shomla_msawesomesaucey's reviews
185 reviews

funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

2.5

I am not an own voices reviewer so please check out various Black reviewers, blogger, booktubers, and bookstagrammers for a more comprehensive and honest review regarding representation.

I gave this book a 2.5 out of 5 stars.

This book, I thought had potential. It had really great bare bones but the other stuff was not for me. I picked up this book because the premise sounded very cool, a baker and a paleontologist and because it was a Black romance (two or more Black characters). The female MC (Alisha) is half Black and half White while the male MC (Quentin) is half Black and half Latinx, to my knowledge. Also Quentin is described as looking like Steph Curry which does not match the cover.

I liked our main characters and their romance but the conflicts that would happen between them and for plot, were not it for me. Like Alisha had an issue communicating with Quentin beyond the normal miscommunication trope usually seen in romance books. Like it was too much for me. She was always hot and cold with Quentin and always doubting herself. I thought that the banter between them was really good and their chemistry was nice too, their insecurities just got in the way. Also the conflict with Alisha and her family while it is understandable, it went on too long. Like this could've been resolved much earlier in the book.

I just think that the book had good ideas and concepts but didn't pull through for me. The romance was good, just the stuff surrounding it seemed unnecessary to me.

The Broken Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-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

4.0

I am not an own voices reviewer so please check out various Black reviewers, blogger, booktubers, and bookstagrammers for a more comprehensive and honest review regarding representation.

I gave this book a 4 out of 5 stars.

N. K. Jemisin has done it again! Miss Nora never misses! This was an action packed book yall! If you haven't guessed, I really enjoyed this book. Surprisingly, it was more so the plot than the characters that captured me when I am really a character driven reader. I was more attached to the characters in HTK *cough #Nahadoth4Life cough* but I still enjoyed these characters as well, especially Madding. Madding, Madding, Madding. Sigh.

The writing and storytelling is this is just superb, top tier! The political intrigue, the mystery, the suspense and tension, the high stakes feel! Just delicious, succulent and satisfying. The villian was a great one! I hated the heck outta him

and am glad he got his dues. He wanted to taste the power of the gods and his ass did! I hated hated hated his ass. His stupid ass wife too.

I was hesitant about this book because it was supposed to focus on one character that I didn't like but the other characters and the plot made up for it immensely. Although knowing Miss Nora, she made me feel bad for this character and kind of empathize with him. He went through some ish but it still doesn't excuse what he did.

Overall, this was a great sequel to the first book and just makes me fall even more in love with Miss Nora's writing and storytelling. Now onto Book 3!

The Burning Maze by Rick Riordan

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad tense 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

4.25

I gave this book a 4.25 out of 5 stars. Man, this one made me emotional! T.T

As the series goes on, I’ve really become endeared to Apollo/Lester and really feel what he is going through and how he feels. However, it is about time that one of the gods/goddesses know what it’s like to be a human and be a demigod constantly hounded by these godly beings to do their bidding. All of the demigods throughout Uncle Rick’s series have gone through shit trying to save the world while the gods and goddesses sit on their asses. It’s nice to see a god feel what they go through.

I am really enjoying Apollo’s arc throughout the series, it’s so good. I also love how high stakes each book is and that, although this is heartbreaking,

some beings do die (poor Jason)

. I’m also enjoying the forming relationship between Apollo and Meg and how it’s coming along. It’s very heartwarming to see how much each of them mean to each other, especially when it comes to Apollo with Meg. I also like that when it comes to these quests to fight the emperors and free the Oracles, that Apollo does not have access to his godly powers, he has some gifts he can use (music and etc.) but he has as much power as any other demigod.

I also love seeing our former heroes come back like Percy, Leo, Piper, Jason and Grover. SO HAPPY TO HAVE GROVER BACK! Since we are reading this series in Apollo’s perspective, I’ve grown an appreciation for all of these characters, especially Piper and Jason. I was not fond of them before but this book really changed my mind and I really do like them. When were in scenes with Jason, I really liked what he had to say and

was so heartbroken when what happened, happened to him. I even cried because of it! I can’t imagine what his send off in the next book will be like, I need to get my tissues ready. When I think about Jason’s arc in this book, my heart hurts. I hope Apollo keeps the promise he made to him.

Although, I felt that the book was a tad long and the pacing felt off but I’m not sure what I would cut out. I feel like we could’ve gotten to certain aspects faster.

Overall, really enjoyed this book and I think this might be Uncle Rick’s best series! :D

That Can Be Arranged: A Muslim Love Story by Huda Fahmy

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funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

4.0

This book/graphic novel is about the author's journey of her love life and meeting her husband. I really enjoyed this and appreciated the author's note in the beginning. I enjoyed how she broke the journey down into sections and inserted her own humor and moments into this. I really connected to her because I too wonder what Allah (SWT) has instore for me in terms of a partner and sometimes I feel that loneliness she has felt when I look at people around me who are married or in relationships. I also appreciated how she broke down some of the Islamic language/aspects and her culture as well. This was a fun, cute and light hearted read which I recommend anyone to read.

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin

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adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

I am not an own voices reviewer so please check out various Black reviewers, blogger, booktubers, and bookstragrammers for a more comprehensive and honest review regarding representation.

I gave this book a 4.25 out of 5 stars and this is my second N.K Jemisin series after reading the Broken Earth Trilogy.

First of all, Nahadoth is bae, thank you very much! Onto the review lol.

I enjoyed this book and I can kinda tell this was N. K. Jemisin's debut novel because I read the Broken Earth Trilogy. The aspect that N. K. Jemisin is a master at is writing characters with such depth and writing such complex relationships too. The writing was so masterful, just so good! N. K. Jemisin's way of writing just captures you and immerses you so well that you can't put it down and you need to get through it.

For characters, I really enjoyed Yeine, Nahadoth and Seih. I enjoyed reading about Yeine's arc from

a naive girl to a literal goddess

. The amount of strength and courage that she gained throughout the story was nice because it did not come out of nowhere and was built properly. The sense of justice and empathy that Yeine had was really nice to see because it connected me even more to her. The way that N. K. Jemisin explores various themes (class, race, power, slavery, etc) through her characters is just so masterful. My favorite character tho is Nahadoth. His depth and complexities just made me endeared to him. He endures so much but has so much love to give! He makes my heart hurt and sing at the same time! I also love loved the romance between

Yeine and Nahadoth

and I want more. Like I have said before, Nahadoth is for the dark romance readers because HA HA that man is chef's kiss.

As for the plot, it kinda lost me or fell short for me. There were so many plotlines going on that I would sometimes forget about them or some of them did not get resolved. Granted, N. K. Jemisin does not resolve or wrap everything up in a nice bow, every plotline in her books as seen in the Broken Earth Trilogy which is fine but it felt like things were wrapped up too quickly and some other things needed have been brought up. Maybe if the book had been a bit longer, that could've happened but who knows?

Overall, this was a great book that is an epic fantasy with political intrigue and some romance and some smexy times so check it out if you like that!

Cupcake by Cookie O'Gorman

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emotional funny lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced