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rjsetserauthor's reviews
859 reviews
Ember and the Ice Dragons by Heather Fawcett
adventurous
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? It's complicated
4.0
Belle's Ruin by Joseph McRae Palmer
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
Belle's Ruin is a science fiction adventure that blends today's military SAR techniques with intergalactic exploration for some bad-a characters and an interesting storyline!
From the first page, I was invested in Belle's ambitions and rooting for her whole-heartedly. Belle reminded me a lot of my sister (who is actually a SAR medic in the Navy), so she could do no wrong in my eyes. Her personality was realistic throughout her circumstances and I really enjoyed her as a main character. Grant was equally engaging, and I loved his role in the story, too (he's the SAR medic).
I never lost interest in the story, though there are many information-heavy scenes that will make little sense to average readers. Belle's Ruin is the kind of science fiction where everything has an explanation, and it sounds authentic and works for the story, but I have no idea how much of it is based on real theory or fictional theory. But I will say, everything sounds legit and I bought it, so I give it a thumbs-up for world-building.
My only critique is the ending was very rushed and fell a bit out of "character" for the storyline. Through most of the book, the characters are conscious of procedures, protocols, and safety with every decision they make, but at the end (and I'm being vague to exclude spoilers), not a single person questioned or raised concern about Belle's final decision. I had a list of concerns and had expected at least *some* pushback, but not a single person seemed concerned with the ramifications of her impulsive decision. Ah well. I'm still invested in Belle's story, so I'd like to read the rest of the series, but I do wish the ending wouldn't have been so rushed.
Content warnings: Some action and minor gore, but nothing I would classify has "horror". I didn't make note of cursing or vulgar language used. There's no sexual content aside from a kiss and scientific conversations about alien reproduction.
From the first page, I was invested in Belle's ambitions and rooting for her whole-heartedly. Belle reminded me a lot of my sister (who is actually a SAR medic in the Navy), so she could do no wrong in my eyes. Her personality was realistic throughout her circumstances and I really enjoyed her as a main character. Grant was equally engaging, and I loved his role in the story, too (he's the SAR medic).
I never lost interest in the story, though there are many information-heavy scenes that will make little sense to average readers. Belle's Ruin is the kind of science fiction where everything has an explanation, and it sounds authentic and works for the story, but I have no idea how much of it is based on real theory or fictional theory. But I will say, everything sounds legit and I bought it, so I give it a thumbs-up for world-building.
My only critique is the ending was very rushed and fell a bit out of "character" for the storyline. Through most of the book, the characters are conscious of procedures, protocols, and safety with every decision they make, but at the end (and I'm being vague to exclude spoilers), not a single person questioned or raised concern about Belle's final decision. I had a list of concerns and had expected at least *some* pushback, but not a single person seemed concerned with the ramifications of her impulsive decision. Ah well. I'm still invested in Belle's story, so I'd like to read the rest of the series, but I do wish the ending wouldn't have been so rushed.
Content warnings: Some action and minor gore, but nothing I would classify has "horror". I didn't make note of cursing or vulgar language used. There's no sexual content aside from a kiss and scientific conversations about alien reproduction.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical content
The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
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
5.0
"She'd hurt people when she was young. She'd saved people when she got older. But for all the good she'd done, she'd never thought it was enough."
The above quote sums up The Girl Who Chased the Moon. Sarah Addison Allen blows me away with how she captures the beautiful messiness of humanity. When I read her books, I feel seen, hugged, and loved because of how she takes people who live with regrets and shame of their past and just gives them good friends who suddenly make those mountains much smaller. Her characters are complex and she tackles awkward situations with grace and forgiveness. I just love her writing style, the meaningful conversations that happen, and the cozy, mysterious vibes of her stories.
The Girl Who Chased the Moon focuses on a girl who must live in a town where her mother is remembered as a villain and she deals with a lot of prejudice because of that, despite having only good memories of her mother. And another woman returns to the town that is the source of her deepest hurts and she tries to reconcile with her past by bonding with the girl who feels unwelcome. I think I loved this book because of the perfect balance of reality mixed with magic; it's just a cozy story that it made me smile.
