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jennastopreading's reviews
535 reviews
The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes by Elissa R. Sloan
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racism, and Suicide
Moderate: Death, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Stalking, Abortion, and Pregnancy
Minor: Cancer, Infidelity, Vomit, and Outing
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I consider myself to be one of the luckiest readers of this book because I caught lightning in a bottle and got a copy of Fourth Wing from the library 5 days before Iron Flame came out. So I had the joy of reading Fourth Wing for the first time, finishing it the day before Iron Flame released, and then immediately buying Iron Flame on release day and jumping right into it. The world and characters were all fresh in my mind, which I was thankful for, since I'm not traditionally a huge fantasy reader, and world building is tricky for me to retain. And I was SO excited to join the revolution with these characters that I have grown to love so dearly.
The first 150 pages or so, though..were rough. I struggled. I didn't know exactly what was going on as the world building expanded. This book was a lot more in depth that Fourth Wing (which I expected with the length of it and with it being the second book in the series), but it was a whole lot of words without a lot of plot happening. I was having to force myself to pick it up. And this was not what I expected after the explosive cannon that was Fourth Wing.
Once it started rolling, though - I was hooked again, and I was ready to jump on the back of Tairn with Violet. I loved the merging of the fliers and the riders to work together for the common good. I loved seeing Dain (seemingly) come back around to the right side of history. I loved the growth of all of the MC's, and the strengthening of the friendship between Violet and Rhiannon (Rhi is my favorite character).
When I was in college, our basketball team won the national championship. They most often came back at halftime from being super far behind. And we always said the same thing - "They're a second half team!" And this book - it's a second half book. The plot picks up and gets so engaging and exciting and you can't look away. It's worth pushing through, though, and I can't wait for book 3!
The first 150 pages or so, though..were rough. I struggled. I didn't know exactly what was going on as the world building expanded. This book was a lot more in depth that Fourth Wing (which I expected with the length of it and with it being the second book in the series), but it was a whole lot of words without a lot of plot happening. I was having to force myself to pick it up. And this was not what I expected after the explosive cannon that was Fourth Wing.
Once it started rolling, though - I was hooked again, and I was ready to jump on the back of Tairn with Violet. I loved the merging of the fliers and the riders to work together for the common good. I loved seeing Dain (seemingly) come back around to the right side of history. I loved the growth of all of the MC's, and the strengthening of the friendship between Violet and Rhiannon (Rhi is my favorite character).
When I was in college, our basketball team won the national championship. They most often came back at halftime from being super far behind. And we always said the same thing - "They're a second half team!" And this book - it's a second half book. The plot picks up and gets so engaging and exciting and you can't look away. It's worth pushing through, though, and I can't wait for book 3!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
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? Yes
5.0
Someone Else's Shoes by Jojo Moyes
hopeful
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
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
What kind of magic was this book?! Can’t wait for the second.
Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you to the publisher for my eARC of this book!
My second read by Sally Hepworth did not disappoint! This dual timeline story follows three girls who grew up in the same foster home - and the chaos and damage left in the wake of their time there. Each of the girls had different backgrounds, personalities, and trauma, but they bonded over their shared experience, calling themselves “sisters” even though they never legally became so.
The character building in this book started out a bit slow for me, but once the ball started rolling, I couldn’t stop reading. As I became invested in Jessica, Norah, and Alicia, my heart broke for them and wanted to hug them. The dual timeline kept me guessing, as did the journal entries from the psychiatrists office, sharing details of a character with no name, telling a woeful, significant story.
While the entire story makes the reader feel melancholy, you cannot help but root for the justice of these, dare I say it, DARLING girls. The book gives an inside look at how life in the foster care system (this one based in Australia) can leave holes in the hearts of those shuffled through it, but that even the most broken can end up with a redemption story. I think that this book, while heavy, will leave readers with a hopeful feeling of the resilience in human nature, and those who will stand with you when your world is crumbling.
My second read by Sally Hepworth did not disappoint! This dual timeline story follows three girls who grew up in the same foster home - and the chaos and damage left in the wake of their time there. Each of the girls had different backgrounds, personalities, and trauma, but they bonded over their shared experience, calling themselves “sisters” even though they never legally became so.
The character building in this book started out a bit slow for me, but once the ball started rolling, I couldn’t stop reading. As I became invested in Jessica, Norah, and Alicia, my heart broke for them and wanted to hug them. The dual timeline kept me guessing, as did the journal entries from the psychiatrists office, sharing details of a character with no name, telling a woeful, significant story.
While the entire story makes the reader feel melancholy, you cannot help but root for the justice of these, dare I say it, DARLING girls. The book gives an inside look at how life in the foster care system (this one based in Australia) can leave holes in the hearts of those shuffled through it, but that even the most broken can end up with a redemption story. I think that this book, while heavy, will leave readers with a hopeful feeling of the resilience in human nature, and those who will stand with you when your world is crumbling.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, and Emotional abuse