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the_library_of_mary's reviews
130 reviews
SAMPLER ONLY: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
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Daughters of Sparta by Claire Heywood
4.0
I had heard that this book was a tragedy and that it was incredibly sad and heartbreaking. And while it was sad, I wasn't shocked or broken beyond repair by the end of it but maybe that is because I knew that it was a retelling of a greek tragedy and what was to come.
What I can say that I really enjoyed about this book was its views on womanhood, motherhood, and identity. Both sisters have such different but ultimately the same views on themselves and their purpose in life. A womans worth is determined by how well they serve others, whether as a wife, a mother, a sister, a friend, ete, and this book does such a heartaching familiar way of showing that.
The story itself I knew and wasn't surprised by the events that happened, but the narration by both these women on their view of it all was refreshing.
What I can say that I really enjoyed about this book was its views on womanhood, motherhood, and identity. Both sisters have such different but ultimately the same views on themselves and their purpose in life. A womans worth is determined by how well they serve others, whether as a wife, a mother, a sister, a friend, ete, and this book does such a heartaching familiar way of showing that.
The story itself I knew and wasn't surprised by the events that happened, but the narration by both these women on their view of it all was refreshing.
The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid
4.0
An interesting read displaying the conflict between montheistic faith and paganism. The main focus of the story is the magic and the characters desire for more power and the lengths that they are willing to go to retrieve it. Though this was a fantasy novel and the groups of people were fictional, there are obvious connections to real faiths and it was beautiful to read a book where multiple faiths were incorparated into a power system.
Evike and Gaspar are the slow burn enemies to lovers that I wanted without either of them losing their own selves in the process. They were enemies because of their upbrinings and lack of understanding of each other and were lovers by choice. Evike is fun and spunky, and I enjoyed her scenes of weakness with both Gaspar and with her father.
Overall, it was fun and there were scenes I was on the edge of my seat not knowing what the next step was.
Evike and Gaspar are the slow burn enemies to lovers that I wanted without either of them losing their own selves in the process. They were enemies because of their upbrinings and lack of understanding of each other and were lovers by choice. Evike is fun and spunky, and I enjoyed her scenes of weakness with both Gaspar and with her father.
Overall, it was fun and there were scenes I was on the edge of my seat not knowing what the next step was.
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
4.0
A classic young adult fiction book and it was good for what it was. I felt like the world was really built up and there were a lot of moving pieces in it even if we didn't get to see it. It was predictable when it came to the relationships and romance aspect, but I will admit that they surprised me with some of the twists of the heist. I enjoyed exploring the different cultures in the world and that the author made a point to have a diverse cast.
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
5.0
A fun, engaging, and interesting read. It took a minute to get into it, but once I was I couldn't put it down. Gideon is a realistic and fun narrator and the relationship between her and Harrow is so entertaining. The power system is interesting and I enjoyed how you were constantly learning about it, which only lead to more questions. The cast of characers was confusing at first, but once it got whittled down a bit and I was able to get a clearer image of each of them and what their role and character was about.
There were plot twists and I was very good about not spoiling things for myself because there were a couple that I truly didn't expect and was shocked by. Gideon and Harrow's enemies to reluctant allies to lovers transistion was so well done and the moment of the two of them in the pool wherer they both let themselves just be vulnerable and honest was so heartwarming and heartbreaking I had to read it over and over.
The ending killed me, especially after it seemed like Harrow and Gideon were on a right path that Gideon would sacrifice herself, ugh it got me. I am still holding out hope that she is miraculously okay, but we will have to see.
Overall one of my favorite reads and definitely worth the hype I heard about it.
There were plot twists and I was very good about not spoiling things for myself because there were a couple that I truly didn't expect and was shocked by. Gideon and Harrow's enemies to reluctant allies to lovers transistion was so well done and the moment of the two of them in the pool wherer they both let themselves just be vulnerable and honest was so heartwarming and heartbreaking I had to read it over and over.
The ending killed me, especially after it seemed like Harrow and Gideon were on a right path that Gideon would sacrifice herself, ugh it got me. I am still holding out hope that she is miraculously okay, but we will have to see.
Overall one of my favorite reads and definitely worth the hype I heard about it.
Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
4.0
This series is one of my all time favorites. It took me a minute to get into the beginning of it, the switch between first and third person took some getting used to. Once the pieces fell into place about the fractured mind and all that it made a little more sense, but it was hard in the beginning, especially since I was so easily invested from the first couple pages of Gideon the Ninth.
Harrow is so messy in the best way and learning about Lyctorhood and the complicated characters of the other lytors and god was frustratingly satisfying. Because Harrow wasn't a reliable narrator and didn't understand what was happy, it was like constantly being shown the shape of puzzle pieces but not the picture you were trying to make. Also, can I just say that I love how messy Harrow is and how she has some real and raw moments during this book. Overall these books have a fun air to them, that there always a bit of comedic relief but then she always sneaks in these scenes that take my breath away.
Gideon's return made my heart happy, although its not in the way I really wanted. But that's okay! I am excited to see what happens to Gideon/Harrow now in this fractured and shared body/mind. I'm also eager to learn more about BoE and the history of the Resurrection and John himself.
Harrow is so messy in the best way and learning about Lyctorhood and the complicated characters of the other lytors and god was frustratingly satisfying. Because Harrow wasn't a reliable narrator and didn't understand what was happy, it was like constantly being shown the shape of puzzle pieces but not the picture you were trying to make. Also, can I just say that I love how messy Harrow is and how she has some real and raw moments during this book. Overall these books have a fun air to them, that there always a bit of comedic relief but then she always sneaks in these scenes that take my breath away.
Gideon's return made my heart happy, although its not in the way I really wanted. But that's okay! I am excited to see what happens to Gideon/Harrow now in this fractured and shared body/mind. I'm also eager to learn more about BoE and the history of the Resurrection and John himself.
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
4.0
It was cute and I did enjoy it but I wasn't as upset and heartbroken as I thought I would be by the end of it. Achilles became so toxic toward Patroclus at the end that it made me not want them to stay together and it fell into the trope of the don't realize how much they do for you until they are gone. Well written and a very realized world, a bit slow at times. I think it also may be that I listened to the audiobook of it and didn't read it.
Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple
1.0
Really bad and mostly just background noise. The characters were all awful and unrelatable, even the ones you were supposed to be rooting for. The plot also just kind breezed through major moments. It was strangely paced, the characters were unrelatable and racist, and it was trying to excuse those things by being a witty non traditional story.
Ice Planet Holiday by Ruby Dixon
3.0
Claire and Everen were fine. I enjoyed the world building more than the couple though. I think I am biased though because i didn't enjoy reading about a possessive and abusive partner so Bek really gave me a bad vibe. Fake dating trope is always nice, but this kind of fell flat.