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rachachisaur's reviews
320 reviews
Serpent Sea by Maiya Ibrahim
adventurous
slow-paced
3.0
The plot gets super lost and the character development becomes somewhat contrived. The beginning is good and the last quarter is good but everything in between was a drag
Fathomfolk by Eliza Chan
Did not finish book. Stopped at 10%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 10%.
A very slow, dry introduction to what could have been a fascinating world.
The author drops a lot of mythical creatures with no descriptions and seems to assume preexisting world knowledge in the reader that just isn’t possible if you’re writing a made-up world.
The author drops a lot of mythical creatures with no descriptions and seems to assume preexisting world knowledge in the reader that just isn’t possible if you’re writing a made-up world.
A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The slog of misery continues. It’s a good story if perhaps a little drawn out. You really get to sit in the wretchedness of each characters reality with them for as long as possible.
Helene and Laia are going through the worst possible trials life can throw, barely surviving, meanwhile Elias is just passing out at the worst times, refusing to be a team player, and making everything harder than it has to be. Way to go Elias.
Helene and Laia are going through the worst possible trials life can throw, barely surviving, meanwhile Elias is just passing out at the worst times, refusing to be a team player, and making everything harder than it has to be. Way to go Elias.
Spice Road by Maiya Ibrahim
adventurous
challenging
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I loved that our main character is the archetype of the rival character in any other book. She is privileged and kind of a bully, judgemental and mean to the underdog in the story. And she gets challenged by the people around her and the experiences she has. She reflects and grows but doesn’t become perfect immediately. It’s a slow process. Such a refreshing viewpoint.
I also enjoy that the side characters have depth and complexity, mixed motivations, and aren’t always sure who they are or what they want. I’ve rarely seen a book portray the reality of being a young person with strong convictions so accurately.
Also absolutely loved the world and mythology/magic.
I also enjoy that the side characters have depth and complexity, mixed motivations, and aren’t always sure who they are or what they want. I’ve rarely seen a book portray the reality of being a young person with strong convictions so accurately.
Also absolutely loved the world and mythology/magic.
Where the Library Hides by Isabel Ibañez
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
I was fully in for the first 85% of the book. Definitely more predictable than the first and a little repetitive on themes and twists, but still enjoying the characters and story. I do think the explanation of the previous book’s prologue was a bit underwhelming, and I wish Inez had learned and grown a bit more from her experiences, but I was overall okay with it.
The final 15% of the book, however, absolutely jumped the shark and I came very close to DNF. Such a disappointing and unnecessary turn in the end to an otherwise solid duology.
The final 15% of the book, however, absolutely jumped the shark and I came very close to DNF. Such a disappointing and unnecessary turn in the end to an otherwise solid duology.
What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This was a reread before I go on to the second book. I am happy to report that I still absolutely love it. Every single thing about it. Inez is such an enjoyable main character for me, absolutely rooting for her intense emotions and determination to find answers.
Do you like The Mummy? You’ll love this.
Oh, and that epilogue? My god. 5 star ending, no notes.
Do you like The Mummy? You’ll love this.
Oh, and that epilogue? My god. 5 star ending, no notes.
The Gods Below by Andrea Stewart
Did not finish book. Stopped at 28%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 28%.
Such an interesting world but way too slow and too many POVs without developing any depth or connection with the characters.
For She is Wrath by Emily Varga
Did not finish book. Stopped at 29%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 29%.
I am a firm believer that some creative works are done so well the first time that no one should try to redo them again later. This book solidified that belief for me.
You can’t take a story as intricate and compelling as The Count of Monte Cristo and remove all the backstory, all the innocence, goodheartedness, and naïveté of the main character, and leave out all of the character development after the betrayal, and have the hollowed out remake hold any water.
I love the idea of taking the original story and setting it in another culture with all the intricacies and influences that would involve. Unfortunately this book didn’t even seem to attempt that and came across empty and lackluster.
Even if I weren’t comparing it to the original, there is still too much tell and no show, repetitive dialogue, two dimensional characters, and a rushed plot line.
You can’t take a story as intricate and compelling as The Count of Monte Cristo and remove all the backstory, all the innocence, goodheartedness, and naïveté of the main character, and leave out all of the character development after the betrayal, and have the hollowed out remake hold any water.
I love the idea of taking the original story and setting it in another culture with all the intricacies and influences that would involve. Unfortunately this book didn’t even seem to attempt that and came across empty and lackluster.
Even if I weren’t comparing it to the original, there is still too much tell and no show, repetitive dialogue, two dimensional characters, and a rushed plot line.
A Soul to Keep by Opal Reyne
Did not finish book. Stopped at 38%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 38%.
Once again, and this may just be a problem I have with the genre, the writing is unbearably bad. Like the sentence-level craft is nonexistent.
The concept is there, the plot has a general shape and all, but you can’t actually appreciate any of that bc the writing is distractingly flawed. It reads like bad high school fanfic, which maybe it is if other reviewers are right about the inspiration for the plot in the first place.
The concept is there, the plot has a general shape and all, but you can’t actually appreciate any of that bc the writing is distractingly flawed. It reads like bad high school fanfic, which maybe it is if other reviewers are right about the inspiration for the plot in the first place.
The Wild Huntress by Emily Lloyd-Jones
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.75
This was missing the witty and humorous aspects of the author’s previous works. The cat needed to play a bigger role, and we should have at least found out a little more about him.
The focus was too heavy on the three humans with not enough exploration of the interesting aspects of the world and other creatures.
Also definitely not a fan of the ending at all.
The focus was too heavy on the three humans with not enough exploration of the interesting aspects of the world and other creatures.
Also definitely not a fan of the ending at all.