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sarah_cameron's reviews
102 reviews
The Wrath & the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.75
This book truly lives up to the hype. I love that the premise is based on the narrator of One Thousand and One Nights, as well as the presence of the enemies-to-lovers trope that is developed into something so rich and magical.
The storytelling by Ahdieh is truly divine, she has such an engaging style that was so suited to the tone of the book, and really brought the world and characters to life. I hope we get to see more of the country and magic system in the sequel.
I also adored Shahrzad. She is such a complex and wonderful MC. You never stop rooting for her and as her story grows and she changes you are right there with her. Every decision she comes to really makes sense and you see and sympathise with her internal struggle.
My only drawback is that I think this book would have benefited from more chapters from Khalid’s pov - although you really got a sense for the depth of his emotions and some of his backstory, this could have been more fleshed out. Though he was intriguing he wasn’t as three-dimensional as I would have liked, and felt a little flat at times.
On the whole a phenomenal read that I would highly recommend.
The storytelling by Ahdieh is truly divine, she has such an engaging style that was so suited to the tone of the book, and really brought the world and characters to life. I hope we get to see more of the country and magic system in the sequel.
I also adored Shahrzad. She is such a complex and wonderful MC. You never stop rooting for her and as her story grows and she changes you are right there with her. Every decision she comes to really makes sense and you see and sympathise with her internal struggle.
My only drawback is that I think this book would have benefited from more chapters from Khalid’s pov - although you really got a sense for the depth of his emotions and some of his backstory, this could have been more fleshed out. Though he was intriguing he wasn’t as three-dimensional as I would have liked, and felt a little flat at times.
On the whole a phenomenal read that I would highly recommend.
The King of Crows by Libba Bray
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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
4.25
Welp.
What an end to the series honestly. I loved that we expanded to scope so much from the first book - in terms of characters, physical locations, and the world building and magic system. A really steady climb that was well earned by Bray.
I also enjoyed the groups we ended up with - not the logical split which made it really interesting and really fleshed out each MC so much more.
As always, the supernatural elements, fictional plot, and historic nods wove together so well, and each was done justice in its exploration. Really incredible themes and lessons, and the amazingly interesting and diverse cast allow for so much to be tackled.
Alsodamn Bray, you gonna leave us with any characters? Really took ‘kill your darlings’ to heart 🥲
A solid end to a great series, so glad I read this.
What an end to the series honestly. I loved that we expanded to scope so much from the first book - in terms of characters, physical locations, and the world building and magic system. A really steady climb that was well earned by Bray.
I also enjoyed the groups we ended up with - not the logical split which made it really interesting and really fleshed out each MC so much more.
As always, the supernatural elements, fictional plot, and historic nods wove together so well, and each was done justice in its exploration. Really incredible themes and lessons, and the amazingly interesting and diverse cast allow for so much to be tackled.
Also
A solid end to a great series, so glad I read this.
These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong
adventurous
dark
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
4.25
Enemies-to-lovers, morally grey cast, politics, mystery, fantasy, and a retelling - need I say more?
This book really does hit all the tropes, and honestly it pulls it off! A dark and unique twist on a classic tale, bringing in real life politics and history to boot, this is definitely worth the admittedly slow start - the pay off is great.
Despite being based on a classic, you never really know which way the plot will go next. The characters and fully fledged and convincing, and all have great dynamics both individually and when they interact. Gong’s writing style also lends itself so well to a story-retelling, it is accessible yet still feels mystical and a little old-timey.
The fantasy element was equal parts creepy and cool, and definitely hit hard after dealing with a pandemic for a few years.
The politics and subsequent relationships and events all fit fairly seamlessly, and lend themselves to the plot rather than over-crowding it. And damn, that ending.
Super excited to dive into the sequel!
This book really does hit all the tropes, and honestly it pulls it off! A dark and unique twist on a classic tale, bringing in real life politics and history to boot, this is definitely worth the admittedly slow start - the pay off is great.
Despite being based on a classic, you never really know which way the plot will go next. The characters and fully fledged and convincing, and all have great dynamics both individually and when they interact. Gong’s writing style also lends itself so well to a story-retelling, it is accessible yet still feels mystical and a little old-timey.
The fantasy element was equal parts creepy and cool, and definitely hit hard after dealing with a pandemic for a few years.
The politics and subsequent relationships and events all fit fairly seamlessly, and lend themselves to the plot rather than over-crowding it. And damn, that ending.
Super excited to dive into the sequel!
Call Me by Your Name by André Aciman
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
This book is a hard one to review, as I feel there’s so many different tones at different stages of the book that it’s almost like reviewing three in one.
So much of the descriptions of lust and desire when first experienced as a teenager are pretty spot on - the all-consuming angst of it all - and I liked the shift in descriptions as our MC ages.
The story itself is short and sweet, interesting and complex but still accessible. This is obviously not about a healthy relationship and there’s definitely the risk of romanticising the situation, but I feel it’s a bittersweet enough story that the narrator themselves just avoids falling into this.
Finally, there’s some descriptions and metaphors that are just…weird if not downright uncomfortable. And no, I’m not referring to the peach scene, but a great example is right at the end of that (SA CW).
Overall this book is weird, uncomfortable, relatable, funny, and sweet. An unusual cocktail of emotions but there you go. Worth a read, I’d check it out, but keep the CWs etc in mind.
So much of the descriptions of lust and desire when first experienced as a teenager are pretty spot on - the all-consuming angst of it all - and I liked the shift in descriptions as our MC ages.
