thetattooedlibrarian's reviews
10 reviews

Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellington

challenging dark emotional 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? No

4.0

The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem

adventurous challenging tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Starling House by Alix E. Harrow

dark mysterious sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent

Moderate: Car accident

Minor: Incest

Keeper of Enchanted Rooms by Charlie N. Holmberg

emotional hopeful lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

This story is enchanting and sweet. It reminded me of The House in the Cerulean Sea minus the children. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse and Emotional abuse

TW

The Prologue depicts a scene in which a son is being physical abused. The scene is told from the perspective of the son, so the details are explained in a sense of how the character felt physically and emotionally.

The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah

adventurous tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Cursed by Marissa Meyer

adventurous emotional tense fast-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

5.0

The Sacrifice by Rin Chupeco

adventurous dark mysterious slow-paced

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

3.0

This book did not resonate with me in any way. The pacing was too slow; I was about 50% finished with the book before I ever felt that it was remotely interesting. 

Our Crooked Hearts by Melissa Albert

dark medium-paced

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

3.5

There is definitely potential to this story, but I didn't feel a connection to any of the characters. The dual timeline was a failed attempt at "world-building," and the ends were tied up too quickly. Ivy wasn't surprised to find out what her mom is, but there wasn't enough back story to really explain why she thought that. You have to read carefully or you will might miss which is character is speaking. Thankfully I used the audiobook, so the two narrators helped me keep up with the narrator jumps.

Together We Burn by Isabel Ibañez

tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5