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juan_adhd_reading's reviews
111 reviews
The Demigod Diaries by Rick Riordan
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I think this book was much better than The Demigod Files. I loved all four stories, but especially The Son of Magic! Wow, Rick’s son is just as fantastic, and I feel like his writing style is darker and more mature. I don’t even know if this story is canon to the Riordanverse, but it would make an amazing series. I would rank the other three stories as Luke’s Diary > Quest for Buford > Staff of Hermes. Really good Percabeth moments in the Staff of Hermes, but it just doesn’t have the same impact to the overall series as the other ones.
My main complaint is that this book still uses that horrible old art, and that alone would stop me from owning a physical copy.
My main complaint is that this book still uses that horrible old art, and that alone would stop me from owning a physical copy.
The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan
adventurous
dark
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
4.5
The crew is finally getting all together!!! And it’s messyyyyy. All the way from the beginning, accidentally starting a war with the romans, all the way to that cliffhanger ending 😱 this was nonstop action and drama. This book has some of my all time favorite scenes in the Percy Jackson series, from Annabeth and Percy finally reuniting, the stable scene and aftermath 😏, Percy and Jason duel, them working together afterwards to create a storm against the romans, the whole thing with Hazel, Leo and Frank and finally, Annabeth outwitting Arachne.
My only complaint is that despite the Mark of Athena being such a pivotal plot point, we barely spend anytime with the actual quest. Most of the book was composed of several side quests and obstacles trying to get to Rome, and they manage to get there only on the very very last day of their time limit. That seems to be one of my main criticisms of this series, because it makes the pacing all over the place. The first two thirds seem to be much slower and then it all happens at once by the end. In my opinion, it would have been better if they arrived to Rome one or even two days before, and we spent more of that time with Annabeth separated from the group.
Despite all, this was probably my favorite book so far, and can’t wait to see how the addition of Nico affects the groupand how the heck are
Annabeth and Percy supposed to survive Tartarus!
My only complaint is that despite the Mark of Athena being such a pivotal plot point, we barely spend anytime with the actual quest. Most of the book was composed of several side quests and obstacles trying to get to Rome, and they manage to get there only on the very very last day of their time limit. That seems to be one of my main criticisms of this series, because it makes the pacing all over the place. The first two thirds seem to be much slower and then it all happens at once by the end. In my opinion, it would have been better if they arrived to Rome one or even two days before, and we spent more of that time with Annabeth separated from the group.
Despite all, this was probably my favorite book so far, and can’t wait to see how the addition of Nico affects the group
Annabeth and Percy supposed to survive Tartarus!
The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan
adventurous
funny
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
3.5
It was pretty dang fun! The only reason it’s getting a 3.5 is because I liked the first book more. It took a little getting used to the Roman camp after spending so much time with Camp Half Blood. Percy is still Percy, and he’s more powerful than we’ve ever seen him before! Hazel and Frank were really good characters too: a ghost pulled from her own time trying to make it up for the mistakes of the past, and a kid descending from three different cultures trying to find his own inner power and purpose. I’m really not sure about their relationship, though; Hazel being only 13 and Frank being 16 seems very odd to me. Also, I think we really should’ve had more of a learning curve with Frank and his shapeshifter powers, having him learn to use them more slowly and gradually until the final battle where he gets to really shine. Instead we saw him get a hang of it immediately but only when it was more convenient for the story. My final complaint is how relatively easy they seemed to have killed not one, but TWO giants in a single day. And how were they even able to kill the first one without the help of a god? Idk, I think I’ll have to see at the end of the series how the final battle plays out.
To end a review with a positive note, here are some of the others things I really enjoyed: saving Ella the Harpy; the Amazon Warriors’ headquarters being also the online shopping center in Seattle; a potty mouthed horse; a big pile of Schist; just everything with Iris; and finally, every single time Percy thinks of Annabeth 💙💙💙.
To end a review with a positive note, here are some of the others things I really enjoyed: saving Ella the Harpy; the Amazon Warriors’ headquarters being also the online shopping center in Seattle; a potty mouthed horse; a big pile of Schist; just everything with Iris; and finally, every single time Percy thinks of Annabeth 💙💙💙.
The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
I think it was definitely a good thing that I waited a few months after reading the PJO series before starting this one. Boy, I really did miss this world and its characters, and this book did not disappoint! I’m hooked and I can’t wait to continue the series.
