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shamelesslyintroverted's reviews
359 reviews
Belladonna by Adalyn Grace
5.0
I read this for the first time as an ARC when it came out a few years ago and was swept away. The atmosphere is perfect for fall, even if it's not explicitly set in it. We have a nineteen year old who can interact with the dead and cannot die herself. When her parents died horrifically when Signa was only a baby, she was bounced from one family member to another. Unfortunately, most of these people only wanted the fortune that they'd have access to, so she wasn't well cared for.
This is where Death comes in. Signa learns that if she takes a handful of belladonna berries, she dies.
She's transported to this in-between, where she interacts with Death before coming back to her body. In other words, Signa hates Death and blames him for her misfortune. Everyone around her dies.
Not only is Belladonna perfect for spooky season because we have death personified, haunted manors, a murder mystery, a sweeping romance, and a great cast of side characters... but there's a dog. Who doesn't love a man with a dog?
Onto book two!
This is where Death comes in. Signa learns that if she takes a handful of belladonna berries, she dies.
She's transported to this in-between, where she interacts with Death before coming back to her body. In other words, Signa hates Death and blames him for her misfortune. Everyone around her dies.
Not only is Belladonna perfect for spooky season because we have death personified, haunted manors, a murder mystery, a sweeping romance, and a great cast of side characters... but there's a dog. Who doesn't love a man with a dog?
Onto book two!
Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross
4.0
I kind of struggled through this one until the last ~100 pages or so. Being absolutely obsessed with Divine Rivals, I thought this one would be a solid five star read... but I didn't love my reading experience throughout most of the book. It was brutal, like the first, but it didn't have the same level of romantic intrigue. I didn't love reading about all of the bad things that were happening. I think it's super important to have that balance, especially if there's a romantic subplot. I want to see the hardship and growth, but I also want to experience the good. I could count the happy moments on one hand.
With that being said, the plot of this book was intense. We got to the know the world on a much deeper scale due to Roman's predicament and, once again, the toggling between POVs was *chef's kiss.* Ross only changed the perspective when it was needed.
I do have to say that the ending had me in tears. I mainly listened to the audiobook due to migraine attacks, but I was crying through the last bits when it was revealed that Forest and Sarah did indeed perish under the bomb. Even though we did get that POV (my god), I was still hopeful they'd show up somewhere. Although, I'm thankful in a way that they didn't because it added to the believability and brutality of the war.
The one thing that consistently got under my skin a little was just how ethereal Enva was compared to Dacre. If the gods were supposed to be all like Enva, mysterious and floaty... why is Dacre the complete opposite of that? There's no mystery in his presence. It's all mob boss energy.
Overall, I wouldn't say that this was a pleasant read, although it was entertaining. I am glad I read it, but during rereads, I'll probably stick with the first book because this one is a bit too depressing for my taste.
With that being said, the plot of this book was intense. We got to the know the world on a much deeper scale due to Roman's predicament and, once again, the toggling between POVs was *chef's kiss.* Ross only changed the perspective when it was needed.
The one thing that consistently got under my skin a little was just how ethereal Enva was compared to Dacre. If the gods were supposed to be all like Enva, mysterious and floaty... why is Dacre the complete opposite of that? There's no mystery in his presence. It's all mob boss energy.
Overall, I wouldn't say that this was a pleasant read, although it was entertaining. I am glad I read it, but during rereads, I'll probably stick with the first book because this one is a bit too depressing for my taste.
Witch Hat Atelier, Volume 2 by Kamome Shirahama
4.0
The ending of this volume had me shook. I loved the last two chapters and I sped through them, but the first few about the dragon and the maze world were kind of dull in my opinion, which is why I dropped down a star. I am loving learning more about the world building and Qifrey looks kind of seedy to me. The first volume gave me pause, but this one is making me suspicious of his agenda. I also really loved the kitchen magic bit. I really hope we get more of that!
