tisalwayssunny's reviews
250 reviews

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

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

3.5

This is technically well written in terms of structure and setting. It has the reflective tone that older people tend to get when they talk about their lives but in a positive way. My biggest barrier was the coldness of the narrator. I just couldn’t get myself to care, especially in the beginning. There are some emotional beats near the end though which are really wonderfully done but just took too long to get there. Meryl Streep for the audiobook narration was an inspired choice though, kudos to the producer/publisher.

The Exiled Queen by Cinda Williams Chima

adventurous tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Obligatory school portion of YA fantasy!! I’ll eat it up every time idc! 

Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig

3.0

I enjoyed this more because of the different perspectives! It breaks up the monotony of the first book effectively. 

The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima

adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Every once in a while I come across a YA series that reminds me why I love reading… this is one of them!! I do think it is a bit trope dependent, especially early on, but the characters are given room to grow. Excited for the rest of the series!

A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft

adventurous emotional hopeful medium-paced

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

4.25

This was one of the sweetest romances I have ever read. A slow burn but really worth it to see the relationship develop! The main plot of the hunt does take a bit of back seat but the lore is still well developed. 

The Will of the Many by James Islington

adventurous challenging fast-paced

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

4.5

This was such a fun read!! The Roman Empire provides the framework for the fantasy world and the magic system is a thinly veiled critique of capitalism & colonialism. Loved the characters and the intrigue which was played out perfectly. 

The Door by Magda Szabó

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

I finished this book about a week ago and I keep thinking about it. Sometimes I’ll remember some part fondly and then remember the terrible thing that follows right after. Szabó is determined not to give you a moment of peace or rest. The book is so rich & dense I wish I had read it in a lit class or with a group just so I could sit and discuss with someone. 

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

adventurous emotional tense slow-paced

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

2.5

What? I love garbage! 
I think this had some good bones but the structure & flow is terrible. There’s a scene where the MC just recites the history as exposition and it’s tedious to say the least. Needed an editor badly with repetition and some poor writing. All that said… I had fun! 

Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach
Did not finish book. Stopped at 18%.

Turns out I can’t handle this right now 💀
Will come back later

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

adventurous medium-paced

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

2.5

I liked the magic system & the world lore! Overall though something about this story lacked tension. The face off at the end fell flat. Also suffers from egregious repetition. If the editor had taken out the phrase “tugged by an invisible string” I think we could have knocked this down to 300 pages instead of 400. Ah well, good for my page count goal!