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spark_perez's reviews
61 reviews
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
3.0
A very interesting concept and a cool, easy magic system. Could’ve utilized its premise a little more I think, had a little more magic and action, but very solid characters to make up for that a bit. No one’s stupid for no reason other than the sake of plot or tension, motivations are fleshed out, and the side cast is charming as well. Very little of the tired, will they won’t they game, and though it has plenty of the YA Fantasy tropes, it’s still an enjoyable read. I don’t see it needing to go beyond a 2 book series, and that’s perfectly fine.
Like many first books, this is a 3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨.
(I hate giving so many half star ratings, but honestly, a rating system based off of only 5 is stupid anyway, so I will continue doing it)
Like many first books, this is a 3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨.
(I hate giving so many half star ratings, but honestly, a rating system based off of only 5 is stupid anyway, so I will continue doing it)
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
4.0
4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
An interesting story for sure. Doesn’t stand out to me among sci-fi stories but I enjoyed seeing it unfold. The beginning had me a little frustrated because I thought I could see how the story was going to go, but it was taking a while to get there. Then, after I really saw how it was actually going, I enjoyed it, but it still tended to drag at points. The end was a fun read for sure, and leaves you wondering for a while what the happy ending is supposed to look like. A bit of an existential feeling. But certainly some twists that you won’t see coming.
A pretty good standalone book that’s short, and great as a pallet cleanser before starting any long series.
An interesting story for sure. Doesn’t stand out to me among sci-fi stories but I enjoyed seeing it unfold. The beginning had me a little frustrated because I thought I could see how the story was going to go, but it was taking a while to get there. Then, after I really saw how it was actually going, I enjoyed it, but it still tended to drag at points. The end was a fun read for sure, and leaves you wondering for a while what the happy ending is supposed to look like. A bit of an existential feeling. But certainly some twists that you won’t see coming.
A pretty good standalone book that’s short, and great as a pallet cleanser before starting any long series.
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
5.0
6 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Happy, Happy, Happy!!”
This book was so good. Immediately engaging and did not let up. A story about the human capacity to survive and persevere on a grand scale. And the science is so so good. It’s a science fiction but it’s explained so well within our laws of physics, chemistry and biology that I believe it could really happen in our universe.
The flashbacks always provide insight that make us fully appreciate what happens back in the present.
And the “action” pieces are tense, and I just wish I could actually see what’s going on.
It starts out as an incredibly intriguing science-based mystery, and that’s great. But, with no spoilers, I’ll just say it turns into something more. Something great.
Highly recommend, even if you’ve never read sci-fi, though I’m not sure any other sci-fi book will live up.
This book was so good. Immediately engaging and did not let up. A story about the human capacity to survive and persevere on a grand scale. And the science is so so good. It’s a science fiction but it’s explained so well within our laws of physics, chemistry and biology that I believe it could really happen in our universe.
The flashbacks always provide insight that make us fully appreciate what happens back in the present.
And the “action” pieces are tense, and I just wish I could actually see what’s going on.
It starts out as an incredibly intriguing science-based mystery, and that’s great. But, with no spoilers, I’ll just say it turns into something more. Something great.
Highly recommend, even if you’ve never read sci-fi, though I’m not sure any other sci-fi book will live up.
Dragonfall by L.R. Lam
3.0
3 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The book is a very fresh take. From narrations, to dragon lore to the fantasy societal setting. It’s well fleshed out. But that, combined with the heavy motifs of prophetic mysteries, makes it tough to get started. It takes a while to really know where the story is going which can leave you waiting a while for answers, but like I keep saying about first installments in series, it lays the ground work for a very cool universe. And there’s certainly enough engaging material once you’re about halfway through to get you to the end. Some lines that really made me laugh, too. I have Emberclaw preordered, so I hope they capitalize on the built world!
