sydneysbooknook's reviews
216 reviews

Perilous Times by Thomas D. Lee

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adventurous challenging dark funny hopeful mysterious reflective 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

4.25

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

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challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad 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

5.0

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The Cloisters by Katy Hays

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challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Cursed by Marissa Meyer

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad 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

5.0

 I can say with all honesty that All My Rage is in the top ten greatest books that I’ve ever read. Maybe even the top five. Everything about this novel is perfect, fromTahir’s beautiful prose and storytelling to character identity and development. The story floats back and forth between Misbah, a young Pakistani girl in an arranged marriage, in the past, and Salahudin, Misbah’s son, and Noor, Sal’s best friend, in the present. With Sal and Noor’s complicated relationship at the forefront of the novel, Tahir also explores tense family relationships, Pakistani culture, and the lengths people would go to protect the ones they love. All My Rage intricately winds these themes together into a beautiful narrative that I believe everyone should read. 
Fire Becomes Her by Rosiee Thor

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad 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

4.25

I was thoroughly surprised by Fire Becomes Her. I did not know what to expect going into it, but I found a lush, magical world heavily influenced by the Roarin’ 20s. Ingrid is an incredible character, strong-willed and feisty, trying to find her way into power through romance and political maneuvering. Throughout the novel, she must balance her drive to strive higher with the risks and costs of gaining power. Her thoughts and actions felt incredibly real and I felt myself relating to her over and over again. Fire Becomes Her is a great read that I recommend to everyone, especially if you want great LGBTQ+ rep in books! I read this novel as part of the Aspec Book Club, and I can say that it has not only amazing aspec rep, but also lesbian and trans rep! 
Blood Debts by Terry J. Benton-Walker

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad 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

4.75

 Blood Debts is an intense, fast-paced magical mystery. Twins Cristina and Clement, descendents of a long line of practitioners of Generational magic, must come together with the help of their family to find out who is trying to kill them and why. I loved this book so much. One of its main focuses is on family dynamics and the power of family, taking us through the feuds of multiple families of New Orleans practitioners of magic. It also makes sure to emphasize the importance of Black joy, which is not portrayed often enough in books. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a side of atmosphere with their YA fantasy books. This is a must read, and I can’t wait for it to be published on April 4th! 
House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 Honestly, House of Sky and Breath did not live up to the hype. Did I like reading it? Yes. Was it enjoyable? Yes. Was it a few hundred pages too long, with too many confusing plot lines and twists that didn’t really make sense? Yes. That being said, I don’t read SJM books for the well-written stories. I read them for the drama and the angst and the romance. Even though I find its writing to be lacking, you know I’ll be running to get my hands on CC3 when it comes out! 
How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix

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dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

How to Sell a Haunted House was my first foray into Grady Hendrix, and it may very well be my last. I did not particularly enjoy this book, but I did not hate it either. Everything I heard about it before I read it made me believe that it was going to be this intensly scary book, but I did not find it to be that scary. I also found Louise and Mark to be flat and without personality. All of that aside, it was an entertaining read, but it does not stand out among the other books that I've read lately.