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val_theburrowofstories's reviews
354 reviews
Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
- This book has been on my TBR for years and actually I was planning on taking it out of there, but it was available as an audiobook on Libby so I decided to give it a try.
- Not gonna lie, if it was just because of Luc I would’ve DNF this book at the very beginning because I don’t like the man. Luc is a bad friend, he’s bad at communication, he has this trauma with what people say about him online so he doesn’t trust anyone new, he makes everything about him and doesn’t really seem to give a fuck about anyone else’s life or feelings… idk so many things I didn’t like about him and because of his behavior I thought he was 20 or 23 max. but he is 28yo!?
- Anyways, then we meet Oliver and he’s the only reason why I didn’t DNF the book. He is so serious but I really liked him. Now he is the kind of guy I would like to hang around and date, Luc is a total mess I would not want near me at all.
- Oliver is a sweetheart and Luc is a complete mess. Honestly? With that ending in my opinion Oliver deserves WAY better than him.
- There’s only two things I agree with Luc: 1) The way he reacted to his father coming to him after so many years just because he had cancer and wanted to reconnect? Yeah, he can die alone (which spoiler,
but sadly he doesn’t even have cancer he kinda made it all up ) ; 2) Oliver’s parents deserve to be spoken to that way because they’re such assholes too to their children. If I have such a perfect boyfriend and upon meeting his parents he is treated that way? I would’ve screamed too. - I know I sound like I have many complains but in general it was very funny and entertaining. I kinda like Luc (sometimes) but what this really made this book for me was Oliver, Luc’s coworker and Luc’s group of friends. So I ended up rating this book 3 ⭐ and it wasn’t on my plans but I’ll continue with the 2nd book because I want to see their dynamic as a true couple now and how they get engaged.
A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid
dark
mysterious
medium-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
2.0
- My hatred towards stories with girls who are sexually assaulted / raped will always influence my rating in a book :( I’m sorry but I just can’t handle it. Maybe if the campaign of this book wasn’t just “oh sweet YA with faeries and mystery” and people mentioned what happened to her as a trigger warning then MAYBE I would not have picked up this book.
- This poor girl has NO ONE rooting for her and she doesn’t stand up for herself. She might as well be all alone in the world because her mother is an alcohol addict who doesn’t care about her at all, she’s the only girl studying architecture and every man or boy looks at her like she doesn’t belong there. She only has this one girl friend but they don’t see each other that much.
- I hated her fucking mother so much you cannot even imagine 😭
- In general I would say is a very simple story and despite the things I hated (what happened to her, her asshole mother and how women are treated) I was entertained with the audiobook and I liked listening to it while I was doing house chores (then I discovered that was influenced by the fact that the narrator is one of my favorites and has narrated some of my favorite historical fiction books)
- I don't think this book was enough for me to want to continue whatever book is next in the series and honestly I do not want to pick up another book of this author either. I think every single one of her books include rape or sexual assault and I do not like to read books with those “elements”.
- So yeah, 2 ⭐ and that ending was very underwhelming.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Misogyny, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Sexual content
The Midnight Star by Marie Lu
adventurous
dark
medium-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
2.0
- Basically the story here is that The Young Elites are dealing with their powers turning on themselves, attacking their bodies, and they must overcome their differences and work together to somehow return their powers to the Gods before it's too late and everyone dies because the world is kind of breaking apart.
- It's sad how I went from really liking and admiring Adelina, to now finding her incredibly annoying. I was annoyed with her for most of this book for many different reasons and that affected my reading experience because how can you like a book when you dislike the main character?
- Something that really bothers me is that there was no point on bringing Enzo back to life. There was no lesson learnt, he didn't contribute to the story, he was just an obstacle imo for Adelina and Magiano, he wasn't even himself he was just a ghost of what he used to be, he was just a tool used a couple of times for his powers. It feels like the author HAD to bring him back for the fans and to try to make it an interesting plot line, but it didn't work for me.
- I liked Magiano but the boy has no self love, I do believe he deserved better than Adelina.
- Violeta also deserved better. I feel like the author tried to create a nice sister relationship (especially at the end iykyk) but damn Adelina is toxic as hell while Violeta is a sweetheart who didn't deserve to be treated that way.
- I predicted this ending for Adelina since the beginning of Book 2, and I'm sorry but I'm glad that's how this ended and not in some rushed redemption story that makes no sense.
