takarakei's reviews
528 reviews

Late Bloomer by Mazey Eddings

Go to review page

emotional lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Opal's start in this book is a little cringe and anxiety driven, and the whole lottery plotline is a little silly - but if you just take those things at face value and get into the relationship side of this book I enjoyed it! Sapphic romances have really been a struggle for me recently - I haven't found that I understand why the MCs are truly into each other beyond just a sexual attraction. But I thought the development of Opal and Pepper's relationship more realistic. Both MC's go on a journey of learning to trust each other because of past partner/family dynamics - and to me that felt very authentic. I've I think only read one other (non queer) book by this author but I find that Mazey is really good at writing complex well-rounded characters that have real, relatable struggles to overcome on their journeys to love.

  • neurodivergent rep
  • forced proximity
  • sexual awakening
  • grumpy/sunshine
  • complex parental dynamics
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop

Go to review page

funny reflective medium-paced
I don't read a ton of memoirs but I really enjoyed especially listening to Kelly's narration of her story. As a long time Gilmore Girls fan I obviously loved hearing more about her experience working on that show, but Kelly's whole career is fascinating! She is also super funny, and that really comes across in her narration! I have even more respect for Kelly after listening to her story, she is an ICON!

I'd also recommend this to anyone interested in a dancer's memoir because that's how she started before making her transition to acting.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Breath of the Dragon by Shannon Lee, Fonda Lee

Go to review page

adventurous 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? It's complicated

4.0

Honestly a breath of fresh air in YA fantasy! This is a must read if you're at all interested in martial arts, and obviously Bruce Lee.

Jun goes on a little quest to get to a major martial arts tournament to determine who will become the next Guardian of the scroll (an ancient text of wisdom) and advisor to the emperor. Along the way he learns to expand his mind and fighting skills in different styles. You really root for Jun on his journey.

I was most intrigued by the politics of the west vs east and I'm looking forward to having more of that in the sequel & seeing how that plays out. I was honestly wanting to get more into the politics side of the plot, so I hope it's done well in the sequel. But that's also me as someone who is not a *big* fight scene person - there are a lot of them in this book, but that's the point! I do think they're well written for sure.

The part at the end where Jun is forced to flee really was giving Elphaba in Wicked :( 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Make the Season Bright by Ashley Herring Blake

Go to review page

medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

WHERE ARE THE GOOD SAPPHIC CONTEMPORARY ROMANCES????
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

Go to review page

funny lighthearted medium-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

3.75

another person who prefers the movie :')
For She Is Wrath by Emily Varga

Go to review page

adventurous 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? Yes

3.5

I liked this, but it didn't blow me away. I felt the character development was a tad rushed and so the shift in the main character was a bit unbelievable to me. I also think I have mixed feelings about using flashbacks as plot devices, especially when it comes to romance.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Wind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson

Go to review page

adventurous emotional 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? Yes

4.0

Ok here's the thing... I was under the impression that this book would be more of a closing chapter on the first arc of Stormlight Archive and when that's NOT what this book was I was left feeling a bit... underwhelmed? or I supposed unmoored in the right word.

Obviously this series is insanely good, and Brandon's a genius for being able to write it. But WAT was the slowest pacing of the 5 books so far imo. Especially since it's slightly longer than the others, I felt a lot of the time that we were just treading water? Like, do I appreciate the depth of detail and history for this world? yes! But do I also feel like it slowed down the book? yes.

SPOILERS FR:
I love Szeth as a character so I was very happy to get his backstory and more in general from his character. I was also happy Adolin got a bigger role in this book cause I've felt in past books he wasn't as big of a character so it was nice to spend time with him. Rlain and Renarin *heart eye emoji* 4 eva! (though I hope we continue to see more queer relationships as the series continues!). I was delulu about Dalinar making it out alive, but this whole Blackthorn thing is interesting.


Idk maybe if I had gone into the book knowing it was just the 5th book in a 10 book series I'd have approached it differently, but to me it definitely has middle-series-book-syndrome. I do feel that inevitably when I reread books 1-5 in preparation for the next books, I might enjoy this better on a re-read.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon

Go to review page

adventurous fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

YA KNOW WHAT? I had a good time and I also was intrigued with some plot/world building!
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
My December Darling by Lauren Asher

Go to review page

lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I've not read the other books in this series, but this is apparently just set in the same town but not as much overlap character wise? So you get the background of all the characters in this book explained. I found the romance in this pretty refreshing in terms of conversations around vulnerability. It's a fairly slow-burn which I love. I would've loved one more spice scene at the end tho *hehe*
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Just Like Magic by Sarah Hogle

Go to review page

funny lighthearted medium-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

4.0

This was such a fun (funny!) and surprising read! The MC starts out very unlikeable, but she grows throughout the story and I think her journey is well done. It's almost like a fantasy/paranormal-adjacent romance with Hol being a spirit? But I found it to be a very refreshing holiday romance! 

Spice: (Closed-door)
Expand filter menu Content Warnings