The book is a very fresh take. From narrations, to dragon lore to the fantasy societal setting. It’s well fleshed out. But that, combined with the heavy motifs of prophetic mysteries, makes it tough to get started. It takes a while to really know where the story is going which can leave you waiting a while for answers, but like I keep saying about first installments in series, it lays the ground work for a very cool universe. And there’s certainly enough engaging material once you’re about halfway through to get you to the end. Some lines that really made me laugh, too. I have Emberclaw preordered, so I hope they capitalize on the built world!
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
5.0
6 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book was fantastic. Just fantastic. Like I said in my updates, the premise had the advantage of suckering me into any book about dragons. But it executed wonderfully. It set up such an interesting world, set up all the details necessary for being a first in a series, but remained engaging nearly the entire time. I was worried about how “freshmen year” would take up the entirety of a first installment and still have enough stakes, action and real plot progression. Then the end happened. And I realized, we are in this thing. Some could see it as a slow burn, though like I said, I remained engaged throughout. It is definitely a romance book, which was my biggest hesitation with picking it up. But even though I don’t care for heavy romance scenes and dialogue in my books, it is an earned love story. And the romance does not take from the plot and action. And the characters outside of the main two are also developed and you grow to care for them and their relationships with each other a lot. But even if you have to push a little bit to get through the 500 pages, the final chapters are excellent. And the series is ready to take off. Also, Taern is the absolute best.
This book was fantastic. Just fantastic. Like I said in my updates, the premise had the advantage of suckering me into any book about dragons. But it executed wonderfully. It set up such an interesting world, set up all the details necessary for being a first in a series, but remained engaging nearly the entire time. I was worried about how “freshmen year” would take up the entirety of a first installment and still have enough stakes, action and real plot progression. Then the end happened. And I realized, we are in this thing. Some could see it as a slow burn, though like I said, I remained engaged throughout. It is definitely a romance book, which was my biggest hesitation with picking it up. But even though I don’t care for heavy romance scenes and dialogue in my books, it is an earned love story. And the romance does not take from the plot and action. And the characters outside of the main two are also developed and you grow to care for them and their relationships with each other a lot. But even if you have to push a little bit to get through the 500 pages, the final chapters are excellent. And the series is ready to take off. Also, Taern is the absolute best.
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
5.0
6 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This series is excellent. Iron Flame is a great 2nd installment. While I hold preference to Fourth Wing when holding them against each other, largely due to Fourth Wings fantastic ending, I couldn’t put this book down any easier than its predecessor. It sets new stakes. It’s a similar formula but takes a different direction leading us further into the unknowns in this well built world. Some of the personal conflicts a little petty and the romance is a bit corny for me at some points, but I still love both main characters, as well as lots of the side cast. The second part takes us in a whole new direction and has brand new revelations that each hold their on consequences for our favorites. I’m looking forward to Onyx Storm and its successors to skipping the preambles and diving in further and faster.
This series is excellent. Iron Flame is a great 2nd installment. While I hold preference to Fourth Wing when holding them against each other, largely due to Fourth Wings fantastic ending, I couldn’t put this book down any easier than its predecessor. It sets new stakes. It’s a similar formula but takes a different direction leading us further into the unknowns in this well built world. Some of the personal conflicts a little petty and the romance is a bit corny for me at some points, but I still love both main characters, as well as lots of the side cast. The second part takes us in a whole new direction and has brand new revelations that each hold their on consequences for our favorites. I’m looking forward to Onyx Storm and its successors to skipping the preambles and diving in further and faster.
Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig
3.0
I might add a half a star at some point, but we’ll leave it at 3 for now.
A few caveats to this rating. First, as you can see it took me a long time to finish this book. That could say something about engagement or the fact that I was pretty busy, cutting into the pacing. Second, the audiobook probably did a disservice for me. When you have 3 PoVs, and two of them are men, with about only 3 significant female characters anyway, having one female narrator is tough. She did an excellent job, but the tough guy dialogues and the Nightmare’s wicked laugh just becomes jarring at a point with just a feminine voice.
