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sandreline's reviews
193 reviews
Rules For Ghosting by Shelly Jay Shore
emotional
funny
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? Yes
4.5
I don't use this term lightly, but I would dare to call Rules for Ghosting "cozy."
It is a romance and a family drama, yes, but foremost it's a story about Ezra navigating his (gender transcendent) "eldest daughter syndrome."
Ezra has spent his entire life playing mediator and tying himself in knots to make other people happy. He is the emotional center of his family. We follow him as he slowly finds his voice and his self-worth, in his romantic, platonic, and familial relationships.
Even while right in the melodrama, this book still feels like a warm hug.
ARC provided by NetGalley.
It is a romance and a family drama, yes, but foremost it's a story about Ezra navigating his (gender transcendent) "eldest daughter syndrome."
Ezra has spent his entire life playing mediator and tying himself in knots to make other people happy. He is the emotional center of his family. We follow him as he slowly finds his voice and his self-worth, in his romantic, platonic, and familial relationships.
Even while right in the melodrama, this book still feels like a warm hug.
ARC provided by NetGalley.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death and Sexual content
Her Majesty's Royal Coven by Juno Dawson
adventurous
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
4.0
A delightful surprise! A rich and interesting world that is not overly explained. And it's always refreshing to read about a cast of mature women.
The politics are about as subtle as a brick to the face. It was a bit weird to hear 30-something Black lesbians talking "Intro to Feminism" with their Irish friend. But hey, some audiences need that. 🤷
I hope the next book spends some more time breaking down the binary between witches and warlocks, cause it seems quite silly to me.
The vibes reminded me a lot of "The City We Became."
The politics are about as subtle as a brick to the face. It was a bit weird to hear 30-something Black lesbians talking "Intro to Feminism" with their Irish friend. But hey, some audiences need that. 🤷
I hope the next book spends some more time breaking down the binary between witches and warlocks, cause it seems quite silly to me.
The vibes reminded me a lot of "The City We Became."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia
Moderate: Animal death and Racism
Minor: War
A Wolf Steps in Blood by Tamara Jerée
dark
emotional
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
4.0
Fantastic novella. Fated mates aren't my thing, but I can understand the utility of it in a short story.
This had, by far, my favorite shifter lore I've ever encountered. A rich world is built up quickly and expertly.
Take those content warnings seriously tho.
This had, by far, my favorite shifter lore I've ever encountered. A rich world is built up quickly and expertly.
Take those content warnings seriously tho.
Spirits and Sirens by Kelly Fireside, Tana Fireside
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Spirits & Sirens has the setting, dialogue, and depth of a small-town Hallmark movie, and the plot of a quirky paranormal romance.
I was excited to see a sapphic romance with a masc lead. But this book was just too much for me. Too much dialogue, too much exposition between the dialogue, too much time in between having our leads interacting, and way too much minutiae of the town and each person we cross. A lot of talking, not a whole lot of feelings.
I appreciate that the authors really tried to give their characters lives outside of eachother, but it turns the pacing into a slog. All the conversation with friends, all the exposition about jobs and town politics.
Elena has an internal rant about the body dysmorphia of her previous partners, right in the middle of a sex scene?
The book definitely picks up when the Elena and Al finally get together. But that isn't until you hit the 70% mark, and there wasn't enough heat leading up to it to support the slow burn.
Overall, I think this just needed more focus on the main characters and their relationship.
ARC provided by NetGalley.
I was excited to see a sapphic romance with a masc lead. But this book was just too much for me. Too much dialogue, too much exposition between the dialogue, too much time in between having our leads interacting, and way too much minutiae of the town and each person we cross. A lot of talking, not a whole lot of feelings.
I appreciate that the authors really tried to give their characters lives outside of eachother, but it turns the pacing into a slog. All the conversation with friends, all the exposition about jobs and town politics.
