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stormywolf's reviews
814 reviews
This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
I don't really have much to say about this audio production.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, I enjoyed this production. It may not have had any extra bells and whistles, such as music or sound effects or multiple narrators, but it took what it had and delivered it well. A solid production for audio newcomers and veterans alike, and one I'll definitely be returning to when future installments come out.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, I enjoyed this production. It may not have had any extra bells and whistles, such as music or sound effects or multiple narrators, but it took what it had and delivered it well. A solid production for audio newcomers and veterans alike, and one I'll definitely be returning to when future installments come out.
This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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
5.0
I'm obviously no stranger to Mafi's works, having made my way through her entire 11-part Shatter Me series. But upon finishing the last installment last fall, I noticed a 2-chapter preview of her upcoming fantasy work, This Woven Kingdom, and decided to try it. Having also read through her fantasy books, Furthermore & Whichwood, I knew she'd dabbled in the genre before, but I was interested to see what track she'd take with fantasy, romance, and YA. Needless to say, I was immediately hooked, and was then forced to eagerly await the book's release. A secret queen of a magical people, forced to hide her identity in squalor and servitude, tormented by whispers from the devil, and unknowingly headed toward a forbidden romance—what more could I ask for?
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, this book utterly enchanted me. From its intelligent and passionate main characters, its magical yet logical world, and its promise of even more political intrigue and supernatural twists, this story is absolutely full of things to love and become obsessed by. I'd highly recommend it to anyone interested in non-European-based fantasy, strong (and memorable) female characters, or a flirty forbidden romance. I'm very curious to know more, both about the characters and story to come, and about its inspiration, as the summary posits, from Persian mythology, and I know I'm not alone. But until the next book decides to magically appear, I'll have to find another series to tide me over.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, this book utterly enchanted me. From its intelligent and passionate main characters, its magical yet logical world, and its promise of even more political intrigue and supernatural twists, this story is absolutely full of things to love and become obsessed by. I'd highly recommend it to anyone interested in non-European-based fantasy, strong (and memorable) female characters, or a flirty forbidden romance. I'm very curious to know more, both about the characters and story to come, and about its inspiration, as the summary posits, from Persian mythology, and I know I'm not alone. But until the next book decides to magically appear, I'll have to find another series to tide me over.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Child death and Genocide
Ashes of Gold by J. Elle
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? Yes
3.0
This was kind of a surprise pickup for me. I didn't love the first book, finding it just okay when compared to some of the other books surrounding the same sort of topics, so I wasn't exactly chomping at the bit to return to Rue's world. But when ads described this as the conclusion to a duology—a surprise to me—I figured it would be a good idea to go ahead and finish the series. So I went ahead and re-read Wings of Ebony and jumped straight in on this sequel.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, despite all the problems I had, I'd still definitely recommend this series. I think there are some great messages for younger readers about overcoming adversity and finding inner strength, of forgiveness and mercy, and of learning from the past and moving forward. I can't say I loved everything about these books, but I'm sure others will see things that I didn't and connect to the story in ways I couldn't. There's definitely an audience for this series, it just didn't happen to include me this time. If there's ever another book set in Ghizon, I'll probably check it out, but in the meantime I'll be seeing what other fantasy worlds have in store for me.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, despite all the problems I had, I'd still definitely recommend this series. I think there are some great messages for younger readers about overcoming adversity and finding inner strength, of forgiveness and mercy, and of learning from the past and moving forward. I can't say I loved everything about these books, but I'm sure others will see things that I didn't and connect to the story in ways I couldn't. There's definitely an audience for this series, it just didn't happen to include me this time. If there's ever another book set in Ghizon, I'll probably check it out, but in the meantime I'll be seeing what other fantasy worlds have in store for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Genocide, Racism, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Classism
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Torture
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Going into this, you know it's going to be a tough book. I mean, the main premise is kids, as young as twelve, being picked out in a lottery (called "the reaping") and set to kill each other for the country's enjoyment. It's not even a scenario where it's an accident that erodes the kids' psyches over time. No, it's a government running the show and using this gory spectacle to keep their subjects in line.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Bottom line is this is a serious and deceptively deep book that may hit you hard and resonate for some time. While it has become somewhat masked in the "What Boy Will She Pick?!" debate (no doubt in hopes of drawing in Twilight-obsessed teens), don't mistake this as a fluffy YA read. The strong characters, intriguing setting, and masterful pacing will draw you in and make it nearly impossible to put this down. However, I can't promise you'll feel content at the end, nor that you will like where it takes you.
