sarahmc95's reviews
21 reviews

youthjuice by E.K. Sathue
Did not finish book. Stopped at 23%.

This audiobook was so good. It was to good. The author and the narrator really bring to life the events in the story. At only 23% I don't feel like I'm spoiling anything but for trigger reasons

I couldn't take it anymore when they described her first self harm episode.

It was beautiful and graphic but it was just too much for me. 

I might try again with a text version at some point where I can skim the parts that are too much instead of the audiobook where I can't do that as easily. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, and Self harm

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders

House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas

adventurous emotional medium-paced

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

4.0

We LOVE a multiverse! We adore a complicated history! I was enraptured during the first portion of the book where little threads planted throughout Maas' work started to weave together. 

I am now officially in love with The Hind. The character development for her was *chef kiss*. Her story is heartbreaking and heartwarming and infuriating in turns. 

I was not as invested in the other characters in this book. I felt like there was very little character development, and everyone but The Hind felt very 2 dimensional, with very little growth at all. 

This book felt sometimes like it leaned very heavily on Deus Ex Machina rather than building up plausible reasons for things that intervened in the plot. 

All told I still really liked the book and it was a great installment in the overall story, but I don't think I would re-read it the way that I have the other "Maasverse" books. 

Forbidden Honor by May Dawson

fast-paced

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

3.0

Dangerous Honor by May Dawson

fast-paced

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

3.0

Sacred Honor by May Dawson

fast-paced

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

3.0

Victory of Eagles by Naomi Novik

adventurous medium-paced

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

5.0

House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book was *chef kiss*. A perfectly executed grim retelling of 12 Dancing Princesses. 

I was gifted this book and went in fully blind, I didn't even read the back cover before starting. I was immediately immersed and absolutely inhaled it. I cannot recommend it enough, and the less you know going in, the better. Strap in and simply follow the tide. 

The Faceless Old Woman Who Secretly Lives In Your Home by Jeffrey Cranor, Joseph Fink

adventurous dark funny mysterious fast-paced

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

4.0

The Faceless Old Woman Who Secretly Lives in Your Home is my favorite Welcome to Night Vale character, so I was thrilled when I saw the book on the library shelf. 

It really digs into her back story, which was phenomenal, with the same dark humor that rides the line of absurdity that can be found in the podcast. 

Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

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

3.0

Perfect for a quick fantasy slow burn read.

I had been expecting from advertising / descriptions more of a "dark romance" type of book, but in reality, it reads more like a "grumpy boss" romance. Still very good and cute! 

I wish I had known it was the first of an incomplete series before starting it. I'll be patiently awaiting the second book. 

His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik

adventurous fast-paced

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

5.0