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squids_can_read's reviews
689 reviews
Manga Classics Sherlock Holmes Vol. 1 a Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle, Crystal Chan
I have not read the original A Study in Scarlet.
adventurous
challenging
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I have not read the original A Study in Scarlet.
I really enjoyed this manga. The coloring was amazing as was the artwork. It was never hard to understand what was going on or who was talking. The characters were really interesting and I felt like they were fairly true to the source material. Honestly, I really loved this manga. It had me laughing out loud.
The Spellbook Library, Vol. 1 by Uta Isaki
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A library is home to books, that’s the purpose of a library. But this library holds special books, spellbooks. And these books don’t contain spells but magical creatures that are trapped in the pages for the safety of humanity. The Librarians are tasked with protecting it.
The artwork in this manga was really cute, however, some of the panels were a little overdrawn and it was hard to understand what was written. The characters were really interesting and I look forward to learning more about them. The world was built really well and it was easy to understand.
Overall, this manga was really cute and I’m excited to see more of it.
The artwork in this manga was really cute, however, some of the panels were a little overdrawn and it was hard to understand what was written. The characters were really interesting and I look forward to learning more about them. The world was built really well and it was easy to understand.
Overall, this manga was really cute and I’m excited to see more of it.
Wildblood by A.J. Vrana
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-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
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.
First things first, this is being marketed as a standalone is A.J. Vrana’s other universe. I disagree with this marketing as it seems like the main characters in this novel are the main characters in the author’s duology. I was not aware of this prior to reading so I have not read the duology. I believe the duology will provide important context for specific interactions between characters. Thus keep in mind that I am reviewing this book without having read this author’s duology.
I really enjoyed the characters in this book. They all seemed to be a little bit messed up and I think that works for the characters that they are. The only issue with the characters I found is that they had interactions that didn’t make sense with the characterization that we got on page. Additionally, one of the characters goes to therapy randomly in the middle of the action. I didn’t mind the addition but I thought it could have come at a better time.
The plot was really good if a little slow. There would be times of intense action and then absolutely nothing to push the plot forward. There were times when we ignored the problem until the very last moment for no reason. It was just strange how the action was split up.
Overall, I did really like the book but I think in order to read this, you need to have read A.J. Vrana’s duology.
First things first, this is being marketed as a standalone is A.J. Vrana’s other universe. I disagree with this marketing as it seems like the main characters in this novel are the main characters in the author’s duology. I was not aware of this prior to reading so I have not read the duology. I believe the duology will provide important context for specific interactions between characters. Thus keep in mind that I am reviewing this book without having read this author’s duology.
I really enjoyed the characters in this book. They all seemed to be a little bit messed up and I think that works for the characters that they are. The only issue with the characters I found is that they had interactions that didn’t make sense with the characterization that we got on page. Additionally, one of the characters goes to therapy randomly in the middle of the action. I didn’t mind the addition but I thought it could have come at a better time.
The plot was really good if a little slow. There would be times of intense action and then absolutely nothing to push the plot forward. There were times when we ignored the problem until the very last moment for no reason. It was just strange how the action was split up.
Overall, I did really like the book but I think in order to read this, you need to have read A.J. Vrana’s duology.
Hampton Heights by Dan Kois
3.0
This book is basically a set of interconnected short stories about this magical neighborhood. The characters were really interesting. The stories were really interesting. Overall, it was a really interesting read if a bit weird.
A Sacrifice of Blood and Stars: A Military Astromance by Jennifer Brody
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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
4.0
Kari is worried about finding out who her sympathetic is, the person that she will be bonded to for as long as she is in the military. When she finds out it’s Drae, a massive bully from her high school, she thinks that nothing could be worse. But as she goes through basic training and Drae goes through school, their relationship grows. But war is brewing and it may bring them closer together than ever.
The characters in this book were really well written. I really liked the way that different backgrounds were explored and how a militarized government affects characters. The one thing that I didn’t like about the characters was the romance. I just didn’t think it developed enough on the page.
The world-building was done amazingly. I thought that it was amazing the way that the world-building was sprinkled throughout was really well done. It was just really great. Except for the twist but I don’t want to spoil it.
The plot of the book was very reminiscent of Starship Troopers but more contemporary and with romance. But that changed in the last 100 pages. It was really disappointing and I’m not sure that I want to keep reading the series based on the twist.
Overall, an extremely well-crafted world with an underdeveloped romance and, for me, an aggravating twist. If you enjoy science fiction with alternate history and some romance, this book is probably for you.
The characters in this book were really well written. I really liked the way that different backgrounds were explored and how a militarized government affects characters. The one thing that I didn’t like about the characters was the romance. I just didn’t think it developed enough on the page.
The world-building was done amazingly. I thought that it was amazing the way that the world-building was sprinkled throughout was really well done. It was just really great. Except for the twist but I don’t want to spoil it.
The plot of the book was very reminiscent of Starship Troopers but more contemporary and with romance. But that changed in the last 100 pages. It was really disappointing and I’m not sure that I want to keep reading the series based on the twist.
Overall, an extremely well-crafted world with an underdeveloped romance and, for me, an aggravating twist. If you enjoy science fiction with alternate history and some romance, this book is probably for you.
A Tale Told by Traitors by Renee Dugan
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Lionyra has finally found her home. A bakery that she runs away from everything that she is running from. But when Lio helps a friend flee from the guard she is captured and handed over to her worst enemy, the head guard of the kingdom that she fled. Now she is on an adventure to escape the head guard, find her decoy, and leave the kingdom she fled far behind.
The characters in this book were really interesting. I thought that they were fully fleshed out and made sense on the page. They all had trauma but it didn’t seem to be their whole character. The interactions between the characters were really interesting and well-written. I thought that the romance was developed really well.
