Scan barcode
valpyre's reviews
159 reviews
Clueless: Senior Year by Amber Benson, Sarah Kuhn
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
this was so cute! a lovely exploration of the main trio as growing people, who care so much for each other. and a lovely moment with some side characters as well that really warmed my heart.
Within the Sanctuary of Wings by Marie Brennan
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
thought this was a satisfying conclusion to the series! the plot twist ( draconean beings?? holy shit! ) was compelling and was definitely a twist for me, i wasnt expecting something like that. by nature of lady trent being an extensively detailed narrator, i did find that it dragged on in the middle, but i understand the length of time that passed being necessary to set up the situation she was in along with important characters.
In the Labyrinth of Drakes by Marie Brennan
adventurous
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
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
4.5
this was probably my favorite installment of the entire series. there was a lot more emotional development and exploration that really drew me in, so the writing was much more my taste. it also finally answered a question that was pretty much spurring me to continue reading the series at all i.e. suhail being lady trent's enigmatic husband!! the romantic development between these two was just so wonderful and enjoyable for me . the continued scientific and historical studies and discoveries were interesting as well -- i think there was a good narrative balance in this book overall, as i found the earlier installments quite dry. this was definitely scintillating memoir material.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Kidnapping
Minor: Animal death
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
i listened to this so that i could watch the tv show lol (i finished the tv show and the book was better)
audio-wise, this is the production i dream of for most audiobook adaptions -- full cast all the way. it really made the format that it was written in shine. story-wise, honestly it didnt fully blow me away like i was expecting -- i found it pretty dry overall, which might be due to the format it was written in.
i really admired the resoluteness of billy and daisy -- the way they cared so much for each other but there were just lines that they didn't cross. i found that this made the pining/yearning between them that much more intense. even as much as i wanted them together, there was also so much respect for camila and her and billys family, which was an aspect i really enjoyed, and it made me root for them as well.
i cant really put my thoughts together coherently about this, i think im just pretty neutral about it in general, but a big fan when compared to the show lol
audio-wise, this is the production i dream of for most audiobook adaptions -- full cast all the way. it really made the format that it was written in shine. story-wise, honestly it didnt fully blow me away like i was expecting -- i found it pretty dry overall, which might be due to the format it was written in.
i really admired the resoluteness of billy and daisy -- the way they cared so much for each other but there were just lines that they didn't cross. i found that this made the pining/yearning between them that much more intense. even as much as i wanted them together, there was also so much respect for camila and her and billys family, which was an aspect i really enjoyed, and it made me root for them as well.
i cant really put my thoughts together coherently about this, i think im just pretty neutral about it in general, but a big fan when compared to the show lol
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Addiction, and Alcoholism
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
uh yeah this was a book for me. i was literally captured from the very first chapter, and it just amazes me to see how bardugo has settled in and improved in her writing since the original grisha trilogy, which never managed to truly get me emotionally invested.
with this book, however, i was all in. i find that i really enjoy multiple povs and these were paced extremely well, managing to intersperse wonderful amounts of interpersonal and persona development with just enough mystery to keep me on my toes as a reader. one thing ive always liked about bardugo's writing is that her characters miss just enough to keep me interested -- as in theyre competent enough that i dont get frustrated but theyre also not complete know-it-alls that make the story boring.
full honesty, i docked half a star because i definitely saw the ending coming in a vague fashion, and the way it unfolded bugged me lol, but character development i guess? something for a sequel? and full full honesty?? no kissing smh smh but damn do i love emotional intimacy
with this book, however, i was all in. i find that i really enjoy multiple povs and these were paced extremely well, managing to intersperse wonderful amounts of interpersonal and persona development with just enough mystery to keep me on my toes as a reader. one thing ive always liked about bardugo's writing is that her characters miss just enough to keep me interested -- as in theyre competent enough that i dont get frustrated but theyre also not complete know-it-alls that make the story boring.
