sinamile's reviews
537 reviews

The Merciful Crow by Margaret Owen

adventurous emotional medium-paced

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

4.0

“Pa was taking too long to cut the boys’ throats.” 

Me: * confused White man blinking *
Me: Okay, that's.... That's one way to start. 

I enjoyed this, liked it. I'll definitely he reading the next book. I have...not questions, per se, but I have something. A niggling for answers that I don't have the questions to. 

<i><b>CW/TW:</b> death, knives/knife violence, sword/sword violence, blood, gore, graphic animal death, murder, bigotry, social devides, animal cruelty, physical abuse, mention of sexual assault/rape, wounds, ableist slurs, racism, mention of menstruation, underage sex, recreational drinking, strong language, mercy killing, murder, torture, body disfigurement</i>

Beautiful & Dirty by Katrina Jackson

emotional funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

<i><b>AUTHOR HAS SUPPLIED CONTENT WARNINGS</b></i> 

1. Again, I am Katrina Jackson trash, thank you. 

2. The people want more. I am people. I want more. I've been excited about these two since realising who Sal was referring to! I am thirsty for more!

3. The ending made everything so much better and again: the people need more! 

<i><b>CW/TW:</b> ableist slur</i>

The Enforcer by Katrina Jackson

adventurous emotional funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

<i><b>AUTHOR HAS SUPPLIED CONTENT WARNINGS!</b></i> 

FAKE! *wheeze* DATING!!!!!!!!!!!! 

I.... I am in love with Ugo and only Ugo (I see you Nicola, but Ugo has too much of my heart). Someone send help. I can't stop thinking about how soft this man is, tending to his garden, taking walks instead of driving, just generally being a gentle giant. And knowing how everyone else is, I can imagine what he can unleash when pushed and just.... Yum, David! 

I should be concentrating on Alfonso and Zoe, but my ass was completely, one hundred per cent taken by Ugo and his soft ass. And Lord, Lord send me an Ugo please, I promise I'll be good to him 🥺🥺. I'll even take up gardening, Lord, I'll even sometimes play dutiful housepersonthingy and cook and clean (👀☠️). I'll treat him right, promise, promise. 

Ugoooooooooo! 

<i><b>CW/TW:</b> unconsented voyeurism</i>

The Hitman by Katrina Jackson

adventurous funny hopeful relaxing fast-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? No

5.0

<i><b>AUTHOR HAS PROVIDED CONTENT WARNINGS! (instant five 5 stars)</b></i> 

1. I am Katrina Jackson trash, and my autocorrect know s it, because the moment I type Katrina it instantly suggests Jackson, so. 

2. Katrina Jackson, ma'am. MAM! Maaaaaam. I do not have the words to describe any of my emotions so I will just be here screeching because I. Loved. Thiiiiiis! 

3. 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

4. Oh, my dudes, oh my gang!

5. Not me imagining a cheaper, more douchebaggy Chris Evans for Ryan 🙃 (I'm sorry Chris, I don't know why, I'm so sorry) and Mr 'Are you lost, baby girl' for Giulio. I'm embarrassing, please don't judge me! (Is it because I'm basic? Is it because I know like one Italian man vividly enough to just slap his face on a character?)

6. Even the drama was delicious lord, everything was delicious and I loved it and I am going to read more.

7. I wouldn't exactly say I'm Mafia Romance trash, but also I am Mafia Romance trash if it's got a black woman as a lead, so. 

<i><b>CW/TW:</b> infidelity/cheating, death, guns/gun violence, assassins & hitmen, blood, shock/PTSD, recreational drinking, emotional drinking, public sex</i>

Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

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

4.75

<blockquote><b><i>“You treat that beast better than you do yourself,” it commented sourly, watching Priestbane nose through the pile. 
“He’s a good horse. He carried me all day. He doesn’t deserve to suffer because of the things I ask him to do.”
“Have you ever considered that your body carries you?” </i></b></blockquote> 

It took me longer than I thought to finish this book and it had more to do with me not wanting it to end than anything. I love Margaret Rogerson's writing so much and knew that I would love this book, which is why it took me so long to actually get through it! 

<i>Sorcery of Thorns </i> is one of my all time faves, and so I had high expectations for this one. And I am so glad that I was not disappointed in the least. Rogerson's writing speaks to me in a way that I cannot describe. The way she puts a story together makes it amazing without losing me. She doesn't use big, bombastic words and longwinded discriptions. Her words are simple, but also draw you into the book. It's why I loved SoT so much, because she could've gone places with the writing, but instead she kept it in a place where she crafted an intriguing story but still kept it in such a way that it didn't alienate me. 

I need to get to <i>And Enchamnet of Ravens</i> soon because I love Rogerson's work! 

P. S.  That redemption arc of one of the character was beautifully done. They really pulled through right to the very end and I went from disliking them to wanting to see them succeed and survive! They did. 

