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trixie_woodlawn_writes's reviews
46 reviews
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
"Calcifer was roaring, 'Howl, stop her! She's killing us both!'
But all Howl said, when Michael let go of him was, 'Did you kill any spiders?'
'Of course not!' Sophie snapped. Her aches made her irritable. 'They look at me and run for their lives. What are they? All the girls whose hearts you ate?'
Howl laughed. 'No, just simple spiders,' he said and went dreamily away upstairs."
Sophie feels like being the eldest daughter at a hat shop is a curse. Her life will be boring no matter what she does. Then the Witch of the Waste shows up, truly curses her with magic that drastically ages her, and Sophie decides to set off on an adventure after all. She meets Howl, his moving castle, Calcifer, and Michael the apprentice. Together, they end up forming the sweetest, most irreverant magical family.
I loved this book so much. It was another perfect middle grades novel - just a short and sweet treat. Perfect dose of whimsy and fantasy. And of course, the soundtrack to the movie playing in my head the whole time didn't hurt either! The author has a witty yet magical prose style that I absolutely loved, dreamy worldbuilding, and characters that I fell in love with time and time again.
Who else would love this novel - This book is perfect if your looking for a fun, fantasy, middle grades novel to snack on for a while. If you like Kingfisher or Pratchett, this is a good fit for you!
Who would not like this novel - People thinking it will be exactly like the movie. There are certainly similarities, but they are not the same. Honestly, I thought the book was funnier and moved a bit quicker, pacing-wise.
But all Howl said, when Michael let go of him was, 'Did you kill any spiders?'
'Of course not!' Sophie snapped. Her aches made her irritable. 'They look at me and run for their lives. What are they? All the girls whose hearts you ate?'
Howl laughed. 'No, just simple spiders,' he said and went dreamily away upstairs."
Sophie feels like being the eldest daughter at a hat shop is a curse. Her life will be boring no matter what she does. Then the Witch of the Waste shows up, truly curses her with magic that drastically ages her, and Sophie decides to set off on an adventure after all. She meets Howl, his moving castle, Calcifer, and Michael the apprentice. Together, they end up forming the sweetest, most irreverant magical family.
I loved this book so much. It was another perfect middle grades novel - just a short and sweet treat. Perfect dose of whimsy and fantasy. And of course, the soundtrack to the movie playing in my head the whole time didn't hurt either! The author has a witty yet magical prose style that I absolutely loved, dreamy worldbuilding, and characters that I fell in love with time and time again.
Who else would love this novel - This book is perfect if your looking for a fun, fantasy, middle grades novel to snack on for a while. If you like Kingfisher or Pratchett, this is a good fit for you!
Who would not like this novel - People thinking it will be exactly like the movie. There are certainly similarities, but they are not the same. Honestly, I thought the book was funnier and moved a bit quicker, pacing-wise.
Fury by Laurann Dohner
"I want you. I hate it but I hurt to be inside you, to know what it would feel like to have you wrapped around me, and the pleasure I think could find with you. I've never wanted a female more. Tell me I can have you or help me remember that I can't ever forgive what you did to me. Say something, anything, to remind me why I shouldn't hurt to be with you so much it makes it hard for me to breathe."
Alright, before I launch into this review. Check your trigger warnings my friend. Because this book has so many I'm not even going to take a whack at it.
In a not so distant future, a sketchy big Pharma style corporation is running freaky genetic experiments on humans, combining their DNA with animals, and calling them new species. Our heroine, Ellie, goes undercover to bust this corporation. Unfortunately, she has to do some unsavory things to Fury, the male lead, in order to keep her cover.
Ellie's sacrifice pays off, and the New Species is granted their own home. Ellie becomes a dorm mom for some of the freshly rescued women, but she also runs into Fury.
Will Fury overcome his trauma enough to acknowledge the chemistry between himself and Ellie?
What I loved - This book was STEAMY. Steamy Scifi is my favorite genre. I added all fourteen of the other books to my TBR as soon as I finished this one because it delivered on the spice.
Why three stars? Especially if I said I wanted to add the other 14 to my TBR?
Okay. Look. I know my grammar is not perfect, even just in these reviews. But this author combined independent clauses with a conjunction but no comma. ALL. THE. TIME. Seriously. It was like every other page. I just couldn't do it. It really detracted from the reading for me. I 100% get that authors are human, but this was too frequent for me to just let it go.
The other star came off because the dialogue is often pretty stilted and jarring. Again, it was enough that it took me out of the book, or I wouldn't mark off something like this.
