xompeii's reviews
284 reviews

The Missing of Clairdelune by Christelle Dabos

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

This book has the opposite of Second Book Syndrome. Although I still think that the first book of the series is "howls moving castle if you want to hate everyone" the sequel is a much better story, with delightful twists and turns that make excellent use of everything that was established before it. It makes me want to dive deeper into the world the author (and translator) have created. I look forward to diving into the rest of the series more with this book than I did with the first. 

Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells

adventurous funny lighthearted

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

4.75

While I advise reading this before reading Network Effect, it makes sense if read after. I wish it had been given the distinction of being book 4.5 in the series. I loved getting more details about the characters we already know, and learning more about Preservation Space. 

Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall

emotional funny medium-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

4.75

After DNF'ing this book my first read through, I came back to finish it, and I am so glad I did. I think covid really screwed with my reading ability because I tried to read this in 2020 the first time. I loved the characters this time around, and I found them a lot more relatable this time around.

All Systems Red by Martha Wells

adventurous funny 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

5.0

The Murderbot Diaries is perhaps one of my favorite series. This entry into the series is a great, and fast read. Easy for anyone to get into in a short amount of time. I recommend it to anyone who wants to get into sci-fi and doesn't know where to start or doesn't want to get bogged down by a long-windered or world-building heavy book.

Battle Royal by Lucy Parker

funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.75

 A sugar-sweet read. This romance was very cute and very light. I enjoyed it very much. The characters were cute, and the side stories wrapped up fairly nicely.

Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

emotional tense 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? It's complicated

3.75

This was fast-paced, very interesting, but I was not the target audience, I think this book would be amazing for someone, but not for me. Not in my current headspace. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Murder, and Outing

What Big Teeth by Rose Szabo

dark mysterious slow-paced

2.25

This book was very atmospheric, I enjoyed it somewhat, but I don't think it was meant for me. 

Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey

adventurous hopeful inspiring 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

4.5

A cute short read, a western set in the future, lovable characters, and a happy ending.

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.5

I loved this story. It made me laugh. It made me cry. There were moments when I felt just as hopeless as the characters. This insanely diverse cast of characters start in a place where they don’t seem like they work well together but they develop into a perfect team. I love them all, and what they can do.

Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.25

It really is a victim of it’s time. While Melissa De La Cruz’s latest works have been fantastic, looking back on this book is like seeing where it all started. It’s fast paced and the writing seems immature, but it’s also interesting to see how much they’ve grown as an author. While many of the things in the story now seem outdated, the bones of this urban fantasy style story have a lot of potential.