readnext's reviews
586 reviews

The Gate of the Feral Gods by Matt Dinniman

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

4.5

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston

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dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective 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? It's complicated

4.0

What a delightful surprise! This book was charming, heartwarming, and mostly predictable. Normally this foreseeability would irritate me in a sci-fi or fantasy book, but it was reassuring in this story. Especially when some of the more depressing themes hit close to home.

My brother and I took our grandma to the movies to see Thelma last summer on her birthday. If you haven’t seen it, you should! It’s funny and sarcastic, but also a clear window into the often imperceptible world of elderly people. The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife similarly draws readers in regardless of how old you are. Was it over the top at times? Yes. Did we receive a resolved ending that tied up all narrative threads into a pretty bow? Most definitely! All the same, I was happy to let this elderly happily-ever-after consume me, and that my darling, is the froth on my cappuccino. 
Morning Star by Pierce Brown

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective 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

5.0

MY HEART. I would give this 10 stars if it was an option. 
The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline

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dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense slow-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? It's complicated

3.5

Hercule Poirot's Christmas by Agatha Christie

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adventurous dark funny informative lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook by Matt Dinniman

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective 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

Shōgun by James Clavell

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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? It's complicated

4.25

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

It’s so beautiful when a book such as this finds you exactly when you need it. Reading this felt like a warm hug and a soothing cup of tea. 
The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

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

3.75