Scan barcode
thesigilwitch's reviews
45 reviews
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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? N/A
5.0
Hot Dog Girl by Jennifer Dugan
Elouise (Lou) is a teenage girl on a mission, to have the best summer ever, to get the boy she has a huge crush on (despite him being in a relationship) and to discover what really matters long term. When she learns the small town amusement park she work at is closing after this summer Lou immediately throws herself into trying to save the park even if she doesn't understand what her motivation for that really is. Elouise is going through a lot of relatable struggles that I don't think I could have appreciated as much if I had read it as a 16-18 year old. The relationship between Lou and her Mother is not a positive one, stemming from her mother abandoning the family when she was young. The postcards her mother sends add unnecessary pain and readers might relate to the narcissism and selfishness of her mother. I'm glad that we don't get to meet her as an active character in the story, but she is definitely a strong part of Lou's character development. The Author did a good job of making the narrator reliable and it felt like a story told by a young teen. Fake dating is not a trope for everybody but it works in this story and it's interesting the see the F/F aspect and yes there is a stereotype of being bi (dating same sex) to make a opposite sex person jealous. Elouise is in the wrong and the author didn't make it feel like dangerous promotion of the stereotype, just an acknowledgement that this happens. The best part of this book for me was seeing Elouise had so much platonic love for Seeley and the way she was always talking her up even when they were fighting. It is so much easier at that age to hype up your friend then yourself and the way Elouise's confidence(or lack) plays into her not thinking she's worthy of See.
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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
4.0
Hot dog girl was a really happy surprise for me, I definitely picked it up based on aesthetics and I saw that a lot of the featured reviews were more negative. I'm so glad I borrowed the audiobook on Libby and gave it a chance anyway. This is the kind of beautiful and believable young-adult romcom I wish I'd had a chance to read when I was in High School.
Content Warnings
Minor: Abandonment
Shadow Thief by Eva Chase
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This series is probably my favorite from Eva chase. After reading "Chosen by Villains" I decided to come back and listen to the flirting with monsters series again, the shadowkind universe is one of my favorite literary escapes.
TLDR; Shadow Thief is a fun, action-packed, reverse harem, urban fantasy, romance novel about Sorsha, a fierce and independent woman who rescues Shadowkind from hunters and collectors. She is surrounded by a cast of lovable and complex characters, including three love interests who fall into some stereotypical reverse harem tropes but are still enjoyable. The book explores themes of friendship, loyalty, and self-acceptance, and ends on a cliffhanger that will leave you wanting more.
Shadow Thief by Eva Chase is a fun, action-packed, reverse harem, urban fantasy, romance novel. It's the first book in the Flirting with Monsters series, and I'm already hooked! I especially enjoyed the way the author blended existing fantasy themes with her own twist of the Shadow realm. The different types of shadowkind and their abilities were fascinating, and I can't wait to learn more about them in future books.
The protagonist, Sorsha, is independent and fierce while also feeling relatable. Shadow Thief comes from Sorsha’s efforts to rescue Shadowkind that have been captured by hunters or collectors. Sorsha is the kind of person I'd want as a friend because of skills and her acceptance. Her judgments are based on the actions of the humans and shadowkind both.
The love interests fall into some stereotypical reverse harem tropes but I didn’t mind it or find that it took away from enjoying the story. There's Ruse, the succubus who's unsure how to separate love and lust; Thorn, the protective winged who regrets the time he failed; and Snap, the naive but eager, powerful but clueless devourer.
The whole book showcases how all the main characters care deeply about keeping each other safe at any cost, even if it means safe from themselves. I loved seeing the relationships develop independently between Sorsha and the love interests and the way the author handled the non-paired relationships (ie. third-wheel).
The book does end on a cliffhanger, but it's a good cliffhanger that leaves you wanting more.
The complete series is available on Audible as an omnibus if you want to go smoothly from one book to the next.
The Three Ring Scavenger by S.A. Burd, S.A. Burd
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Highly recommend this dark and sexy read
Overall this novel is well written and engaging. I found the pacing comfortable and didn't want to put it down. The story follows Maude as she leaves her mortal life running a brothel to join the circus of a God and his monsters and freaks. Maude is a strong FMC who is vulnerable but not wimpy and comes across as a reliable and believable narrator. Burd's descriptions of Maude's new purpose as the Scavenger are beautifully descriptive and stomach churning. The scene setting and descriptions are immersive and Bird gives attention to how the magic and mortal worlds interact. I also found the angle that Bird went in with religion and deities really unique, I was left with questions but not pulled out of the story by it. The way the book ends is shocking and satisfying but left me so ready to start book two!
Overall this novel is well written and engaging. I found the pacing comfortable and didn't want to put it down. The story follows Maude as she leaves her mortal life running a brothel to join the circus of a God and his monsters and freaks. Maude is a strong FMC who is vulnerable but not wimpy and comes across as a reliable and believable narrator. Burd's descriptions of Maude's new purpose as the Scavenger are beautifully descriptive and stomach churning. The scene setting and descriptions are immersive and Bird gives attention to how the magic and mortal worlds interact. I also found the angle that Bird went in with religion and deities really unique, I was left with questions but not pulled out of the story by it. The way the book ends is shocking and satisfying but left me so ready to start book two!