salixia_the_elixir's reviews
62 reviews

One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus

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? Yes

3.0

This Savage Song by V.E. Schwab

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-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? Yes

3.25

The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

adventurous challenging inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

4.0

The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton

mysterious tense slow-paced

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

2.0

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

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

4.5

Crave by Tracy Wolff

funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

2.0

I can tell Miss Tracy Wolff enjoyed writing this book and putting to pen her vision and dreams of vampires, boarding school, and romance in Alaska. However, that doesn't mean the writing is perfect, or even great.
The writing reads like a millennial trying to fit in with teenagers and be cool. At points Wolff's writing does sound like an average teenager's inner monolog might sound like, but other points we're smacked with phrases like "omigodomigodomigod," or worse, "I’m the girl who fell out of a tree and nearly caused World War III between the two hottest guys in school.  FML." Many instances like these made it impossible for me to be immersed in the world Wolff was attempting to create, and caused Grace to be a very unrealistic and unrelatable main character. Many of the moments Wolff brought up her setting, Alaska, felt like bare minimum info dumps. Like she couldn't wait to share her late night Wikipedia sessions with her audience.
Maybe all of that is the point, and again, it is very clear Wolff enjoyed the hell out of writing this book, maybe in some ways living out her teenage dreams.
I can see why her series is well loved and enjoyed on the internet.
This book did not need to be nearly 600 pages long. I personally will not be reading the rest of this series. And in the words of Wolff herself, "if her opinion is anything other than OMG, WTF?!?! I’m taking my unpacked suitcases and heading back to San Diego."

Cursed Princess Club Volume One by LambCat

adventurous funny inspiring mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi

medium-paced

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

3.0