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hayleyreadsbooks_'s reviews
231 reviews
Marked by P.C. Cast
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
I don't know how to give this a star rating. This was a reread, I was obsessed with this series as a teenager and reread it multiple times so this read just felt so nostalgic and comforting.
This is so very reminiscent of its time and a lot of it has not aged well, there were many lines and references that made me cringe so bad.
It is however a lot of fun. It's very teen drama and I'll always have a soft spot for this series.
This is so very reminiscent of its time and a lot of it has not aged well, there were many lines and references that made me cringe so bad.
It is however a lot of fun. It's very teen drama and I'll always have a soft spot for this series.
Heavenly Bodies by Imani Erriu
adventurous
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
3.0
This book had so much potential. I really liked the premise and the idea behind it. The stars and the magic were really cool. I really enjoyed the villain. The scenes with the stars were my favourite scenes.
However I feel like it was very convoluted and messy. The author had so many ideas but they didn't feel fleshed out and it felt like she just threw every single idea she had into the book. Especially into the second half and the ending.
I also didn't love the main characters or the romance. There were moments that I did enjoy but then got promptly ruined by cringey dialogue. I didn't find their romance believeable, especially the big reveals at the end.
I did however really enjoy the side characters. They carried this book for me.
I am sad because I think it could have been amazing but unfortunately fell flat for me.
However I feel like it was very convoluted and messy. The author had so many ideas but they didn't feel fleshed out and it felt like she just threw every single idea she had into the book. Especially into the second half and the ending.
I also didn't love the main characters or the romance. There were moments that I did enjoy but then got promptly ruined by cringey dialogue. I didn't find their romance believeable, especially the big reveals at the end.
I did however really enjoy the side characters. They carried this book for me.
I am sad because I think it could have been amazing but unfortunately fell flat for me.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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? Yes
5.0
This was a reread, I've reread this series countless times but this was the first time listening to the audiobook. Tatiana did an amazing job narrating this. She embodied Katniss so well, and did all the voices for the other characters amazingly as well.
It's been a while since I last reread and I'd forgotten all the small things the movies had missed. I cried multiple times. I will always love this series.
It's been a while since I last reread and I'd forgotten all the small things the movies had missed. I cried multiple times. I will always love this series.
The Inadequate Heir by Danielle L. Jensen
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
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
4.0
I am so glad that I gave this book another chance. I tried to read it shortly after finishing book 2 and really struggled that they were the same timeline/events. But I really enjoyed the characters so I knew I always wanted to come back to it. And I'm so glad I did, I really loved it this time around. I would definitely recommend having a break between book 2 and this book though for max enjoyment.
I absolutely adore both Zarrah and Keris. Their growth both individually and together is soooo good. I love that Keris isn't the stereotypical MMCs that we see so often. He is book smart and extremely intelligent. And I absolutely love him. Zarrahs character arc was also done so well, watching her grapple with what she's known her entire life to not be so black and white was amazing (and heartbreaking) to watch.
I loved the aspect at the start of secret lovers not knowing each other's identity and felt it was done so well.
This book is very court politics heavy, which I thought was fascinating. I think Danielle did an amazing job of both characters and court intrigue in this book.
And that ending, I've got a feeling the next book is going to be absolutely epic.
Oh it made me tear up/cry twice.
Would have been a higher rating if not for the simultaneous timeline as previous book as personally I'm not a big fan when series do that. However the added insight to what happened was really cool - I would have preferred a multi pov in the one book as opposed to two seperate books. However that's just my personal preference.
I absolutely adore both Zarrah and Keris. Their growth both individually and together is soooo good. I love that Keris isn't the stereotypical MMCs that we see so often. He is book smart and extremely intelligent. And I absolutely love him. Zarrahs character arc was also done so well, watching her grapple with what she's known her entire life to not be so black and white was amazing (and heartbreaking) to watch.
I loved the aspect at the start of secret lovers not knowing each other's identity and felt it was done so well.
This book is very court politics heavy, which I thought was fascinating. I think Danielle did an amazing job of both characters and court intrigue in this book.
And that ending, I've got a feeling the next book is going to be absolutely epic.
Oh it made me tear up/cry twice.
Would have been a higher rating if not for the simultaneous timeline as previous book as personally I'm not a big fan when series do that. However the added insight to what happened was really cool - I would have preferred a multi pov in the one book as opposed to two seperate books. However that's just my personal preference.
The Scattered Bones by Nicole Scarano
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
This was really just mediocre. I didn't hate it, but I didn't really enjoy it either.
I went into this expecting a very devastating story and ending. The way I had seen people react after finishing this book, I thought it was going to end in tragedy. But it was the most cliche happily ever after ending.
I didn't feel overly connected to either character. And we're told at the start whats going to happen and how it happens so when it happened I felt nothing.
The pacing felt very clunky, she did this and then she did that kinda feels. And it was also so repetitive - she travels, she overcomes the evil/monster/magic with the inadvertent help of "the stranger" and then she finds his body part. Repeat.
Also I guessed who the stranger was right at the start. So that reveal was very anticlimactic.
I went into this expecting a very devastating story and ending. The way I had seen people react after finishing this book, I thought it was going to end in tragedy. But it was the most cliche happily ever after ending.
I didn't feel overly connected to either character. And we're told at the start whats going to happen and how it happens so when it happened I felt nothing.
