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thecasualbooknerd's reviews
117 reviews
The Kingdom of Back by Marie Lu
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
slow-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
4.25
I adore Marie Lu and she does it once again! A beautiful story, carefully crafted, exploring what it means to love and be loved through fantastical realism <3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Gaslighting
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Angst, so much angst. And again, such an engaging story and so frustratingly written. I hoped the writing would improve from the first to the second book, but there’s still too much tell and not enough show, not to mention the farther we read the more the characters sound exactly like Mare. And how much does our angsty protagonist know? Not much apparently since she says it so much it could be a drinking game:
Who ___, I don’t know.
What ___, I don’t know.
When ___, I don’t know.
Where ___, I don’t know.
Why ___, I don’t know.
How I got through this book, I don’t know—but here we are.
Who ___, I don’t know.
What ___, I don’t know.
When ___, I don’t know.
Where ___, I don’t know.
Why ___, I don’t know.
How I got through this book, I don’t know—but here we are.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Torture, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Gun violence and War
Minor: Self harm
The Rise of Kyoshi by F.C. Yee
adventurous
mysterious
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
4.25
The Best Man's Ghostwriter by Matthew Starr
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
4.0
Timekeeper by Tara Sim
adventurous
medium-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 Hate You More by Alexandra Moody
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
A Coup of Tea by Casey Blair
adventurous
relaxing
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? It's complicated
4.5
Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
4.75
Transformative and poignant, a continuing challenge to live up to
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I understand the hype, as it is an engaging story. However the themes, including forced sexual relations and confinement/isolation, not to mention the sheer violence and torture, were less engaging. If you want to read SJ Maas, go for Throne if Glass.
Also it took me way too long to realise this was a Beauty & the Beast retelling, but it is by far my least favourite one
Also it took me way too long to realise this was a Beauty & the Beast retelling, but it is by far my least favourite one
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual content
Minor: Gaslighting
Maybe This Time by Cara Bastone
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Gorgeously written and skillfully performed, this is an adorable romance story about appreciating the small things in life.
Mikey is literally the best and Zoë Chao and Noah Reid have so much chemistry; this was a joy to listen to!
Mikey is literally the best and Zoë Chao and Noah Reid have so much chemistry; this was a joy to listen to!