The Phoenix Keeper by S.A. MacLean
4.0
If you're looking for a cozy fantasy that combines magical beasts, zoology, and a hint of romance, The Phoenix Keeper has to be your next read! I absolutely adored this book and to think that it's a debut is kind of insane.
I loved the setting, the LGBTQIA+ rep (we have a bi main character and a trans best friend), the anxiety rep, and the themes of conservation. I think I'm going to buy a membership to my local zoo after reading this book. It's a fantasy, but there are so many parallels... it's hard to ignore.
My only issue was the main conflict at the end. I didn't like who the 'bad guy' turned out being. I saw this coming a mile away, so I wanted to be wrong. I hated Connor from their first date. I hated the way he always talked down to her, belittled her passions, and seemed uninterested (even though he's also a zookeeper... that part didn't make sense to me). It clicked that he fed his own hatchlings to the poachers with this disinterest. I knew that someone was going to make a pass at stealing the chicks when Aila say a blip on the security camera in an unrelated scene. When that turned out to be nothing, I knew that someone was going to try to steal them. From there, I figured it was going to be Connor because he knows the program from the inside out and he doesn't even care about his own animal's, much less hers. I thought maybe the ending could've been a bit more creative, but altogether I adored my reading experience.
*** The audio is amazing, this book has a map, and is set throughout the seasons (but it gives summer vibes in my opinion) ***
I loved the setting, the LGBTQIA+ rep (we have a bi main character and a trans best friend), the anxiety rep, and the themes of conservation. I think I'm going to buy a membership to my local zoo after reading this book. It's a fantasy, but there are so many parallels... it's hard to ignore.
My only issue was the main conflict at the end. I didn't like who the 'bad guy' turned out being. I saw this coming a mile away, so I wanted to be wrong.
*** The audio is amazing, this book has a map, and is set throughout the seasons (but it gives summer vibes in my opinion) ***
Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell
Did not finish book. Stopped at 8%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 8%.
I cannot express how much of a disappointment the start of this book is. Rainbow Rowell is one of my favorite authors and has written one of my favorite YA books of all time, Fangirl. This book has Fangirl elements in it... but not the good ones. I can't even say that it's written as a YA because her YA books are written better than this. The writing is beyond simple with lots of telling (as opposed to showing), short sentences, and a disappointing plot. I DNFed knowing that I don't care about the plot or about the characters. I'm beyond disappointed since this was one of my most anticipated releases!!!
Witch Hat Atelier, Volume 1 by Kamome Shirahama
5.0
Such a strong start to the series!! I cannot wait to dive into this manga this fall. Cozy, witchy vibes with a strong magic system, world building, and beautiful illustration!
She and Her Cat by Makoto Shinkai, Naruki Nagakawa
3.5
If GR had half star ratings, I would say that this book is a solid 3.5! I really enjoyed my reading experience with this book, more than I thought I would. I decided to pick this up because my sister adores this book and recommended it me. She doesn't read a bunch, so when she recommends me a book... I will read it.
There were so many things I loved about this book. The writing was beautiful (amazing translation) and I loved how the stories were interconnected. My biggest problem with short stories is that there's not enough time to develop characters, therefore, I generally don't care enough about anyone for the plot to matter.
She and Her Cat was different. There were four stories, but they were all interconnected and the way the characters were unfolded was well done. We started with one cat and one owner, unwinding into another cat and owner that we were introduced to in the first story. By the fourth story, I felt like I knew these cats and humans like I would friends (which is a huge accomplishment since the book is less than 140 pages long).
I also really loved the structure. It was a little weird at first that we were reading from the POVs of cats so much, but I grew to love it. I loved exploring the inner world of these cats and how each one lived their life and viewed our lives as humans. It was interesting and heartwarming. It was easy to know which POV we were in because whenever there would be a switch from human to cat, there would be a cute black cat icon.
