teghans_tomes's reviews
70 reviews

This Is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone, Amal El-Mohtar

adventurous emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book was incredible! I loved every second of my reading journey with this book. It took a few chapters to fully understand what was happening, but once I did, I could not put the book down. This book expertly weaves love into a story about time travel and a war into a story about love. No one element feels out of placed or forced. If you have ever been somewhere in a single moment, where you think to yourself "this is perfect" and you just have the most wonderful feeling, you know what it feels like to read this book. Every single person needs to read this books and grow as a person because of it. 

The Hidden Witch by Molly Knox Ostertag

fast-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

3.0

This was an adorable sequel! I enjoyed watching the characters get better established in their world and face new problems along the way. The new character, Alice, was interesting. Her struggle is not  shown but rather talked about so it was interesting to see how the author played with that and gave just enough detail to still be mysterious while simultaneously giving enough detail for the reader to have sympathy for Alice. 

World War Z by Max Brooks
Did not finish book. Stopped at 21%.

I was supposed to read this book for a class, and while I love the concept, I just could not get into it. I skipped around a bit but I just do not like zombies and so it was hard for me to really care about the struggles of the interviewies. I do want to give this book another try at some point but that is not right now.

Radio Silence by Alice Oseman

adventurous emotional sad tense 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

3.0

I quite enjoyed Radio Silence. I found a lot of parallels between the main characters and myself which made me really engage with the text. The long chapters made me want to cry and it did take me out of the story every once in a while, but the story was good enough to keep picking back up. I am always fascinated by books that give critiques of social media and the roll it plays in our mental health, and this book did a wonderful job with that. It is certainly my favorite piece by Alice Oseman. I would recommend this book to anyone who read An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green or Sadie by Courtney Summers, and wanted an okay version, but along the same lines, as those books. 

Conspiracy of Ravens by John Reppion, Sally Jane Thompson, Leah Moore

adventurous hopeful inspiring fast-paced

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

3.0

A Conspiracy of Ravens is an adorable graphic novel. It is short, holds an excellent story, and has great illustrations. Anyone looking for a cute little read will most certainly be able to find it here!

Archer's Voice by Mia Sheridan

slow-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

This book is Beauty and the Beast AU Wattpad fanfic, and that's disrespectful to Beauty and the Beast AU Wattpad fanfic. This book did so many things wrong and nothing right. It was very uncomfortable to read, the pacing didn't work and so many things happened that just shouldn't have. Light spoilers but you shouldn't read this book so I'm saving you the trouble, the scene where Archer high key low key, insinuated-ly got r*ped in a strip club, the haircutting scene where they were the horniest animals on the planet, and the way that people solve their problems in this book by literally running away from them. It truly feels like this book was written like a child who doesn't know how the real world works because none of the characters do. Read this book if you are getting tired of your normal torture routine in Guantanamo Bay. 

Everything's Trash, But It's Okay by Phoebe Robinson

funny informative inspiring medium-paced

4.0

I went into this book not knowing that I would learn anything, I thought I was just going to listen to an extended version of a good comedy special, and while this book did feel like that (which was great) I also learned a bit about the world and some ways that I can improve as a human being and be happier for it. I think everyone should read Everything's Trash, But It's Okay and I am definitely going to read Phoebe Robinson's first book!

I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad 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

4.0

I Must Betray You is a heartbreaking work of fiction modeled after the real struggles of the Romanian people during the rule of the community party. The novel takes you on a journey of emotions and leaves you with many thought-provoking questions, as well as, the want for a better world. It isn't wrapped up in a pretty bow, rather it ends with the door still open, the story continuing to unfold as history does. It brings a wonderful non-fiction element that allows conversations to flourish about communism and it's regimes throughout the world during and after WWII without becoming too overbearing and textbookish. I love historical fiction novels, especially when they can master that technique like I Must Betray You has. I would encourage anyone and everyone to read this book. I believe not one person will pick this book up and not learn something important from it.

Heartstopper Volume 4 by Alice Oseman

medium-paced

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

2.0

I was going to give this book 3 stars because the gay teachers make a comeback but then I learned there is a 5th heartstopper so my dare to read all of the heartstopper books has not been completed and that tanked any "enjoyment" for the book. I think Nick summed it up best when he asked Charlie "Why are we like this" because just why? 

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

Shadow and Bone is an absolutely brilliant book, it truly does not need an introduction. Leigh Bardugo's writing is practically unmatched. I could not put this book down it was so packed full of action but it was not cluttered. I am absolutely in love with Alina and The Darkling, they are perfectly crafted characters.