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sarahsbookstack's Reviews (2.6k)
challenging
tense
medium-paced
This was an interesting sci-fi read set in space. Synali has just killed her father in retaliation for him hiring an assassin to kill her mother. She sneaks into a riders tournament (they ride mechanical steeds and pretty much joust) where only nobles of Houses ride where she plans to die herself. But she lives and is taken under the wing of Dravik who promises to end the life of all 7 people who her father plotted with.
I liked that while all other riders had EXTENSIVE training for YEARS and Synali just had mere months, she kept winning. Whether through her own determination or that of her steed, Heavenbreaker, it makes for some good entertainment.
I can't wait to see what else this world holds in store for us with the next book!
I liked that while all other riders had EXTENSIVE training for YEARS and Synali just had mere months, she kept winning. Whether through her own determination or that of her steed, Heavenbreaker, it makes for some good entertainment.
I can't wait to see what else this world holds in store for us with the next book!
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Wow, this book was a whirlwind of a phenomenal story!
Told from 2 women's POVs- Ainsley, who escaped her past but it's coming back to haunt her through the new coach of her kids school basketball team and Nikki who used to be a TV reporter and feels lost as a mom of 4.
These two will work together to figure out the despicableness of the coach (he's so disgusting) and bring it to light before anyone else gets hurt. They are both wonderful mothers who will do anything for this, including risking what they individually want.
Told from 2 women's POVs- Ainsley, who escaped her past but it's coming back to haunt her through the new coach of her kids school basketball team and Nikki who used to be a TV reporter and feels lost as a mom of 4.
These two will work together to figure out the despicableness of the coach (he's so disgusting) and bring it to light before anyone else gets hurt. They are both wonderful mothers who will do anything for this, including risking what they individually want.
funny
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
I was a bit reluctant to dive in as I don't really like love triangles. The whole "competition" Emma and Caleb come up with to "get" Juliette just gave me the ick.
I ABHORRED Emma's mom! She is someone who should not have ever had the chance to be a parent. (That's so mean of me but seriously....)Emma is going to need therapy big time to deal with that trauma and neglect. I have never disliked a person so much! Caleb's dad wasn't the best either but at least his mom more than made up for it.
I like the queer rep throughout and Emma and Caleb (both bi) helping Juliette really define what she felt she was (aroace). I liked that (though the time apart from each other) didn't make Emma or Caleb ever not care about the other. They just needed Juliette in her sneaky way to get them back to that place in the others life again.
I ABHORRED Emma's mom! She is someone who should not have ever had the chance to be a parent. (That's so mean of me but seriously....)Emma is going to need therapy big time to deal with that trauma and neglect. I have never disliked a person so much! Caleb's dad wasn't the best either but at least his mom more than made up for it.
I like the queer rep throughout and Emma and Caleb (both bi) helping Juliette really define what she felt she was (aroace). I liked that (though the time apart from each other) didn't make Emma or Caleb ever not care about the other. They just needed Juliette in her sneaky way to get them back to that place in the others life again.
dark
fast-paced
My only real complaint is the editing of the ebook... Sometimes there was no break in between parts of the story/different scenes.
This is a Dracula, Gothic, and Welsh inspired book with missing girls, strange symptoms mainly a black rash, and a call back for Mina to her home in Wales. She gets a cryptic email from her estranged friend. She runs into an ex who was broken hearted when she fled.
As never having read Dracula, I did enjoy the creepiness of the story. It was hard to trust anyone besides Mina. The trauma that made her flee comes full circle in a great way and the ending is ambiguous enough to either end or have a second book to supplement it.
This is a Dracula, Gothic, and Welsh inspired book with missing girls, strange symptoms mainly a black rash, and a call back for Mina to her home in Wales. She gets a cryptic email from her estranged friend. She runs into an ex who was broken hearted when she fled.
As never having read Dracula, I did enjoy the creepiness of the story. It was hard to trust anyone besides Mina. The trauma that made her flee comes full circle in a great way and the ending is ambiguous enough to either end or have a second book to supplement it.
challenging
dark
informative
slow-paced
I loved being in the lives of these characters in the days laying up to the San Francisco earthquake and subsequent fires that destroyed the city in 1906.
Gemma-a newly arrived opera singer who is meant to meet her friend Nellie (who ends up not meeting her), Alice- a botanist trying to make it in the male dominated field, and Suling- a Chinese American raised by her Uncle after her parents'deaths and trying to escape an arranged marriage.
I really liked the time stamps leading up to the big day. I felt like I was there while everything was happening, the authors paint a very vivid picture with this big event and with our characters individual struggles. I liked watching them build their lives after leaving San Fran and trying to find the man who made their lives miserable and bring him to justice for his many crimes.