Elena has an internal rant about the body dysmorphia of her previous partners, right in the middle of a sex scene?
The book definitely picks up when the Elena and Al finally get together. But that isn't until you hit the 70% mark, and there wasn't enough heat leading up to it to support the slow burn.
Overall, I think this just needed more focus on the main characters and their relationship.
ARC provided by NetGalley.
The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
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
It's not often, at almost 34, that I muster up the mental and physical stamina to marathon a 330 page book. But I read this in one-sitting, late into the night, like a teen that can afford to be half-asleep during first period.
I've read some great books so far this year, even books that evoked a similar sense of comforting nostalgia. But this is easily my favorite.
For fans of: Terry Pratchett, Dianna Wynn Jones, Douglass Adams, T. Kingfisher, Martha Wells, Neil Gaiman, Lemony Snickett, Seanan McGuire.
ARC provided by NetGalley.
I've read some great books so far this year, even books that evoked a similar sense of comforting nostalgia. But this is easily my favorite.
For fans of: Terry Pratchett, Dianna Wynn Jones, Douglass Adams, T. Kingfisher, Martha Wells, Neil Gaiman, Lemony Snickett, Seanan McGuire.
ARC provided by NetGalley.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Kidnapping, Suicide, and Death of parent
Strange Folk by Alli Dyer
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-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
4.0
Appalachia is not a place a typically venture to in my journey across fiction. Strange Folk is the argument that I probably need to change that going forward.
This was a breezy read, but there were occasional lines that would knock the wind out of me.
Lee is our center, and I found her deeply relatable from page one, in her behavior and her relationships with the people around her. You understand her actions and motivations, even when you know she is making a mess of things.
I do think the plot got a little bit too twisted up in itself, particularly towards the end, which detracted from the fantastic character work. We had two or three book's worth of plot crammed into 300.
A solid debut. Easy to read with enough depth to keep you engaged.
ARC provided by NetGalley.
This was a breezy read, but there were occasional lines that would knock the wind out of me.
Lee is our center, and I found her deeply relatable from page one, in her behavior and her relationships with the people around her. You understand her actions and motivations, even when you know she is making a mess of things.
I do think the plot got a little bit too twisted up in itself, particularly towards the end, which detracted from the fantastic character work. We had two or three book's worth of plot crammed into 300.
A solid debut. Easy to read with enough depth to keep you engaged.
ARC provided by NetGalley.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Drug abuse
Moderate: Pedophilia
Minor: Animal death
Hum by Helen Phillips
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
To function in the modern world, we have to disassociate from the realities of invasive technology. From the way it monitors and extracts resources from us. Our money, our time, our attention, our very thoughts.
Hum masterfully puts a mirror up to that disassociation, in a way that is both uncomfortable and cathartic.
Often in "tech is bad" stories, the blame is placed on the lack of self-discipline of the people using the tech. Hum takes the higher (and more nuanced) road, by showing us a woman beaten down and just trying to provide a comfortable life for her family.
The backdrop is not over-explained, but you experience it largely through the children. Little tidbits, constantly dropped, about how casually they experience the trajedy of the world. Because it is their normal.
Written with a slight ethereal tone, this atmospheric story was easy to devour. It's one that will linger with me.
ARC provided by NetGalley.
Hum masterfully puts a mirror up to that disassociation, in a way that is both uncomfortable and cathartic.
Often in "tech is bad" stories, the blame is placed on the lack of self-discipline of the people using the tech. Hum takes the higher (and more nuanced) road, by showing us a woman beaten down and just trying to provide a comfortable life for her family.
The backdrop is not over-explained, but you experience it largely through the children. Little tidbits, constantly dropped, about how casually they experience the trajedy of the world. Because it is their normal.
Written with a slight ethereal tone, this atmospheric story was easy to devour. It's one that will linger with me.
ARC provided by NetGalley.