- Anyways, this last book was okay but still a disappointment. Thank God it was the shortest lol. My rating is 2 ⭐
The Rose Society by Marie Lu
adventurous
dark
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
3.0
- In the first book I really liked Adelina, but I am sad to report that me liking her went kind of downhill throughout this book. First of all, she acts like she is the victim, like she was betrayed and the group turned their back on her without reason LOL girl be so for real, you ARE the reason why Enzo is dead, it IS your fault. I don't even care that he is dead or the fact that is her fault, what bothers me is her constantly thinking about how she is the victim here. The second thing that bothers me is how she won't get over Enzo when there's a new perfectly fine boy who likes her and who actually gets to know her and support her more than Enzo did. And the third thing was at the very end when she lost it over power and tried to attack Violeta, she always had a love/hate relationship with her sister but imo the girl did nothing wrong to deserve her hate.
- I liked to meet new characters and how the story followed Adelina on her journey to form a new group called The Rose Society meanwhile Raffaele with the Daggers had an alliance with a Princess.
- Magiano gives me Magnus Bane vibes, so I'm kinda bias when I say I like him.
- I'm okay with the ending of this book, it fits the characters, that's how this had to end.
- It's kind of funny how I predicted the ending of the whole trilogy after a couple of chapters of this book. I mean it was so obvious, there could be no other ending for Adelina and some of the other characters.
- So, in general this book was 3 ⭐ for me.
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape
- Rape: Almost at the end is mentioned how this girl was raped :(
The Young Elites by Marie Lu
adventurous
dark
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
4.5
- This book feels perfect for readers who are just starting with books and want to experience some of that dystopia era of books in 2014.
- In this story, years ago a fever affected kids changing their physical appearance, but a handful of them ended up with supernatural powers. Our main character is 16yo Adelina Amouteru who survived the fever but with a big scar in her face because she lost her eye and her hair color changed to white. Adelina will soon discover she belongs to one of the powerful Young Elites and this book is about how she learns to control it with a new group of friends and how they can change things in their Kingdom.
- Personally, I feel like this year I read so many fmc from popular books who were just stupid and/or the stereotype of "I'm not like other girls but I hope he picks me and saves me because I can't do it myself", I really dislike those characters. But Adelina was not like that! She has darkness inside of her (because of childhood trauma) and she is learning to control her powers to change things for people like her, she's smart, she always has a plan, she is ambitious, she fights back, she doesn't take shit from anyone, she wants power! I really like her and want to see where she ends up.
- Probably the only thing I didn't like was Enzo falling for her. It didn't make sense to me: he doesn't know her, there's no chemistry or connection there, she's just the new girl, somehow Adelina reminds him of this other girl but in personality and physical appearance they're very different??? So, yeah.. Honestly, if it wasn't for this stereotypical believe that every YA must have a boy-girl romance, I think in terms on romance, chemistry and connection it would've been way more interesting to see Enzo involved with his second hand, Raffaele, or with this other boy who is his childhood friend and now enemy, Teren. It would've been so good that way, but that's asking too much from a 2014 YA book.
- Overall, I loved to see Adelina’s journey. I did not expect that ending at all and it had me intrigued for the next book. I really liked this book, 4.5 ⭐ for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death of parent
- Fire injury: One of the Young Elites has powers related with fire, so his body has burning scars.
- Injury / Scars: So many kids who survived the fever have scars.
- Physical abuse / Child abuse: Adelina had to survive her father torturing her as a child.
- Parent death: Her mom dies from the fever, as so many other parents.
- Death: People who ended up with markings are killed and there are some people who get killed throughout the story.
Fracture Me by Tahereh Mafi
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
- Another unnecessary book because half of this is the end of Book 2 but from Adam’s pov. But still more interesting because I cried and it explains how Omega Point is destroyed.
- I think Kenji and Adam deserve way better than to be worrying about Juliette, especially Kenji, but that’s just me.
- I finally felt another emotion besides annoyance with these books because I ended up crying for Adam’s little brother. I truly thought James was dead and oh God. I would've supported Adam if he went crazy over his death and wanted to kill Warner AND Juliette. I'm so happy that little kid is alive.
- I keep wondering what will happen to Adam and James in the end. And how is Kenji still on Juliette’s side after she starts dating Warner.
- "What would she do if I weren't there to help her?" probably fuck the guy you're so concerned about but sure go and put yourself and Kenji in danger for her.
- I actually liked this novella so 3 ⭐
Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
- I listened to the audiobook while I was doing a home project, is not like this book series requires a big mental focus anyway.
- It's like she keeps trying to be poetic with all these metaphors but her writing just feels so weird to me??
- The summary of Juliette and Adam’s relationship in this book is that they’re horny as fuck because of the teenage hormones but they can’t be together because turns out he is not completely immune to her. And so they break up to protect Adam, but of course that happens AFTER he got badly injured because of her.
- This book would’ve been way better if Kenji got more scenes, he is so silly and funny but he also does NOT play about the security of everyone. I'm glad he confronts her like she's an spy or some thing because this girl almost destroyed the whole place.
- She’s got the main character treatment because if this was any other character they would NOT have taken her to that mission, I mean she almost destroyed the place, she hurt Adam, she doesn’t even try to talk to others, and I’m sorry but she’s stupid! Thank the Lord Kenji exists to tell her the shit she does in front of her face omfg. He's definitely the best character here.
- The way these brothers have idolized her in their minds. Adam for ten years acting like he knows her, and Warner by just watching her and reading her notebook. They’re both so obsessed with the idea of her they created on their minds.
- When they had Warner prisoner Juliette would go to speak to him everyday to find out information but they ended up talking about themselves as if there aren’t 2 guys being held hostage by his psychotic father??? Girl PLEASE. She’s all "I can fix him, no really I can!" and I don’t like that.
- "I count out the number of times I've been stupid and I run out of numbers" that must be the first time she finally says something true af.
- This book was definitely better than the first one and it helps that I finished it in one day. I mean as much as I complain about them all I was entertained. So 3 🌟
A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? No
5.0
- I can't believe it's over. I'm in tears. I just finished such a perfect book, the ending of one of the best trilogies I've read in my life. This was truly such an experience and SO good that 5 stars is not enough.
- Perhaps I do prefer this over Throne of Glass, but I do love both of them and they're both in my Top 10 book series.
- I finally found another trilogy to love, after so so many disappointments this year, and it makes me so happy, it reminds me of other book series I also love so much. It's a different kind of love for their stories and characters, but they're all favorites nonetheless. All stories that make me so fucking grateful for books and remind me why I love reading. (The way my heart misses the Shadowhunter world everytime I find a new favorite book. It hurts to love them this much. 3 years since I read City of Bones and I was coming back to reading books, oh my God, has it really being that long?)
- Omg this trilogy truly got me out of my horrible reading slump too! I feel like I've been cured.
- I live for founds families. I live for relationships where they chose each other and they were made for each other. I live for stories with a love that makes you want to give everything of yourself to protect the ones you love, the sacrifices. I love when there's communication, when they look after each other, when they would do everything for the other. I love friends to lovers. I love LOVE fantasy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, and War
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Homophobia
The Paris Seamstress by Natasha Lester
emotional
sad
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
4.0
- I wasn’t sure about the first half of the book and I didn’t like the narrator that much, but I’m so glad I continued with the book because the way I ended up crying and loving the story.
- This was definitely a 4 ⭐ book! I love historical fiction books, the way they always manage to destroy my heart.
- We had Estella’s pov during WWII and then in 2015 her granddaughter Fabienne finding out about her past. They both had struggles and beautiful friendships and loves, but Estella was my favorite by far in the end.
- I love the way Estella talks about finding love and to find it before it’s to late, that falling in love is such a beautiful life experience.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Gun violence, Terminal illness, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Incest, Rape, and Sexual content
Minor: Pregnancy
This book has some chapters set during the WWII, so there are some trigger warnings to be expected.
- Death: To be expected from the war, but there’s a couple of important deaths…
- Gun violence: It’s a war, and there’s a death that involves soldiers and guns.
- War: They’re trying to continue with their lives during the war.
- Death of parent: There are many parents here and some of them die in different ways.
- Cancer, terminal illness: Fabienne’s friend suffers from this and it’s mentioned how she struggles.
- Sexual content: I would say 1/5 in my scale.
- Pregnancy: There’s mention of different pregnancies.
- Rape / Sexual abuse: Be aware that it is mentioned how this happens to a woman and 2 girls.
- Incest: And one of the girls happens to be abused by her own f****** father.
Dragon Queens by Kathleen de Plume
lighthearted
fast-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
- This book was sooooo damn good (and the spice!? omg I have more to say about that but it's on my personal notes)
- I loved to see how Gwen and Ava’s relationship was developing.
- Maybe my only complain is that this was very much a physical relationship and I wish they would’ve show more their love and them just talking, but it’s fine.
- It’s so funny to me how this book is called “Dragon Queens” and dragons is not even in the top 3 things I think about when I think about this book.
- I loved how this is a king of retelling of the knight saving the princess and getting to marry her, but this was a girl hunter instead of a man.
- I’m giving this 4 ⭐ because it’s truly what I needed at the time and I really liked it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Sexual content: There’s a LOT of sexual scenes between the main characters.