bookforthought's reviews
711 reviews

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

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

4.5

4.5/5 on a re-read.

Even though this doesn't quite reach the level of the first one, it's still a pretty great book. The characters are drawn to perfection and I feel as though I am left with so much to think about and so many different layers that I hadn't really captured on my first read. The audiobook narrated by Tatiana Maslany is incredibly immersive and she does a fantastic job capturing exactly what I think Katniss sounds like. Can't wait to dive into the next book now (especially after that ending!), as I remember so very little about it.

Content Warnings

The Book of Perilous Dishes by Doina Ruști

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slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.0

Occasionally I like to challenge myself to read something that isn't quite in my comfort zone, so when the opportunity to be part of this blog tour came up I jumped at the chance to approach Romanian literature - one I definitely can't say I know all too well.

The Book of Perilous Dishes starts from an interesting premise that instantly captured me. We meet young Pâtca as she departs in haste and secret from her hometown as her grandmother is accused of witchcraft and arrested, making her way to Bucharest to her uncle. Except, when she arrives in the city, she finds her uncle and his staff murdered and a series of misfortunes awaiting her. Soon, Pâtca meets an eccentric cook who is sought after by the richest and most powerful people in town, becoming embroiled in a net of secrets, intrigue and occult powers.

I enjoyed the vivid setting and the historical elements incorporated into the story, as they made me feel closer to the action and gave me a chance to learn something new - always a bonus in my view! The recipes and the folklore elements connected to them also added a nice touch and enriched the narrative, and I liked immersing myself in the food preparations.

However, I have to admit that I really struggled to get into this book. The narration lost me in several places, leaving me feeling overwhelmed with events, information and character names that I had a hard time remembering or placing in the narrative aside from the main characters. The cast is varied and eccentric, but the first-person narration didn't always work well for me, nor did the dual timeline (even though the timeline shifts were very clear, which was super helpful!). Things did start to pick up around halfway through, but by that point reading already felt much more of a struggle than it should be for me and definitely hindered my enjoyment of this book.

I received a digital review copy of this book for free from the publisher as part of the blog tour organised by The Write Reads. This did not affect my opinion of the book in any way.

Ghostly by Kate Serzenta

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emotional funny lighthearted 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

5.0

This review was originally published on Reedsy Discovery.

Gabriel Vane has everything he desires: he is a renowned lawyer about to win a huge case, he has a glamorous apartment and an even more glamorous lover, and the promotion he's worked so hard for is finally about to come his way. Until a massive scandal threatens to take everything away from him. So, Gabriel needs to lay low for a while, hiding out for just a few months in an old house in a sleepy town, with no plans to meet another living soul.

Except he didn't quite account for Ida, a sprightly Victorian ghost haunting the house, and even less for the fact that he might actually be the only one in over a century to be able to see and hear her. In order to regain his peace and quiet so he can work on getting his old life back, Gabriel agrees to help Ida fulfill the terms of a mysterious contract that will allow her to pass on peacefully to the Great Beyond. But when things take an unexpected turn, Gabriel and Ida might be forced to re-evaluate their plans...

Ghostly is a cute, warm and fuzzy read filled with humour and heart. Gabriel and Ida are charming protagonists, their banter and interactions delightful and their chemistry absolutely on point. Ida in particular is a fabulous main character, displaying great resolve and curiosity while working to confront the challenges facing her, and the mental health element is tactfully handled. The small-town setting with its colourful cast of inhabitants is also deeply endearing, and the side characters add some variety and extra sparkle to the novel.

The plot is highly predictable, even though the contract and the rituals connected to it added an element of novelty, yet this somehow works in the novel's favour instead of against it. The romance is constructed impeccably and in such a way that it feels believable despite the paranormal element, urging the reader to root for the main couple to make it against all odds, assisted by the fast-paced and engaging prose.

In a way, Ghostly is a "comfort blanket" book: pleasant, reassuring, and the perfect defence against the bleak outside world. Highly recommended to anyone looking for a light, heartwarming read.

I received an advanced review copy of this book from the author via Reedsy Discovery. This did not affect my opinion of the book in any way.

