Scan barcode
stewartj0421's reviews
176 reviews
The Woman in Me by Britney Spears
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
4.5
Britney depicts trauma in a way that is both simple and profoundly tragic. She gives a lot of grace — perhaps too much — to the major game changers in her life, while also allowing herself room to be human. I found myself mourning the life she could have led as an artist and mother, and I am in awe of her strength to plow forward in spite of everything that has been taken from her.
I do wonder how accurate this book is, as I assume it was written by a ghost writer with her input. Some parts feel a little too forgiving of the more egregious crimes. But you can definitely tell it’s her “voice” — that raw, unedited sass and her unrelenting perspective of goodness. It was a quick, touching, and thought-provoking read.
I do wonder how accurate this book is, as I assume it was written by a ghost writer with her input. Some parts feel a little too forgiving of the more egregious crimes. But you can definitely tell it’s her “voice” — that raw, unedited sass and her unrelenting perspective of goodness. It was a quick, touching, and thought-provoking read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Abortion, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Drug use, Miscarriage, Sexual content, and Pandemic/Epidemic
A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas
dark
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
An explosive release of the spicy, destructive tension that has culminated throughout the first four books.
In A Court of Silver Flames, Nesta Archeron continues to battle against traumatic events so harrowing, she refuses to even think about them, let alone recount her experience to anyone else. This book is our first look at the inner turmoil that has plagued Nesta's mind ever since - and perhaps before - the Fae irreversibly encroached upon the lives of the entire Archeron family.
In this fifth iteration of the ACOTAR universe, Maas forces the reader to confront an equally-as-ugly side of the war that has brewed and boiled over since the start of the series. Readers have already seen battles of love, abuse, and neglect through Feyre's eyes, but in this novel that is no less than an epic saga, the reader must confront two dirty truths: that victims of abuse can become perpetrators, and that healing is never linear.
Nesta is a notoriously controversial character, representing the imperfect victim. It is often challenging to see the light at the end of her tunnel because of how frequently she self-sabotages. She has often been portrayed as mean-spirited and selfish, opting for vicious spite where her sisters are compelled toward love and forgiveness, if not their own versions of self-centered behavior.
Yet it is not difficult to pinpoint Nesta's insecurities and her own neglected childhood as catalysts for her fiendish persona, and in this novel, the first chance at experiencing Nesta in the first person, we learn that our initial perceptions of the character may have been skewed through Feyre's lens in past books.
ACOSF is a reconciliation between Nesta's outward conceit and her deep-seated inner conflict. Through the support of new friends and flames, yet with plenty of fresh hardships, she begins to truly face the reality of her past and the trajectory of her future, taking steps forward instead of moving eternally into the past.
The end of the book did not necessarily leave me a new fan of Nesta's, but I certainly have an understanding of and appreciation for her journey in a way that I never imagined possible for this character. I am proud of her effort to mend relationships and forge new pathways, and I hope Nesta's redemption arc is fulfilled the next time we meet her.
Book originally reviewed on Discovery: https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/a-court-of-silver-flames-sarah-j-maas-91b932d6-c307-4de5-99e8-9db4e5eaa4ec/user-reviews/a-court-of-silver-flames-jordan-stewart
Book originally reviewed on Discovery: https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/a-court-of-silver-flames-sarah-j-maas-91b932d6-c307-4de5-99e8-9db4e5eaa4ec/user-reviews/a-court-of-silver-flames-jordan-stewart
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Mental illness, Rape, Sexism, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Pregnancy, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcohol
A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Short, cozy, impeccably sweet, still sexy as ever.
A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
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
4.5
On book three, you can definitely identify Sarah J. Maas’s writing tics. They are minor but repetitive, and that is the only reason I have knocked half a star off. As always, I love this story — Maas writes of heartbreak and triumph in the most enduringly human way possible. I have rarely loved a cast of characters so deeply as I love the ACOTAR cast. It certainly didn’t feel like nearly 800 pages of reading.
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
dark
emotional
tense
slow-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? No
5.0
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Had to fight the urge to run to the store and immediately buy the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Sexual content, Slavery, Vomit, Murder, and War
Minor: Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Please Tell Me by Mike Omer
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
I GREATLY enjoyed this book! The only reason I gave it a 4.5 is due entirely to personal preference. I don’t love reading books that incorporate the pandemic, although I see the value in using it as a backdrop or even a plot device. I just personally don’t enjoy reading about it, which slightly knocked down my enjoyment of the book, but it was not mentioned often enough to be a real nuisance, thankfully.
This book was definitely dark and deeply challenging on multiple levels. I thought I had it figured out about halfway through the book but I ended up being wrong, which was a pleasant surprise/shock when I read the true ending!
This author is clearly skilled at writing suspenseful, eerie, and mysterious books. I found myself growing uncomfortable and nervous at several points while reading. The atmosphere of the story is impeccable.
I loved this book!
This book was definitely dark and deeply challenging on multiple levels. I thought I had it figured out about halfway through the book but I ended up being wrong, which was a pleasant surprise/shock when I read the true ending!
This author is clearly skilled at writing suspenseful, eerie, and mysterious books. I found myself growing uncomfortable and nervous at several points while reading. The atmosphere of the story is impeccable.
I loved this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Gaslighting, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Miscarriage, Sexual content, and Pregnancy
Call the Canaries Home by Laura Barrow
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book got off to a slow start for me. It took me a long time to connect with the characters, but by the end, I was touched by each of their individual journeys. This book is filled with tragedy, yet brimming with hope. It lays bare the most complex parts of humanity and family. In my opinion, it’s a worthwhile read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Child death, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Grief, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment
Minor: Addiction, Child abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Physical abuse, and Murder
The Silent Bride by Shalini Boland
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I really enjoyed the plot of the story, and this is what kept me going to the end. I wasn’t a fan of the way many of the characters were written, and I often felt that they had strange reactions to things. For example, I think Daisy is a terrible friend to Alice throughout the book, despite them supposedly being lifelong friends.
There are also many loose threads that either don’t get wrapped up, or get explained away right at the end rather than the audience actually getting to “see” the resolution. Alice’s familiar issues are a prime example of the author telling rather than showing.
I didn’t predict the ending at all, which was wonderful. I ultimately do not regret reading the book, but I wish many things about it were different so that it could have been a more enjoyable read.
There are also many loose threads that either don’t get wrapped up, or get explained away right at the end rather than the audience actually getting to “see” the resolution. Alice’s familiar issues are a prime example of the author telling rather than showing.
I didn’t predict the ending at all, which was wonderful. I ultimately do not regret reading the book, but I wish many things about it were different so that it could have been a more enjoyable read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Minor: Infidelity, Physical abuse, and Stalking