Scan barcode
bibliorama's reviews
172 reviews
Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Iron widow
Enjoyment - 3
Start - 4
Characters - 2.5
Atmosphere - 3
Plot - 2.5
Ending - 2.5
Style - 2.5
The first half was good. The second had way more telling to speed through the many plot points.
Overall - 3
Enjoyment - 3
Start - 4
Characters - 2.5
Atmosphere - 3
Plot - 2.5
Ending - 2.5
Style - 2.5
The first half was good. The second had way more telling to speed through the many plot points.
Overall - 3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Murder, Alcohol, and War
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts
It's hard for me to say how someone else would handle these triggers as books don't typically get to me with triggering content. For what Iron Widow covers, it didn't feel overly graphic to me but that is very subjective. I would say this is better suited towards older young adults (16ish and above but that’s just my opinion)
One Dark Throne by Kendare Blake
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Enjoyment - 4
Start - 4
Characters - 3.5
Atmosphere - 4
Plot - 3
Ending - 3.5
Style - 4.5
Overall - 3.8
Start - 4
Characters - 3.5
Atmosphere - 4
Plot - 3
Ending - 3.5
Style - 4.5
Overall - 3.8
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Enjoyment - 3
Start - 3.5
Characters - 3.75
Atmosphere - 3.75
Plot - 3
Ending - 3.5
Style - 2
Overall - 3.2
Start - 3.5
Characters - 3.75
Atmosphere - 3.75
Plot - 3
Ending - 3.5
Style - 2
Overall - 3.2
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Enjoyment - 3.5
Start - 4
The first 100 pages are great and feel so much more fleshed out than the rest of the plot.
Characters - 3.5
Aerin, Talat, and Maur are the best parts. Tor and Arlbeth are decent background characters. The parts with Luthe just felt out of the blue.
Atmosphere - 3.5
Plot - 3
The initial fight with Maur and all the build-up to that was my favorite part, so basically the first 100 pages.
Ending - 3
This book has like 5 plot points that would be endings in other books, and 4 of them all happen in the second half of the book. It's wild how fast some of the stuff gets wrapped up.
Style - 2.5
I didn't like the writing in this as much as I did in The Blue Sword. Some sentences felt messier and I had to reread a few times to understand what the author was getting at.
Overall - 3.25
Start - 4
The first 100 pages are great and feel so much more fleshed out than the rest of the plot.
Characters - 3.5
Aerin, Talat, and Maur are the best parts. Tor and Arlbeth are decent background characters. The parts with Luthe just felt out of the blue.
Atmosphere - 3.5
Plot - 3
The initial fight with Maur and all the build-up to that was my favorite part, so basically the first 100 pages.
Ending - 3
This book has like 5 plot points that would be endings in other books, and 4 of them all happen in the second half of the book. It's wild how fast some of the stuff gets wrapped up.
Style - 2.5
I didn't like the writing in this as much as I did in The Blue Sword. Some sentences felt messier and I had to reread a few times to understand what the author was getting at.
Overall - 3.25
Archangel's Kiss by Nalini Singh
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Enjoyment - 4
Start - 3.5
Characters - 3.75
Atmosphere - 3.75
Plot - 4
Ending - 3.5
Style - 3.5
Overall - 3.7
Start - 3.5
Characters - 3.75
Atmosphere - 3.75
Plot - 4
Ending - 3.5
Style - 3.5
Overall - 3.7
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicide
Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh
There are some outdated terms and stereotypes used in this book like "powwow" was used once because the mc was talking to her friend who's Native American. "Whore" was also used in referring to some women at one point, so definitely a bit oof at times.
It's an almost 20 year old book, so it might not be worth getting into if you don't want any of those early 2000s uncomfortable/iffy moments.
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? No
4.25
Enjoyment - 5
This was quite fun! Plus the writing is decent which can be rare for this genre. For as fast as the book goes by, the setup for the world and characters is pretty good. There are some typical moments and dialog, but I can see the influence this book had over today's romantacy writers.
Start - 5
Characters - 4.5
There are some outdated stereotypes and language used in this book about and towards some of the characters, so it doesn't entirely hold up. That being said the setup is interesting and the personalities of the different characters are fun to see interact. Just some of the lines make me go oof.
Atmosphere - 4.5
Plot - 3.5
I wish there was just a bit more showing of Elena actually hunting Uram.
Ending - 4.5
Was action packed and I liked where the book went at the very very end.
Style - 3.5
Overall - 4.25
This was quite fun! Plus the writing is decent which can be rare for this genre. For as fast as the book goes by, the setup for the world and characters is pretty good. There are some typical moments and dialog, but I can see the influence this book had over today's romantacy writers.
Start - 5
Characters - 4.5
There are some outdated stereotypes and language used in this book about and towards some of the characters, so it doesn't entirely hold up. That being said the setup is interesting and the personalities of the different characters are fun to see interact. Just some of the lines make me go oof.
Atmosphere - 4.5
Plot - 3.5
I wish there was just a bit more showing of Elena actually hunting Uram.
Ending - 4.5
Was action packed and I liked where the book went at the very very end.