Piper and Leo’s POVs were awesome! Piper’s relationship with her dad really tugged at my heart strings, end Leo using humor to cope with the trauma of his entire childhood really hit hard. Jason’s POV was ok. The problem with him was that he usually suffered from main character syndrome, and at times he really came off as a Mary Sue. I mean, the same could be said about Percy in the original series, but the difference is that Percy was funny.
The story was incredibly fast paced, and at times almost overwhelming. The poor trio only just found out that Greek Gods and monsters are real, and already they are battling enemies just as strong or stronger than the ones we’ve seen in The Last Olympian. I know why Rick decided to this, but in my opinion, the story could’ve benefited from a longer timeline.The entire quest takes place over just four days and it takes them the vast amount of that time just to find Hera. In the end this meant they only had 5 minutes to liberate her. This is not hyperbole, that’s the amount of time they spent actually figuring out how to open Hera’s cage, and even less that that because they spent the first few minutes fighting an army of wolves and the Snow Goddess. I don’t know, I guess I was hoping they would figure out something more clever than “Lull the cage to sleep while I cut it with my electric saw”.
Anyhow, I really enjoyed this as an introduction to the new phase in the Riordanverse and I can’t wait to see how it develops!
Piper and Leo’s POVs were awesome! Piper’s relationship with her dad really tugged at my heart strings, end Leo using humor to cope with the trauma of his entire childhood really hit hard. Jason’s POV was ok. The problem with him was that he usually suffered from main character syndrome, and at times he really came off as a Mary Sue. I mean, the same could be said about Percy in the original series, but the difference is that Percy was funny.
The story was incredibly fast paced, and at times almost overwhelming. The poor trio only just found out that Greek Gods and monsters are real, and already they are battling enemies just as strong or stronger than the ones we’ve seen in The Last Olympian. I know why Rick decided to this, but in my opinion, the story could’ve benefited from a longer timeline.
Anyhow, I really enjoyed this as an introduction to the new phase in the Riordanverse and I can’t wait to see how it develops!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Bullying, and Death of parent
A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal
adventurous
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
3.5
There will probably never be any book that comes close to how amazing Six of Crows was, and though this book had promise, I’m sad to say it missed the mark. Don’t get me wrong, I liked it, I thought it was fun and the characters were good, but there were also many flaws I feel that I can’t overlook.
For one I feel like the POVs weren’t distinct enough. There were three POVs for Arthie, Jin and Flick, and out of all I thought Flick’s were the weakest. There were times were I thought I was reading an Arthie chapter when it was actually Flick’s, which is weird because their personalities are almost polar opposites. I also feel like there should’ve been POVs for Laith and Mattheo too, which brings me to my next point.
The group didn’t really feel united or family-like. Especially for Mattheo and Laith, they felt very much on the sidelines. Even Flick, who tells us a lot of times how she finally found herself a real family, but it just didn’t feel like it, in my opinion. Now, Arthie and Jin did actually feel like siblings, and most of their interactions were great.
Lastly, my biggest complaint is that the actual heist went by incredibly quickly and in the end, it had very little impact on the plot.Since the owner of the Athereum was basically Arthie’s father, they could’ve forgone the entirety of the plan and just ask him for the ledger. At the end it was basically what happened: they were caught, and should be dead, but since it was Arthie’s father he just ordered the guards away and gave them the ledger anyway. It makes the first half of the book kind of pointless since all of it was arranging the crew and planning the heist.
There were a couple of plot twist at the end that did caught me by surprise and I really enjoyed how action packed it was. The actual ending, though, felt kind of incomplete, rather than just being a cliffhanger. I would still read the next book in the series, but if you’re looking for the next SoC, I don’t feel like this is it.
For one I feel like the POVs weren’t distinct enough. There were three POVs for Arthie, Jin and Flick, and out of all I thought Flick’s were the weakest. There were times were I thought I was reading an Arthie chapter when it was actually Flick’s, which is weird because their personalities are almost polar opposites. I also feel like there should’ve been POVs for Laith and Mattheo too, which brings me to my next point.
The group didn’t really feel united or family-like. Especially for Mattheo and Laith, they felt very much on the sidelines. Even Flick, who tells us a lot of times how she finally found herself a real family, but it just didn’t feel like it, in my opinion. Now, Arthie and Jin did actually feel like siblings, and most of their interactions were great.
Lastly, my biggest complaint is that the actual heist went by incredibly quickly and in the end, it had very little impact on the plot.
