theroastedbookery's reviews
203 reviews

All the Blues in the Sky by Renée Watson

emotional inspiring reflective sad 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

4.5

Lyrical book that captures grief and the emotions following death. Centering on a young teen, who's best friend has died, the reader walks through the stages of grief with her.  Excellent book for a young teen who has lost someone.

The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle

dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Slug in Love by Rachel Bright, Nadia Shireen

funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

This delightful children's book is hilarious.   The reader immediately feels for Doug the Slug.  No one wants to hug him.  He thinks he finds his perfect match, but no.  The ending is perfect.  Sometimes the person we need is the one we least expect. 
I laughed so hard at the illustrations.  They are amazing!

What the Chicken Knows: A New Appreciation of the World's Most Familiar Bird by Sy Montgomery

funny informative inspiring lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

4.75

This nonfiction book is a quick read and just delightful.  The humor and knowledge of the author allows for the reader to become fully immersed in the lives of chickens.  I listened to this, read by the author, and you can hear the joy in her voice talking about her lovely chickens and all she has learned about and from them!

The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova

adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This book is one of family and magic twisted with a little mystery.  I listened to it and the reader was delightful bringing more depth to already deep characters.  The main characters' journeys span over time and intertwine to bring an ending that pulls at the heart strings.  You can tell this is the first adult novel that Cordova has written as it reads a bit YA, but still a great book! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death

Minor: Child death

The Future by Naomi Alderman

adventurous tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

The Future is eerily relevant in today's society.  I look at what COULD be if we would just let it.  The characters are the kind you love to hate, but slowly realize the reasoning.   There are a lot of characters to keep up with, but they all interconnect.  The pace is quick and each chapter compels you to move through the book.

Liar, Dreamer, Thief by Maria Dong

emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book sucked me in with the Kitchen Door World.  There were moments I wasn't sure where this was all leading.  But when it all started to come together, I actually sped up the reading.  I am a huge scaredy cat, so this was just enough mystery and intrigue.  I loved the writing.  
I also feel like the depiction of OCD and the feeling of loss of control was accurate.  I appreciate the representation.  

Master of Poisons by Andrea Hairston

adventurous challenging mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0