The pacing felt very clunky, she did this and then she did that kinda feels. And it was also so repetitive - she travels, she overcomes the evil/monster/magic with the inadvertent help of "the stranger" and then she finds his body part. Repeat.
Also I guessed who the stranger was right at the start. So that reveal was very anticlimactic.
Just One Taste by Lizzy Dent
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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? No
3.5
This was a fun easy read with some emotional & tender moments.
Be warned it'll make you hungry as the book heavily revolves around food.
It would make a fun romcom movie!
Be warned it'll make you hungry as the book heavily revolves around food.
It would make a fun romcom movie!
The Great Library of Tomorrow by Rosalia Aguilar Solace
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
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
3.0
Mixed feelings on this one. I feel like it had all the components of an amazing epic story but it was missing something.
The world and concept was really cool. It was very magical and fantastical. And I really wanted to be swept away in the magic however I was finding myself simultaneously bored and intrigued. It was a very odd feeling.
There were quite a few povs, and the structure of how they changed wasn't my favourite however I was able to keep up with whose pov we were in. I enjoyed Dzin's pov and storyline the most. With Nu being a close second.
The second half of the book felt a lot more action packed, and I really loved following along with Helia, Nu & Dzin (and the rest of their ragtag gang that they picked up).
It was really a somewhat predictable story of how hope, truth and goodness prevails over evil.
A lot of potential but didn't quite hit how I was hoping it would.
The world and concept was really cool. It was very magical and fantastical. And I really wanted to be swept away in the magic however I was finding myself simultaneously bored and intrigued. It was a very odd feeling.
There were quite a few povs, and the structure of how they changed wasn't my favourite however I was able to keep up with whose pov we were in. I enjoyed Dzin's pov and storyline the most. With Nu being a close second.
The second half of the book felt a lot more action packed, and I really loved following along with Helia, Nu & Dzin (and the rest of their ragtag gang that they picked up).
It was really a somewhat predictable story of how hope, truth and goodness prevails over evil.
A lot of potential but didn't quite hit how I was hoping it would.
Blood & Steel by Helen Scheuerer
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I did not like this. I should have DNF it.
It was insta-lust in the way I absolutely hate. I didn't like Thea, she came off as egotistical and "not like other girls". Wilders POVs were painful and he had no personality except being a "hot warrior". I hated the "romance". It felt like she was just ticking off a list of tropes.
The plot and worldbuilding were basically non existent, a whole book of Thea just training and being a shit sister. This was essentially everything I dislike in a romantasy.
It was insta-lust in the way I absolutely hate. I didn't like Thea, she came off as egotistical and "not like other girls". Wilders POVs were painful and he had no personality except being a "hot warrior". I hated the "romance". It felt like she was just ticking off a list of tropes.
The plot and worldbuilding were basically non existent, a whole book of Thea just training and being a shit sister. This was essentially everything I dislike in a romantasy.
Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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
4.0
My first Sarah Adams book and I enjoyed it so much. I know this is technically the 3rd in the interconnected series but I'm excited to go back and read her siblings stories and how they got their happily ever afters.
The narration was fabulous, I absolutely love Brittany Pressley. One of my favourite narrators.
The small town setting was really fun, the actions of the citizens were quite over the top but I enjoyed them.
I loved Emily & Jacks dynamic. As "rivals" they were hilarious and I was glad to see the fun teasing nature continue as their relationship developed.
The issues they individually faced seemed real and raw which I appreciate in a romance.
The narration was fabulous, I absolutely love Brittany Pressley. One of my favourite narrators.
The small town setting was really fun, the actions of the citizens were quite over the top but I enjoyed them.
I loved Emily & Jacks dynamic. As "rivals" they were hilarious and I was glad to see the fun teasing nature continue as their relationship developed.
The issues they individually faced seemed real and raw which I appreciate in a romance.
Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
I was so excited to be back in the world of Daughter of the Moon Goddess. While this is set in the same world it doesn't really overlap at all with the duology, as it is set in a different area and with completely new characters.
I absolutely love Sue Lynn Tan's writing, there were so many quotes that hit me hard in this. It was really just so beautiful and romantic.
Being a stand alone, it was quite fast paced and some things weren't fleshed out as much as I would have liked but again I feel that can be forgiven as it's a standalone.
I once again adored the world and magic in this.
The plot had some good twists & turns, and some great "ah-ha" moments.
This definitely felt more romance heavy than her duology but I still really enjoyed the romance & main characters. I really loved Liyens character growth!
Although I did really enjoy and love this, it felt like something was missing. Daughter of the Moon Goddess & Heart of the Sun Warrior were my top reads of 2024 and unfortunately Immortal just wasn't as good.
I absolutely love Sue Lynn Tan's writing, there were so many quotes that hit me hard in this. It was really just so beautiful and romantic.
Being a stand alone, it was quite fast paced and some things weren't fleshed out as much as I would have liked but again I feel that can be forgiven as it's a standalone.
I once again adored the world and magic in this.
The plot had some good twists & turns, and some great "ah-ha" moments.
This definitely felt more romance heavy than her duology but I still really enjoyed the romance & main characters. I really loved Liyens character growth!
Although I did really enjoy and love this, it felt like something was missing. Daughter of the Moon Goddess & Heart of the Sun Warrior were my top reads of 2024 and unfortunately Immortal just wasn't as good.