full honesty, i docked half a star because i definitely saw the ending coming in a vague fashion, and the way it unfolded bugged me lol, but character development i guess? something for a sequel? and full full honesty?? no kissing smh smh but damn do i love emotional intimacy
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Slavery, Addiction, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Vomit
Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
a perfectly fine but honestly underwhelming finale to this series. i will say that there were a few moments that actually got me emotional, like baghra's sacrifice . and as has been my experience throughout the entire series, mal and alina's on-off again romance did nothing for me, and i found the connection between alina and the darkling much more compelling (even tho the darkling did some real fucked shit in this one lol)
i did really enjoy most of the surrounding cast in this book -- i liked the way they never really felt like an afterthought to the plot or in big action-y moments.
however, i began putting together the "big twist"i.e. Mal being the third amplifier sometime around siege and storm, so that reveal didn't do much for me. after finishing the series, i realised that the whole thing had a very fairytale-like feel to it, especially with the Before/After bits in each installment and that just wasn't my vibe to be honest.
still, it was a fine experience to read through the trilogy and i liked much of the worldbuilding, which is often my dealbreaker in other fantasy settings.
i did really enjoy most of the surrounding cast in this book -- i liked the way they never really felt like an afterthought to the plot or in big action-y moments.
however, i began putting together the "big twist"
still, it was a fine experience to read through the trilogy and i liked much of the worldbuilding, which is often my dealbreaker in other fantasy settings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Death
Moderate: Violence
Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
adventurous
mysterious
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
overall, i found the pacing of this series to be almost perfect for me. the way that theres always something big happening multiple times and spread out over the course of the books is really interesting and makes sense for the setting -- pieces are always moving and people are always planning, and it keeps me on my toes.
i like alina as a character -- i think her development is really interesting as she processes who she is and wants to be, and i liked how she did her best to step up and do things strategically (with help, of course). the development of her powers was really interesting as well, and i like how that reflected in her connection to the darkling throughout.
i like alina as a character -- i think her development is really interesting as she processes who she is and wants to be, and i liked how she did her best to step up and do things strategically (with help, of course). the development of her powers was really interesting as well, and i like how that reflected in her connection to the darkling throughout.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, and War
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
in all honesty im finally reading this series because i want to watch the netflix show lol
it captured me in a way that i didnt fully expect? i really struggled with reading books the entirety of last year so this book was really nice bc the structure of the book was yes, a bit predictable, but bardugo infused enough detail and nuance that it didn't bore me and turn me off the entire thing. i also enjoyed the fantasy setting and "magic" abilities -- they were fresh enough that i didn't feel like i had read something exactly like this before.
at the same time, i never felt particularly emotionally invested in the story and the main romance felt very blah to me, but i still understood why the characters would feel the way they do and it was compelling enough objectively.
it captured me in a way that i didnt fully expect? i really struggled with reading books the entirety of last year so this book was really nice bc the structure of the book was yes, a bit predictable, but bardugo infused enough detail and nuance that it didn't bore me and turn me off the entire thing. i also enjoyed the fantasy setting and "magic" abilities -- they were fresh enough that i didn't feel like i had read something exactly like this before.
at the same time, i never felt particularly emotionally invested in the story and the main romance felt very blah to me, but i still understood why the characters would feel the way they do and it was compelling enough objectively.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Death, and War
Soulswift by Megan Bannen
Did not finish book. Stopped at 18%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 18%.
DNF'd @ 18%.
One of those cases where I was really taken in by the summary and concept before reading, but in actuality, it all felt very rote to me. The fake religion had potential but didn't capture my interest in the end, nor did the conflict/war. Some of the descriptions of characters made me roll my eyes, and in the end, this just wasn't for me.
One of those cases where I was really taken in by the summary and concept before reading, but in actuality, it all felt very rote to me. The fake religion had potential but didn't capture my interest in the end, nor did the conflict/war. Some of the descriptions of characters made me roll my eyes, and in the end, this just wasn't for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Death, and Religious bigotry