sophiexxjones's reviews
20 reviews

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

dark slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Drug use

Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

dark emotional tense 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

The first two-thirds of this book drag, filled with the weak world building and repetitive romantic dialogue characteristic of this series. The pacing at the end makes it clear this book should have been 400 pages at most.

Just as the plot would pick up, romantic elements and dialogue are thrown in. Extremely frustratingly, it feels this is only done for the sake of hitting “spice” quotas, not to progress the romance in any meaningful, new way.

At this point in the series, every YA fantasy cliche has been included. Again, as a reader, it feels like tropes are being included just for the sake of Booktok popularity, and probably, lack of imagination.

The writing is painful to read at many points throughout. Honestly, what is captivating about sentences like “I fucking liquefy.”? Personally, this style of narration doesn’t suit such an attempt at a dense fantasy series and works against the author at times.

Finally, a personal gripe with this series — the change in perspective feels lazy and ruins the tension of the conclusion of each book.

The Will of the Many by James Islington

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

If He Had Been with Me by Laura Nowlin

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

2.0

The author captures teenage experiences with mental illness well. Once I got into the writing style, it felt very authentic to a teenage experience.
Autumn is a frustrating narrator at times, but that’s important to the teenage perspective, so as much I as I struggled with it, it serves its purpose well.
Overall, my biggest issue lies with the ending. Accidental pregnancy is my least favourite trope and I think it’s a lazy way for characters to “overcome” grief. A heartbreaking story until its final chapter.

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
Did not finish book. Stopped at 94%.

Honestly, I stuck with this book for much longer than I should have. The drama between the characters was so forced and felt like a repeat of the first book in the series. In some areas the world building felt sloppy. This feels like a very rushed release, and I’m already concerned for the future of the series if she’s already repeating plotlines in the second book.

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

adventurous emotional 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? Yes

3.0

Overall, the plot felt quite predictable if you’ve read lots of similar series, but it’s still an entertaining enough read, even if you see the plot twists coming from a mile away.
I’m excited to see where the series goes

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

dark tense medium-paced

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

3.75

This book was painful to read at times because Snow is such a evil, petty character. Brilliant writing to make the ‘protagonist’ so unlikeable. 
Pacing was a bit strange at times. 

Princess of Souls by Alexandra Christo

adventurous 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? Yes

4.0

The Diabolic by S.J. Kincaid

adventurous emotional tense fast-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

3.75

The majority of this book was incredible. It was tense, suspenseful, emotional and a delight to read. I was so intrigued and excited by the political and philosophical aspects. I could not put it down.

But, after the first half of the book, where the plot is so action-driven, a romance is stuffed in. At first, I welcomed it, and enjoyed it, but it became a pain when it was clear that the book would focus on it, rather than keep it as a subplot, then awkwardly weave it into the plot. As with most YA dystopian novels, when the plot and romance are both too big to be evenly balanced, they both end clumsily tied-up in the last few chapters.

By the end, the novel had started to do the thing in books that I hate the most, which is when the author tries to stuff as many plot twists and betrayals into the climax as possible, which just results in a poorly-paced, confusing and dissatisfying ending. I enjoy fast-paced books, but by this point, I was getting whiplash and had no time to process anything or feel with the characters.

It just felt like too much by the end - I didn’t know who to root for and finishing it felt like a chore. Disappointing, because the concept and world-building is truely amazing.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug use, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Grief

The Women of Troy by Euripides

dark sad slow-paced

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

5.0