virgilsaeneid's reviews
201 reviews

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Gustave Doré, Samuel Taylor Coleridge

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

A Dark and Drowning Tide by Allison Saft

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

A Dark and Drowning Tide is my new personality trait. I loved every minute of this book. Slightly toxic sapphic romances you will always have my heart.

Saft's worldbuilding was unique, exciting, and whimsical. The storyline was mysterious, exciting and enrapturing. I loved each of the characters as much as I hated them for all (with the exception of Sylvia, she can do no wrong in my eyes) being awful people. It's one of those books I'll be thinking about for a long time even after I've finished it, and I'm definitely planning on re-reading it once it officially releases.

Without a shadow of a doubt this book is a five star read.

Artificial Condition by Martha Wells

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I Have No Mouth & I Must Scream by Harlan Ellison

dark tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Tea Leaves by Jacob Budenz

dark inspiring slow-paced

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

1.5

The Lady in the Lake by Raymond Chandler

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

Titanium Noir by Nick Harkaway

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Squire by Nadia Shammas, Sara Alfageeh

emotional inspiring tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Dream a Little Dream of Me by Akira Varma

emotional inspiring relaxing slow-paced

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

3.0

 A Netgalley ARC.

Dream a Little Dream of Me was a short, sweet novella of love and friendship featuring meddling gods. The author's passion for the storyline was very clear, and the afterword proved the sentimental place Dream a Little Dream of Me came from. It was a poetic and romantic exploration of the bonds that keep us together.

Despite this, I found the pacing of the book jilted at times, and often repetitive. Varma often makes the same statement or observation and restates it in the following sentences, a very jarring form of writing that resulted in my attention escaping the book. This, combined with both chunks of exposition and a lack of scene exploration with flat characters resulted in a lack of immersion. Thus, I rate Dream a Little Dream of Me 3/5 stars. 

Outlawed by Anna North

emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

2.5