whatellisreadnext's reviews
623 reviews

In an Absent Dream by Seanan McGuire

adventurous dark funny hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

4.0

This is my favourite by far. What a dream this was, literally. We follow Lundy and her experience with her own door and a world where people have to give fair value for everything they receive. If they don't, they are punished by the goblin market. I loved how much of her story we got in so few pages. You really feel how torn she is between the real world and the goblin market. It ends up being a pretty bittersweet ending, but those are my favourite anyway. Would recommend reading the rest just to get here 🙌

The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious slow-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? Yes

3.0

I liked this. It had a lot to follow just because The Final Empire is pretty much a perfect book. I definitely struggled through a few gripes I always have with middle books in a series. Yes, I enjoyed some point of views more than others and yes, the politics did end up dragging because it made up 80% of a nearly 800 page book. Do I regret reading it? No. The last 100 pages made up for the whole thing. I have been bamboozled and I'm so ready for the final instalment. Bring it on 🙌

Beneath the Sugar Sky by Seanan McGuire

adventurous funny hopeful mysterious 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? Yes

4.0

This instalment felt like it had so many parallels with Over the Woodward Wall, and I loved that about it. Seanan Mcguires stories feel like you're curled up in bed whilst someone reads to you. What a joy.

Vladivostok Circus by Elisa Shua Dusapin

reflective fast-paced

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

3.0

I'm sad this didn't live up to my expectations of Elisa, I will say that it is very similar to her other two in vibes. Winter in Sokcho is my favourite of the bunch, and this definitely had that quiet slice of life narrative that comes as part and parcel in her books. Sometimes, it is just nice and comforting to go into a book by an author and know exactly what you're getting into. I will say this was missing some of the awkward but very human connections that the other two books had. I just didn't feel connected to it at all, which is a shame, but I did enjoy the isolating setting of Vladivostok.

The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious 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

This is one of those chunky books I've had on my shelves for years, and I'm so glad I finally gave it a chance. What a ride 👏

I'm finding it hard to get coherent sentences together about this one, but we follow multiple protagonists as they try to overthrow the final empire. Kelsier and Vin are Mistborn, which means they can burn metals to gain advantages from them. To make them stronger or faster or feel no pain, or even be more persuasive, the list goes on, but I don't want to spoil anything. This magic system is so clever how it's rooted in something real, and I loved learning about it.

The Final Empire reads kind of like a heist novel, but it's slow in the best way throughout the middle. You get true character development as you spend your days growing attached to them. I couldn't read it quick enough, and every moment I had to work, I couldn't wait to get home and read more. Especially with some of the jaw-dropping moments in here, I was shooketh.

The Bell by Iris Murdoch
Did not finish book. Stopped at 14%.

I was just so bored. What a shame.

Meet Me at the Surface by Jodie Matthews

dark inspiring mysterious 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

4.0

Damp, dark, and devourable. Full review to come 💃

The Girl Who Cried Diamonds and Other Stories by Rebecca Hirsch Garcia

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective 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? Yes

4.0

This was such an interesting collection, centred around being a woman, and the dissociation required to get through the day to day. I would 100% turn into a cloud if I could and float around with no responsibilities. It felt like Canada's answer to Watching Women & Girls but far more speculative and full of magical realism. The audiobook was great, I'm getting a real kick out of short story collections as audios as of late.

The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham

adventurous dark funny mysterious reflective 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? Yes

4.0

I finally read one of the OG apocalyptic novels, and I definitely wasn't disappointed. We follow Bill Mason as he takes off his bandages after an eye injury, to find that pretty much everyone else is blind. Oh, and the giant plants they've kept captured for food resources are revolting and killing people. 

Doesn't that sound wild?! Well, it somehow was and wasn't at the same time. Yes, it kept me captivated, but my weird lil heart wanted more craziness. Saying that for a 1951 release, this was probably as weird at they came, so I'll give it the benefit of the doubt. Plus, like the Chrysalids, it was hilariously matter of fact and very british. 

I'm already eying up The Midwich Cuckoo's on my TBR. There's something weirdly cosy about Wyndham's books even though they are contextually stressful.

White Cat, Black Dog by Kelly Link

dark funny mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

It's getting a middle rating, just because I loved some and didn't get much else from others. The audiobook was fab, apart from one story I had to skip because the narrator drove me insane. The final story was my favourite, and I could have definitely read a full-length novel based on that weird ass house sitting situation. Would recommend for any fans of weird and fantastical short story collections.