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samanthaalis's reviews
161 reviews
How to Survive Your Murder by Danielle Valentine
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Rotting Beauty by Elizabeth K. King
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
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
I am so sad this story is over. This was such a fantastic debut. Oh my goodness that was adorable and wacky and fun and so, so unique!
I was completely engrossed by the setting, the characters, and the plot. I'm excited to experience more of the world of horrific fairy tales Elizabeth King introduces.
I was completely engrossed by the setting, the characters, and the plot. I'm excited to experience more of the world of horrific fairy tales Elizabeth King introduces.
The Fairytale Life of Dorothy Gale by Virginia Kantra
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This story was so cute and beautifully written.
The Wizard of Oz comparisons and similarities weren't obvious to the point that this read like a retelling, it was more "inspired by." But I loved the characters especially the modern day, heartless tin man.
Nothing I say can do this story the justice it deserves, it was just perfect in my eyes.
The Wizard of Oz comparisons and similarities weren't obvious to the point that this read like a retelling, it was more "inspired by." But I loved the characters especially the modern day, heartless tin man.
Nothing I say can do this story the justice it deserves, it was just perfect in my eyes.
Silver Under Nightfall by Rin Chupeco
slow-paced
3.0
I entered into a giveaway without even skimming the synopsis, I just saw Rin Chupeco and said yes please I loved The Girl from the Well.
I'm glad I went in blind because I was able to enjoy a fantasy/mystery story about vampires without any specific expectations and assumptions.
The action was fun, the world was gruesome, and the characters were lovable. But in all honesty, Remy was the least interesting part of the story and he was the main event. I have no idea what Malekh or Xiaodan saw in the man.
The story ended not on a cliffhanger, but with lots of the story and relationships on rocky soil so I'll give the sequel a chance out of curiosity.
I'm glad I went in blind because I was able to enjoy a fantasy/mystery story about vampires without any specific expectations and assumptions.
The action was fun, the world was gruesome, and the characters were lovable. But in all honesty, Remy was the least interesting part of the story and he was the main event. I have no idea what Malekh or Xiaodan saw in the man.
The story ended not on a cliffhanger, but with lots of the story and relationships on rocky soil so I'll give the sequel a chance out of curiosity.
Raiders of the Lost Heart by Jo Segura
2.0
I did not get the cute, fun adventurous romance I was expecting in Raiders of the Lost Heart. I found both love interests to be unlikeable and the actions in this book to be unforgivable.
The main characters are compared to Lara Croft and Indiana Jones, but they don't really do anything other than watch eachother and comment on eachothers bodies with internal monologue. Ford and Corrie were also very juvenile in the way they spoke and acted with their many, many "bone" jokes, and referring to things as cringe and weak sauce.
I also did not find this to be a love story at all. I was told Corrie and Ford loved eachother, but all I saw was surface level lust.
I do not think I was the target audience for this book at all. It seemed like a "turn your thinking off and enjoy the ride" type of read and I was picking apart nearly every sentence.
The main characters are compared to Lara Croft and Indiana Jones, but they don't really do anything other than watch eachother and comment on eachothers bodies with internal monologue. Ford and Corrie were also very juvenile in the way they spoke and acted with their many, many "bone" jokes, and referring to things as cringe and weak sauce.
I also did not find this to be a love story at all. I was told Corrie and Ford loved eachother, but all I saw was surface level lust.
I do not think I was the target audience for this book at all. It seemed like a "turn your thinking off and enjoy the ride" type of read and I was picking apart nearly every sentence.
1922 by Stephen King
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I have a complicated relationship with the works of Stephen King. I'm a horror girlie and have been since the age of like 4 when my parents forgot to remove the tape of "It" from the VCR. And Stephen King is the KING of horror. My problem is, I cannot stand the way he writes about women.
I went into this book with a lot of apprehension because the premise is about a man killing his wife and I didn't want anything weird to happen with that. But I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the story and the way it unfolded. It was suspenseful, intense, mysterious, and never slow or boring.
I think I might be ready to give more of his works a shot. Except "It." Never "It."
I went into this book with a lot of apprehension because the premise is about a man killing his wife and I didn't want anything weird to happen with that. But I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the story and the way it unfolded. It was suspenseful, intense, mysterious, and never slow or boring.
I think I might be ready to give more of his works a shot. Except "It." Never "It."
What Remains by Wendy Walker
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Heart of the Sun Warrior by Sue Lynn Tan
slow-paced
3.0
I loved Daughter of the Moon Godess and was so excited to read the sequel. But I was super disappointed in this book and took forever to get through it.
All the action, twists and turns, and crazy plot points I loved from the first book in the series were forgotten. The way the story progressed felt bland. I couldn't really figure out the point of the story until halfway through.
My main gripe is how the characters changed completely. Xingyin's personality disappeared and she became a body that just reacted to events. Liwei and Wenzhi's sole purposes were to make snide marks at and about eachother. The whole book was the two princes fighting for Xingyin's love and she led them on until a decision was made at the very end.
All the action, twists and turns, and crazy plot points I loved from the first book in the series were forgotten. The way the story progressed felt bland. I couldn't really figure out the point of the story until halfway through.
My main gripe is how the characters changed completely. Xingyin's personality disappeared and she became a body that just reacted to events. Liwei and Wenzhi's sole purposes were to make snide marks at and about eachother. The whole book was the two princes fighting for Xingyin's love and she led them on until a decision was made at the very end.