Scan barcode
viiemzee's reviews
453 reviews
Any Way the Wind Blows by Rainbow Rowell
I have been excited to read this since I heard it came out, and while it wasn't as full of action as the last two, it was still the finale I feel I deserved. I loved seeing how all the loose ends tied together - Simon's parentage, Baz finding out something about vampires that will change everything, Agatha finally finding herself and her own wants (and love), and Pen and Shep finally sorting out their own issues. A wonderful story. I love this trilogy.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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
5.0
Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson
adventurous
dark
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
A very interesting take on the superhero genre, turning the age of heroes into a dystopia. Although I saw the twist about Firefight coming, I really enjoyed the resolution of the whole story at the end. Highly recommended for fans of dark sci fi.
Soul Echo: Discovery by Lisa Stapleton
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I started off not really knowing how I felt about this book, but the cliffhanger ending definitely helped me eralize I wanted to learn more. While this brand of sci-fi isn't really my usual fare - I prefer stuff that is more fantastical to something grounded in reality - I did still really enjoy the concept. I think that the writer would have benefitted from a second round of copyediting, just to neaten up the pages a little bit, but as somebody who has self-published before I understand that sometimes the finished product comes out looking different from what you expect.
Love Frankie by Nick Sharratt, Jacqueline Wilson
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? N/A
3.0
Probably one of the most realistic depictions of gay teenagers I have ever read. Of course, reading something from Jacqueline Wilson is always going to involve a nostalgia trip, but Lord this one took me back - way, way back - to being a gay teenager at fourteen desperately in love with one girl in my class and hoping and praying that it would all turn out the way I wanted it to. Almost 15 years later and I can't believe I was ever that naive. And then I read this book and I can absolutely believe I was. Of course, the writing is rudimentary because it is, after all, written for younger kids, but if you're between the ages of 12 and 16 and you want to read something about self-discovery that is realistic then this is absolutely the book for you. I read this book because I wanted to see how Jacqueline Wilson was holding up in the 2020s, and also because I was excited because it was her first book with a gay main character (Kiss) doesn't count, as Sylvie isn't gay), but I mostly read it because as a school librarian in a secondary school in the UK, I feel I should be reading these kind of things to get an idea of what kids are reading nowadays and also what kind of books I should be getting for the library. For a secondary school library, this book is perfect.
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
dark
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Ray Bradbury is a titan of the genre, yes, and I appreciate everything that he has every done for fantasy and horror literature. But truth be told, I think that I cannot abide his writing. This is the second Bradbury I've read - the first being A Graveyard for Lunatics - and I had a similar problem with them: the story is amazing, the thought behind it is so well done, but the actual writing is very very hard to enjoy. I loved the concepts touched upon in this book - aging, mortality, good and evil, love (both from family members and closest friends), and Faustian deals - but because the writing was so prose-heavy, I found I often was just skimming the pages to get to the next bit of action.
The Appeal by Janice Hallett
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Not only was this written in such a way that had me completely and utterly engrossed in it, it was also such a fun read in terms of following along and trying to figure out the murder. There were many moments were I felt vindicated but I still didn't guess and that in its own way is a testament to the amazing writing. What a fantastic book. Highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Cancer
Minor: Rape
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
PHEW. A fantastic read. Didn't even guess the killer at all and was pleasantly surprised by how the story went. Can see why this is one of her more popular reads. Very highly recommended if you haven't read it and are a Christie/crime fan.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Death
Minor: Suicide
Pandora's Jar: Women in the Greek Myths by Natalie Haynes
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
A good book for somebody who is interested in the Greek myths and wants to learn more about their origins and adaptations in the ancient world and beyond. Unfortunately I don't think I'll ever read it again but I do enjoy Haynes's work and will be reading more of her fiction!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape and Murder
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
A wonderful foray into Russian folklore and the reason why we hold on to customs and superstition even in the face of religion. The ending felt a bit rushed but I truly enjoyed this story.
Wranglestone by Darren Charlton
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Fantastic book. I don't think I've ever read a zombie book but I really enjoyed this one and will definitely be reading the sequel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Animal death