sandbbookclub's reviews
19 reviews

The Day Tripper by James Goodhand

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I absolutely adored this book. I thought the concept was interesting, the execution was flawless, and the journey that Alex goes on was heart-breaking, inspiring, and believable. The conceit of time-travel is not new but the way that James Goodhand shapes it in this novel made it feel seamlessly fresh and integral to the story rather than a plot device to make an otherwise boring world intriguing. The main character, Alex, is living his life out of order and must unpack each day to put together scattered pieces of what has happened to him in the time between and how can he get back the future he'd hoped to have.

This novel would appeal to fans of fantasy, science fiction, or even real life fiction because, at it's core, it's a story about a man who was moving through life blind to the consequences of his choices until he is forced to confront them through chance and bizarre circumstance. What he does afterwards is where all the heart in this story lies and it will make you cry, scream, and cheer for Alex. Sometimes in the same chapter. 

I had no idea from page to page what I was going to find and it was an absolute delight to live in mystery just like the main character and to watch him assemble the pieces of himself and create something better. 

Read this book. Right now.  

Sunbringer by Hannah Kaner

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad 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

This book was phenomenal. The world, the characters, the complexity of both story and character development were just beautiful. If I had a complaint at all its that the mysteries mount a lot more rapidly than they get solved but everything that's happening is so entertaining that it's not such a burden. I love that Kissen gets to be powerful, surly, strong, capable, smart, crafty, scarred, and still desirable BECAUSE of who she is and not despite of who she is. I found myself having to remind myself that the people in the book were not real so I could make it through some of the tense situations because they feel like real people and you love them all. 

In a good book, every one in an argument should have a good point and this author excels at layering on the shades of gray in a way that never makes anyones motivations feel cheap or contrived, even the "bad guys."

The disability, sexual orientation, and race representation is *chef's kiss*. It NEVER feels like the author is just checking off a box. 

I am so looking forward to the next one in this series. 

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
Did not finish book. Stopped at 33%.

I will get back to this later. I've got too much reading for work right now  

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
Did not finish book. Stopped at 34%.

It feels like this particular author can't advance the plot without having her characters make predictable, out of character decisions that feel contrived and nonsensical. 

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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

The Unfinished World: And Other Stories by Amber Sparks

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

A short story collection with surprising range and everyone of them a treat. 

Children of Dune by Frank Herbert

adventurous challenging emotional reflective tense slow-paced

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

Daindreth's Assassin by Elisabeth Wheatley

adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

A solid, low spice adventure romance fantasy with a vague but enjoyable magic system and interesting characters. The female lead is strong and capable (if occasionally a little one note) and the male love interest is kind and capable but not overbearing. It was entertaining enough to encourage me to read the next in the series but not so compelling that I immediately picked up book 2. I'll read the rest of the series, I just might not read them next. 

Geometry for Ocelots by Exurb1a

5.0