swimming_ducks's reviews
58 reviews

Cronicas de Hiraia. Destino prohibido by Alba Zamora

emotional funny lighthearted fast-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? No

4.25

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

One of the best books I have read in a while. The plot was perfectly planned and it didn’t feel rushed for a mystery, while also keeping you at the edge of your seat. I loved Pippa and felt that she was a great protagonist (her personality was great for the book). I can’t wait to read the rest of the saga.

The American Roommate Experiment by Elena Armas

adventurous emotional funny inspiring sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.75

A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas
Did not finish book. Stopped at 17%.

too much, too long. Not interesting enough for me 

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

emotional funny lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

5.0

A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab

5.0

 Hello. I have come to offer you a review, please accept it.

First of all. I can't believe it has ended. Right now I have that weird emptiness feeling you have when you finish a book. It had been a while since a book had achieved that, and I don't think I will recover. I wanted it to go on forever and never have to let this characters go, nonetheless, I REALLY wanted to see if they were able to make it to the end 

The development arcs in this book were simply perfect. 

That scene where Rhy leaves the castle alone after they have put everyone to sleep, made me feel so proud. He tried so hard to make everyone proud and at the end he just needed to be truthful to what he thought was right. I'm sure he will make a great king and the Red London will grow healthy and happy. I think Rhy became who he was destined to be all along, and I love it. Also, that scene at the end with Alucrad?!? STUNNING. I'm not very fond of Alucard, but I want someone to love me like he loves Rhy. They have that kind of relationship that melts your heart. Like read this quote: ““Play me something,” Alucard had said, and Rhy had smiled his dazzling smile, the candlelight turning his amber eyes to gold as his fingers drifted, chords flitting over shoulder, ribs, waist.  “I’d rather play you.””. That's true love right there. 

 

 

While we are talking about love, Kell and Lila. It took them a while, but they got there. And I liked how things turned out for both of them: Kell got to see the world and Lila got to embrace who she really was and now she has her own ship. At the beginning of the book I was so nervous the whole Lila being antari was a joke. There were a lot of amazing quotes of the two of them, but this one is just wow: “And then his arms were folding around her, and in that small gesture, she understood, felt it down to her bones, that draw, not the electric pulse of power but the thing beneath it, the weight she'd never understood. In a world where everything rocked and swayed and fell away, this was solid ground. Safe.”. 

 

 

Now, let’s talk backstories: I was devastated we didn't get Kell’s backstory, but I understand it was mostly for character development reasons. Holland’s was just a boring sob story. We get it, you are alone, we understand that. Now, try harder. But, at the same time, happy he got to be normal and go back to the White London. 

 

Even with all that stuff, I loved this book and will probably be re-reading the whole series soon.

A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab

5.0

IM SCREAMING. Why? Why did she have to leave the ending like that? It hurts a lot, but I understand why she did it. 

This book was AMAZING, and I liked it better than the first one, honestly.

I loved the relationship that Alucard had with Lila, and, later, the tension between him and Rhy. Also, Kell being mad at Alucard gives him more humanity, instead of being a “godly” figure. The scene where he visits the dead king of the Gray London only adds to this. Here’s a quote I loved: “This one's fresh, Your Majesty.” He touched it to his lips, and then reached out and set the warm coin on top of the cold stone tomb.”

Another dynamic that just made me melt was Kell and Lila, they don't want to accept it and that creates a tension I just adore as a trope. It is not enemies to lovers, but similar. Especially during the dance scene, the fact that Kell isn't mad at her and is more focused on talking with her is just adorable. A little fact I noticed about them too is that they are both connected to taverns. I believe that’s only just mre foreshadowing that Lila is antrari.

On another page, Victoria did an amazing job bringing Holland back. It was subtle but at the same time a powerful move. I can't wait to see his inter fight develop and find out who wins.

A stunning book with great writing and lovely characters that leaves you hooked from the very first sentence. 

The Toll by Neal Shusterman

3.75

And the curtain closes, this series has come to an end. 

I started this book very excited after that ending in book 2, and I was a little disappointed, especially during the first half. I had no idea what was happening. The timeline was all over the place and it was constantly jumping into the past and future. Nevertheless, Neal somehow managed to bring it all together and wrap up the stories in a nice way 

(except for Rowan and Citra). I'm still mad about the ending they got, but at the same time I feel like it allowed Rowan to grow as a person and better understand Citra.

 

Overall it's an amazing series with a great story and plot twists that will leave you blown away, 

but that ending was just not it for me. After all that twist and turns and betrayals and tears, it doesn't seem enough. It not only leaves a very open ending, but also questions unanswered: what happened to Grayson and Jeri? Did the people of the world know about the ships? DIdi the Nimbo pardon humanity? If so, how did that happen? And more. I need a closure book, even just a short story that kind of puts the cherry on top. Despite that, I loved the book and all the new characters we were introduced to or the ones that got more protagonism 

 

SPOILERS BELOW: 

Additionally, as I was looking for quotes from the book I came acros myhouseofcardsfelldown's review on Storygraph, and i just needed to add how they analyze some of the their favorite dynamics of the book: 

“1- Greyson and Jeri's blooming relationship. The gradual blossoming respect and eventual love that they hold for each other, even before the Thunderhead's control of them. And how Greyson gives up his ability to talk to the Thunderhead for them, it made their relationship believable, even though it was before, it made it better.

2- Faraday. His decline after finding out about the Scythe's deaths, and how he appreciates Munria but treats her like shit because of his grief. How he manages to continue the Scythedom through merciful Gleanings, him being kind and emotional even though his job conflicts with that.

3- Thunderhead's development. I loved all of it

4- Jerico. Their sass and absolute inability to care if they get Gleaned. They speak their mind about the situation, even in front of stuck up Scythes. Also the rep. they bring to the story, but it's made completely believable. They could be there in the world, it felt like they belonged, not that the author had added them in for bonus points. I found how they chose their gender was really interesting.”

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

5.0