Also, after reading Other Birds in addition to this one, I'm certain that the author can cook and bake something fierce. Her food descriptions in Other Birds and The Girl Who Chased the Moon are enough to make me wish for a cookbook from her kitchen. I want to go into these worlds just to eat!
Overall, I give this book 5 stars and will gladly start another book by Allen!
Content warnings: No cursing. No action/gore. Romance is mostly sweet and limited to kissing, however, there is one mild (and I mean very mild) spicy scene towards the end. Significant topics are teen pregnancy and the pressures of others making big decisions for that teen. Bullying and mention of past c*tting and living with those scars (this doesn't happen on-page). And significant themes of grief from losing family members.
The above quote sums up The Girl Who Chased the Moon. Sarah Addison Allen blows me away with how she captures the beautiful messiness of humanity. When I read her books, I feel seen, hugged, and loved because of how she takes people who live with regrets and shame of their past and just gives them good friends who suddenly make those mountains much smaller. Her characters are complex and she tackles awkward situations with grace and forgiveness. I just love her writing style, the meaningful conversations that happen, and the cozy, mysterious vibes of her stories.
The Girl Who Chased the Moon focuses on a girl who must live in a town where her mother is remembered as a villain and she deals with a lot of prejudice because of that, despite having only good memories of her mother. And another woman returns to the town that is the source of her deepest hurts and she tries to reconcile with her past by bonding with the girl who feels unwelcome. I think I loved this book because of the perfect balance of reality mixed with magic; it's just a cozy story that it made me smile.
Also, after reading Other Birds in addition to this one, I'm certain that the author can cook and bake something fierce. Her food descriptions in Other Birds and The Girl Who Chased the Moon are enough to make me wish for a cookbook from her kitchen. I want to go into these worlds just to eat!
Overall, I give this book 5 stars and will gladly start another book by Allen!
Content warnings: No cursing. No action/gore. Romance is mostly sweet and limited to kissing, however, there is one mild (and I mean very mild) spicy scene towards the end. Significant topics are teen pregnancy and the pressures of others making big decisions for that teen. Bullying and mention of past c*tting and living with those scars (this doesn't happen on-page). And significant themes of grief from losing family members.
Content Warnings
Minor: Infertility, Self harm, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Miette and the Mermaid Mysteries by Alastair G McKenna
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
4.0
Perfect for your kiddos who are obsessed with mermaids! (See spoiler below for content disclaimer)
This mermaid mystery book is ideal for ages 4-6, but may require a more advanced reader to read on their own. Its fast-pace and straightforward writing style will engage the young reader/listener and encourage them to help Miette solve the mysterious things happening in the mermaid world.
Because this is a kid's book, I will go ahead and mention a spoiler for parents/guardians/teachers to make the call for if this is right for your kiddos:
The source of the strange things happening is a mischievous imp. He's a very cute little imp in the illustrations, but depending on culture and context, I know that imps can be viewed as "evil" just as they are often viewed as simply "mischievous". I just wanted to make sure that is mentioned in case you'd rather avoid imps for the kiddos :)
Overall, it's cute and would make a great gift for mermaid-loving book worms!
This mermaid mystery book is ideal for ages 4-6, but may require a more advanced reader to read on their own. Its fast-pace and straightforward writing style will engage the young reader/listener and encourage them to help Miette solve the mysterious things happening in the mermaid world.
Because this is a kid's book, I will go ahead and mention a spoiler for parents/guardians/teachers to make the call for if this is right for your kiddos:
Overall, it's cute and would make a great gift for mermaid-loving book worms!
Uh-Oh! My Dragon’s Hungry by Katie Weaver
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
5.0
Super cute!
This is such a fun book to encourage kids to try new foods. It validates how yummy and fun snack foods are, while also mentioning the importance of healthy food and showing that it's okay to say "no" when someone offers you something sweet. Trying new foods can be fun, even dragons think so!