<i><b>CW/TW:</b> ableism, body horror, death, knives/knife violence, possession, gore, bullying, depression & anxiety, violence, sword/sword violence, murder, attempted murder, self-harm, PTSD, mental health issues, disordered eating, hallucinations, social anxiety, anxiety/anxiety disorder, starvation, physical abuse, vomiting, illness, physical/mental trauma, child abuse, child physical abuse, child mental abuse, child neglect, emotional abandonment, </i>

Bone Crier's Moon by Kathryn Purdie

adventurous emotional funny hopeful fast-paced

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

5.0

We were 50% into the book and sh*t hit the fan and I stayed stressed for the entirety of the book. Jesus, it was too much. I loved it. I want more!

<i><b>CW/TW:</b> death, murder, blood, knives/knife violence, animal death, hunting, parental death, PTSD, head injury, bombs & explosions, </i>

The Shadowed Sun by N.K. Jemisin

adventurous mysterious tense fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

<blockquote><b><i>“Any woman can face the world alone, but why should we have to?”</i></b></blockquote> 

1. N. K. Jemisin...... CAN. WRITE! I am always in awe of her witting, in how she puts her stories together. I justl— I love her writing so damn much! 

2. This story was no exception. Its as good as all other stories BY Jemisin that I've read and I love it just as much. There was a time there at the beginning where I couldn't quite get into it, but when I did, well I was taken because the worldbuilding in Jemisin's books is <i>delicious</i>! 

3. Even if this is the end for this world, I still love it. <i><b>But if there is ever a book three</b></i>.... *wig bye!* I can imagine it focusing on the next generation of fighters. And the thing with the [spoiler] cannot be so easily resolved, I expected a third book would be a return and a fight for the throne. 

4. I did expect more from the final showdown, but I was too saddened because so much happened, too. I'm not all that sad about it though and enjoyed what I got, but I kind of, maybe just a little bit, wish that there was way more drama than what I ended up getting. 

5. My OTP soared until the very end, and just for that this book will be getting all five stars, lol. 

Bibiki: Decorum? For who? Subtlity? For what? 

<i><b>CW/TW:</b> death, graphic description of gore, graphic description of violence, non-graphic description of sexual assault/rape, forced incest, sexual harassment, police brutality (soldiers), mention of nightmares, grief/mourning, misogyny, threats of rape/sexual assault, sex on page, child sexual abuse, child physical abuse, slavery, chronic illness, allusion to cancer, attempted rape, PTSD, mention of gang rape, mental health issues, mention of torture, mention of murder, child death, patricide, mention of floods, trauma, indentured labour, physical abuse, invasion, swords/sword violence, knife/knife violence, graphic description of blood and wounds, arrow wound, knife wound, blood loss, injury, mention of poison & poisoning</i>

Ridge: Day One by Shawn P.B. Robinson

adventurous medium-paced

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

4.0

<b><i>ARC Review: Received for free via BookSirens for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Shawn P.B. Robinson for the opportunity.</i></b> 

I actually really enjoyed this book, but it took me forever to get through. I think that moslty had to do with how repetitive it ended up getting with the whole 'honour' thing. That's not to say it was bad or anything, it just felt like every few pages we'd have to be reminded about the honour in the Ridge. Again, not bad, just a bit much.

I liked the characters though they almost fell into the 'too perfect' catagory. Things almost came too easily for everyone, and it almost felt like they didn't have to try too hard to get what they wanted. Like with one of the characters, they picked things up way too quickly, like they weren't amazing at the things, but they were too close to perfect for someone who'd only just started doing the thing (this sentence is weird, but I'm trying not to add spoilers!).

The story is good, I enjoyed it. I love that the chapters are short and ways to get through and that we don't have to suffer through bombastic words. The story is easy to follow and easy to understand and we aren't choked full of faux-science words. I like that, I like that my two brain cells didn't have to struggling to understand what was going on.

Overall, I enjoyed this a lot and am excited to read the second book!

<i><b>CW/TW:</b> blood, death, knives/knife violence, gun/gun violence, misogyny, physical abuse, slavery, blood loss, injury due to stabbing, child abuse</i>

In an Absent Dream by Seanan McGuire

adventurous dark hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Lowkey want these stories to go on forever because I love them so damn much! 

I couldn't, for the life of me, remember who the heck Lundy was until the absolute final sentence of the book (how embarrassing) but now it makes me love this book even more because WE GOT LUNDY'S BACKSTORY! 

Again, I must say, I LOVE THESE BOOKS SO DAMN MUCH! 

<i><b>CW/TW:</b> bullying, misogyny, body horror, mention of kidnapping*, mention of death, mourning/grief, mention of child death, allusion to teen pregnancy, mention of running away from home, blood, mention of menstruation, allusion to homomisia</i> 

* people assume a child has been kidnapped even though they haven't

Across the Green Grass Fields by Seanan McGuire

adventurous emotional hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Of course I lived it! Of course I did. 

<i><b>CW/TW:</b> bullying, mention of menstruation, misgendering, xenomisia, death, murder</i>