thetejana_bookshelf's reviews
144 reviews

The Follower of Flowers by Natalia Hernandez

adventurous emotional funny hopeful sad tense 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

4.25

The rare instance when the sequel is better than the first in the series. Also, you can tell the author has improved in their storytelling and is growing along with the characters. 

The Name-Bearer by Natalia Hernandez

adventurous challenging emotional funny inspiring mysterious reflective tense 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

3.25

If I had this book in middle school or high school it would have been my whole personality. I found this book through the author’s TikTok and was immediately intrigued. The main character starts off as girl and you quickly assume it’s one of those “chosen teenage girl sent to save the world”, but turns on you.  In a good way of course. I am very curious to see how the series progresses!

The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber

adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.25

The ending is absolutely criminal! Stephanie Garber knows what her audience wants and delivers. This series has been a good palate cleanser to all the dark, emotional reads. A little book spa day if you will. Overall, it was an enjoyable story to listen to while working. 

Starling House by Alix E. Harrow

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.25

I really enjoyed the pace of it and how the author created the house as a living breathing entity. It had me questioning if we are more than the parts that make us, or the past that changed us?

Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

This story was like getting a tight, warm hug after a bad day at work. The characters witty banter was a favorite and I did enjoy the academic aspect too. 

Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

2.25

The summary was intriguing but the execution was closer to one of those 90s Lifetime movies or a long AITA post on reddit in which everyone voted “definitely asshole” but the poster was like “Nah I did the right thing”. 

Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I enjoyed the clever writing and it was just an overall fun, fast read. There was a lot packed into such a story. Amazing to read and would gift it to any language nerd in your life. 

Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This book is what I would call “cleansing” if you read a lot of dark and emotionally intense books. It is fluffy, cute, and magical. A fun take on fairytales and gave me Ella Enchanted (the movie) vibes. 

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

adventurous emotional funny hopeful tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

I ate this book up!  I am a sucker for academic/work rivals to lovers plot. This was beautifully written through a journalist lens in a magical realism world. Their letters to each other just melted me.

Solid 4 stars book.  

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious tense

• 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

4.5

This book was hella funny! I have never fallen in love with a main character so fast. The necromancy world building was top tier and the murder mystery had me swearing with all the twists and turns. At times the explanation of necromancy got overly complicated in some parts and made me lose focus, but maybe that was because I was impatient and wanted the next clue to the mystery.