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squids_can_read's reviews
689 reviews
The Far Side of the Desert by Joanne Leedom-Ackerman
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.
I think that this book would be better as a limited run TV show. Which feels strange to say as someone who typically thinks that the book is better than the movie/tv show. However, I think that this book was very surface level and that it would have done better as a TV show. Basically, this book is about a group of siblings(two women and a man) who have to stop a terrorist plot.
The characters in this book were very surface-level. They had motivations but I never really understood them. The characters state that they were doing something for someone but never really showed care for the other characters. There really isn’t a huge change in the characters because we don’t get much of them before they start to change. Their changes also felt very surface level. Also some of the characters talk about religion but in a weird way that feels like the characters don’t actually care about religion and are just using it for some reason.
The overall plot of the book was fine. It was pretty typical of a political thriller. The plot did only start after about 100 pages which was very strange because the exposition was just unnecessary for the plot of the book. A lot of the plot points just came out of nowhere and didn’t make sense in the book.
The setting was actually the shining star. This author excelled at describing the environment around the characters and it was really beautiful. However, the setting really can’t carry this type of book where the characters and the plot are the focus.
Honestly, I would only recommend this book if you really love political thrillers and I mean really love political thrillers. Otherwise, I think this one is a pass.
I think that this book would be better as a limited run TV show. Which feels strange to say as someone who typically thinks that the book is better than the movie/tv show. However, I think that this book was very surface level and that it would have done better as a TV show. Basically, this book is about a group of siblings(two women and a man) who have to stop a terrorist plot.
The characters in this book were very surface-level. They had motivations but I never really understood them. The characters state that they were doing something for someone but never really showed care for the other characters. There really isn’t a huge change in the characters because we don’t get much of them before they start to change. Their changes also felt very surface level. Also some of the characters talk about religion but in a weird way that feels like the characters don’t actually care about religion and are just using it for some reason.
The overall plot of the book was fine. It was pretty typical of a political thriller. The plot did only start after about 100 pages which was very strange because the exposition was just unnecessary for the plot of the book. A lot of the plot points just came out of nowhere and didn’t make sense in the book.
The setting was actually the shining star. This author excelled at describing the environment around the characters and it was really beautiful. However, the setting really can’t carry this type of book where the characters and the plot are the focus.
Honestly, I would only recommend this book if you really love political thrillers and I mean really love political thrillers. Otherwise, I think this one is a pass.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Violence, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and War
Minor: Gun violence, Infidelity, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Trafficking
Fable for the End of the World by Ava Reid
adventurous
challenging
dark
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
5.0
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
Ava Reid cannot write a bad book and this book is no exception. This book is a love letter to ya dystopian and girls who are just looking to love. It has been a while since a book has made me cry and this book definitely made me tear up.
This is a book about people trying to thrive in the face of a buisness-run government and a world that is dying around them. The characters are beautifully written. The world is amazing. The prose is heartbreaking. It’s just an amazing book that has such deep themes. The decisions that the characters make are understandable based on their characterization.
This might be on of my new favorite books. I would recommend this to absolutely anyone because I think there is something to learn and enjoy in this book for everybody.
Ava Reid cannot write a bad book and this book is no exception. This book is a love letter to ya dystopian and girls who are just looking to love. It has been a while since a book has made me cry and this book definitely made me tear up.
This is a book about people trying to thrive in the face of a buisness-run government and a world that is dying around them. The characters are beautifully written. The world is amazing. The prose is heartbreaking. It’s just an amazing book that has such deep themes. The decisions that the characters make are understandable based on their characterization.
This might be on of my new favorite books. I would recommend this to absolutely anyone because I think there is something to learn and enjoy in this book for everybody.
The Story She Left Behind: A Novel by Patti Callahan Henry
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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? Yes
5.0
Thank you Atria for the Advanced Copy.
A multigenerational story of love, family, and the magic hiding in the world around us.
The characters in this story were really good. They had depth to them and I was interested about their motivations. I actually wanted to know more about the male main character but this book was more about the women, which I didn’t mind. While I didn’t always agree with the decisions of some of the characters, I could always understand why they did it. The character development was awe-inspiring.
The setting was probably my favorite part. This book takes place both in South Carolina and London and one of its suburbs. The setting was so rich and I could see the world this book took place in. I loved the way that the suburb of London was described because it felt really magical. I also really enjoyed the hints of Irish history and folktale sprinkled throughout.
This book is definitely on the slower side and nothing much actually happens. However, this book was so beautiful. I would recommend this book to anyone.
A multigenerational story of love, family, and the magic hiding in the world around us.
The characters in this story were really good. They had depth to them and I was interested about their motivations. I actually wanted to know more about the male main character but this book was more about the women, which I didn’t mind. While I didn’t always agree with the decisions of some of the characters, I could always understand why they did it. The character development was awe-inspiring.
The setting was probably my favorite part. This book takes place both in South Carolina and London and one of its suburbs. The setting was so rich and I could see the world this book took place in. I loved the way that the suburb of London was described because it felt really magical. I also really enjoyed the hints of Irish history and folktale sprinkled throughout.
This book is definitely on the slower side and nothing much actually happens. However, this book was so beautiful. I would recommend this book to anyone.