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the_bookwormchronicles's reviews
152 reviews
Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
I wanted this to be a 5 ⭐️, but unfortunately it didn't deliver. And I was so looking forward to it!
It is an emotional and inspiring story about sisterly love, loss and grief, with multiple POVs. I liked how it unfolded, however, I would've liked to feel more of their grief and how they managed to get through it. Instead I feel like it was mostly about the sisters' addictions that began way before the loss of one of them.
The writing was a bit better than "Cleopatra and Frankenstein", so I really hope she gets better with time. I just wish her books were a bit more emotional, given the topics she chooses to write about.
It is an emotional and inspiring story about sisterly love, loss and grief, with multiple POVs. I liked how it unfolded, however, I would've liked to feel more of their grief and how they managed to get through it. Instead I feel like it was mostly about the sisters' addictions that began way before the loss of one of them.
The writing was a bit better than "Cleopatra and Frankenstein", so I really hope she gets better with time. I just wish her books were a bit more emotional, given the topics she chooses to write about.
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
This was so different from what I read till now. Sci-Fi isn’t really my go-to genre, but I saw a lot of great reviews and thought “what the hell, might as well try it” 😅 Sci-Fi murder mystery, creepy mansion, strange and diverse bunch of characters, all narrated in a sarcastic way? Why not? 🤷🏻♀️
Could I tell you what it was about? Absolutely not!
Did I enjoy it? Very much so.
If I am to be honest, I lost the plot sometimes. Or it lost me. I struggled to understand what was happening at first, but then I just decided to go with the flow.
Gideon is one of the funniest characters I encountered. Straight up my alley. I liked that she was adaptable to the situations she was facing and still managed to be herself.
The atmosphere was mysterious and dark, but also darkly funny and I liked it.
It reminded me of “And then there were none”, by Agatha Christie: people dropping dead left and right, but add some riddles that needed to be solved along the way and an epic battle at the end.
Could I tell you what it was about? Absolutely not!
Did I enjoy it? Very much so.
If I am to be honest, I lost the plot sometimes. Or it lost me. I struggled to understand what was happening at first, but then I just decided to go with the flow.
Gideon is one of the funniest characters I encountered. Straight up my alley. I liked that she was adaptable to the situations she was facing and still managed to be herself.
The atmosphere was mysterious and dark, but also darkly funny and I liked it.
It reminded me of “And then there were none”, by Agatha Christie: people dropping dead left and right, but add some riddles that needed to be solved along the way and an epic battle at the end.
The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
This was my first book from Leigh Bardugo.
Overall, I found it good. But there were times when I kind of lost the plot (or it lost me); certain things were mentioned or happened that I didn’t remember happening at all or the way they did.
I honestly hoped to see more of Luzia’s powers. I felt like there was this huge build up, this crescendo, to something huge that we didn’t get to see unfold.
The ending was surprising, but overall satisfying. I loved that she zoomed in on every character and we got to see what became of them, from an outsider’s POV.
Overall, I found it good. But there were times when I kind of lost the plot (or it lost me); certain things were mentioned or happened that I didn’t remember happening at all or the way they did.
I honestly hoped to see more of Luzia’s powers. I felt like there was this huge build up, this crescendo, to something huge that we didn’t get to see unfold.
The ending was surprising, but overall satisfying. I loved that she zoomed in on every character and we got to see what became of them, from an outsider’s POV.
Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.75
I found this second instalment of the series so much better.
The quest they had to go on and how all of the secrets have been revealed were amazing. It really kept me wanting more.
The relationship between the two main characters felt much stronger; if in the first book it felt as if the MMC was much more involved, in this one the FMC gave me the impression that she was a lot more present even though she wasn’t physically present (IYKYK 🙈).
The multiple POVs offered a good view of how the storyline unfolded, in my opinion.
Loved it!
The quest they had to go on and how all of the secrets have been revealed were amazing. It really kept me wanting more.
The relationship between the two main characters felt much stronger; if in the first book it felt as if the MMC was much more involved, in this one the FMC gave me the impression that she was a lot more present even though she wasn’t physically present (IYKYK 🙈).
The multiple POVs offered a good view of how the storyline unfolded, in my opinion.
Loved it!
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
I had to sit with this book after reading it, just to figure out how I felt about it.
I enjoyed the magic system and the world building; the atmosphere felt really dark and eerie; this would make a great autumn read.
I liked how the characters were drawn up; you either liked them or you didn’t. In this particular book I didn’t really feel any chemistry between the main love interests, unfortunately. Their connection was a bit bland. Especially from the FMC’s side.
But overall I enjoyed it; the storyline and how it unfolded was great.
I enjoyed the magic system and the world building; the atmosphere felt really dark and eerie; this would make a great autumn read.
I liked how the characters were drawn up; you either liked them or you didn’t. In this particular book I didn’t really feel any chemistry between the main love interests, unfortunately. Their connection was a bit bland. Especially from the FMC’s side.
But overall I enjoyed it; the storyline and how it unfolded was great.
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
Overall, I really enjoyed it. Reading this book gave me a strange sense of deja-vu.
I am aware this particular dystopian topic isn't for everybody. It hits really close to home (IYKYK).
Jumping back and forth between timelines and POVs really helped get a clearer view of the story and got you to meet the characters better. This strategy also kept you wanting to read on, just to find out what happens next.
It did leave me with certain questions at the end, but I think this is what made it such a great read for me. I like an open ending, that leaves me thinking about it.
I am aware this particular dystopian topic isn't for everybody. It hits really close to home (IYKYK).
Jumping back and forth between timelines and POVs really helped get a clearer view of the story and got you to meet the characters better. This strategy also kept you wanting to read on, just to find out what happens next.
It did leave me with certain questions at the end, but I think this is what made it such a great read for me. I like an open ending, that leaves me thinking about it.