samusc's reviews
149 reviews

Thick as Thieves by M.J. Kuhn

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious tense fast-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

Between Wind and Water by Shawna Barnett

adventurous challenging emotional 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

4.5

In this installment of the Legends of Vioria Series, Captain Liana Foley faces many challenges, including poison, shifting loyalties, and creatures of myth. Liana and her crew are asked to journey to the edge of the map, in search of something her ancestor may have left behind. Meanwhile, Ameen's abilities and temper continue to grow more volatile, and Rhian is wondering who she can trust to aid in being reunited with Liana once again. What will Liana find at the edge of the world? What will become of Ameen and Liana's relationship?

Once again, Shawna Barnett delivers a strong character driven fantasy filled with sapphic yearning, political intrigue, and emotional dialogue. I enjoyed catching up with Lucky, Ivan, and Nellie, as their journeys feel just as important as Captain Foley's. I had to put down the book for brief pauses once or twice because the arguments between Liana and Ameen felt so real. The true highlight of this installment in the series however are the new characters, Jacintha and Nahveena. Pinpointing these powerful mystics' motivations was a treat, and I'm impressed by how empathy magic was handled. There were also some elements of horror woven in towards the end that were incredibly immersive. 

I can't wait for Book 3 as Shawna Barnett has become an auto buy author!

The Memory Librarian: And Other Stories of Dirty Computer by Janelle Monáe

dark emotional hopeful reflective tense fast-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

Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree

emotional funny hopeful 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? Yes

5.0

The Battle Drum by Saara El-Arifi

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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 was incredibly excited for this book as The Final Strife was my favorite read of 2022, and this absolutely delivered!
Saara El-Arifi took a bunch of risks with this title, and executed them flawlessly:

• Anoor and Sylah are apart for the entire book, and yet their love for one another still drives their decisions. 
   
•  
  Sylah is knocked out from a severe injury for a decent amount of the book, providing opportunity for strong character moments from Jond and the mysterious old man Niha. 
   
•  
  Anoor 's paranoia increases as she accuses nearly everyone in her inner circle of murder, which has heavy consequences. By the end of the book, she's made some truly awful decisions. While emotionally hard to read about, it makes sense given everything she's been through. She's a young traumatized women who's entire worldview has been rocked; she's ripe for manipulation.
• Locations and cultures of people new to our main characters were revealed masterfully. By the end of the first book in the series, Sylah didn't have much to go off of beyond a map showing land beyond the sea and Loot's yellow blood. In comparison, by the end of this title, both the reader and characters of a much larger understanding of the world. This includes one of my favorite aspects of worldbuilding, also seen in the Roots of Chaos series, when groups of people have different explanations for similar religious phenomena, largely due to migration.
• A big theme in The Battle Drum is sacrifice. Unfortunately, we lost many characters on this journey in brutally detailed ways. However, these heartbreaking moments are presented alongside hopeful ones, as is necessary in any fantasy (in my opinion). It's a joy to read about Hassa and Kwame's growing relationship, as well as Jond's adoption of a sand kitten. 

This installment in the Ending Fire Trilogy is a perfect example of what a second book in a fantasy trilogy can be, akin to The Oleander Sword by Tasha Suri.
Once I got to the last third of this book last night, I had to finish it, there was just so much happening! It then took me over an hour to fall asleep because my mind was buzzing with everything these characters had gone through and predictions for the third book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Torture, and Death of parent

Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
Did not finish book. Stopped at 21%.

I will definitely be coming back to this one! I'm pausing because it's 10 days overdue at the library.

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White

challenging dark emotional mysterious fast-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

Seasonal Fears by Seanan McGuire
Did not finish book. Stopped at 45%.

DNFd at pg. 223.
I adored Middlegame and McGuire's work as Mira Grant, but this was just too explanation heavy for concepts the reader already understands. It's for the sake of the characters I suppose, but why? Also, this is not the writers fault, and I know these teens are going through a lot, but I can't read about a 17 year old white boy that kicks his car when he's mad; I'm too traumatized for that lmao.

Firebird by Sunmi

emotional funny lighthearted 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

4.5

Lost Boy: The True Story of Captain Hook by Christina Henry

adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0