Also, there's another book called "Dragons Love Tacos" (which I read sometime last year and LOVED) so I laughed out loud when this book referenced that one.
Whether you're of the firm belief that dragons love tacos or they prefer steaks and veggies (which I would argue is all a taco is... just wrapped in an amazing tortilla...), Uh-Oh! My Dragon's Hungry is a really cute book that I'll be adding it to my kids' library for my nieces and nephews!
This is such a fun book to encourage kids to try new foods. It validates how yummy and fun snack foods are, while also mentioning the importance of healthy food and showing that it's okay to say "no" when someone offers you something sweet. Trying new foods can be fun, even dragons think so!
Also, there's another book called "Dragons Love Tacos" (which I read sometime last year and LOVED) so I laughed out loud when this book referenced that one.
Whether you're of the firm belief that dragons love tacos or they prefer steaks and veggies (which I would argue is all a taco is... just wrapped in an amazing tortilla...), Uh-Oh! My Dragon's Hungry is a really cute book that I'll be adding it to my kids' library for my nieces and nephews!
Booked To Die by John Dunning
informative
mysterious
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? No
4.0
Read for my book club.
Booked to Die was an interesting mystery that held my attention throughout most of the book. I think I was more interested in the information about the book dealers and the book scouts than I was the actual mystery. It's very informative in that regard and kept me invested. I can't say that I love Cliff as a main character, but his impulsive and somewhat hot-headed decisions make for an unpredictable storyline.
Overall, I'd read more of the series, but I only recommend it if you like slow-moving mysteries and are curious about used book store dealers and book scouts.
Content: High cursing content. Some explicit sexual content. Violence and action are also present, but not overly detailed (pretty standard for a mystery/thriller).
Booked to Die was an interesting mystery that held my attention throughout most of the book. I think I was more interested in the information about the book dealers and the book scouts than I was the actual mystery. It's very informative in that regard and kept me invested. I can't say that I love Cliff as a main character, but his impulsive and somewhat hot-headed decisions make for an unpredictable storyline.
Overall, I'd read more of the series, but I only recommend it if you like slow-moving mysteries and are curious about used book store dealers and book scouts.
Content: High cursing content. Some explicit sexual content. Violence and action are also present, but not overly detailed (pretty standard for a mystery/thriller).
A Traitor at Poppyridge Cove: Seaside Inn Mystery by Rimmy London
fast-paced
3.75
Very cute and bite-sized. This one felt more rushed than the first one, though. Which makes sense because it’s noticeably shorter. But I was disappointed by the typos and lack of depth to Emily and Ryan’s relationship. I think they deserved more thorough conversations, even though their story is darling.
Still, I enjoyed it and will probably continue binging the rest of this series.
Still, I enjoyed it and will probably continue binging the rest of this series.
The Secret of Poppyridge Cove by Rimmy London
mysterious
fast-paced
5.0
Super cute and a lil spooky. I binged it pretty quickly and loved reacting to all the things. It’s a little cheesy, but perfect in its simple way. Great if you’re looking for a light read. *I might add to this review later*
Content: A few gruesome details regarding d3ad animals. No cursing. No on-page spice.
Content: A few gruesome details regarding d3ad animals. No cursing. No on-page spice.
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
Even though I finished most of this (like 80%), I'm marking Remarkably Bright Creatures as a DNF and not rating it because I skimmed and skipped most of Cameron's POV chapters. For one, he's not even mentioned on the back of the book, so I was confused why we suddenly have so much POV from this random character that seemingly has little to do with the plot and who is painful to read about. The man is 30-years-old and acts more immature than my 12-year-old brother. I was so irritated with him throughout the book that I didn't even want to finish reading it, and the redemption arc felt incredibly weak. Even when I stopped skimming to read his latter chapters, I still ended up irritated because he just whines about everything and blames everyone else for his problems. Not to mention the emotional manipulation of using his sob story to get what he wants. He's just toxic and I hate that he was such a major part of the book. And believe me, I'm usually a HUGE advocate for redemption stories, so this shocks me as much as it does you, no doubt.