Lore of the Wilds by Analeigh Sbrana
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
The nicest thing I can say about this was that it was an easy read. Because if it wasn't, I would have DNF'd it.
This reads very much like a YA. But there are explicit sex scenes, which muddies that.
Lore's entire personality is just "charge headfirst into danger, and somehow it turns out fine." Even though we were in her point of view, I got very little sense of her motivations. Her wants, her needs, her strengths and flaws. Her flaws, in particular, are minimal and go largely unaddressed.
I have no idea why everyone around her loves her so much.
She spent her whole life terrified of fae. They killed her father in front of her and oppressed her people. But when one (who has her imprisoned) tells her she can't go to a FESTIVAL, she pouts and then risks her life to steal cookies. I can't. I just can't.
I think she's supposed to be pragmatic and headstrong, but she just comes off as dumb and inconsistent.
And I thought they might set up a cute polycule. It's 2024, who even does love triangles anymore? But it's giving Rhysand and Tamlin, neither of whom I'm terribly fond of.
This reads very much like a YA. But there are explicit sex scenes, which muddies that.
Lore's entire personality is just "charge headfirst into danger, and somehow it turns out fine." Even though we were in her point of view, I got very little sense of her motivations. Her wants, her needs, her strengths and flaws. Her flaws, in particular, are minimal and go largely unaddressed.
I have no idea why everyone around her loves her so much.
She spent her whole life terrified of fae. They killed her father in front of her and oppressed her people. But when one (who has her imprisoned) tells her she can't go to a FESTIVAL, she pouts and then risks her life to steal cookies. I can't. I just can't.
I think she's supposed to be pragmatic and headstrong, but she just comes off as dumb and inconsistent.
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape
Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Nightbitch should be required reading for anyone considering having a child. Shelve it right next to What To Expect When You're Expecting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
King Nyx by Kirsten Bakis
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
"Remember you are safe. Your response is out of proportion to the facts. There is no danger except in your mind."
After the introduction, we meet Anna as a middle-aged woman. You quickly parse she is someone who has spent her life supporting the dreams of her husband, and man who, while perhaps good-intentioned, has a bumbling paternalism for his wife.
In Anna's point of view you hear all the excuses she makes for him. She is filled with a lifetime of guilt, shame, and inferiority, and that colors all her interactions with him.
This is where King Nyx excels. Exposing and subtly picking apart the relationships between it's characters. And that is the primary focus for the first half of the book.
After that is when it starts to fall apart. We fall into a mystery set up quite well in the beginning, but tied together a bit too cleanly at the end. Those meaty character interactions fall to the wayside for some gothic-mystery shenanigans.
The most disappointing aspect for me was that we didn't really get to see all that much growth from Anna. She is, ultimately, the same character we meet at the beginning.
Very strong start, but I wish this story had leaned more into its strengths instead of getting lost in its own mysteries.
ARC provided by NetGalley.
After the introduction, we meet Anna as a middle-aged woman. You quickly parse she is someone who has spent her life supporting the dreams of her husband, and man who, while perhaps good-intentioned, has a bumbling paternalism for his wife.
In Anna's point of view you hear all the excuses she makes for him. She is filled with a lifetime of guilt, shame, and inferiority, and that colors all her interactions with him.
This is where King Nyx excels. Exposing and subtly picking apart the relationships between it's characters. And that is the primary focus for the first half of the book.
After that is when it starts to fall apart. We fall into a mystery set up quite well in the beginning, but tied together a bit too cleanly at the end. Those meaty character interactions fall to the wayside for some gothic-mystery shenanigans.
The most disappointing aspect for me was that we didn't really get to see all that much growth from Anna. She is, ultimately, the same character we meet at the beginning.
Very strong start, but I wish this story had leaned more into its strengths instead of getting lost in its own mysteries.
ARC provided by NetGalley.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
Moderate: Forced institutionalization and Torture
Minor: Miscarriage, Adult/minor relationship, and Rape