spootilious's reviews
116 reviews

adventurous funny medium-paced

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

2.5

Read: May 9, 2023
Title: A World Without Heroes
Series: Beyonders #1
Author: Brandon Mull
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Rating: 2.5/5
Review:

I’ve been really looking forward to this series. I’ve read a lot of Mull’s other works and expected the same interesting storylines Beyonders. So, far… Unfortunately, I’m not too impressed. That isn’t to say this book is bad, quite the opposite but there isn’t much unique about it.

Mull’s technical writing has always been mediocre, better than some, not as great as others, but his storylines and plots have always been captivating. I suppose my biggest problem with this book is that I feel that the plot has been overdone… Perhaps it is because I’ve read his Five Kingdoms series first… Or perhaps I’m so accustomed to the chosen one trope and the unexpected betrayals that are expected from Mull… Or perhaps I’ve simply read too much of Mull’s work…. I am not sure.

Regardless, I’ve enjoyed this book though it’s not one of my favorites and will most likely finish the series but I wouldn’t classify it as more than a ‘decent read’, despite my love for the author.

Quotes:

N/A

TW: Vore, Death, Classism, Cursing, Gore, Grief, medical content, Suicide, Torture, Vomit, Dismemberment.

Content Warnings

It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover

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dark 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

Read: May 7, 2023
Title: It Ends With Us
Series: It Ends With Us #1
Author: Colleen Hoover
Genre: Romance, Fiction, New Adult
Rating: 2/5
Review:

I wanted to love this book. I wanted to love this author, so much!!! I have a family member that I care for deeply that adores her… But as it turns out… I really REALLY don’t.

I can understand that I am not the target audience for Hoover’s books. The writing style is pretty simplistic and to be honest a bit… immature? I’m not sure if that’s the right word, but if you cut out the sex scenes, I wouldn’t be surprised to find this in the young adult section. (Which there’s nothing wrong with. I love a good YA).

Then again… The sheer amount of trigger warnings this book needs would probably get it banned immediately if it were YA. I even made a comment about halfway through the book about needing a trigger warning bingo card for it.

*spoilers*

All of that aside, the storyline was something straight out of a season of Days of our Lives only darker with more excuses (and before anyone comes at me, I’ve been where Lily was at minus the pregnancy). That paired with the unrealistic ages of the characters, and the horrific cliches makes this a hard no for me.

That being said, I get why Hoover has her fan base and why others like her which is why I have not rated this novel lower than what it is and I feel as if other of her books probably aren’t as bad as I believe this one is. She is not a terrible writer she simply is not for me.

Quotes:

N/A

TW: Abandonment, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Medical content, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual Content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit.

Content Warnings

The Dire King by William Ritter

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adventurous emotional medium-paced

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

3.0

Read: May 2, 2023
Title: The Dire King
Series: Jackaby #4
Author: William Ritter
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Historical/Paranormal Fiction
Rating: 3/5
Review:

Surprisingly enough, the final book of the Jackaby series is perhaps the weakest.

Everything finally comes together in this last installment, ending in an epic battle of good vs evil, villainy vs heroism. Our loveable characters are forced to face choices including life and death.

Overall, the writing was fine, and the story line was okay. However, the book as a whole feel a bit flat for the lead up the first three books provided us. While, the series has always been predictable the ‘twists’ in The Dire King were a bit… too much. With the exception of a certain traitor.

It is obvious that Ritter has far more talent than this book gave him credit for, and if he had taken more time, making the book longer, focusing on nuances and build up this could be a wonderful conclusion. As it stands, it is simply acceptable.

Quotes:

“I never found a book that did not have at least a little magic in it”

“This world doesn't need showy champions. It needs people who are good, people who do good, even if nobody will ever know.”

“Real love is when you let another person make you better. You don’t lose yourself in love—you find yourself there.”

“I learned a long time ago that we do not survive because we’re strong—we become stronger the more we survive.”

Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast by Robin McKinley

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slow-paced

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

2.5

Read: April 28, 2023
Title: Beauty
Series: Folktales #1
Author: Robin Mckinley
Genre: Romance, Fairy Tales, Retellings, Fantasy
Rating: 2.5/5
Review:

Beauty is… a solidly written book. It is a sort read of less than 300 pages and Mckinley is very good at setting a scene.

To be honest though, I didn’t care for this book. It’s not that I disliked it or that it was bad; it is simply that I don’t care for it one way or another.

Mckinley is amazing at writing descriptors, but it can cause a scene to drag on and made this book far too slow. In addition, the book is broken into three parts, two of which could have honestly been removed and the story wouldn’t have suffered for it.

The magic in the book is fun and whimsical and I truly loved the portrayal of the beast but most of the attention was pulled away from both and focused on attire and the high quality of the food. Which honestly was a missed opportunity.

I found most of the characters forgettable and wished there was more of a focus on Beauty’s time at the castle.

Overall though it wasn’t terrible but certainly doesn’t make me want to read more of the folktale series or Mckinley’s work.

Quotes:

N/A

Ghostly Echoes by William Ritter

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adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

Read: April 27, 2023
Title: Ghostly Echoes
Series: Jackaby #3
Author: William Ritter
Genre: Fantasy, Mystery, Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Paranormal
Rating: 3.5/5
Review:

Ritter jumps into the third book of the series in full force. Like books 1 and 2 we continue with out favorite detective and his assistance. Ghostly echoes is slightly different than the others however. While in book 1 and 2, Ritter seemed to have fun with the playful banter and outlandish cases of his characters… In Book 3 everything seems to be coming together to form a dastardly plot that will no doubt continue into book 4.

Ghostly Echoes is darker and has a bit more of a serious tone than the beginning books but does not seem to suffer from it in the least. The banter among characters is still as humorous and endearing as ever, only the stakes are set about a bit higher (pun intended).

I’ve loved this series immensely and continue to do so. I can’t wait to start book 4 😊

Quotes:

“There is something humbling about knowing that an entity capable of moving mountains and reshaping continents still takes the time to tend to the smallest patch of dirt. Little things matter. Footsteps matter.”

“Kindness is an act of bravery, I think, just as hatred is an act of fear.”

“Good things come to those who bring them along in the first place.”

Lud-in-the-Mist by Hope Mirrlees

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adventurous inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

Read: April 21, 2023
Title: Lud-in-the-Mist
Author: Hope Mirrlees
Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, Classics
Rating: 4.5/5
Review:

There is so much I’d like to say about this book but simply cannot find the words. It saddens me that this is not very well known here in the U.S…. Though I suppose with the aged vocabulary and the difference in culture it isn’t a surprise. Regardless I have to say that this book has made it to my top 10 of best books I’ve ever read.

Mirrlees writing is poetic yet simple (considering it was written almost 100 years ago). It is beautiful and has aged well. The entirety of the novel is poetry at its finest. Granted, going into the novel I had no idea what it was about, and even having finished it it’s difficult to say, but the journey was a beautiful and adventurous one.

There are so many themes to this book that makes it stand out… Xenophobia, Mortality and the fear of mortality, the illusion of government and law, paternal affection, and so much more.

The characters were all unique and lovable (even the ‘villains’), the setting was whimsical and comforting… This book had everything and more.

I can’t describe it properly or provide more praise. My simple suggestion is to read it. You will either love or hate it and both are acceptable. Regardless, this book is going on my shelf of fame.

Quotes:

“Pride and resentment are not indigenous to the human heart; and perhaps it is due to the gardener's innate love of the exotic that we take such pains to make them thrive.”

“The law plays fast and loose with reality- and no one really believes it.”

“You should regard each meeting with a friend as a sitting he is unwittingly giving you for a portrait — a portrait that, probably, when you or he die, will still be unfinished.”

All Good People Here by Ashley Flowers

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medium-paced

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

1.0

Read: April 7th, 2023

Title: All Good People Here

Author: Ashley Flowers

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Crime

Rating: 1/5

Review:

I had heard such wonderful things about this book and truly tried to like it. To be honest, however, everything fell flat. The writing style was mediocre at best to begin with and felt forced. It was if the writer was given a paper to write on a subject they didn’t care for and they had to check certain boxes to get an A. Everything was so crammed together and overly complicated that almost nothing made sense while the storyline remained completely predictable. Honestly, I have read high school fan fiction that was better written (with and without the storyline).