Style - 3.5
Overall - 4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Enjoyment - 4
Start - 4
Characters - 3.5
Atmosphere - 3.5
Plot - 4
Ending - 4
Style - 3
Overall - 3.7
Start - 4
Characters - 3.5
Atmosphere - 3.5
Plot - 4
Ending - 4
Style - 3
Overall - 3.7
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Animal death, Child death, Death, Cannibalism, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
Atmosphere - 3.5
I would like the book to have more. The characters don't think much on their settings.
Plot - 2
There is no plot. It's characters ruminating on ideas and talking to each other. There are maybe 3 to 4 true plot events (them accepting, the break in, a threesome event thing, and the ending). Everything else is mostly happening in the background or the past or just being told. I didn't mind this read being character diolog and thought heavy since the characters are the most interesting part of the book, but if you aren't intrigued or in love with the characters pretty early on this book will probably disappoint you.
Ending - 4.5
I like the direction we're headed in.
Style - 4.5
Overall - 4
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Enjoyment - 4.5
Start - 4
Characters - 4.5
I found these characters fairly complex and they have interesting dynamics between each other. There's this overarching tenseness between everyone where I can never quite tell if they hate each other or love each other. Jury is still out on that.
My order of enjoyment:
Start - 4
Characters - 4.5
I found these characters fairly complex and they have interesting dynamics between each other. There's this overarching tenseness between everyone where I can never quite tell if they hate each other or love each other. Jury is still out on that.
My order of enjoyment:
- Libby (I feel like we get the most from her)
- Tristan (though he took time to climb this list)
- Nico (though I can't quite pin his and Libby's relationship down on what exactly it is, but I find it the most interesting)
- Parisa (she's interesting and likes to cause some chaos which I think could be pushed even further)
- Callum (similar to Parisa but even more so on the chaos scale)
- Reina (I want to like Reina more but she has the least amount of action going on)
Atmosphere - 3.5
I would like the book to have more. The characters don't think much on their settings.
Plot - 2
There is no plot. It's characters ruminating on ideas and talking to each other. There are maybe 3 to 4 true plot events (them accepting, the break in, a threesome event thing, and the ending). Everything else is mostly happening in the background or the past or just being told. I didn't mind this read being character diolog and thought heavy since the characters are the most interesting part of the book, but if you aren't intrigued or in love with the characters pretty early on this book will probably disappoint you.
Ending - 4.5
I like the direction we're headed in.
Style - 4.5
Overall - 4
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Did not finish book. Stopped at 56%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 56%.
I got 56% through and am tired of it. The writing is more telling than anything else, and for being in first person, Violet is so one note. She starts off antagonistic when Dain first tells her he can get her into the Scribe Quadrant, and she never changes from that note. It would have made so much more sense if *she* asks Dain if he can get her out, and since he's "the rule follower," maybe he can but decides not to. That would be a justifiable betrayal and would make more sense as to why Violet is so mad at him all the time. It also would allow her to have a meaningful shift in opinion when she decides that she wants to be a rider.
This book also wears its inspirations to openingly. I mean brown to silver hair and lighting abilities. . . Mare Barrow who? If she gave her either lightning or the hair, it'd be whatever, but to give her both characteristics of the main character of another popular YA series is wild to me.
Also, when Tairn tells Violet to stay with the wing leader and goes, "surely he meant squad leader." That felt very Suriel telling Feyra to stay with the high lord, but whatever, it was already on my nerves at that point, so I'm being nitpicky.
One of the more infuriating parts is the lack of true horror or ptsd to all the horrible things that are happening around them. Violet is way to chill about watching people get burnt to crisps from dragons. The thing is though, it felt like the author wanted these deaths to be impactful but because of their lack of characterization and lack of Violet's inner monolog thinking about anything other than herself, they fall flat.
This isn't the worst thing I've ever read and it has potential, it just wasn't edited enough to pull that potential out because some small plot changes and a different writing style could have saved it.
This book also wears its inspirations to openingly. I mean brown to silver hair and lighting abilities. . . Mare Barrow who? If she gave her either lightning or the hair, it'd be whatever, but to give her both characteristics of the main character of another popular YA series is wild to me.
Also, when Tairn tells Violet to stay with the wing leader and goes, "surely he meant squad leader." That felt very Suriel telling Feyra to stay with the high lord, but whatever, it was already on my nerves at that point, so I'm being nitpicky.
One of the more infuriating parts is the lack of true horror or ptsd to all the horrible things that are happening around them. Violet is way to chill about watching people get burnt to crisps from dragons. The thing is though, it felt like the author wanted these deaths to be impactful but because of their lack of characterization and lack of Violet's inner monolog thinking about anything other than herself, they fall flat.
This isn't the worst thing I've ever read and it has potential, it just wasn't edited enough to pull that potential out because some small plot changes and a different writing style could have saved it.
Going to Meet the Man by James Baldwin
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
James Baldwin is a great writer and he makes it easy to fall into the narrative of each short story. You know it's interesting when it has me googling articles for the summaries and meanings to each story like I'm back in school. I can tell this one will get better upon rereads.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Police brutality, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Child death, and Cursing