Who would like this book? Classic SciFi romance fans. This book is like Ice Planet Barbarians earth bound cousin.
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
"I want you. I hate it but I hurt to be inside you, to know what it would feel like to have you wrapped around me, and the pleasure I think could find with you. I've never wanted a female more. Tell me I can have you or help me remember that I can't ever forgive what you did to me. Say something, anything, to remind me why I shouldn't hurt to be with you so much it makes it hard for me to breathe."
Alright, before I launch into this review. Check your trigger warnings my friend. Because this book has so many I'm not even going to take a whack at it.
In a not so distant future, a sketchy big Pharma style corporation is running freaky genetic experiments on humans, combining their DNA with animals, and calling them new species. Our heroine, Ellie, goes undercover to bust this corporation. Unfortunately, she has to do some unsavory things to Fury, the male lead, in order to keep her cover.
Ellie's sacrifice pays off, and the New Species is granted their own home. Ellie becomes a dorm mom for some of the freshly rescued women, but she also runs into Fury.
Will Fury overcome his trauma enough to acknowledge the chemistry between himself and Ellie?
What I loved - This book was STEAMY. Steamy Scifi is my favorite genre. I added all fourteen of the other books to my TBR as soon as I finished this one because it delivered on the spice.
Why three stars? Especially if I said I wanted to add the other 14 to my TBR?
Okay. Look. I know my grammar is not perfect, even just in these reviews. But this author combined independent clauses with a conjunction but no comma. ALL. THE. TIME. Seriously. It was like every other page. I just couldn't do it. It really detracted from the reading for me. I 100% get that authors are human, but this was too frequent for me to just let it go.
The other star came off because the dialogue is often pretty stilted and jarring. Again, it was enough that it took me out of the book, or I wouldn't mark off something like this.
Who would like this book? Classic SciFi romance fans. This book is like Ice Planet Barbarians earth bound cousin.
A Tether of Ember Flame by Hattie Rose
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
"Hune leans over and drops his voice to a volume only I can hear. 'I know what you are. You need to get out of here. You know where to go. I can't go to Eon until you leave. Please.'"
Aledrya has spent her life in the human realm never quite feeling at home or understanding her own magic. When she follows a fae male into the fae realm, her entire world gets turned upside down, and everything she's known changes. But not everyone is happy that Aledrya is in the fae realm, and she'll have to fight hard to keep the life she's beginning to love.
What I loved: The phoenixes and world building. The magic system was so unique.
Who should read this: People who love classic NA-style Romantasy.
Aledrya has spent her life in the human realm never quite feeling at home or understanding her own magic. When she follows a fae male into the fae realm, her entire world gets turned upside down, and everything she's known changes. But not everyone is happy that Aledrya is in the fae realm, and she'll have to fight hard to keep the life she's beginning to love.
What I loved: The phoenixes and world building. The magic system was so unique.
Who should read this: People who love classic NA-style Romantasy.
Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun, Vol. 13 by Izumi Tsubaki
funny
lighthearted
fast-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? No
5.0
've been a fan of this series for a long time, and I liked this installment just as much as I've liked the others!
In this series, we get to see the cast through Kashima's little sister's eyes. Misunderstandings, as always, abound, in hilarious ways. And I have to say that since I became an author, Nozaki using EVERYTHING in his life as content or inspiration has taken on a new level of hilarity for me.
What I love - The humor. It is just peak shojo but in a self aware manner that just really keeps me turning page after page. And of course, the art! It is such a classic style, but in a fun, fresh interpretataion.
Who would love this: Long time shojo fans. Maybe slice of life... especially if you don't mind slice of high school life.
In this series, we get to see the cast through Kashima's little sister's eyes. Misunderstandings, as always, abound, in hilarious ways. And I have to say that since I became an author, Nozaki using EVERYTHING in his life as content or inspiration has taken on a new level of hilarity for me.
What I love - The humor. It is just peak shojo but in a self aware manner that just really keeps me turning page after page. And of course, the art! It is such a classic style, but in a fun, fresh interpretataion.
Who would love this: Long time shojo fans. Maybe slice of life... especially if you don't mind slice of high school life.
The Getaway List by Emma Lord
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
"There isn't a single shooting star in the sky tonight, and I'm glad for it. I don't need to ask for wishes now; I have choices all my own. Ones that will always be built on love, on hope, and on infinite, daunting, beautiful realms of possibility."