The world-building was where I had a problem. There was magic in the world but the way that the magic worked wasn’t explained at all. There wasn’t a description of how the kingdoms work or any of the history of the world that I thought would be important to my overall understanding of the book. I just wasn’t impressed with the world-building.
The actual writing of the book was pretty good.
Overall, I liked the romance of the book was really good but the world-building left much to be desired for me. But if you like romance with a bit of fantasy this would be right up your alley.
The characters in this book were really interesting. I thought that they were fully fleshed out and made sense on the page. They all had trauma but it didn’t seem to be their whole character. The interactions between the characters were really interesting and well-written. I thought that the romance was developed really well.
The world-building was where I had a problem. There was magic in the world but the way that the magic worked wasn’t explained at all. There wasn’t a description of how the kingdoms work or any of the history of the world that I thought would be important to my overall understanding of the book. I just wasn’t impressed with the world-building.
The actual writing of the book was pretty good.
Overall, I liked the romance of the book was really good but the world-building left much to be desired for me. But if you like romance with a bit of fantasy this would be right up your alley.
Pride or Die by CL Montblanc
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-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
3.25
Thank you Wednesday Books for the ARC.
Eleanora just wants to make sure that the LGBTQ+ club survives after she graduates. But all of that is put in jeopardy when she and her other club members are found standing around a cheerleader who has been assaulted. Now they all have to work together to clear their name or the LGBTQ+ club will never survive.
The thought that the characters in this book really shone. They were all really interesting and compelling. As the book continued more layers were revealed and I thought that it was really amazing.
The plot was the part of the book that I didn't super enjoy. It just seemed very surface-level. The character who got assaulted didn't die, the characters seemed to put themselves in danger for no reason, and there were no consequences for anybody. It just seemed like the author had the characters and the idea but didn't know how to fully flesh it out in a YA book.
Overall, I really enjoyed the characters but I wanted more from the plot. The book was well written and I look forward to more from this author.
Eleanora just wants to make sure that the LGBTQ+ club survives after she graduates. But all of that is put in jeopardy when she and her other club members are found standing around a cheerleader who has been assaulted. Now they all have to work together to clear their name or the LGBTQ+ club will never survive.
The thought that the characters in this book really shone. They were all really interesting and compelling. As the book continued more layers were revealed and I thought that it was really amazing.
The plot was the part of the book that I didn't super enjoy. It just seemed very surface-level. The character who got assaulted didn't die, the characters seemed to put themselves in danger for no reason, and there were no consequences for anybody. It just seemed like the author had the characters and the idea but didn't know how to fully flesh it out in a YA book.
Overall, I really enjoyed the characters but I wanted more from the plot. The book was well written and I look forward to more from this author.
Hocus Pocus and the All-New Sequel by A. W. Jantha
adventurous
challenging
slow-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
3.75
This book is comprised of two books, one which is a retelling of the Hocus Pocus movie and the other is a story set in the future following Max and Allison's daughter.
I thought that the first story was a pretty faithful retelling of the story. I did like it because it did give a little bit more background for the Sanderson sisters. Other than that though, this book is basically word for word and scene by scene the movie.
For the second story, I thought that it was pretty lacking. It seemed like the author was trying to retell the original Hocus Pocus movie with a modern twist but it fell flat. The characters were extremely 1-Dimensional and the plot really didn't make sense with the confines of the movie. Additionally, the climax of the story was sped through and I didn't think that it made much sense.
Overall, I really liked the first story and I thought that the second story was just okay.
I thought that the first story was a pretty faithful retelling of the story. I did like it because it did give a little bit more background for the Sanderson sisters. Other than that though, this book is basically word for word and scene by scene the movie.
For the second story, I thought that it was pretty lacking. It seemed like the author was trying to retell the original Hocus Pocus movie with a modern twist but it fell flat. The characters were extremely 1-Dimensional and the plot really didn't make sense with the confines of the movie. Additionally, the climax of the story was sped through and I didn't think that it made much sense.
Overall, I really liked the first story and I thought that the second story was just okay.
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Ten strangers are invited to an island by someone that they think they remember knowing. All of them have secrets that they are hiding from the world and maybe themselves. One by one they start dying. But there is no one else on the island, so who is Mr. Owen?
I think that this is my favorite Agatha Christie book that I have read. The characters were really interesting and I really enjoyed the way that I really didn't know what was happening until the end.
In terms of the characters, they are all really fleshed out. Each character has a set of characteristics that they follow throughout the whole book. The characters were all really interesting and I was on the edge of my seat trying to guess what would happen next.
In terms of the plot, I think that this is the most interesting plot that I have read in a very long time. It was super twisty and I could not figure out what was going to happen next no matter what. The overall idea was super interesting and I really enjoyed how she committed to the way that the people were murdered. It was really interesting to see how each character would be murdered.
Honestly, I think that this is a very easy book to start the mystery/thriller genre. It was extremely well written and I thought that the plot was really interesting. I would definitely recommend this book.
I think that this is my favorite Agatha Christie book that I have read. The characters were really interesting and I really enjoyed the way that I really didn't know what was happening until the end.
In terms of the characters, they are all really fleshed out. Each character has a set of characteristics that they follow throughout the whole book. The characters were all really interesting and I was on the edge of my seat trying to guess what would happen next.
In terms of the plot, I think that this is the most interesting plot that I have read in a very long time. It was super twisty and I could not figure out what was going to happen next no matter what. The overall idea was super interesting and I really enjoyed how she committed to the way that the people were murdered. It was really interesting to see how each character would be murdered.
Honestly, I think that this is a very easy book to start the mystery/thriller genre. It was extremely well written and I thought that the plot was really interesting. I would definitely recommend this book.