Approximate Reading Time: 6 hours
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Bottom line is this is a serious and deceptively deep book that may hit you hard and resonate for some time. While it has become somewhat masked in the "What Boy Will She Pick?!" debate (no doubt in hopes of drawing in Twilight-obsessed teens), don't mistake this as a fluffy YA read. The strong characters, intriguing setting, and masterful pacing will draw you in and make it nearly impossible to put this down. However, I can't promise you'll feel content at the end, nor that you will like where it takes you.
Approximate Reading Time: 6 hours
Lightbringer by Claire Legrand
Audiobook Read by Fiona Hardingham
Unabridged Length: 24.3 Hours
Listened at 2x Speed
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, I really can't bash the audiobook for one stupid decision, especially when it was carried over the same from the other books (though I thought it was stupid there too). It still delivers an awesome experience for anyone wanting to hear the conclusion of this epic dark fantasy trilogy.
Unabridged Length: 24.3 Hours
Listened at 2x Speed
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, I really can't bash the audiobook for one stupid decision, especially when it was carried over the same from the other books (though I thought it was stupid there too). It still delivers an awesome experience for anyone wanting to hear the conclusion of this epic dark fantasy trilogy.
The Damned by Renée Ahdieh
2.0
Audiobook Read by Lauren Ezzo
Unabridged Length: 12.4 Hours
Listened at 2x Speed
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, not much to report. The production quality was fine, and even the action scenes were executed more evenly than before. Other than my suggestion about Bastien's narration, I don't think I would change anything. A solid recording, with the same foreign language finesse I appreciated the first time. If you liked the first audio, expect more of the same here, and I trust we'll be hearing her again come the 3rd book's release.
Unabridged Length: 12.4 Hours
Listened at 2x Speed
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, not much to report. The production quality was fine, and even the action scenes were executed more evenly than before. Other than my suggestion about Bastien's narration, I don't think I would change anything. A solid recording, with the same foreign language finesse I appreciated the first time. If you liked the first audio, expect more of the same here, and I trust we'll be hearing her again come the 3rd book's release.
Teen Titans: Beast Boy Loves Raven by Kami Garcia
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Coming off of both characters introductions, I was itching to finally move on with their story. Add to that the anticipation of seeing one of my first major OTP's coming into the story, and you can bet I was that much more impatient to dive in. After waiting for my library to finally get a copy in, I wasted no time getting into it.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, this was everything I wanted and more. Sure, I might be biased because of loving the pairing going into this, but I truly think it improved on what came before and offered up a cute, fun, dramatic, and heartfelt story, as well as working in setups and nods to the future. Fans of DC or previous Titans media are sure to pick up on fun Easter eggs and callbacks, and I'm sure even newcomers will appreciate some references. I don't think I'm alone in how excited I am for future installments, and that I'm expecting great things to come from all these characters.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, this was everything I wanted and more. Sure, I might be biased because of loving the pairing going into this, but I truly think it improved on what came before and offered up a cute, fun, dramatic, and heartfelt story, as well as working in setups and nods to the future. Fans of DC or previous Titans media are sure to pick up on fun Easter eggs and callbacks, and I'm sure even newcomers will appreciate some references. I don't think I'm alone in how excited I am for future installments, and that I'm expecting great things to come from all these characters.
The Lost Girls by Sonia Hartl
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Audiobook Read by Justis Bolding
Unabridged Length: 8.4 Hours
Listened at 2.25x Speed
Honestly, I don't know if I feel this way because I chose to listen at a faster tempo than normal, but I don't really have much to say about this audio. Ms. Bolding did a fine job in narration; the characters were distinct enough that I could tell who was talking, and her pacing was fine. I did appreciate the couple times Sweet Caroline was referenced that the "Dun dun dun" was actually said semi-melodically—it's not huge, but I definitely noticed and smiled at it, since it's something you don't often get in audios (copyright and whatnot).
Overall, the production was fine. Serviceable, but nothing to write home about. No major accents or non-English vocabulary to tackle, and honestly not much emotion to translate made this story pretty plain to adapt. And though I think I noticed two times in the entire audio where a word was different from the text, all in all that's pretty negligible. A solid audiobook for people who already enjoy the medium, but not one that's going to convert anyone.