The Getaway List tells the story of Riley's journey to NYC to get away from motherly pressure and to visit her friend Tom. Through a series of bucket-list style adventures, the two make new friends, carve new paths for themselves, and discover if their relationship was meant for something more.
What you'll love - The prose is great! Lord's style is perky/sunshine, but poetic. She made NYC feel alive to me.
Why Four Stars - I struggled with Riley's backstory and fight with her mom. It felt miscommunication trope to me.
Who should read this - Fans of YA. This book is like a poster child for modern, real world, coming of age YA.
The Getaway List tells the story of Riley's journey to NYC to get away from motherly pressure and to visit her friend Tom. Through a series of bucket-list style adventures, the two make new friends, carve new paths for themselves, and discover if their relationship was meant for something more.
What you'll love - The prose is great! Lord's style is perky/sunshine, but poetic. She made NYC feel alive to me.
Why Four Stars - I struggled with Riley's backstory and fight with her mom. It felt miscommunication trope to me.
Who should read this - Fans of YA. This book is like a poster child for modern, real world, coming of age YA.
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
"Maurie-Laure tries to lie very still. She can almost hear the machinery of her father's mind churning inside his skull. 'It will be okay,' she whispers. Her hand finds his forearm. 'We will stay here awhile and then we will go back to our apartment and the pinecones will be right were we left them and 'Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea' will be on the floor of the key pound where we left it and no one will be in our beds."
All the Light We Cannot see follows the story of Marie-Laure and Werner during WWII. Marie-Laure is a blind French teen whose father works at the national musem in Paris. Werner is a German orphan who grows up in a coal mining town and ends up attending a military academy due to his talents with radios. Their stories come together in an unexpected, soulful way that shows how humanity has great potential for kindness, even in one of its darkest hours.
What I Loved: All of it. Everything. The prose. The characters. The storyline. I laughed. I cried. I oooohed and ahhhhed. This book is worth every bit of the hype.
Who would like this book: While this book is technically a historical fiction, it is heavy and emotional, like most books featuring WWII tend to be. Check your trigger warnings, and be prepared for an emotional (but well, well worth it) ride.
And even if historical fiction isn't your thing (it isn't mine, and I acutally usually avoid WWII books), read this book for the prose. Seriously. It is that beautiful. I think I will end up being a better romance writer because I read this book.
All the Light We Cannot see follows the story of Marie-Laure and Werner during WWII. Marie-Laure is a blind French teen whose father works at the national musem in Paris. Werner is a German orphan who grows up in a coal mining town and ends up attending a military academy due to his talents with radios. Their stories come together in an unexpected, soulful way that shows how humanity has great potential for kindness, even in one of its darkest hours.
What I Loved: All of it. Everything. The prose. The characters. The storyline. I laughed. I cried. I oooohed and ahhhhed. This book is worth every bit of the hype.
Who would like this book: While this book is technically a historical fiction, it is heavy and emotional, like most books featuring WWII tend to be. Check your trigger warnings, and be prepared for an emotional (but well, well worth it) ride.
And even if historical fiction isn't your thing (it isn't mine, and I acutally usually avoid WWII books), read this book for the prose. Seriously. It is that beautiful. I think I will end up being a better romance writer because I read this book.
The Rake OR The Orca Who Met His Match in a Selkie Desiring Revenge by Kass O'Shire
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
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
5.0
"'Desperate.' Aegir smiled, the corner of his mouth ticking up at the side in that cocky way she'd seen. 'Pounding.' He paused. 'Need. Yes, I think that's an incredibly apt description. I think you could make me do whatever you wanted, a muruch. No song required.'"
The Rake is the third book in the Shades of Sanctuary series, and has been my personal favorite for the series. Elspeth is a selkie with a traumatic past. She unwittingly attracts the attention of orca-shifter Aegir, and the two end up connected to each other in ways they never dreamed possible as they work together to get revenge on the villains responsible for Elspeth's trauma.
Why I loved it: Kass just has a way of creating lovable characters and spicy scenes that draw me in and keep me reading! And the world building in this one was top tier/so creative. I loved getting to learn about the selkies!
The Rake is the third book in the Shades of Sanctuary series, and has been my personal favorite for the series. Elspeth is a selkie with a traumatic past. She unwittingly attracts the attention of orca-shifter Aegir, and the two end up connected to each other in ways they never dreamed possible as they work together to get revenge on the villains responsible for Elspeth's trauma.
Why I loved it: Kass just has a way of creating lovable characters and spicy scenes that draw me in and keep me reading! And the world building in this one was top tier/so creative. I loved getting to learn about the selkies!