I found the main character to be melodramatic and far too dense. The story was supposed to be about a murder not about how she lost her job (with good reason), or how her parents were not that great (which had nothing to do with the story).

The murder mystery itself is obviously a play on the Jon Benet Ramsey case which I did not even notice until it was pointed out to me; though this would explain why I felt so slimy reading it. It feels as if someone went to an amateur fan fiction writer with the prompt ‘write a fanfic about this case and make sure ____ did it’. The plot was overly complicated with so many plot holes and unnecessary information that not only do I feel like the author could have done better but the editing/publisher should have done better as well.

Very rarely do I rate a book this low but honestly, I cannot justify giving it more than 1 star.

Note: This rating was given before I discovered that Ashley Flowers actually had someone else write this for her and has not provided any credit to them.

Quotes: N/A

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

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adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.5

Read: March 8, 2023

Title: The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

Author: Sangu MAndanna

Genre: Cozy Urban Fantasy

Rating: 3.5/5

Review:

A delightfully whimsical book that was a fun and heartwarming read. With lovable and diverse characters there wasn’t a lot Mandanna could do wrong with this tale.

While the book is almost always compared to The House in the Cerulean Sea, it definitely stands on its own. Granted there are a LOT of similarities but the tone is quite different. Mandanna may not have the poetic talent of Klune but she definitely holds her own wonderfully. Bottom line is if you liked one you’ll love the other.

As for the story itself; it was quite predictable and the charming simplicity of its writing was both a quality and a restraint to the novel. Overall the thing that really surprised me about the novel is how realistic the romance was. The slow burn and silly… … scenes… reminded me a lot of myself and my husband (whom I’ve been married to for almost 11 years now). I found it to be refreshing to see compared to the burning loins and aggressive sex you usually see in romance novels.

Overall this book was an utter delight! While, I may not reread it, it will most certainly be one that I recommend in the future!

Quotes:

“Danger rarely wore a monstrous face and a wielded a pitchfork. No, danger came most often in the form of nice people whose niceness only went so deep, who saved their niceness for people exactly like them, who believed they were more deserving of power and respect than anyone who was a little bit different.”

The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton

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adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

2.5

Read: February 9, 2023
Title: The Wisteria Society for Lady Scoundrels
Series: Dangerous Damsels #1
Author: India Holton
Genre: Historical Romance

Rating: 2.5/5
Review:
This book is whimsical and has some funny moments. However, it really breaks even for me. I don’t think I’ll pick it back up or continue reading the series.

The characters are fun enough and the cross between upstanding society and piracy is amusing. It is very ‘Princess Bride’. Though I suppose my biggest problem with the book is that Holton is obviously a very skilled technical writer; her choreographing and action descriptions are easily understood and effective. However, when it comes to creative writing which I feel this book should have been written with, her writing comes off as mechanical (especially that sex seen).

The writer’s skill vs the quality of the story don’t quite match up.

In addition, the main character Cecilia is painted as perfection from the very beginning but is nothing more than a tool for characters and the author to advance the story. She ends up not even being the heroine of her own story which is just sad. (And that’s not even to mention that absolutely NO ONE died).

I suppose I’m most upset about the fact that I can not recommend this book to anyone I know. The whimsy and fun is perfect for a number of them but the sex scene (which was terribly cold and mechanical) and for the people I know that would enjoy the romance would hate the whimsy.

Now, don’t get me wrong if the sex scene was cut (faded to black or simply handled a different way) the book would be amusing. It has a unique premise and fun characters. I honestly would have like more of the story and less of the romance and would have loved it.

Quotes:
“I needed a book in case of emergencies… those moments when nothing important is happening such as during travel. After supper. Before sleeping. Or whilst one’s opponent reloads their gun.”

Scourged by Kevin Hearne

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sad slow-paced

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

2.0

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spootilious's reviews 116 reviews

spootilious's reviews
116 reviews