thatrandombookworm's reviews
166 reviews

If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense 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

5.0

This has got to be one of my favorite books of all time and I do not say that lightly. These characters have a chokehold on me. Though the big reveal was indeed obvious, it doesn't make it any less heartbreaking. I loved the setting and whilst I know it is not for everyone, I loved the Shakespeare quotes. I loved the classes the main characters went to and getting to really see that. The characters felt electric, there is no other way to put it. M.L. Rio does a magnificent job of painting a picture and really getting you to feel the story as well as picture what is going on. One of the highlights of the book for me was the Macbeth scene, it was incredibly captivating. Out of all of the characters Pip was by far my favorite. This book was magnificent and was brilliantly executed. I loved seeing the tension build and seeing where everything went so catastrophically wrong. Over all this was an incredible book and I would recommend to anyone!

Slayer by Kiersten White

adventurous challenging funny 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

3.25

This book was.... eh. I honestly feel like it borrowed quite a few themes from Cassandra Clare's shadowhunter chronicles. And yes, I am fully aware that Buffy the Vampire Slayer was out before the shadowhunter chronicles, however it's just that Keirsten White borrows a few things that happen with the plot (just Keirsten White not Richie Tankersley Cusick), it may just be a coincidence but it may not. I really liked the characters and adored Artemis and Athena's dynamic. Overall this book was nothing special and I don't have any strong feelings about it.

The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous challenging emotional funny slow-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

4.0

I told myself I would stop giving out such good reviews, but here we are again. This book surprised me. I thought it was going to be a lot more childish than it was. I really loved the characters and for once, there was a YA book that had the main character of the opposite sex who they are JUST friends with, which I appreciated. The only down side of this book was at a few points it felt like it was dragging, but not for long. The illustrations brought this book and it's magic system to life and I really enjoyed the writing style. I loved how the main character was not a Rithmatist and did not have any special powers, it was refreshing to have a YA fantasy book like that. I found the magic system to be quite fun and even though it was a bit strange it was fun. Over all this book was so fun and amazing. This book pleasantly surprised me.

Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny 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

 It's safe I flew through this book a lot quicker than it's predecessor. I loved the characters and more specifically enjoyed getting to see the other POV's from the side characters. The characters really got interesting in the very short periods we got to see of them. I loved the magic system and Yale. 

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

challenging dark emotional funny 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? No

5.0

I actually loved this book. I read it for my English class and really enjoyed it. Each person in our class had a specific character they read from and I was Juliet. I was glad I read it with my class because I don't think I would have enjoyed it nearly as much because we got to break down and really look into the characters. I was personally fond of discussing how Romeo is not necessarily a good person. I enjoyed the themes that were in the book and I found Juliet a significantly better main character that her Romeo. I found some of the lines were quite profound and beautiful. These are some of my personal favorite being: 
 
"My only love sprung from my only hate, too early seen unknown, and known too late! Prodigious birth of love it is to me that I must love my enemy." 
(Juliet Act 1, scene 5)

That which we call a rose 
By any other word would smell as sweet.
(Juliet, Act 2 Scene 1)

These violent delights have violent ends.
(Friar Laurence, Act 2 Scene 5)

For never was a story of more woe 
Than this of Juliet and her Romeo.
(Prince, Act 5 Scene 3)

The last one especially being beautiful. I did not expect to enjoy this play nearly as much as I did. I would one hundred percent recommend. 

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious 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

4.25

I did feel like the the book did drag out quite a bit. Darlington is definitely my favorite character even though he was in a smaller part of the book. I enjoyed how gruesome it was. I liked discovering parts of Alex's past and how she got to Yale. Speaking of Yale, I loved the setting and the atmosphere. Overall it was very exciting to see a new, different Leigh Bardugo, one that I am unused to, it almost felt like a different author completely. I am used to Leigh Bardugo having memorable side characters however this book fell a little short and lacked in that department. Sometimes I forgot who some of the side characters were. If we got more perspectives from the other characters I feel like we wouldn't have run into this issue. Overall, I did enjoy this book, and even though it isn't Leigh Bardugo's finest work, it still is pretty amazing. 

The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music by Dave Grohl

challenging dark emotional funny inspiring medium-paced

5.0

This was just like an old friend telling you stories about the life, the audiobook version made it so much better.

Radio Silence by Alice Oseman

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious sad tense 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

4.0

I have found that Alice Oseman can create such magnificent story lines that you simply do not care about because you are too engaged with the character growth, in the best way possible. The characters were relatable but I believe the true start of the book for me was either Carys or Raine. Yes I loved Aled and Frances however, I loved Carys storyline and the same with Raine's. I did not like this book as much as I liked Solitaire, but that's just mainly personal preference. I just enjoyed the topics explored in Solitaire and the main characters more. I loved seeing all the little cameos from the other series in this book as well. 

Solitaire by Alice Oseman

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring tense 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

5.0

 This book was fabulous. I relate to the main character so much it's almost scary. I adore these set of characters and the universe that Alice Oseman books are in. This book was incredibly easy to get through, although I did get a slump but that was just from burning out. The plot is not the main focus point of this book, although it is important, I believe that the characters were the driving force. I am also astounded that she wrote this when she was seventeen, which is an incredibly impressive feat. To the core this is book is one about discovering who you are, and how everyone is battling something.

 

Heartstopper Volume 4 by Alice Oseman

challenging dark emotional lighthearted 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

5.0

 I am really enjoying the later books in this series because it delves into dark topics that are sadly relatable. Also Tori is the greatest human ever and I shall protect her at all cost.