writewithapendragon's reviews
253 reviews

Stranger Things: Flight of Icarus by Caitlin Schneiderhan

adventurous emotional fast-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cursing, Death of parent, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, and Classism

Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Death of parent, Gun violence, Sexual content, Drug abuse, and Drug use

Heartstopper Volume 3 by Alice Oseman

emotional lighthearted fast-paced

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

5.0

Still absolutely enamored with this series. This volume starts to dip into heavier subject matter but I still like a warm sweater for my heart.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Eating disorder and Self harm

Minor: Sexual content, Alcohol, Eating disorder, Bullying, Cursing, Mental illness, Vomit, and Outing

Icebreaker by Hannah Grace

emotional funny lighthearted 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

Really liked this novel-good spice level, medium to low stakes, quick read! Loved the modern setting, the characters were a lot of fun. I do think some of the heavier subject matter was a little clunky but not mis-handled. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Body shaming

Moderate: Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, Grief, Sexual content, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Alcohol, Body shaming, Cursing, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, and Medical content

Out of the Blue by Jason June

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted fast-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

Loved the mermaid lore, characterization, and perfect level of romance for a YA title. Great body rep and queer rep. Highly recommend, can’t wait to read their other books!!!

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Content Warnings

Minor: Grief, Car accident, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Toxic friendship, and Sexual content

Four Money by Jayne Rylon

emotional fast-paced

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

2.0

Plot conceit works well, steam is certainly steamy but it takes a while to heat up. Characters were more cardboard cut out than well rounded, which is okay for this length book. Medical drama made the pacing kind of weird in places. ENDS ON A CLIFFHANGER!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Chronic illness, Classism, Death of parent, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Medical content, Alcohol, and Medical trauma

The Counselors by Jessica Goodman

adventurous dark hopeful reflective 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Medical content, Murder, and Vomit

A Borrowed Scot by Karen Ranney

medium-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

3.0

Fine for a romance paperback, but characters are not super complicated nor do they grow a great deal. “Mysteries” seem rather low stakes, easy to determine the truth, and the plot overall is thin. Obstacles are easily overcome or remain unobtrusive, if obnoxious to the characters. 
BUT the book doesn’t end in a surprise pregnancy, which is nice.  Romance scenes are spicy and passionate. Characters are interesting and likable. Checks many boxes for a boiler plate romance novel, without any consent issues. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Death, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, Classism, Bullying, Slavery, and War

Nick and Charlie by Alice Oseman

emotional lighthearted fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Eating disorder, Mental illness, and Alcohol

Minor: Sexual content

To Marry a Prince by A.C. Arthur
Did not finish book. Stopped at 22%.

Honestly life’s too short to read romance with banking drama.

Hooked by Emily McIntire

dark tense medium-paced

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

3.5

This was a very good example of a dark romance, and it made some use of the names and characters from the source (Peter Pan), but it deviated too much from the original for my taste.  Steamy romance and very well written, met all my expectations for the genre. While there are plenty of dark elements, the book overall uses those for atmosphere more than plot or character. I definitely applaud the author for including those dark elements without using them gratuitously.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Body horror, and Murder

Moderate: Abandonment, Child abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Grief, Infidelity, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Car accident, Cursing, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Blood, Murder, Gun violence, and Panic attacks/disorders