windermerepeak1's reviews
134 reviews

Crier's War by Nina Varela

adventurous 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

4.5

This is really meant to just build up the plot for Iron Heart but I just know it’s gonna be so good

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Updated review 25 March 2024:
So much better than I remember reading it the first time. Bumped up my rating from 3.5 to 4.5 ⭐️ bc I basically binged most of it. Love the world building and what Iron Heart could possibly have in store

Iron Heart by Nina Varela

adventurous emotional 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

OMFG I LOVED THIS BOOK. Any criticism I may have for it I’m setting aside, I’m overlooking it and giving it 5 ⭐️ because I just enjoyed it that much. Definitely a huge and captivating page turner for me, love the story and the characters and also how gay Ayla and Crier are for each other. They deserve the world❤️

This honestly might be one of my favorite sapphic series ever, and also just one of my favorite series in general, I think I’m obsessed😭

Miles Away from You by A.B. Rutledge

adventurous emotional reflective fast-paced

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

3.0

Having read other reviews, I understand the sentiment in which a comatose black trans girl only being used to further the character development of a queer white boy isn’t so… appealing? It’s irritating? Frustrating? Basically I think it’s kinda lame we never really get to see Vivian, and that it kinda feels like she’s the token POC in a book about white queer people. They’re in Iceland after all. I like the story but I agree that maybe it’s just a story about a white boy we just didn’t need. (Also I agree with the person who said that Miles didn’t give off demisexual)

Love at First Psych by Cara Bastone
Did not finish book. Stopped at 21%.

The voice acting/narrating is fine but it’s just not interesting enough to keep me engaged, just not for me

A Night to Remember: The Classic Account of the Final Hours of the Titanic by Walter Lord

dark informative sad slow-paced

3.0

Zombified: Real World Lessons From Fictions Apocalypses by Athena Aktipis

informative fast-paced

2.75

Message Not Found by Dante Medema

dark funny reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.0

I’m so fucking sad😭😭😭 reminds me of that black mirror episode, and the book definitely delivered in emotion

Homicide and Halo-Halo by Mia P. Manansala

funny lighthearted 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? Yes

2.5

Not quite as exciting as the first book for me, the ending seemed a little abrupt and quick but still a nice quick read regardless. 

The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland

adventurous dark 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

Omg so so good😭😭 I’m not much for horror but I read this for my YA book club and I just love everything about this. I only wish there was more, a sequel perhaps?? Between the three main characters, I think Zara deserved more character development/finality to her arc but Jude and Emer’s arcs are great too. All in all basically a 10/10 for me. CW for major violence and murder and blood and gore. 

Also very proud of myself for guessing that Elijah was responsible for being the London ripper halfway through the book

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Blood, Gore, Death, Self harm, Murder, and Violence

Ben and Beatriz by Katalina Gamarra
Did not finish book. Stopped at 9%.

This is just not for me. The first person POVs are lowkey cringe and the disconnect/miscommunication between Ben and Beatriz is too much. I already think Beatriz can do way better than this guy, regardless of what his sad backstory is. Also John, the bro, is such a prick that it pisses me off to even look at his name on a page. 😭