On the Care and Keeping of Orcs by Kass O'Shire
emotional
lighthearted
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? No
4.0
"I need you, Cat. You're the only thing that feels like home, you're the only thing that makes me feel like I'm worth something. All this time, I've been looking for home, but I've realized I could search the world over and I wouldn't find it anywhere but at your side."
On the Care and Keeping of Orcs is the second book in Kass O'Shire's Shades of Sanctuary series. It picks up where the first book left off, but features the story of a new couple: Cat and Torsten. Cat is a hare shifter, single mom, potter, and all around sweet, lovable FMC. Torsten is her childhood friend, returned after a decade or two away. Now that these two are adults, will their relationship grow into something more?
What I loved: The spicy scenes in this book, like all of O'Shire's books, were absolutely chef's kiss delicious. Cat and Torsten had undeniable chemistry there. I also really liked getting to see some more worldbuilding for this series. The first book was a bit of a crash course in this world, so it was nice to have more questions answered in this book.
Why four stars: I wanted to see more of the story line with Cat's trans son. There was almost no foreshadowing about this and so it was just very abrupt. I wanted to see so much more of it! I also just really struggle with the switch from third to first person for the footnotes. Personal preference, for sure, but they are jarring.
Who would like this book: Cozy fantasy readers. This book sits right at the intersection of cozy, fantasy, and monster romance. If you like Finley Fenn level spice, but lots of consent and healthy discussions, this is a great book for you.
On the Care and Keeping of Orcs is the second book in Kass O'Shire's Shades of Sanctuary series. It picks up where the first book left off, but features the story of a new couple: Cat and Torsten. Cat is a hare shifter, single mom, potter, and all around sweet, lovable FMC. Torsten is her childhood friend, returned after a decade or two away. Now that these two are adults, will their relationship grow into something more?
What I loved: The spicy scenes in this book, like all of O'Shire's books, were absolutely chef's kiss delicious. Cat and Torsten had undeniable chemistry there. I also really liked getting to see some more worldbuilding for this series. The first book was a bit of a crash course in this world, so it was nice to have more questions answered in this book.
Why four stars:
Who would like this book: Cozy fantasy readers. This book sits right at the intersection of cozy, fantasy, and monster romance. If you like Finley Fenn level spice, but lots of consent and healthy discussions, this is a great book for you.
Last Home for Evelyn by Kaymie Wuerfel
emotional
hopeful
medium-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? No
4.0
Last Home for Evelyn follows the decades long journey of Evelyn and Ryder, who grew up in the foster care system together. This story is a melt-your-heart romance with just a dash of spice.
The story is told in flashbacks, and every time you learn more about Evelyn and Ryders past, you’ll find yourself rooting for their unlikely love a little more. They are the definition of broken people coming together to make a whole heart:) it’s a beautiful story, and the end is packed with action!
What I liked: Evelyn and Ryder, they were so easy to like/relate to. I couldn’t stop rooting for them!
The story is told in flashbacks, and every time you learn more about Evelyn and Ryders past, you’ll find yourself rooting for their unlikely love a little more. They are the definition of broken people coming together to make a whole heart:) it’s a beautiful story, and the end is packed with action!
What I liked: Evelyn and Ryder, they were so easy to like/relate to. I couldn’t stop rooting for them!
The Gargoyle and the Songbird by Cora Crane
emotional
lighthearted
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? No
5.0
Fun, cozy, magic romance!
I enjoyed the first book in this series, and this sequel did not disappoint.
Ecco is a debut pop star siren from Elderberry Falls. When a stalker appears in her apartment, her manager hires Graeme, a gargoyle, to be her bodyguard. Ecco and Graeme quickly develop an interesting relationship as he has to accompany her back to elderberry falls for her best friends wedding. Ecco wants to be independent and Graeme is set on staying close to her for her protection. Swoon!
What I loved: Ecco and Graeme. All the characters, really! World building! I love low-stakes magic. The steamy scenes did not disappoint either!
I enjoyed the first book in this series, and this sequel did not disappoint.
Ecco is a debut pop star siren from Elderberry Falls. When a stalker appears in her apartment, her manager hires Graeme, a gargoyle, to be her bodyguard. Ecco and Graeme quickly develop an interesting relationship as he has to accompany her back to elderberry falls for her best friends wedding. Ecco wants to be independent and Graeme is set on staying close to her for her protection. Swoon!
What I loved: Ecco and Graeme. All the characters, really! World building! I love low-stakes magic. The steamy scenes did not disappoint either!