Starling House by Alix E. Harrow

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dark funny mysterious fast-paced

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

3.0

Captivating and engaging, this book confirms the impression I'd had from reading The Once and Future Witches: Alix E. Harrow's writing is so atmospheric! I still need to catch up on her other books, but I have a feeling I could read anything she writes and enjoy the ride.

Starling House starts from an intriguing premise and delivers an enjoyable and entertaining (if not overly creepy) read rich in gothic vibes. There is an abundance of themes, which maybe could have used a tad more space for fleshing out and nuance, some underdeveloped side plots, and characters that feel way too YA for an adult book, all of which prevented me from fully appreciating this. Also, there is a heavy reliance on non-communication as a plot device, which is a big no-no for me since it's one of my most disliked tropes.

Still, there is a mystery and Big Family Secrets, half-truths mixing with full-on lies and legend, which were very well-constructed and layered, leading to a mostly satisfying resolution and character arcs.

Overall, not a new favourite but a pleasant read nonetheless. I'll need to check out The Ten Thousand Doors of January next!

Content Warnings

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

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adventurous emotional tense 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? Yes

5.0

Well, this was just as good on a second reading so many years later. I'm quite surprised because I feared I wouldn't enjoy it quite as much now I was more grown-up, but I just couldn't stop listening to it. The audiobook narrated by Tatiana Maslany is amazing, by the way: she did such a fantastic job bringing Katniss to life! Her singing in *that* scene actually made me tear up.

There was a lot more nuance to the characters and the worldbuilding than I remembered, and the social justice element was really evident - maybe even a bit too much at times but hey, it still works considering it's a YA novel. I'll continue my re-read with the next book in the series, which I'm even more curious to revisit since I remember very little about it.

Content Warnings

Poor Things by Alasdair Gray

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challenging mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

Dragon Lawyer: Scales of Justice by Julian Worker

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fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? N/A
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.0

This review was originally published on Reedsy Discovery.

Wendy Draig is tired of stereotypes and is determined to do all she can to fight all forms of injustice, whether against a human, animal or any other sentient being. That is why she decides to become the first dragon lawyer of the Land of Fair E, travelling through different towns to offer free legal assistance to anyone in need. Between meetings, court hearings and even some investigations, Wendy comes across a wide range of characters, some already beloved protagonists of well-known fairytales and some perhaps lesser known, but all in need of counsel and joined in the desire to make their land a better place for all.

The starting point for Dragon Lawyer: Scales of Justice - a dragon lawyer providing legal assistance to fairytale characters - is intriguing and original, holding much promise for a fun and engaging read, as does the clever wordplay in the title. Unfortunately, its execution does not allow it to reach its full potential, leaving the feeling that the book would have greatly benefited from some further editing prior to publication.

The writing flits between overly simplistic and verbose, often relying on complex sentences and legal jargon, unnecessarily or on occasion even inaccurately (for example, at one point a character talks about something being hearsay when in fact they are referring to speculation). The dialogues are also stilted and deeply unnatural, and are often relied upon as an exposition technique to allow different characters to convey multiple points of information to Wendy.

The story itself feels too condensed to allow any character's storyline sufficient space for them to truly develop. There is hardly any conflict that is not almost immediately resolved, Wendy welcomed with open arms and instantly trusted by everyone she meets, resulting in a complete lack of tension and virtually no stakes.

One of the biggest problems with this book seems to be its indecision over who its audience is: at times, it seems as though what we are reading is a fairytale with little depth beyond relaying a series of events; at other times, however, this reads more like a satirical work aimed at an adult public, with frequent references to real-life modern issues (such as immigration, social networks and environmental issues, to name only a few). This confusion in its tone ensures that the story ultimately works for neither public, resulting too complex and lacklustre for a younger audience while far too simplistic and lacking depth for an adult one.

I received an advanced review copy of this book for free from the author via Reedsy Discovery. This did not affect my opinion of the book in any way.

The Epic of Brigid Callahan by Beau Wallis

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adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.0

This review was originally published on Reedsy Discovery.

