slightlylostwriter's reviews
124 reviews

All That's Left in the World by Erik J. Brown

adventurous dark emotional funny inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This story had everything I love; well-developed relationships, angst and two protagonists that were worth rooting for from the very beginning.

Both Andrew and Jamie could stand on their own as characters. They both had equally intersting backstories, inner struggles and reactions to the new world they found themselves in. Had the book been about only one of them, I would still gladly have read it. As wonderful as their relationship was, they were just as great as individuals.

I was surprised at how naturally their relationship developed. It really felt like they were friends before anything else, and best friends at that. Their trust in one another made me smile and want to cry at the same time. I could really feel how much they cared about each other, and it never once felt like it was a one-sided relationship or unequal. The developments and moments, big and small alike, they had together always felt earned and came at the exact right time.

The narrators really brought life into these characters and fit them so well that I am going to struggle to listen to them in other books without thinking of Andrew and Jamie.

Only a Monster by Vanessa Len

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This book made me feel weirdly nostalgic. There was something about the simplicity of the plot and characters that reminded me of the books I used to love when I was younger - It was very much a YA fantasy book...This is by no means a bad thing. I love YA fantasy, even though I've been reading less of it this year, and this book had so many of the tropes I'm used to.

The best part for me was the powers and worldbuilding, and I wish we would've spent more time getting to know the world and magic, but the glimpses were had were wonderful. I also wish the monsters felt more monstrous and less like "humans who have supernatural abilities", but I liked the morality of the powers and how they used them.

Overall it was a quick and easy read, although it was a bit slow for the first sixty pages.

My Heart in Braille by Anne-Lise Nalin, Joris Chamblain

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emotional inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This was a delightful little graphic novel. I am always happy to see disability representation in stories, especially when they're targeted towards younger readers.

I wish the story and characters (and their relationships) were a bit more fleshed out, but it was still a perfectly lovely story. I also wish Marie had gotten to know Victor a bit better, more specifically when it came to his musical interests, which felt like they were skipped over and forgotten about.

The art was the best part, and each frame was absolutely stunning. It's also very short, so I recommend reading it if the synopsis is of any interest to you! It won't be a waste of your time!

If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio

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dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced