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thelibraryskeeper's reviews
662 reviews
The Elf Witch by Jacquelyn Gilmore
Did not finish book. Stopped at 21%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 21%.
I felt like I was simultaneously on information overload but also nothing was being explained well enough for me to fully grasp the magic system or the plot.
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
I've always enjoyed the kind of science fiction where it's more than just a futuristic world with cool technology and a fun story. Flowers For Algernon examines what could happen if we could artificially increase someone's intelligence level. It also looks at how we treat those who have mental disabilities.
The book is centered on Charlie Gordon, who has low IQ at age 32. He works in a bakery where he sweeps the floors and goes to an adult learning centre where he is very motivated to learn to read and write. It is because of his motivation that he is selected for an experiment that has been successful so far on animals, making them into geniuses. All Charlie has ever wanted was to read and write, so he signs up willingly.
As with most things in life, intelligence comes with a cost. The smarter Charlie becomes the more he remembers and figures out about his upbringing. It's absolutely heartbreaking. The friends he thought he had and even his family treated him with cruelty. He realizes what he thought was kindness was often people taking advantage of him. It was so difficult getting through this portion of the book. Hearing how he was so often treated as less than human. It was absolutely heartbreaking.
Unfortunately, it is determined that the "cure" for nature's mistakes is not permanent. Charlie will start to regress to where he was before or even worse. I was destroyed at the end of this book. Utterly destroyed as he began to forget and lose all the things he learned and understood. This book is brilliant but also incredibly heartbreaking.
The book is centered on Charlie Gordon, who has low IQ at age 32. He works in a bakery where he sweeps the floors and goes to an adult learning centre where he is very motivated to learn to read and write. It is because of his motivation that he is selected for an experiment that has been successful so far on animals, making them into geniuses. All Charlie has ever wanted was to read and write, so he signs up willingly.
As with most things in life, intelligence comes with a cost. The smarter Charlie becomes the more he remembers and figures out about his upbringing. It's absolutely heartbreaking. The friends he thought he had and even his family treated him with cruelty. He realizes what he thought was kindness was often people taking advantage of him. It was so difficult getting through this portion of the book. Hearing how he was so often treated as less than human. It was absolutely heartbreaking.
Unfortunately, it is determined that the "cure" for nature's mistakes is not permanent. Charlie will start to regress to where he was before or even worse. I was destroyed at the end of this book. Utterly destroyed as he began to forget and lose all the things he learned and understood. This book is brilliant but also incredibly heartbreaking.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Mental illness
Scythe & Sparrow by Brynne Weaver
dark
emotional
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was the absolute perfect ending to one of my favorite series. From the first time we met Rose and Fionn, I wanted to know more about them and how they got to the situation we find them in.
Scythe & Sparrow starts before Rose's injury and lays out the story of Fionn and how he got to the tiny town in Nebraska. He ran from everything to try and heal his broken heart. But even a doctor as talented as he can't repair the damage. That's when Rose comes bursting into his life, and everything changes.
This book was centered on healing and accepting that in all of us, there is a certain amount of darkness. The ability to love someone in their darkness. The past two books have been about serial killers. While there are absolutely murders in this book, it isn't the central focus. Rose and Fionn will heal their past and learn to embrace each other in the darkness. This was easily my favorite of three. Plus, the man has a primal kink. I was sold on that alone.
Scythe & Sparrow starts before Rose's injury and lays out the story of Fionn and how he got to the tiny town in Nebraska. He ran from everything to try and heal his broken heart. But even a doctor as talented as he can't repair the damage. That's when Rose comes bursting into his life, and everything changes.
This book was centered on healing and accepting that in all of us, there is a certain amount of darkness. The ability to love someone in their darkness. The past two books have been about serial killers. While there are absolutely murders in this book, it isn't the central focus. Rose and Fionn will heal their past and learn to embrace each other in the darkness. This was easily my favorite of three. Plus, the man has a primal kink. I was sold on that alone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Tell Me How You Really Feel by Betty Cayouette
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
First off i want to thank St. Martin’s publishing for reaching out to me to read this e-arc.
The book features Maeve and Finn who have been friends since college. While they were living in New York they started a podcast and it went viral for how real it was. Sure enough, a streaming platform picks them up and suddenly their lives are much bigger than before.
Maeve had to work hard to get where she is. She went through university and has struggled as a women in the media. Finn on the other hand is a nepo baby in pure definition. Honestly this part of him is what drives my review to be lower. I found him to be overly obnoxious with this. Like he's just privileged and doesn't really think beyond that which absolutely causes him issues.
Now the miscommunication trope is something I don't love a lot of. For two people who talk about feelings a lot these two are the WORST at talking to each other. The book is largely driven on the fact that they had a misunderstanding and then never talked about it. Overall the premise was interesting and I loved that Kennywood made an appearance (I'm from Pittsburgh).
The book features Maeve and Finn who have been friends since college. While they were living in New York they started a podcast and it went viral for how real it was. Sure enough, a streaming platform picks them up and suddenly their lives are much bigger than before.
Maeve had to work hard to get where she is. She went through university and has struggled as a women in the media. Finn on the other hand is a nepo baby in pure definition. Honestly this part of him is what drives my review to be lower. I found him to be overly obnoxious with this. Like he's just privileged and doesn't really think beyond that which absolutely causes him issues.
Now the miscommunication trope is something I don't love a lot of. For two people who talk about feelings a lot these two are the WORST at talking to each other. The book is largely driven on the fact that they had a misunderstanding and then never talked about it. Overall the premise was interesting and I loved that Kennywood made an appearance (I'm from Pittsburgh).
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Raskolnikov was a young university student who fell on hard times and had to drop out. He found himself in such a state of poverty that he had to pawn some items that were precious to him. He brings the items to the local pawn lady Alyona Ivanova. She is known for ripping people off, which includes Raskolnikov.
He is tired of being in the "low class" and plans to murder the pawn lady and rob her to hopefully gain some money. He does, in fact, kill her, but her sister comes home unexpectedly, and well, he has to kill her too, of course.
After committing the crime, Raskolnikov finds himself physically ill from the reoccurring thoughts of the murders. He can't stop thinking about it. His friends and mother come to care for him, finding his behavior utterly strange. During all this, it seems he does not really regret the actual crime. He, in university, even wrote a paper on mankind and how he believes there to be two classes, one the elite whom can do whatever they like and the second class, which is everyone else. Raskolnikov finds himself in the first and seemingly believes he should be allowed to murder as a result of that.
By the end of the book, nearly everyone close to him knows he is the killer. When told to confess, he simply indicates he isn't ready to go to prison. Not that he didn't do it. The crime was pointless as he gained nothing from it, but it took everything from him.
"You are a great sinner, it's true," he added in near ecstasy, "and above all, you are a sinner for having destroyed and betrayed yourself for nothing."
He is tired of being in the "low class" and plans to murder the pawn lady and rob her to hopefully gain some money. He does, in fact, kill her, but her sister comes home unexpectedly, and well, he has to kill her too, of course.
After committing the crime, Raskolnikov finds himself physically ill from the reoccurring thoughts of the murders. He can't stop thinking about it. His friends and mother come to care for him, finding his behavior utterly strange. During all this, it seems he does not really regret the actual crime. He, in university, even wrote a paper on mankind and how he believes there to be two classes, one the elite whom can do whatever they like and the second class, which is everyone else. Raskolnikov finds himself in the first and seemingly believes he should be allowed to murder as a result of that.
By the end of the book, nearly everyone close to him knows he is the killer. When told to confess, he simply indicates he isn't ready to go to prison. Not that he didn't do it. The crime was pointless as he gained nothing from it, but it took everything from him.
"You are a great sinner, it's true," he added in near ecstasy, "and above all, you are a sinner for having destroyed and betrayed yourself for nothing."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Murder
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
When I Come Back by Alise Monroe
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
I can't believe this is a debut novel. I adore second chance romances, and this might just be the ultimate one. I can't believe this is a debut novel. I adore second chance romances, and this might just be the ultimate one.
Cary and Thea had a childhood friendship to lovers relationship. They were everything for each other. But then everything falls apart. 10 years go by, and Thea is back in their little hometown while Cary is making it big in Seattle. When something awful happens, they are brought back together. It turns out that perhaps only distance was keeping them apart.
I am so grateful for being able to ARC read for this book as it was absolutely outstanding. This book was SPICEY in the best way and so sweet and tender in others. When I say I'm excited for book two, it's probably an understatement.
Cary and Thea had a childhood friendship to lovers relationship. They were everything for each other. But then everything falls apart. 10 years go by, and Thea is back in their little hometown while Cary is making it big in Seattle. When something awful happens, they are brought back together. It turns out that perhaps only distance was keeping them apart.
I am so grateful for being able to ARC read for this book as it was absolutely outstanding. This book was SPICEY in the best way and so sweet and tender in others. When I say I'm excited for book two, it's probably an understatement.
Daydream by Hannah Grace
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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 knew I was going to love Henry's book before I even started it. These two sweet cinnamon rolls are excellent at communicating, and god, that is such a lacking thing in romance novels right now. Like literally communication king and queen. I adored Halle and the friends to lovers trope. This book is absolutely a departure from the spice that Icebreaker was, and I enjoyed it as it was sweet!!!
Wolfsong by TJ Klune
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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
TJ Klune has an absolute gift with creating these worlds that totally envelop you. After reading his YA novels, I knew I needed to know what his adult books were like, starting with Wolfsong. To absolutely no surprise, the book was incredible. The burn slow. The spice is perfect.
The story opens with Ox. His dad has left him and his mother to find for themselves. He's told he's big and dumb and will never amount to much. But that couldn't be more wrong once the Bennetts entered Ox's life. I can't recommend this book enough, and I can't wait to rip into book two.
The story opens with Ox. His dad has left him and his mother to find for themselves. He's told he's big and dumb and will never amount to much. But that couldn't be more wrong once the Bennetts entered Ox's life. I can't recommend this book enough, and I can't wait to rip into book two.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Blood, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Gore and Suicidal thoughts
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The Road is easily one of the most disturbing books I've ever read. This is because its entirely possible that if we were in an apocalyptic setting mankind could find themselves in such desperation.
The world has ended. It's not important or the point as to how or what caused it. Everything is toxic, and most people have died. The story picks up with our two main characters, simply The man and The boy. They are walking The Road. Now that towns and cities are gone, the road is all that is left. They talk continuously about nothing at all. It's clear as the story goes on that there is an undercurrent of hopelessness as they push their cart full of all their belongings across the country.
"On this road there are no godspoke men.
They are gone and I am left and they have taken with them the world."
The world has ended. It's not important or the point as to how or what caused it. Everything is toxic, and most people have died. The story picks up with our two main characters, simply The man and The boy. They are walking The Road. Now that towns and cities are gone, the road is all that is left. They talk continuously about nothing at all. It's clear as the story goes on that there is an undercurrent of hopelessness as they push their cart full of all their belongings across the country.
"On this road there are no godspoke men.
They are gone and I am left and they have taken with them the world."
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The fact that I needed a few days before I could write a review should tell you how good I felt this was. I mean it when I say I think this is the best of the three books we have so far. The plot was engaging, there was MUCH less miscommunication trope being thrown around, and I think I officially have a new favorite secondary character - my sweet angel Ridoc. Seriously, I adored him and the small amounts of comic relief he provided.
I did a full re-read before starting Onyx Storm, and I very much recommend that for anyone who hasn't had a recent re-read. This book does a tremendous job taking what we know about the world/magic in the books so far and expanding. Not only do we get to see MORE of the world, but we also learn a ton a long the way with Violet. I am thrilled about this and can't wait to see what's next for the series, knowing it's absolutely worth the wait.
Now for the spoiler-y bits
I KNEW going into this, we were going to finally get what Violets' second signet is. Did I guess it? No. Not even close. But now that I know what it is, I can absolutely see the breadcrumbs left for us. The main point of the book was finding a cure for Venin and political alliances to help with the war. The whole book felt like a race against time, and I dont think it can be understated when I say I was anxious about this.
Things DID NOT fully resolve, and that ending ended me. I am never going to be the same following that.
I did a full re-read before starting Onyx Storm, and I very much recommend that for anyone who hasn't had a recent re-read. This book does a tremendous job taking what we know about the world/magic in the books so far and expanding. Not only do we get to see MORE of the world, but we also learn a ton a long the way with Violet. I am thrilled about this and can't wait to see what's next for the series, knowing it's absolutely worth the wait.
Now for the spoiler-y bits
Things DID NOT fully resolve, and that ending ended me. I am never going to be the same following that.