I was really excited to read this cute, cozy mystery and I wasn't completely disappointed by any means- however, I wasn't a fan of our main protagonist, Keaton. I found her constant accusations to be very annoying. I think this was meant to come off as funny but that's not how it actually read- I was just irritated by it. Keaton also comes off as much, much older than she actually is- she doesn't know common slang or use social media. I found much of her behavior and actions to be cringe-worthy- if the storyline and other characters had not been so compelling, I likely would not have finished this book.

Blood Debts by Terry J. Benton-Walker

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Based off of the synopsis, I was hoping for social commentary with a magical twist- that is not what this novel is. This book is a young adult, contemporary, revenge story with a magic system & a villain you love to hate.

I’m giving Blood Debts ⭐⭐.5 stars because of several factors. The book kept me interested enough to finish but events really began to feel staged for me. I was meant to feel a certain way but it felt very forced so it took me out of the moment- events felt forced instead of flowing through time. There were also too many people with too few personality traits. I will admit that I am terrible with names but I don’t think this was simply a me issue this time. For example, Cris and Clem have four (or was it three… or five?) aunts but only one has a strong personality. The others flit in and out of the narrative but have nearly zero personality.

The other big area of discomfort for me was the resolution to the main problem- it took a very dark turn. I’m a fan of thrillers and am not unfamiliar with dark themes but this again, felt a bit forced. I’ve seen other reviewers mention that Cris and Clem sound very similar as our two, main POV. While I can definitely see this, the issue I, personally had, was Cris’ personality felt too fluid. Sometimes she seemed meek and weak, other times downright cruel. That was confusing as a reader.

Thank you to NetGalley & Macmillon-Tor/Forge Publishing for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review!

Content Warnings

If I See You Again Tomorrow by Robbie Couch

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful reflective 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

4.75

This is my first time loop novel and I was very curious to see how author Robbie Couch would pull it off. I will admit that there was a brief period of time where I thought the reiterations of Clark’s Monday had gone too far, too stagnant, but we turned a corner and I fell right back into the story.

Relatable depiction of emotion, of anxiety, and loneliness even if our main character was stuck in an unbelievable situation. Each character has their own personality and you come to appreciate them for who they are in a way that most novels, in their linear form don’t allow for. This book made me feel things that I did not expect to- I became more emotionally attached to the individual characters that I thought I had and that is the mark of a really good writer for me!

I am a sucker for a good ending… and Couch delivers. If I See You Again Tomorrow will certainly be on my recommendation list & I plan on buying a copy once it’s officially out! Thank you to NetGalley & Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for this ARC.

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sam_the_librarian's reviews 149 reviews

sam_the_librarian's reviews
149 reviews