vinreads's reviews
76 reviews

medium-paced

1.0

Disappointed. I thought authors knew better than to insert Harry Potter references into their books in the year 2025? I read a book recently that was published in 2021(?) that was republished traditionally and apologized for the fact that the book has references to HP that she was unable to revise as per her contract. If that's what books these days look like, then why would an author think it to be okay to include that in a brand new book in a time where trans people are under attack? This is the author's debut, and I loved it up until the Harry Potter references. After that I did not care. I make it a point to finish books if they're ARCs as I don't tend to like to DNF them, but boy did I want to DNF this. Please do better. There is no room in my life for people who wrote Harry Potter references in their books, because to me, that tells me you are willing to platform a terf and bigot.

This review is my honest opinion based on an ARC I received through Netgalley.

Morbidly Yours by Ivy Fairbanks

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This is a reread, and one of my absolute favorites at that. Lark and Callum have a special place in my heart and I knew I needed to reread this book before the second book comes out. I found Ivy Fairbanks because of another person who'd posted on Instagram about a romcom featuring a widow and an Irish undertaker. It sounded so witty and funny and to my absolute delight, I adored it. Since then, Ivy has gotten a deal with Penguin books and had this book republished as well as the second standalone in this series which comes out in just a few short months. I feel some sort of secondhand pride watching her go from her debut novel about a shy Irish undertaker with a stutter fighting to save his family home and a widower trying to make a name for herself in the art world whilst coping with her husband's death, to a trad publishing deal and it's all I ever want for all my author friends I've made over this past year and a half. Please do yourself a favor and read this, you won't regret it. I can't always sincerely say that about a lot of books, but this one, I can. No criticisms nothing I hated about it, it flows well and makes me laugh and cry and I love the usage of Gaeilge on Callum's part. Ivy Fairbanks is a mastermind and an absolutely astounding author.

Content Warnings

Daybreak Volume 1 by Moosopp

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

I've followed this artist's work for years now and I'm so excited to see a published version of Moosop's work!! I was enthralled to see it up for request on Netgalley and even more excited to have been approved for the ARC! I just got it today but have already finished it. I plowed through this like it was no one's business. The art style is so cute and I've always loved how easy to read graphic novels are. I'm definitely looking forward to reading volume 2!

Blood Beneath the Snow by Alexandra Kennington

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

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? Yes

4.0

Thank you to Ace Pub and Berkeley for the free book!!

This was an amazing book but... what was that ending? It was so abrupt, with so many loose ends left untied, and I just have to hope there's an unplanned sequel. What did the Kryllian Queen want with Revna? What becomes of her and The Hellbringer? Will her powers develop more? There has to be answers. I'll be disappointed if not.

That said, I really enjoyed this. I struggle to get through romantasy books sometimes, and I didn't find myself struggling with this one. Historically, for me, it usually takes upwards of five days minimum for me to get through a romantasy/fantasy, and this took me around 2 days. It was easy to get through, compelling enough for me to want to keep turning the pages, and wasn't so filled with straight filler or too much clunky plot that it tripped me up. The one thing I think I'll continue to be hung up on, however, is the end. I'm gonna be stewing about that one for a while. I did like how the romance developed, I saw others say they thought that the romance was too instalove, but I felt it wasn't too much. They met officially around 36% if I remember correctly, but didn't do anything until around 70%. Now, the time in between during the story was more like a month and a half, but I've seen stories end in coupling in less time than that-- couples who end up saying I love you after two weeks --so for me, this wasn't that bad. I was satisfied with the romance aspect, save for the fact that I wouldn't really market this as a romantasy as it ends in an ambiguous, everything is up in the air happy for now, and the romance, well, I won't spoil what it's like by the end. Definitely makes me feel like a sequel is coming.

Content Warnings

The Prince Without Sorrow by Maithree Wijesekara

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

It took me a while to get through this one, but it was worth it, I feel. The pacing was a bit slower than I would've liked for a fantasy book. I lose interest easily in fantasy books if they drag, and I personally like mine to have a bit more romance than this one had, but I also understand that this is part of a series, and I think that's where this book will gain a bad rap. Unfortunately, ARC readers whose reviews I've seen seemed not to have media literacy enough to read that this is part of a series. I'm fairly certain it says either in the description on Netgalley that it's #1 in a series, or even on the cover itself. Of course it's going to feel incomplete and end in a cliffhanger, it is very much so incomplete. I could complain about how much was invested into the idea of the collective mind, and how it seemed to play a huge part in the book, but there's more to come, and in here for it, personally. I loved that this book had roots in real life history. Obviously if you don't know the history, you won't know it's based on real life events, loosely, so I feel like an added piece at the beginning might help, and who knows, there might be; this is an unfinished copy of the book, of course you're not going to see everything readers will see when they read the final published copy. But for what it's worth, I'm excited to see more, and hopefully it picks up the pace in the next book.

