whiskedawayreads's reviews
527 reviews

Death by Spiced Chai by Alex Erickson

lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced

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

3.75

While the stages of the book from beginning to end, I felt like the storyline was a bit more creative than previous books in the series. I enjoyed how it brought together the previous plot lines and characters. I thought that there were some interesting twists, particularly associated with previous characters. The end was also slightly unexpected. Overall, it was an enjoyable read!

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

dark funny sad fast-paced

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

4.5

I could barely put the book down once I started reading! It drew you in very quickly as a reader, despite the addition of a new POV. The POVs were cleverly combined and transitioned almost seamlessly. I was the plot engaging and always wanting to know what would happen next. The theme of good and evil were well utilized. 

Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

dark emotional funny mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

I enjoyed this book so much. I felt that the mix of mystery and suspense, tied into a period piece with a slight bit of romance, was well done. The plot and unique characters drew you in, particularly the MC. I can’t wait to read the other books in the series!

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie

funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

Oh my gosh!!! This was such an amazing read. In reading the foreword and such, describing how mind blowing this book was at the time of its initial release, I honesty didn’t believe it would live up to the hype. But it absolutely do so! I enjoyed the characters, quirks and all. The plot was unbelievable and amazing. I could not predict the outcome of the book.  One of Hercule Poirot’s best solves yet!!!

The Power of Discord: Why the Ups and Downs of Relationships Are the Secret to Building Intimacy, Resilience, and Trust by Ed Tronick, Claudia M. Gold

informative reflective slow-paced

3.75

I appreciated the well combined factual knowledge with the real examples through each chapter. I wish that there were some more concrete examples of next steps as mismatch occurred and processing repair. But that might just be me as a concrete thinker. Overall, it was a thoughtful and great book.

My Hero Academia, Vol. 11 by Kōhei Horikoshi

adventurous funny sad fast-paced

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

3.75

I enjoyed the various themes from intense conflict to seeing kids being kids. It was a nice balance overall. I enjoyed getting to see the families of some of the students, and insights into their personalities, particularly those that we don’t get to see as much of. I’m still confused as to why Asui was so upset in some of the final panels- but o must just be missing something.

Coffee, Cream Pies and Crimes by Harper Lin

emotional lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

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

3.0

This book stands out from the rest of the series due to the limited presence of previous characters. There was a whole new array of characters that seemed to take center stage. If this was a tv series instead, it would have felt like a trial for a spin off. Nevertheless, the components of this series were still present within the book- the mystery and a murder, the main POV inserting herself into the investigation and being at risk due to such. I liked the different law enforcement perspective that was present, as a change of pace.

A River of Golden Bones by A.K. Mulford

adventurous dark mysterious 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? No

4.5

It was a struggle to get started with the book, not that it was necessarily slow. But there was a lot of history to explain and world building to do. However, this picked up around 100 pages in. I thoroughly enjoyed the diversity of characters, and felt that the characters were well developed. I’m looking forward to learning more about some of the side characters, as well as more of the world they live in. The plot was engaging, and it was hard to set the book down at times. There were some interesting twists as well. It did feel like the book wrapped up quickly, more quickly than I had anticipated.

Covet by Tracy Wolff

dark emotional funny fast-paced

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

4.25

This was a great book. I felt able to drive into it right away, as so much of the world building had already occurred. I loved the incorporation of old and new characters. The plot and its twists were just right, and create a set up for the next book. This is a series that I don’t want to put down because it’s just that good. 

The Headmaster's List by Melissa de la Cruz

emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

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

3.25

I enjoyed the book, but there were some pretty predictable plot pieces. I guessed the the first major plot twist  pretty early on. I personally like the alternative ending more than the given one, as it seemed to fit with the previous story more accurately. I was a bit surprised that no one seemed more aware or worried about the prescription drug use, particularly given the major injuries. Parents generally seemed to be absent despite such significant, and concerning events surrounding the kids.