whatsmacksaid's reviews
1298 reviews

The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles by Malka Older

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

An absolute pleasure to read. Looking forward to the next book!

Crowned by the Fae King by Mallory Dunlin

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring slow-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

The emotional arc is a little uneven, but I loved the morally gray FMC and her cinnamon roll (but still badass) hero. There's sweetness, adventure, and angst, but even better, something about Quyen and Cass' journey settled something in me. I've spent the last several months reading at a breakneck speed and unable to slow down, but for whatever reason, I found I could take my time with "Crowned by the Fae King." It's like the opposite of a book hangover. And I'm not sure how Dunlin pulled it off, but I got to savor the story.

The Fireborne Blade by Charlotte Bond

dark emotional slow-paced

3.75

Very slow, but I relished the ending.

The Wren in the Holly Library by K.A. Linde

medium-paced

• Loveable characters? No

3.0

Very mixed feelings about this one, and not just because the marketing is so off--this is definitely PNR/urban fantasy, not romantasy. The end of the story sort of shoves itself into something closer to romantasy, but I'm still pretty sure it's because PNR/UF are out of favor and romantasy is not. 

The writing was mediocre, with mixed metaphors (closing the page on a book, etc.) and the sense that several of the main characters are not as smart as they want us to think they are. But the last hundred pages or so picked up quite a bit. Not sure if I'll read the next book or not, but if I do it'll be through the library.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Child abuse, Trafficking

Minor: Abandonment

My Darling Dreadful Thing by Johanna van Veen

dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Self harm, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Lesbophobia

Minor: Incest, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Pregnancy

Passing Strange by Ellen Klages

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Police brutality, Lesbophobia

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Homophobia

Evocation by S.T. Gibson

dark hopeful mysterious slow-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

A little uneven--the beginning and climax didn't quite live up to the rest of the story--but still plenty enjoyable.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Toxic friendship, Classism

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Death of parent

A Sweet Sting of Salt by Rose Sutherland

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Stalking, Lesbophobia

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Death of parent, Pregnancy

Minor: Confinement, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault

The Prince of Secrets by A.J. Lancaster

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

Better the second time around, oddly.

The Lord of Stariel by A.J. Lancaster

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

I keep picturing Hetta as Essie Davis and it makes everything even better