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laurenleigh's reviews
634 reviews
Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I wasn’t sure about this one at times, but once I separated the (not great) female narrator from the text, I realized there was a lot I loved here! Lots of secrets, political intrigue, and double crossing. Kudos to Clare for getting a GRRM blurb on the cover. There’s definitely some GoT vibes here, but without three pages dedicated to every plate of food at a feast. There’s also some overlap with Shadow & Bone, where the countries and ethnic groups somewhat match our own world’s, which I think is an interesting way to quickly situate a reader in a fictional universe. Also a weirdly specific overlap with Schwab’s DSoM, with the main character Kel living at the palace, protecting his price BFF who’s basically family??
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Misogyny and Blood
Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
challenging
funny
sad
slow-paced
3.5
Ben picked this up last year and loved it so much, he listened to it twice. Then we started listening to it together whenever we were in the car, so it took us months to finish. It was fun to have a car book together! And I probably wouldn’t have gotten through it otherwise. This is honestly such a strange writing style, but once you get used to it, you can laugh along at the tragicomedy. His Irish voice is quite nice to listen to. I just struggled with the repetition. I get that he’s telling his childhood story and that’s how kids think/talk, but it wasn’t my favorite.
Caraval by Stephanie Garber
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Bummed I didn’t get into this more. I was hoping to pick up Once Upon a Broken Heart, but I heard I should read this trilogy first. Now I don’t know if I’ll continue with Garber. I really liked her writing on the sentence level, but I was having a hard time picturing the world as a whole. Part of that is because you’re constantly questioning what is real (alongside the MC), but it just didn’t quite grab my attention. Also the romance storyline did not land for me. I love Rebecca Soler as a narrator, but maybe a story like this wants to be read in print.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
Time's Convert by Deborah Harkness
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I loved the first three books so much, it was a given I’d pick this up. The first three were such a trilogy structurally, and this does somewhat continue that storyline, but focuses more on Marcus and Phoebe. I didn’t personally love a lot of the gory details of becoming a vampire, but I’m working on loosening my hold on those phobias. The other half is historical fiction set in late 18th C America, which Professor Harkness does so well, unsurprisingly. It was honestly interesting to read about inoculations and infectious disease of that time period. I didn’t realize how much damage smallpox did to Washington’s soldiers. If you’re into this series, vampires, and/or Revolutionary War historical fiction, you’ll enjoy this. Otherwise it probably won’t appeal to you!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Blood
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, and War
Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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? Yes
4.5
I’m really not a contemporary romance reader, but Ali Hazelwood has something that gets me! I liked The Love Hypothesis a bit more, but this was very similar. (I may have silently cheered in the gym when the characters from that book made a cameo in this one.) Yes it’s somewhat formulaic, but it’s such a fun, light palette cleanser. And it didn’t quite go exactly as I predicted. Also wow consent is sexy! I adore how Hazelwood makes this a focus of her spicy scenes! I’m not saying this is an incredibly diverse novel, but it’s socially aware in a nice way I don’t necessarily expect from this genre.
Beyond the Wand by Tom Felton
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.5
Such a fun quick read with so much nostalgia! I love when an author reads their own memoir. Felton regularly laughs at his own memories in a really endearing way. His candor and honesty is refreshing, as is his appreciation of those around him. From thanking the adult actors on set for setting good examples to acknowledging the ways his costars (especially Emma Watson) has a different and in some ways harder time than him, Felton displays an admirable open mind and grateful heart. I am already rewatching the movies!
The Wisdom of Your Body: Finding Healing, Wholeness, and Connection Through Embodied Living by Hillary L. McBride
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
Don’t let the “ChristianAudio” scare you off lol. While the author is definitely Christian, this work is extremely inclusive (as Christianity should be!). Each chapter focuses on a different element that prevents us from being embodied, like body image, trauma, chronic pain, and social injustices. I really got into the discussion of how the Christian, Puritanical, and Ancient Grecian/Roman Philosophical roots of American culture are all centered on ideas of mind = good and body = bad. Or even the idea that these two things are separate. I will be thinking on this for awhile!
Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I have so much respect for the women like Robin Hobb that paved the way for future female fantasy authors. I can only imagine how hard it must have been to navigate such a boy’s club in the 80's and 90's. I was hoping for a fresh new take on the genre, coming from a new voice, and while this wasn’t really that, I understand Hobb wouldn’t have had much freedom to veer from the established path. (I’m told she does more of this later in the series.) The audiobook narrator kept me engaged, but it’s a bit too slow paced and episodic for my taste. If you’re into Tolkien and Martin and looking for a new series in that vein, you would almost certainly like this!
Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
A nice wrap up to this duology! I may have liked the first book a bit better, but this still had lots to love. I am realizing I enjoy books better when the stakes are really high, which we have here. Without spoiling too much, I enjoyed the interesting plot lines around memory and remembering. There’s more fantasy elements here than in the first book, which is fun, but it’s still couched in the WWII-like “historical fiction” world. If you like both those genres, you should totally try this duology!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and War
A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Oooh this is getting good now! I know sometimes sequels can slump in comparison to the first book, but I just love getting to dive right in, knowing the world and the characters. As if multiple magical Londons wasn’t cool enough, in this book we get PIRATES! Alucard is an incredible addition to our cast. I just want him, Kell, Lila, and Rhy to get together and become like the Power Rangers of Red London. There were times I questioned the structure (this could have been two separate installments maybe?), but I did not mind getting lost in a long story! Can’t wait to read #3.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Murder