Gemma-a newly arrived opera singer who is meant to meet her friend Nellie (who ends up not meeting her), Alice- a botanist trying to make it in the male dominated field, and Suling- a Chinese American raised by her Uncle after her parents'deaths and trying to escape an arranged marriage.
I really liked the time stamps leading up to the big day. I felt like I was there while everything was happening, the authors paint a very vivid picture with this big event and with our characters individual struggles. I liked watching them build their lives after leaving San Fran and trying to find the man who made their lives miserable and bring him to justice for his many crimes.
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
I liked pretty well this locked room mystery at Sadie's secluded estate where 5 former college friends, two who haven't spoken for over 10 years, gather for a baby shower.
Your eyes just bounce back and forth between all the drama going on while trying to figure out the whodunit to our host for the weekend.
I was glad that the "are they sleeping together?" question of June and Ethan didn't amount to much though Ethan was a bit sketchy...
I flew through this one but it's not too memorable either.
Your eyes just bounce back and forth between all the drama going on while trying to figure out the whodunit to our host for the weekend.
I was glad that the "are they sleeping together?" question of June and Ethan didn't amount to much though Ethan was a bit sketchy...
I flew through this one but it's not too memorable either.
adventurous
challenging
fast-paced
Another great mystery, this time with a fake diamond in the bottom of the lake and a $5000 reward for finding it. But Mira uncovers a story of more missing jewels from around 70 year earlier.
Mira has to try and solve this mystery while dodging a creepy guy from her past and dealing with finding a fake "dead body" and some townspeople laughing at her.
There is a scary part with a missing child but since this is a cozy mystery, all ends well.
My new favorite character has to be Mrs. Berns. She just cracked me up!
Mira has to try and solve this mystery while dodging a creepy guy from her past and dealing with finding a fake "dead body" and some townspeople laughing at her.
There is a scary part with a missing child but since this is a cozy mystery, all ends well.
My new favorite character has to be Mrs. Berns. She just cracked me up!
lighthearted
medium-paced
I was very excited for this book and I did enjoy it (though I could have done without the long explanations of some of Stephen's machines he invented) .
Elizabeth is kind of the most stubborn of her family, I think. I felt bad for her with her body issues, but I did like how she gave percentages of how she was feeling.
This Reddington guy attacking the castle because he thought he earned something that wasn't even available to be given..... Was just utterly ridiculous. The whole "battle" where he just WOULDN'T GIVE UP! 🙄
Elizabeth is kind of the most stubborn of her family, I think. I felt bad for her with her body issues, but I did like how she gave percentages of how she was feeling.
This Reddington guy attacking the castle because he thought he earned something that wasn't even available to be given..... Was just utterly ridiculous. The whole "battle" where he just WOULDN'T GIVE UP! 🙄
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Again, what a winner of a story from Sara!
1960s-
Beverly, after finding her husband in a cheating situation, she decides to put her knowledge of politics (her dad was in and her cheating husband is in them) to use. This all while trying to get a divorce, keep mothering her kids, deal with her mother moving in and trying to get political candidate Michael his Senate seat.
I really liked Bev. Her having to deal with her mother (who I couldn't stand much at first but she slowly won me over!) just had me busting a gut laughing. She was not one to back down from a challenge. She was so great in getting Michael in front of women voters to show that they should have a say and not vote a certain way because "their husband tells them who to vote for". She went out of her way to get Michael in front of Black persons because their votes matter too. I love how she stood up for Fran and got her out of a toxic work environment for the antisemitism that was clearly there.
(If you have seen The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, this was totally in my head while reading.)
1960s-
Beverly, after finding her husband in a cheating situation, she decides to put her knowledge of politics (her dad was in and her cheating husband is in them) to use. This all while trying to get a divorce, keep mothering her kids, deal with her mother moving in and trying to get political candidate Michael his Senate seat.
I really liked Bev. Her having to deal with her mother (who I couldn't stand much at first but she slowly won me over!) just had me busting a gut laughing. She was not one to back down from a challenge. She was so great in getting Michael in front of women voters to show that they should have a say and not vote a certain way because "their husband tells them who to vote for". She went out of her way to get Michael in front of Black persons because their votes matter too. I love how she stood up for Fran and got her out of a toxic work environment for the antisemitism that was clearly there.
(If you have seen The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, this was totally in my head while reading.)
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
I kind of love a novel where I don't really like any of the characters but I still enjoy the mess unfolding that they seem to always make.
This is a bit dark. Motherhood can be challenging and Rob just kind of made it even harder on his wife Laurel. Both neighbors next to their new house are suspicious and I felt bad for the judgements I made on one of them while reading.
The story just sucked me in and I read it in a few hours.
This is a bit dark. Motherhood can be challenging and Rob just kind of made it even harder on his wife Laurel. Both neighbors next to their new house are suspicious and I felt bad for the judgements I made on one of them while reading.
The story just sucked me in and I read it in a few hours.