Content Warnings

Canadian Boyfriend by Jenny Holiday

Go to review page

dark emotional funny hopeful relaxing sad tense medium-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

4.25

This book has been heavily criticized as not being a romance. I think we need to stop putting a cap on what's romance and what's not as long as, and strictly as long as said romance with a capital R ends in a happily ever after or happy for now. This book did, and so irregardless of the heavier themes of loss, death, anxiety and panic disorders, and eating disorders, this book was still a romance. And I think we need more realistic, heavy romances that include dark topics. Not every book is a picture perfect fairy tale, and that's okay! Not only that, but not every book needs to be detailed with kisses and spice. Some books don't need to focus on that in order to show that two characters are falling for each other. That being said, my only hangup about this book is that she called the MMC by his first and last name in her POV monologues for the entire. Damn. Book. That was honestly infuriating to me, but as long as you can just... not pay attention to that, it's really a great romance.

Content Warnings

Fortune's Kiss by Amber Clement

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-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? Yes

5.0

The synopsis for this is super underwhelming. The book is leagues better than you're lead to believe based on the synopsis. I thought hm, two young girls gambling and it's dangerous? Sounds cool, and then people started dying and I was like damn, this is great! There were twists, turns, and even though I sort of pieced together what happened near the end, with the big twist, I liked that the book naturally led me to that conclusion and that it didn't come out of left field. It made sense, and that made me love the book even more. There were of course sad moments, but some got rectified and of course I cried over it like a baby. I really didn't expect to like this book as much as I found I did by the time I was done with it. Shout-out to myself for picking up a random book at the library because this was phenomenal.

Content Warnings

Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography by Neil Patrick Harris, David Javerbaum

Go to review page

adventurous funny informative reflective fast-paced

3.25

This was as funny as it was enlightening; I've never read an autobiography in the first person in the format of a choose your own adventure book. It's definitely been ages since I've read one and it took me back to my simpler childhood times, but in the form of Neil Patrick Harris's life! There were obviously a lot of fabricated moments, however, and I feel that it took away from the meaning of an autobiography just a bit. I understand he's a funny guy, but it's hard for me to connect bits and pieces of his life together when some of it is obviously made up bits for the story. I spent some time going through this book and the options given, but I don't think I even really got to read everything there was. There were a few times I got to a "The End" point and wasn't sure which page I had left on so I could go back and choose something different. If it had been less clunky to read I probably would've rated it higher.

Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren

Go to review page

Did not finish book. Stopped at 11%.

I was perturbed when Elliot asked a family member for information on where Macey worked, come to find out via reviews that he's assaulted at some point in the past plot of the book and it's not only never addressed but swept under the rug??? Also huge lack of communication that could've been apparently solved had they just spoken 11 years prior, and they continued to refuse to speak to each other about it making excuse after excuse how they'd just talk later about it. Yikes. Glad I dodged a bullet with this one.

The Witch who Trades with Death by C.M. Alongi

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad tense slow-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

5.0

I am so glad I didn't give up on this book. Given the trigger warnings, I almost set it down right then and there, and again when I almost threw up reading some of said triggers after deciding they weren't that bad. But once I got past the initial first few chapters, I found myself enjoying the book more and more. The cast of diverse characters all held importance to the book and were loveable underdogs, each and every one of them. And despite the heavy triggers and topics, Alongi handled them incredibly respectfully, and I appreciated mention of charities involving victims of assault. It really made it feel like the author cared about the readers and victims alike, and I think made it a bit easier to stomach the heavy contents of the book. I cried multiple times for this sweet little found family, and I'm so happy to have gotten an ARC of this book. It may take some time for me to get around to rereading it, but I can safely say I'll be back for more with this one, and I'd be more than happy to read any other books Alongi puts out in the future. She's got a fan for life for sure.

Content Warnings

More...

vinreads's reviews 76 reviews

vinreads's reviews
76 reviews