pages). I saw myself in Sacrifice Rock, I was inspired by the poem (Bleached Reminders), and then I was pulled into the life of Espie and taken on an adventure that perfectly summed up the first two. I've read a few of Effie Joe Stock's writings now and I have to say, her talent for packing a punch in very few words astounds me. Her prose is exquisite and her poetry is powerful. I really loved reading this anthology!
As far as content goes: No cursing or romance. This is a gothic, autumnal collection so, as the blurb clearly states, there darker themes and magic contained within, but no gore or anything spooky.
A Sky of Tragic Moons by Amber Kirkpatrick, Nathaniel Luscombe, Nathaniel Luscombe, Effie Stock
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
Anthologies are difficult for me to rate because you always have those stories that rip your heart out and claim it as their own, and the stories that just don't resonate with you as much.
A Sky of Tragic Moons, however, is such a brilliant roller coaster ride of emotions. Some stories are funny, but the underlying theme is very on par with the title: "Tragic". It's a collection of powerful emotions at war with powerful circumstances. You have selfless characters in overwhelming conundrums across the universe. The flow of the stories are so intentionally placed that it really feels as if they are each a tragic moon from the same sky. It's like looking at the stars and zooming in on only one at a time before zooming back out and looking at another one. This anthology feels like stargazing.
As far as content, the only thing worthy of mentioning were a couple of minor curse words. A few mentions of kisses, but nothing beyond that in the realm of romance. The characters do deal with tragedy, but I wouldn't call any of the stories "gory".
Overall, this is an anthology perfect for those who love sci-fi with a lot of heart and emotion. I look forward to reading more works by these authors.
A Sky of Tragic Moons, however, is such a brilliant roller coaster ride of emotions. Some stories are funny, but the underlying theme is very on par with the title: "Tragic". It's a collection of powerful emotions at war with powerful circumstances. You have selfless characters in overwhelming conundrums across the universe. The flow of the stories are so intentionally placed that it really feels as if they are each a tragic moon from the same sky. It's like looking at the stars and zooming in on only one at a time before zooming back out and looking at another one. This anthology feels like stargazing.
As far as content, the only thing worthy of mentioning were a couple of minor curse words. A few mentions of kisses, but nothing beyond that in the realm of romance. The characters do deal with tragedy, but I wouldn't call any of the stories "gory".
Overall, this is an anthology perfect for those who love sci-fi with a lot of heart and emotion. I look forward to reading more works by these authors.
Turklet, Squeaky, and the Seven Chicken Chicks: Love Overcomes All by Effie Joe Stock
inspiring
lighthearted
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
5.0
This is a charming story of love and overcoming the challenges of individuality within family circles. I had fun with the story and the illustrations are so cute!
It is a longer read than the average kid's book, so I'd recommend it to ages 4-6 just because the attention span of my younger nieces wasn't there. But it's a fun one to read aloud!
It is a longer read than the average kid's book, so I'd recommend it to ages 4-6 just because the attention span of my younger nieces wasn't there. But it's a fun one to read aloud!