strangealixir's Reviews (39)

The Book of Elsewhere

China Miéville, Keanu Reeves

3.0

adventurous dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

The Lightning Thief

Rick Riordan

4.5

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious

Hell Followed with Us

Andrew Joseph White

4.0

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Unbroken: 13 Stories Starring Disabled Teens

Marieke Nijkamp

4.0

emotional inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

The Sea of Monsters

Rick Riordan

4.5

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

Circe

Madeline Miller

4.75

adventurous dark emotional reflective

Don't Let the Forest In

C.G. Drews

4.0

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

The Titan's Curse

Rick Riordan

4.25

adventurous funny lighthearted 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

If You Could See the Sun

Ann Liang

4.5

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Alice Sun is a young woman going to an elite boarding school in Beijing. During class one day, she realizes she can turn invisible, although without much control. When the tuition gets too pricy for her family to afford, she teams up with academic rival Henry Li to take monetary advantage of the salacious secrets of her rich classmates.

Liang strikes a balance between the more serious themes and the lighthearted romance well, with a few bumps here and there. If you’re looking for a romance, there’s not much of it, but it’s an interesting bit of YA faire about the allure of money and how to grow through hardship.

Overall, this was a good time, and had a solid message of hope and self-discovery, despite the bumpy pacing on occasion. The audiobook was well-narrated and produced, and I look forward to reading more of Liang’s work!

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