Unabridged Length: 8.4 Hours
Listened at 2.25x Speed
Honestly, I don't know if I feel this way because I chose to listen at a faster tempo than normal, but I don't really have much to say about this audio. Ms. Bolding did a fine job in narration; the characters were distinct enough that I could tell who was talking, and her pacing was fine. I did appreciate the couple times Sweet Caroline was referenced that the "Dun dun dun" was actually said semi-melodically—it's not huge, but I definitely noticed and smiled at it, since it's something you don't often get in audios (copyright and whatnot).
Overall, the production was fine. Serviceable, but nothing to write home about. No major accents or non-English vocabulary to tackle, and honestly not much emotion to translate made this story pretty plain to adapt. And though I think I noticed two times in the entire audio where a word was different from the text, all in all that's pretty negligible. A solid audiobook for people who already enjoy the medium, but not one that's going to convert anyone.
The Lost Girls by Sonia Hartl
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Another YA pick for Maven's Vampire Book Club, and a shorter one at that. Mainly this was due to scheduling issues that cropped up in January, pushing back the official discussion of that month's book a couple weeks, so she figured a shorter option would be easier to slot in and get things back on track. Besides the length, and the GoodReads blurb citing "dark humor and queer love," I really didn't know anything going in. Would this vampire story edge more cutsie, or have some real bite?
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, I don't know how to recommend this one. On the one hand, I think it has fun characters, it does some interesting things with vampire mythology, and does a good job examining regret and how it influences us. But on the other hand, I had issues with its shallow characterizations, its unsatisfying ending, and its handling of toxic relationships. I think there are some good messages and important things addressed, but I also think it missed the mark with a lot of things. I suppose if you're interested in a bittersweet, queer, quirky, YA vampire romance story and not wanting anything too complex or detailed, this might be what you're looking for. As for myself, I'll be hoping for some lighter fare with a lower body count.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, I don't know how to recommend this one. On the one hand, I think it has fun characters, it does some interesting things with vampire mythology, and does a good job examining regret and how it influences us. But on the other hand, I had issues with its shallow characterizations, its unsatisfying ending, and its handling of toxic relationships. I think there are some good messages and important things addressed, but I also think it missed the mark with a lot of things. I suppose if you're interested in a bittersweet, queer, quirky, YA vampire romance story and not wanting anything too complex or detailed, this might be what you're looking for. As for myself, I'll be hoping for some lighter fare with a lower body count.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Dementia, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Vampires Never Get Old: Tales with Fresh Bite by Natalie C. Parker, Zoraida Córdova
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
My library has been a bit hit-or-miss with the Vampire Book Club's selections, but I was able to find this one for December. Admittedly, I wasn't in the best mental space to read books surrounding death and immortality, having lost my grandmother earlier this year and having that wound reopened with our cat's death (cancer) just after reading the first story. But after a bit of time (and some Christmas movies & music) I was excited to dive back in and experience some new takes on one of my favorite paranormal creatures.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, a fine anthology filled with some of the best vampires I've encountered. There was a huge variety, not only of genders, sexualities, and skins, but of vampiric powers, weaknesses, settings, and societies. If I had to pick my favorites, I'd probably stick with the peppier school-based-fare of Senior Year Sucks and First Kill, but I also found a lot to love in the more sombre stories of Seven Nights for Dying and The Boy and the Bell, not to mention the vivid world-building packed into The House of Black Sapphires. Needless to say, I definitely have a few authors to add to my watchlist. So if you have a hankering for some unique YA takes on old blood-sucking favorites, or if you're seeking a quick nibble to break up longer reads (or to break back into reading at all!), then I'd definitely recommend this anthology.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, a fine anthology filled with some of the best vampires I've encountered. There was a huge variety, not only of genders, sexualities, and skins, but of vampiric powers, weaknesses, settings, and societies. If I had to pick my favorites, I'd probably stick with the peppier school-based-fare of Senior Year Sucks and First Kill, but I also found a lot to love in the more sombre stories of Seven Nights for Dying and The Boy and the Bell, not to mention the vivid world-building packed into The House of Black Sapphires. Needless to say, I definitely have a few authors to add to my watchlist. So if you have a hankering for some unique YA takes on old blood-sucking favorites, or if you're seeking a quick nibble to break up longer reads (or to break back into reading at all!), then I'd definitely recommend this anthology.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Blood, Cannibalism, and Murder
Minor: Ableism, Chronic illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Colonisation
Cannibalism only in the sense that vampires used to be human and feed off of humans.