The story itself is short and sweet, interesting and complex but still accessible. This is obviously not about a healthy relationship and there’s definitely the risk of romanticising the situation, but I feel it’s a bittersweet enough story that the narrator themselves just avoids falling into this.
Finally, there’s some descriptions and metaphors that are just…weird if not downright uncomfortable. And no, I’m not referring to the peach scene, but a great example is right at the end of that (SA CW).
Overall this book is weird, uncomfortable, relatable, funny, and sweet. An unusual cocktail of emotions but there you go. Worth a read, I’d check it out, but keep the CWs etc in mind.
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
This book is actually hilarious. It’s a pretty accessible piece compared to some similar books, and much of the humour still lands today.
I feel Austen is mostly a rom-com writer, and although there’s plenty of romance and relationships in this one, it very much falls more on the comedy side. I found myself laughing out loud several times.
Possibly due to the fact that the main family is a little smaller than in some other Austen books, each character has a very distinct voice and personality, and they’re all enjoyable and relatable in their owns ways.
An enjoyable read, would highly recommend, and Pike does a wonderful job of narrating, so definitely check out the audiobook with her if you get the chance!
I feel Austen is mostly a rom-com writer, and although there’s plenty of romance and relationships in this one, it very much falls more on the comedy side. I found myself laughing out loud several times.
Possibly due to the fact that the main family is a little smaller than in some other Austen books, each character has a very distinct voice and personality, and they’re all enjoyable and relatable in their owns ways.
An enjoyable read, would highly recommend, and Pike does a wonderful job of narrating, so definitely check out the audiobook with her if you get the chance!
The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.75
Although I wasn’t completely blown away by this book, it’s still pretty clear why it’s so popular.
The characters were all really interesting, had clear histories, personalities and motives, which is not easy to do with such a big A cast, and there was a decent amount of diversity between them, too!
The set up was intriguing, and the world building was cool - I’d like to find out more about the magic system and it’s limitations in future books though!
The twist was great - there were actual hints to it but subtle enough that it kept you on your toes, and even if you get close you’re unlikely to guess the whole of it.
This definitely felt more like it was setting the scene for a bigger story, so was a little slow moving at times, but I’m still keen to check out where it goes!
The characters were all really interesting, had clear histories, personalities and motives, which is not easy to do with such a big A cast, and there was a decent amount of diversity between them, too!
The set up was intriguing, and the world building was cool - I’d like to find out more about the magic system and it’s limitations in future books though!
The twist was great - there were actual hints to it but subtle enough that it kept you on your toes, and even if you get close you’re unlikely to guess the whole of it.
This definitely felt more like it was setting the scene for a bigger story, so was a little slow moving at times, but I’m still keen to check out where it goes!
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.75
This book was a wonderfully fun and whimsical fairytale that feels both modern and timeless. Not to be compared to the film adaptation - that is created largely with entertainment and laughs in mind - whereas the book is far more steady in pace and doesn’t hit peak climax or tense moments.
In line with this, the ending felt a little flat to me, but it was also very much in line with how many classic fairytales are told.
The world building was very well done, and a fun puzzle to unpack as you journey along. The characters were interesting and vibrant, though strong development is somewhat lacking. The writing was absolutely fantastic, the language and style was so well-suited to the tale it was telling.
On the whole this is a super fun read, definitely one I’ll come back to, and worth checking out!
The Near Witch by V.E. Schwab, V.E. Schwab
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.75
This was such a well-written debut novel!
Schwab is truly a genius when it comes to lyrical writing, and it was so fun to read a ‘true’ fairytale story by them - so well suited to her writing style!
Schwab’s writing has definitely flourished and improved since this novel, but the story really is timeless and fun - I’m reading Stardust right now, and if you enjoy that kind of story you’d definitely enjoy this!
A whimsical, mystical, and easy read, it is a great between-series book hangover cure that I’d definitely recommend picking up!
Bonus: this version includes a short prequel story, ‘The Ash-Born Baby’ which was a fun inclusion! This was really well written and provides an impressive amount of context and background for such a short tale. 4 stars for this story! CW for SH and abuse though, so skip this if you need to.
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Wow this book was epic!
This was probably the first ‘true’ sci-if I’ve read in the stereotypical sense, and I LOVED it. I’m not sure how this all plays out in the physical book, but I feel the experience of reading this was greatly enhanced by the narrator of the audiobook. He adds a lot of humour and personality to an already interesting and well-written protagonist, and I would highly recommend opting for the audiobook if you’re able to.
The actual story was very relevant, and despite the sheer quantity of science-talk in the book, Weir makes it accessible enough to follow along. This book made me feel all the things - sadness, joy, hope, and I laughed out loud many times.
I loved the time jumps - they were easy to follow, and I really enjoy books where the reader slowly pieces things together as they go along, particularly when this happens alongside the protagonist. Also gosh darn it I love Rocky so much, literally the perfect character, so much fun and added some much needed levity to the plot .
Overall a fantastic read, this definitely deserves the attention it has received!
Fortuna Sworn by K.J. Sutton
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This book was pretty mixed for me. I thought the premise great, and enjoyed the take on the unseelie court and how it might exist alongside the modern world. However I wish we’d explored that dynamic and the lore of the world more.
The writing style was well done, and I enjoyed the first 2/3rds, particularly the beginning. I did find the ending had some weird pacing and felt a little stilted. Further, it seemed very info-dumpy at the end, and things were kinda conveniently revealed, rather than seeded throughout for the reader to understand, which I think lore world building at the start would have really helped with.
On the whole, this was an easy read with lots of classic tropes. It’s probably best for getting out of a reading slump, but I wasn’t blown away by it or as invested in the characters, particularly the protagonist, as I would have liked.