unfiltered_fiction's reviews
466 reviews

A really solid conclusion to one of my favourite series, with some wonderfully done full circle moments and appearances from the beloved supporting cast of the first two books. It didn't quite capture the whimsy of the previous installments for me, and I felt that Wendell's character development could have been stronger, considering this is the book where he quite literally comes into his own. (I still wholeheartedly adore him, naturally.) Overall, it was a magical and adventurous story, beautifully read for audio. This series is such an indulgent set of comfort reads, and I really cherish their charm.

Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang

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challenging dark emotional hopeful medium-paced

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

5.0

This book is bruisingly good. I struggled every time I had to put it down to sleep, eat, work - anything that wasn't powering through the next chapter! The magic system is quite complex and might put off readers who aren't very into fantasy, but otherwise, I think most readers would find something worth their time in these pages.

For She is Wrath by Emily Varga

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adventurous emotional tense fast-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? Yes

3.5

The world-building and atmosphere in this story were fantastic, creating a very immersive reading experience. The writing style is quite light and easy to follow, too. The overall book felt a little lacking in substance for me, as I liked the characters and their dynamics but just felt that I wanted a bit more depth. The pacing of the ending didn't quite work for me either. However, it was a very adventurous and diverting story which I definitely found plenty of enjoyment in.

To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini

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adventurous challenging medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

This heavyweight novel is driven by its deeply immersive and endlessly expansive world-building and the vibrant crew of the Wallfish. Some genre-specific elements felt cumbersome, and I wouldn't think this book is one for readers without a pre-existing interest in sci-fi. I didn't find the main character particularly compelling, although she did get through to me in some moments, but the found family of supporting characters from the Wallfish were fantastic and highly enjoyable. In the second half, there was an over-reliance on a plot loop of undertaking a wild goose chase, characters going into cryo for months to allow for the travel and then being embroiled in an against-all-odds battle, ending with a revelation which then leads to the next wild goose chase. Love of exploration and curiosity for life really set up the key framework for this story, and those themes did manage to bind up the very long narrative - if not neatly, then earnestly.

The Bell Witches by Lindsey Kelk

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adventurous medium-paced

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

1.75

I wanted to love this book and all it's promises of Southern Gothic glamour, but unfortunately my reading experience fell short of pretty much every measure. The characters were not likeable or particularly substantial, the dialogue was far too heavy on the cheese, the atmosphere kept deflating despite promising indicators (I so wanted the Spanish moss to become more of a thing!), and the plot was very simple and predictable. Its redeeming qualities for me were that it's an easy read to flick through without having to work at it, and it does stand alone really comfortably, so if you didn't connect with it, you're not left waiting for resolution in the next installment. A lot of my issues with this book could be at least partially ascribed to the genre/target-audience blend that is YA fantasy, so I do hope this book will find its people - I'm just unfortunately not one of them.

The City of Stardust by Georgia Summers

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adventurous dark hopeful mysterious sad tense 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

This was a really enjoyable listen, and I would definitely pick up this author's work again. It was a good adventure with an expansive register of interesting characters interacting against very immersive backdrops. However, I did feel that perhaps too much had been squeezed into a standalone book to allow different elements to shine - the world building and some characters came across as occasionally cramped. Individual scenes were really strong, but the overall structure and through-thread were a little wobbly. Still worth a read, especially for fans of magical realism and dark academia.

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unfiltered_fiction's reviews 466 reviews

unfiltered_fiction's reviews
466 reviews