At the very beginning, I made a note that this book reads like a Studio Ghibli movie. I still stand by that, but we're talking about some very heavy topics (especially in the second story). I know that Studio Ghibli also talks about heavy topics, so that comparison still stands. Due to this, I wouldn't really classify this as cozy, even though there are definitely cozy elements at play.
The only reason I didn't give this a four or a five star rating was, while impactful, I don't think I would ever reread it. I do think I will be thinking about this book for a while, though.
There were so many things I loved about this book. The writing was beautiful (amazing translation) and I loved how the stories were interconnected. My biggest problem with short stories is that there's not enough time to develop characters, therefore, I generally don't care enough about anyone for the plot to matter.
She and Her Cat was different. There were four stories, but they were all interconnected and the way the characters were unfolded was well done. We started with one cat and one owner, unwinding into another cat and owner that we were introduced to in the first story. By the fourth story, I felt like I knew these cats and humans like I would friends (which is a huge accomplishment since the book is less than 140 pages long).
I also really loved the structure. It was a little weird at first that we were reading from the POVs of cats so much, but I grew to love it. I loved exploring the inner world of these cats and how each one lived their life and viewed our lives as humans. It was interesting and heartwarming. It was easy to know which POV we were in because whenever there would be a switch from human to cat, there would be a cute black cat icon.
At the very beginning, I made a note that this book reads like a Studio Ghibli movie. I still stand by that, but we're talking about some very heavy topics (especially in the second story). I know that Studio Ghibli also talks about heavy topics, so that comparison still stands. Due to this, I wouldn't really classify this as cozy, even though there are definitely cozy elements at play.
The only reason I didn't give this a four or a five star rating was, while impactful, I don't think I would ever reread it. I do think I will be thinking about this book for a while, though.
Fangirl, Vol. 4: The Manga by Gabi Nam, Rainbow Rowell
5.0
I was nervous going into this volume because it's the last one. I didn't want the ending to get all fucked up, but I was surprised to find myself crying at the end. This book means so much to me and I'm elated that the graphic adaptations were done this well. They nailed every character, every plot point, and all of the nostalgic feelings that I was craving from this read. I didn't start crying until I read the acknowledgements from Rainbow at the end. It's cozy, it's sweet, has one of my favorite book boyfriends ever, highlights the craziness of college life, and inspired me to write. I think Fangirl has such a special place in my heart because I was a kid when I read this and I was actively writing every day, just like Cath. Now I'm in my early thirties and I haven't typed a coherent word in a decade. *Cracks fingers* Maybe that'll change.
Fangirl, Vol. 3: The Manga by Gabi Nam, Rainbow Rowell
5.0
How can I not give this five stars? The adaptation is perfect and the original story is just so authentic. Cath's feelings with complicated family dynamics, falling into her first relationship, and managing being a creative writing student is just peak writing. I love everything about this.
Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle
5.0
I absolutely loved the theme of this book and the last fifty pages had me floored. In my mid-reading update, I mentioned that I wanted Hugo and Daphne to get together, but I knew how far-fetched that would be since the papers were the focus. Oh my god am I thrilled that Hugo was the love interest the whole time and that her paper flew away upon entering the restaurant at the end. Like. How poetic is that??
The magical realism in romance is one of my favorite things now. Ashley Poston introduced me to the concept and Rebecca Serle drove it home. The premise was intriguing and I loved the message Daphne learned through her experience. While I was reading, I was getting a little tired of all of the flashbacks with different people. However, I grew to love them because it allowed me to dive deeper into Daphne's personality, her life, and how she's changed as a person through the years. It also let me see the development between her and Hugo's relationship. I love this woman's writing and I'm about to devour the rest of her backlist.
The magical realism in romance is one of my favorite things now. Ashley Poston introduced me to the concept and Rebecca Serle drove it home. The premise was intriguing and I loved the message Daphne learned through her experience. While I was reading, I was getting a little tired of all of the flashbacks with different people. However, I grew to love them because it allowed me to dive deeper into Daphne's personality, her life, and how she's changed as a person through the years.