Brigid Callahan is special: at sixteen, she's been training all her life with her legendary guardians Cú Chulainn and Fionn Mac Cumhaill so she may be ready to defeat the one-eyed giant Balor as foretold by an ancient prophecy. That is if Balor ever does show up during her lifetime. Brigid would much rather do normal teenage things since Balor is probably dead anyway and so, with Set the Egyptian God of Chaos by her side, she enacts a cunning plan to free herself from destiny's grasp. Surely nothing bad can happen in the meantime... right?

The Epic of Brigid Callahan is a light-hearted and refreshing take on the reluctant hero trope. As one of the few remaining people with fae blood, Brigid has dedicated all her life so far to training to defeat Balor and yet, she is only a typical teenager seeking to find her place in the world and to understand who she is beyond what others tell her. The themes of identity, belonging and family blend beautifully with the high-stakes action plot. Brigid is a charming protagonist, full of wit and cunning, determined not to appear fragile in front of her mythological guardians. Even though some of her interactions with her guardians appeared slightly repetitive after a while, she embarked on a deeply satisfying growth arc right up to its conclusion.

The world of this book is rich in characters drawn from different mythological traditions - blending Celtic, Egyptian, Greek, Norse, and many more - providing a vivid mosaic of side characters even though in some cases this felt a bit more like name-dropping than building fully fleshed-out characters. The initial set-up could also have been tidied up slightly to make the introduction a little less confusing, particularly for readers who might not be overly familiar with the lore. Balor is also a fairly typical villain seeking world domination and could have benefited from a slightly more complex characterisation. Still, he plays his role well in all his evilness.

With action aplenty, humour, and heart, The Epic of Brigid Callahan is a deeply entertaining novel perfect for both its YA audience and young-at-heart adults.

I received an advanced review copy of this book for free from the author via Reedsy Discovery. This did not affect my opinion of the book in any way.

Content Warnings

The Sins on Their Bones by Laura R. Samotin

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dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.5

Dimitri, the former Tzar of Novo-Svitsevo, is living in exile with what remains of his court – the few most trusted among his advisors, the only ones he can still call friends. Increasing his anguish following the end of a brutal civil war is the knowledge that the coup that led him to lose everything was led by his now estranged husband Alexey, whom Dimitri thought to be the love of his life. Except Alexey is no ordinary usurper: through a perversion of his religion, he turned himself into an immortal demon-like creature and now claims to be guided by God Himself with devastating consequences should his plans succeed.

The Sins on Their Bones starts off with an intriguing premise for a dark fantasy queer romance. The story is told through multiple POVs, alternating chapters narrated by Dimitri, Alexey and Vasily, Dimitri’s spymaster and lover. This certainly adds some dynamism and depth to these characters, all three of whom have to grapple with trauma, impossible choices and love – both the abusive kind and the healing one.

Alexey’s and Vasily’s chapters were the most interesting for me, as I really struggled to connect with Dimitri. Some of the chapters in Alexey’s POV ended up detracting somewhat from the suspense though, as certain key points in his plan were revealed quite early on to the reader while still remaining a mystery to the other characters. I enjoyed the found family vibes between Dimitri and his court, and I would have loved to see more of these characters as well, but they felt mostly sketched rather than fully fleshed out.

The writing is deeply immersive and perfectly paints the picture of this Eastern-Europe-inspired world. The novel also incorporates several elements of Jewish lore, which I wasn’t really familiar with but were so seamlessly weaved into the narrative that I had no trouble at all following along. Most of the descriptions were quite evocative and flowed nicely, even though some of the dialogues were a bit too verbose and unnatural for my taste.

The structure of this book is what I struggled with the most. The story starts after the end of the civil war when Dimitri and his friends are already in exile. Several past events are referenced throughout and discussed among the protagonists yet they are never shown, not even through flashbacks.

Though this choice could have been very original, bringing a new perspective to the story, it felt as though I was reading the second book in a series without having read the first. I also ended up getting a bit tired of all this telling after a certain point and would have liked to see more of the things the characters were talking about. The pacing also didn’t quite work for me. After a fairly interesting beginning, I started to feel the story drag along and the whole middle section was really hard for me to get through. Things did pick up again towards the end but, by that point, I had kind of lost the momentum.

