teghans_tomes's reviews
73 reviews

Sadie by Courtney Summers

adventurous dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.0

I love the way Courtney Summers tells this story. The complexity of this story could not be accurately conveyed through typical storytelling. The split between past Sadie, a girl hellbent on avenging her murdered little sister and present-day West, a journalist trying to find Sadie and share her story through and eight-episode podcast. This book tore me apart and stitched me back up again. It convinces you its fantasy while reminding you that the atrocities are very much true for many people. 

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green

adventurous challenging dark 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

Wow, that is the only word that comes to mind after finishing this book. I sat and stared at the sky after finishing to try to help me process everything that happened within the pages of this book. I have very little in common with April May, and yet Hank Green turns her from a character to a mirror throughout the book. By the end, I found so many similarities between me and the MC that I felt almost as if what was happening to her was happening to me. An Absolutely Remarkable Thing does a wonderful job of showing the interworkings of a public figure, you might not agree with or like everything April did, but at the end of the day, Hank Green shows how you would probably make the same mistakes. It's hard to judge someone for their actions in the spotlight, this book shows you what it feels like for them. I love Hank Green and I love this book, I'm grabbing the sequel off my shelf right now!

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

adventurous mysterious 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 was a little hesitant to pick this book up. After many bad reviews from people I was scared I wouldn't like this book as much as I initially thought. Luckily, I found myself really enjoying this book. The plot was unique, the characters each a spectacle, and how Jennifer Lynn Barns writes a mystery kept me invested. I often found myself losing track of time while reading. The chapters are short and end on cliffhangers so it never feels like scenes are rushed to a conclusion to keep chapters short.  The only reason I gave this book a 4 and not a 5-star rating was that the first few chapters started off slow but as soon as the game started the book took off running! 

The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater

adventurous dark emotional 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

This book, like the rest of the series, ripped me open and then stitched me back together again. The Raven King is truly a wonderful end to the Raven Boy's and Blue's adventures. I started this series after being recommended. When I did, I had no idea the magnitude of importance this story would hold in my heart. Watching these characters grow up and evolve into better people has motivated me to do the same. I will continue to think about and revisit this story for years to come. I used my library's audiobooks of the Raven Cycle, but after today I will be purchasing the paperbacks so that I can annotate them because even though the series is over, I still have many thoughts. I will cry tonight, I will cry tomorrow, I will probably cry next week, why you ask? This:

"Noah crouched over Gansey's body. He said for the last time, 'You will live because of Glendower. Someone else on the ley line is dying when they should not, and so you will live when you should not.; Gansey died. 'goodbye,' Noah said. 'Don't throw it away.' He quietly slid from time."

Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater

adventurous emotional mysterious 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

A fantastic third edition to The Raven Cycle, Blue Lily, Lily Blue focuses more on Blue and the search for her mom. The book sees the return of many beloved characters and the introduction to ones we've only ever heard about. Blue Lily, Lily Blue manages to continue the story and further the gang to their end goal without dragging on too much. The book stands to further develop the plot and characters and keep you on your toes. Each time you think you understand what is going on and the rhythm of the book a new plot twist comes to keep you engaged and flip everything you thought you knew around. A wonderful addition to the series and I can't wait to pick up the final book and see how the adventure comes to an end!

All of Us Villains by C.L. Herman, Amanda Foody

adventurous challenging dark mysterious 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

All Of Us Villains is a fantastic read. With so many twists, turns, and betrayals I gasped nearly every time I turned the page. This book is packed with adventure, mystery, murder, and the gray area between hero and monster. In a tournament designed for you to kill all your friends for power is there even any room for heroes, or are you all monsters?  
The book was so well written and the authors had me hooked on the story and glued to the page. I ended up reading this book in just two days I couldn't put it down! So excited to pick up the sequel and see how our monstrous heroes turn out in the end.

Illuminae by Jay Kristoff, Amie Kaufman

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

5.0

Illuminae is a fantastic story told through unconventional means. The reader acts as an observer as data files, briefing notes, transcripts, and surveillance summaries tell the tale of Kady Grant. The plot was gripping, the "chapters" were short which made this very long book (shy of 600 pages) fly by, and the characters were very easy to get invested into. I don't tend to read or enjoy sci-fi but this book was absolutely incredible and I will be picking up books two and three off my shelf and giving them a read as well! 

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

adventurous mysterious reflective 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

5.0

Book two of the Raven Cycle was just as gripping as the first. Many times books in the middle of a series feel as though they are just dragging you through the story until the last book. The Dream Thieves does not do this. While the main plot is dragged out, the hunt for the Raven King, this book serves to progress the stories and give even more reasons to root for the Raven Boys and Blu! The author handled the main plot while providing new characters and plot lines that always tied back to the main mission. Full of adventure and magic in a small town, The Dream Thieves was everything you could hope for in a book and more. I would definitely recommend anyone who picked up book one to continue with the series as it just keeps getting better!

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

emotional reflective slow-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

3.0

I can understand why this book is so popular. Taylor Jenkins Reid has an excellent writing style. It is easy to understand and follow along with her writing. The bulk of the book felt somewhat repetitive and just filler but Reid's writing style kept it semi-interesting and kept me reading. 
The plot twist was unique but felt anticlimactic. It had been built up throughout the book as the reason everyone will hate Evelyn Hugo only to end up being something Evelyn really had no control over and wasn't that big of a deal. Evelyn Hugo only slightly changed the outcome of the plot twist but did not contribute anything significant to the event so it fell flat for me. The book wrapped up nicely leaving a fairly closed ending with a good sense of how the character's lives would be after "The End". I would recommend this book if you are looking for a slow-paced book that deals with many issues in Hollywood and a somewhat repetitive but outrageous and not-so-far-fetched story. 

Circe by Madeline Miller
Did not finish book. Stopped at 9%.

So far the book has been a pretty slow start and as I am on the verge of a reading slump that's not great motivation. I will definitely pick it back up when I am more secure in my want to read as I liked the writing style and I've been told by multiple people I would enjoy the story.