Tova and Marcellus, who the book is supposed to be about, should've been in the spotlight WAY more. Cameron should've had those teeny tiny chapters that Marcellus had and Marcellus should've had Cameron's chapters. I loved their side of the story and would've given that 5 stars. But Cameron completely ruined the book for me. Which is a shame.
Content Disclaimers: Lots of cursing and vulgar, sexual remarks made by many of the characters. Some trigger warnings for dr*g use, alcoholism, lack of personal hygiene, toxic behavior and manipulation, and various themes of loss.
Tova and Marcellus, who the book is supposed to be about, should've been in the spotlight WAY more. Cameron should've had those teeny tiny chapters that Marcellus had and Marcellus should've had Cameron's chapters. I loved their side of the story and would've given that 5 stars. But Cameron completely ruined the book for me. Which is a shame.
Content Disclaimers: Lots of cursing and vulgar, sexual remarks made by many of the characters. Some trigger warnings for dr*g use, alcoholism, lack of personal hygiene, toxic behavior and manipulation, and various themes of loss.
Animalia by Shauna C. Murphy
adventurous
fast-paced
3.5
"Life is dangerous. Embrace it — if you don't, you won't live."
I am very careful about comparing books to bestsellers and classics, because that can create unfair expectations for debut books. However, Animalia is very much meant for the audience that loves Harry Potter and prestigious types of magic schools. There are so many similarities between Animalia and Harry Potter, in fact, that I had a difficult time *not* comparing them, because the similarities truly aren't subtle. So if you've read Harry Potter, it's almost a given that you'll compare the two. However, it's not, by any means, a "copy" of Harry Potter.
That being said, I loved the framework of Animalia, and the characters were so special. It's a nail-biting story that keeps you flipping the pages late into the night, and it's perfect for winter time reading. My main reason for 3 stars is because the framework is absolutely there but the execution is a bit lacking. Animalia is a solid story, but I had to back up and re-read pages very often because scene transitions and setting discrepancies caught me off guard. The dialogue is also pretty choppy, and some character responses don't always make sense when they're talking to each other. As I said, the framework for the story is without a doubt 5 stars, which is why I finished the book, but I do wish a good developmental editor had their hands in this one because the issues that clogged the reading flow would've been easy fixes.
Overall, I will absolutely be following this author's future releases because I loved Sunday and her story. And I do recommend Animalia as a fun middle-grade adventure set in the snowy North, but I was just disappointed that the writing flow kept jolting me out of the story.
I received this book from the author/publisher via NetGalley. All comments and opinions are entirely my own and this review is voluntary.
I am very careful about comparing books to bestsellers and classics, because that can create unfair expectations for debut books. However, Animalia is very much meant for the audience that loves Harry Potter and prestigious types of magic schools. There are so many similarities between Animalia and Harry Potter, in fact, that I had a difficult time *not* comparing them, because the similarities truly aren't subtle. So if you've read Harry Potter, it's almost a given that you'll compare the two. However, it's not, by any means, a "copy" of Harry Potter.
That being said, I loved the framework of Animalia, and the characters were so special. It's a nail-biting story that keeps you flipping the pages late into the night, and it's perfect for winter time reading. My main reason for 3 stars is because the framework is absolutely there but the execution is a bit lacking. Animalia is a solid story, but I had to back up and re-read pages very often because scene transitions and setting discrepancies caught me off guard. The dialogue is also pretty choppy, and some character responses don't always make sense when they're talking to each other. As I said, the framework for the story is without a doubt 5 stars, which is why I finished the book, but I do wish a good developmental editor had their hands in this one because the issues that clogged the reading flow would've been easy fixes.
Overall, I will absolutely be following this author's future releases because I loved Sunday and her story. And I do recommend Animalia as a fun middle-grade adventure set in the snowy North, but I was just disappointed that the writing flow kept jolting me out of the story.
I received this book from the author/publisher via NetGalley. All comments and opinions are entirely my own and this review is voluntary.