I would have also liked to see a bit more of this magical yet brutal queer-normative world, which seemed really interesting from the glimpses we got from the characters but wasn’t really shown all that much. In this sense, this book gave me the same feeling of a theatre play: mostly played out indoors in few settings and propelled by dialogue between a limited cast of characters. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing but it wasn’t what I was expecting from this given the blurb, and it left me wanting a little more.

That being said, I appreciate what the author did with her exploration of the themes here. All the characters are battling their demons (some inner and some… less so) and dealing with the aftermath of their choices and the pain that comes from having to live with that. PTSD and matters of mental health feature heavily here, and I really liked how Dimitri’s friends worked together to ensure he felt supported and loved while going through an extremely difficult time.

Sensitive readers should be very careful approaching this book as there are many content warnings to be given, as well as explicit sexual content between consenting adults. The spicier scenes were actually quite disappointing for me, as they felt very repetitive, but other readers may enjoy them more.

Overall, The Sins on Their Bones is an interesting exploration of what it means to be human, of the seduction of power and the constant battle to do the right thing – whatever the cost. I really wish I had connected more with this book, but maybe it just came to me at the wrong time or with the wrong expectations. I think that readers who do connect with it will really love it, and this is definitely an author I’ll be keeping an eye out for!

I received an advance review copy of this book for free from the publisher and Wunderkind PR via NetGalley. This did not affect my opinion of the book in any way.

Content Warnings

Daughter of the Seven Hills by Margaret McNellis

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adventurous challenging dark emotional medium-paced

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

5.0

Aurelia, a privileged daughter of the Caelian hill, navigates the complexities of Roman society while secretly training with a physician and engaging in a forbidden romance with Cassius, a plebeian soldier. Except her plans are upended when Cassius's legion is commanded to leave Rome for inhospitable Britannia just as Aurelia discovers she is pregnant with his child and is forced into an economically favourable marriage with another man by her family.

After discovering her husband's and uncle's conspiracy to murder the emperor, Aurelia decides to take matters into her own hands, but in so doing condemns herself as a criminal and is forced to choose between death and leaving Rome, taking only her slave Vita with her. But this is a perilous journey, especially for two women travelling alone, and Britannia is inhabited by a people Aurelia would call barbaric. And yet, she will be forced to decide: if she can no longer be Roman, who will she be?

Daughter of the Seven Hills is an engrossing read, masterfully using multiple points of view to convey the complexity and brutality of the historical context while exploring the unique voices of multiple characters, some of whom would risk being voiceless in a more canonical narrative. The historical context appears very well-researched, with a myriad of small details (from sights to smells or food and habits) scattered throughout really bringing it to life and providing a feeling of authenticity.

Each character was perfectly drawn, with no scene wasted in designing satisfying arcs that - if at times harsh - convey the multitude of small choices that draw up one's destiny, even if they are seemingly inevitable. Some characters (especially Vita and the Druid Woman) might have benefited from having just a little more space to give them more breathing room, allowing readers to form a deeper connection.

In the author's note at the beginning of the book, this is described as a "book of the mind": it is impossible not to appreciate the careful study that went into crafting this story, finding the balance between plot and character development and between characters themselves. Despite this, the author's heart also shines through, building on the work started in her previous books to continue exploring themes of identity and belonging sensitively, with particular attention given to centring the perspectives of those who are typically left at the margins.

Daughter of the Seven Hills is a book that is at one time hard to put down and very difficult to read because of the multitude of abuse depicted. The author does a fantastic job in only including violence that is strictly necessary to the story or to understand the characters, never indulging in showing violence for its own sake. Still, brutality was common in that historical period and thus several violent scenes do occur. Sensitive readers would be advised to approach the book carefully and check the trigger warnings provided by the author to look after their well-being.

Daughter of the Seven Hills is a captivating and thought-provoking read, merging meticulous historical research with a high-stakes plot and compelling characters. From the first page to the last, readers will find themselves desperately rooting for Aurelia, Vita and the good people they meet on their way, even when all the odds are stacked against them, leaving them with the same question Aurelia must face: what makes us who we are?

This review was originally published on Reedsy Discovery.
Disclaimer: I received an advanced review copy of this book for free via Reedsy Discovery. This did not affect my opinion of the book in any way.

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bookforthought's reviews 711 reviews

bookforthought's reviews
711 reviews