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thecaffeinatedlibrary's Reviews (290)
Reread (16/11/2023): I would love to say that I’m confident on some things at the end of this book, but even with my surety I can only say that I’m 80% sure on the events that happened in the last pages. Tamsyn, if you see this, I need Alecto like 3 days ago.
How does one describe this book? It felt like chaos made real. There’s so many threads being pulled together that you’re just RACING to hold onto a few of them.
Nona the Ninth was witty, hilarious, poignant and frustrating. I felt like I needed a spread sheet to connect all the dots together! So many of my questions were answered, but they were replaced by more just as quickly.
I can’t say too much without spoiling, but Nona loves you & I will always laugh when I see a cow now.
How does one describe this book? It felt like chaos made real. There’s so many threads being pulled together that you’re just RACING to hold onto a few of them.
Nona the Ninth was witty, hilarious, poignant and frustrating. I felt like I needed a spread sheet to connect all the dots together! So many of my questions were answered, but they were replaced by more just as quickly.
I can’t say too much without spoiling, but Nona loves you & I will always laugh when I see a cow now.
adventurous
challenging
dark
The Soul Thief is a wonderful sequel to its predecessor, The Assassin Thief. It is mournful, and dark, but springs with pockets of love and hope throughout Telium’s story.
I loved Tellie’s journey throughout this one. TST is filled with adventure reminiscent of old school fantasy, think LoTR or Eragon. One of my favourite things in fantasy is when our characters travel, so I loved seeing Tellie and Pax journey through Thresiel and Alkoria, facing danger and learning about each other. Though there we’re definitely some lulls throughout the story, I felt as if the conversations had in these moments would become important later on. I adored seeing Pax and Tellie getting to know each other after the chaotic events at the end of TAT, and I really loved and appreciated how gentle Te Whiu was with this relationship’s development (hello slow burnnnn).
You can definitely tell that TST is setting up for a thrilling conclusion to the series, and I’m equally excited and nervous to read more of about our badass assassin’s journey.
Thank you to New Dawn for sending me an ARC!
I loved Tellie’s journey throughout this one. TST is filled with adventure reminiscent of old school fantasy, think LoTR or Eragon. One of my favourite things in fantasy is when our characters travel, so I loved seeing Tellie and Pax journey through Thresiel and Alkoria, facing danger and learning about each other. Though there we’re definitely some lulls throughout the story, I felt as if the conversations had in these moments would become important later on. I adored seeing Pax and Tellie getting to know each other after the chaotic events at the end of TAT, and I really loved and appreciated how gentle Te Whiu was with this relationship’s development (hello slow burnnnn).
You can definitely tell that TST is setting up for a thrilling conclusion to the series, and I’m equally excited and nervous to read more of about our badass assassin’s journey.
Thank you to New Dawn for sending me an ARC!
dark
informative
reflective
If you’re like me, and you didn’t know a whole lot about the *actual* history between Israel and Palestine, I highly recommend picking up this informative, dark, and yet strangely hopeful book.
It is written by Ilan Pappé, an Israeli Historian who writes with cutting truth about the situation that has been unfolding since 1917. It exposes the hidden darkness behind the Zionist belief system, and analyses the multiple different battles (though battles makes it seem as though there was a fair playing field) with a blinding floodlight, laying it the facts in an incredibly accessible way.
In addition to all that, the narrator for the audiobook was excellent. they were extremely engaging, and kept me hooked for the audiobook’s entirety!
I highly recommend this one for anyone seeking to know more about Palestine.
#FreePalestine
It is written by Ilan Pappé, an Israeli Historian who writes with cutting truth about the situation that has been unfolding since 1917. It exposes the hidden darkness behind the Zionist belief system, and analyses the multiple different battles (though battles makes it seem as though there was a fair playing field) with a blinding floodlight, laying it the facts in an incredibly accessible way.
In addition to all that, the narrator for the audiobook was excellent. they were extremely engaging, and kept me hooked for the audiobook’s entirety!
I highly recommend this one for anyone seeking to know more about Palestine.
#FreePalestine
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, War
Rise of The Witches is a dark fantasy that lures you in with its lush, atmospheric settings and haunting monsters. It hooks you with its characters, and their journeys. It is romantic, spooky and tense — perfect for those looking for both scares and romance this spooky season.
Eliana’s journey throughout is a tough one, she’s learning more about herself than she ever thought possible, all while navigating her growing feelings for the mysterious Mallrie. She’s been through a lot in her life, and enjoys finding joy in the little things to get her through. She is brave, and powerful and a little lost.
We have so many incredible characters, my personal favourites are Tyler and Cyan. Eliana learning to love, both romantically and platonically, is lovely to see.
Let’s not forget about the Flesh-Hunters, Kailadons. They are creatures that will live in your nightmares with the way the author has created their bone chilling anatomy, right down to the Grudge-esque clicking sound they make when they’re stalking you.
I highly recommend this if you are someone who lives Romantasy, with a (heavy) dash of horror and spooks.
Eliana’s journey throughout is a tough one, she’s learning more about herself than she ever thought possible, all while navigating her growing feelings for the mysterious Mallrie. She’s been through a lot in her life, and enjoys finding joy in the little things to get her through. She is brave, and powerful and a little lost.
We have so many incredible characters, my personal favourites are Tyler and Cyan. Eliana learning to love, both romantically and platonically, is lovely to see.
Let’s not forget about the Flesh-Hunters, Kailadons. They are creatures that will live in your nightmares with the way the author has created their bone chilling anatomy, right down to the Grudge-esque clicking sound they make when they’re stalking you.
I highly recommend this if you are someone who lives Romantasy, with a (heavy) dash of horror and spooks.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Alcohol
emotional
reflective
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
dark
emotional
tense
A story that is at once grotesque, and cosy. Hannibal meets The Little Mermaid in this dark horror novella, and I loved every single minute of it!
I had no idea what to expect from this novella, but I was immediately sold with two words: mermaid, plague doctor. I didn’t need anymore convincing.
This has some horrifyingly beautiful writing, prose that is so shocking and visual that you don’t know whether to be disgusted or awed. It is perfectly paced, and flows like a whirling cursive script. This story accomplishes so, SO much in 128 pages. It is atmospheric, horrifying and deeply romantic.
I highly recommend this one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Torture, Violence, Fire/Fire injury
lighthearted
mysterious
A dark, lusty and vengeful series of letters from Constanta to her unnamed husband that inspires feelings of love and hate in equal measure.
The relationships were complex and the prose was elegant and vicious. There is so much power to be had in words, and Gibson does this beautifully — and powerfully — through Constanta. I found myself rooting for Constanta from the very first page, and for Magdalena and Alexi later as they were introduced. I adored the complex relationship between these three, and their camaraderie in the end. There’s not much more I can say without spoiling anything, but please read it!
Please check your TW before diving into this one, but was an extremely thought provoking read that I absolutely devoured!
The relationships were complex and the prose was elegant and vicious. There is so much power to be had in words, and Gibson does this beautifully — and powerfully — through Constanta. I found myself rooting for Constanta from the very first page, and for Magdalena and Alexi later as they were introduced. I adored the complex relationship between these three, and their camaraderie in the end. There’s not much more I can say without spoiling anything, but please read it!
Please check your TW before diving into this one, but was an extremely thought provoking read that I absolutely devoured!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Wow!
I wasn’t sure what to expect from a sapphic vampire novel written in the 19th Century, but this was so eerie and fun! This needs to be in the limelight, knock Dracula down a peg or two please — especially considering Carmilla predates Stoker’s novel by 26 years.
While it is very clear to me that Carmilla was written as a tool to caution young women off the “Big Bad Sapphic”, I was not cautioned. I wanted Carmilla to whisper in my ear and to whisk me away. So congrats Joseph, I guess?
Carmilla is creepy, lush, atmospheric and sultry. If Dracula is the “grandfather of vampires”, Carmilla is their gorgeous and rich great aunt.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from a sapphic vampire novel written in the 19th Century, but this was so eerie and fun! This needs to be in the limelight, knock Dracula down a peg or two please — especially considering Carmilla predates Stoker’s novel by 26 years.
While it is very clear to me that Carmilla was written as a tool to caution young women off the “Big Bad Sapphic”, I was not cautioned. I wanted Carmilla to whisper in my ear and to whisk me away. So congrats Joseph, I guess?
Carmilla is creepy, lush, atmospheric and sultry. If Dracula is the “grandfather of vampires”, Carmilla is their gorgeous and rich great aunt.
dark
reflective