adhesivedolphin's reviews
106 reviews

The Candles Are Burning by Veronica G. Henry

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I really enjoyed the way that this story built up over time, the issues and struggles getting more serious as the book goes. I liked the usage of the candles and the characters throughout. There was something about this one that felt hopeful in a way this series has rarely finished on.
Undercover by Tamsyn Muir

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dark mysterious tense
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I thought this was a really interesting world, where 'wet' and 'dry' undead live along with all living humans. I liked the layers of being 'undercover' that were explored throughout the story. I did feel like it dragged a bit around 70% through (which is an odd thought about a short story) but there was another great twist at the very end. Overall, a real twisted world and scenerio!
What the Dead Know by Nghi Vo

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dark mysterious 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

4.0

I like the premise of this one a lot; a fake medium who when trapped overnight after a seance, is contacted by a real ghost. I really liked the 'bottle episode' style of this one. I felt stuck in the seminary with the lead and felt some moments of real fear when reading. I really enjoyed the use of silence and freezing as a reaction from the lead, who I was rooting for.
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The Six Deaths of the Saint by Alix E. Harrow

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This might be my favourite book of the year. Which is shocking at less than an hour long. I listened twice, and found the second listening just as rewarding. The writing is vivid and doesn't shy away from uncomfortable topics, but also doesn't linger. The cast of characters felt interesting and complex in attitudes, motivations and goals. This is one of those books that I think everyone would benefit from reading and makes me re-evaluate my rankings of others books. Just wow.
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Persephone by Lev Grossman

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dark mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

This felt like the introduction to a larger narrative in a larger world. If this opened a book series, I would be interested. But as a standalone, it feels like there's not enough payoff or time with the characters. 
The Garden by Tomi Adeyemi

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adventurous mysterious reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

An interesting concept that I wish I had more time to explore. The idea of the garden was very interesting, and the prose beautiful, but it didn't leave a lasting impression.
The Tusks of Extinction by Ray Nayler

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dark informative sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I thought this was such an interesting concept and had to pick it up. It did a great job telling its story in a focused narrative that only took about 4 hours to get through. I particularly enjoyed the change in Damira over time, and how passionate she was about her cause. The themes of greed, power, environmentalism and memory and poignant and distressing. On the negative, I found the narrator for Vladimir very jarring. And while the narrative was rich, it was at time hard to follow. Overall, it was a solid read, unlike anything I've read before, but not a favourite. 
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We Do What We Do in the Dark by Michelle Hart

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challenging emotional reflective 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? Yes

4.75

I picked this one up purely because I needed a short read before starting a longer one and it was available at my library. Wow. I did not anticipate how interesting this book would be. It is so much more than just a May/December lesbian romance, delving deeply in Mallory's life, flipping between her childhood with a sick mother, school, and her career. I felt deeply connected to Mallory in a way that's rare. So many of her experiences felt honest and raw in a way that kept me on the edge of my seat, hoping it would all work out for her.
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I wavered between 4.5 and 5 stars, but this deserves 5. My only note is that the ending is a little rushed (but not anti-climatic, in my opinion). The writing is lyrical and the similes are so vibrant I had to go back and listen again. The author blew me away with this one. The author narrates the audiobook and it's well-worth the listen for his voice, pacing and emotions. 
A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin

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adventurous mysterious 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? Yes

4.75

TL;DR: Highly recommend to people interested in fantasy, tea, magic, and food competition shows. I'm a big tea nerd, so I expected to like this one. But it really exceeded my expectations. The book has excellent pacing and key moments that help you stay grounded in what's happening. The characters are all clever and interesting in different ways and the love interest was legitimately charming. The lead (Ning) made smart decisions that I felt we valid and understandable. The ending had a great twist that makes me excited to read the second book (this is a duology).