The book itself was solid. Could be a bit slow due to my time reading. The secondary plot added by an additional PoV was pretty good and the characters are still charming. I just don’t love any of them. They’re all just cool. The best parts were when the Nightmare finally stopped being a “gothic” riddle guy. When his mystery finally turns into a character, he’s really enjoyable. But maybe it was the slow earning of that character that made him good. But yeah, the riddles weren’t as profound as some may tell you they are. Props to the author for giving us a new love story instead of artificially adding conflict to the first one for tension.
Solid duology. A bit overhyped by BookTok. Glad to have it out of the way.
A few caveats to this rating. First, as you can see it took me a long time to finish this book. That could say something about engagement or the fact that I was pretty busy, cutting into the pacing. Second, the audiobook probably did a disservice for me. When you have 3 PoVs, and two of them are men, with about only 3 significant female characters anyway, having one female narrator is tough. She did an excellent job, but the tough guy dialogues and the Nightmare’s wicked laugh just becomes jarring at a point with just a feminine voice.
The book itself was solid. Could be a bit slow due to my time reading. The secondary plot added by an additional PoV was pretty good and the characters are still charming. I just don’t love any of them. They’re all just cool. The best parts were when the Nightmare finally stopped being a “gothic” riddle guy. When his mystery finally turns into a character, he’s really enjoyable. But maybe it was the slow earning of that character that made him good. But yeah, the riddles weren’t as profound as some may tell you they are. Props to the author for giving us a new love story instead of artificially adding conflict to the first one for tension.
Solid duology. A bit overhyped by BookTok. Glad to have it out of the way.
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
4.0
I heard that getting into this series, this book was like the first ACOTAR in the sense that it’s a price of admission to the rest of the series. That’s a price I’ll gladly pay. Definitely a better first installment. Quick paced with a world that has sneakily been set up really well among the plot progression. Really good characters to follow as well, I think it greatly benefits from the 3rd person narration allowing it to switch PoVs on a dime. This one is fairly grounded as far as fantasy settings go, with some good ol assassin/champion action, but you know as the series progresses the fantasy elements are going to take off. Stays within its setting for the sake of keeping up a decently placed plot, but now that we know the characters, we’re ready to really dive into the lore and world building with some set stakes.
***Slight spoiler territory***
I’ll ride for Celaena, Chaol and Nehemiah. (Dorian… TBD)
***Slight spoiler territory***
I’ll ride for Celaena, Chaol and Nehemiah. (Dorian… TBD)
Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
4.0
4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Wow. This one flew by. Takes such advantage of the character and plot threads already set up, and nearly goes right into the main plot. The stakes are so real, and if you think you know where everything’s going? You don’t. The relationship between each of their characters are so rewarding. They all have their nuances that make so much sense. Action, great. Twists are great.
For ACOTAR readers, this is up there with ACOMAF. And there’s 6 more books. Let’s go.
Wow. This one flew by. Takes such advantage of the character and plot threads already set up, and nearly goes right into the main plot. The stakes are so real, and if you think you know where everything’s going? You don’t. The relationship between each of their characters are so rewarding. They all have their nuances that make so much sense. Action, great. Twists are great.
For ACOTAR readers, this is up there with ACOMAF. And there’s 6 more books. Let’s go.
The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas
3.0
3.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Celaena is just a fun character to follow, and this of course fleshes out the life that lead her to Endovier really well. She’s a 17 year old girl that got dealt quite the hand, and it shows.
Fun to see the backstory that’s been alluded to play out. Also to see how a world traveling Celaena interacts with the people she runs into.
At the end of the day, it’s as prequel as a prequel gets. Nothing groundbreaking, no huge revelations, but gives you a full perspective of our MC before the real story unfolds in the upcoming books. And it’s enjoyable.
Celaena is just a fun character to follow, and this of course fleshes out the life that lead her to Endovier really well. She’s a 17 year old girl that got dealt quite the hand, and it shows.
Fun to see the backstory that’s been alluded to play out. Also to see how a world traveling Celaena interacts with the people she runs into.
At the end of the day, it’s as prequel as a prequel gets. Nothing groundbreaking, no huge revelations, but gives you a full perspective of our MC before the real story unfolds in the upcoming books. And it’s enjoyable.