There were a couple of plot twist at the end that did caught me by surprise and I really enjoyed how action packed it was. The actual ending, though, felt kind of incomplete, rather than just being a cliffhanger. I would still read the next book in the series, but if you’re looking for the next SoC, I don’t feel like this is it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Gun violence, Police brutality, Xenophobia, Colonisation, Racism, Violence, Trafficking, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Kidnapping
The Sacrifice by Rin Chupeco
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
I think I liked this one a bit better that the Girl From the Well. It was really action packed and high paced, and there was a twist at the end that really took me by surprise! The island setting provides an excellent atmosphere for the eerie tropical horror of this story. Really short and fun! Would recommend.
The Last Bloodcarver by Vanessa Le
adventurous
emotional
medium-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
4.0
This was awesome! It's like Nina Zenik from Six of Crows lived in the post-industrial world of Legend of Korra. It was really amazing to see how the author's own experience as a medical practitioner influenced her world and character-building. Although I'm not a med student, I did receive a course on bioethics, and was able to catch a lot of the same principles on the Heartsoother's tenets. I really like how the magic system follows some basic principles of conservation of mass and energy, plus having the need to study anatomy and the many complex paths and connections throughout the human body. It felt really grounded, yet it was also fantastical.
The story is told through the lens of a refugee, and her family having to leave their home due to persecution and an ongoing war. We see her having to hide her gift, the many prejudices society has against her people, and the overall inequality that's rampant in a city that prides itself in "progress". And though she is mad at the city and its people for all the harm that she's endured, she never loses her empathy, and her desire to use her gift to heal and make the world better. She was truly and admirable character, and I so wish to learn more about her.
That ending broke me! I can't believe it was left as a cliffhanger like that. I can't wait for the sequel!
The story is told through the lens of a refugee, and her family having to leave their home due to persecution and an ongoing war. We see her having to hide her gift, the many prejudices society has against her people, and the overall inequality that's rampant in a city that prides itself in "progress". And though she is mad at the city and its people for all the harm that she's endured, she never loses her empathy, and her desire to use her gift to heal and make the world better. She was truly and admirable character, and I so wish to learn more about her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Racism, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Kidnapping, and Trafficking
Moderate: Medical trauma and Grief
A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
5.0
If I discovered anything about myself this year is that I'm a sucker for hunted house stories. I adore T. Kingfisher! This book was so creepy and wonderful. As with "What moves the dead" and fungi, in this story, I learned a lot about bugs and roses, and now I also have the irrational fear that my grandmother will hunt us after death to nag us about our eating habits and the gnarly states of our rooms, lol. Anyway, if you loved Alex Easton you will also love Sam Montgomery! Kingfisher has a knack for writing the straight-headed sarcastic character that is suddenly hurled into a magical, haunted, terribly impossible scenario. It was an amazing book, highly recommend it!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, and Mental illness
Minor: Racism
The Girl from the Well by Rin Chupeco
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (Revised Edition) by Jesse Andrews
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
It was fine. I really liked the format of the book, and how sometimes it changed to a script, bullet notes, etc. I think the way it’s written made it incredibly easy to read and finish quickly. I mean, it’s probably one of the fastest books I’ve read this year, and it provided a well needed break from the fantasy books I was reading before.
The thing is, I didn’t really liked the characters that much. And I get that Greg is not supposed to be a good protagonist, because this is at its heart, a subversion of the typical John Green sickly girl YA romance. But still, it kind of got tiring and a bit cringy at times. I think whether you like this book or not depends a lot on whether you find Greg funny. I didn’t really get it. His jokes were really childish and gross, more something I would expect from a 12 year old, but maybe I’m just getting too old for this kind of YA. Idk. Some of the jokes were borderline racist, homophobic or misogynistic in some way, which some might say it was the culture at the time, but is still no excuse.
Anyway, I still suggest giving it a chance, especially if you’re a fan of John Green but are looking for something different. I’m still gonna watch the movie, see how that goes.
The thing is, I didn’t really liked the characters that much. And I get that Greg is not supposed to be a good protagonist, because this is at its heart, a subversion of the typical John Green sickly girl YA romance. But still, it kind of got tiring and a bit cringy at times. I think whether you like this book or not depends a lot on whether you find Greg funny. I didn’t really get it. His jokes were really childish and gross, more something I would expect from a 12 year old, but maybe I’m just getting too old for this kind of YA. Idk. Some of the jokes were borderline racist, homophobic or misogynistic in some way, which some might say it was the culture at the time, but is still no excuse.
Anyway, I still suggest giving it a chance, especially if you’re a fan of John Green but are looking for something different. I’m still gonna watch the movie, see how that goes.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer and Drug use
Minor: Biphobia, Toxic friendship, Body shaming, and Homophobia