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bookphenomena_micky's reviews
4674 reviews
Geneva by Richard Armitage
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
Some shades of the ridiculous at times but some great twists too. Overall satisfying listen enhanced by the author's narration.
Yinka, Where is Your Huzband? by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn
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
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this story of Yinka which focused on the pressure to be something other than single by her family. Yinka was in her 30s and was constantly being told she wasn't good enough without a husband. Yinka tried changing herself, pursuing relationships at all costs and it just made her miserable. The Nigerian culture was fully embedded in this story which provided a rich backdrop to the cast and relationships.
My parting thought...being single isn't a fault, it's not always a choice either but it's okay to be single.
My parting thought...being single isn't a fault, it's not always a choice either but it's okay to be single.
More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
This was a return to the bookshop and the characters we knew from the last story. This story was a little dull for the first half and then incredibly sad for the second half. I do like this focus ordinary lives but it didn't keep my attention as much as I'd have liked.
The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden
Did not finish book. Stopped at 48%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 48%.
Same old stuff from this author. Going round in circles, ridiculously unlikeable characters. Nothing thrilling about this thriller. Author break-up commenced.
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
A serendipitious tale of life revolving around a bookshop through the eyes of Takako. It was a more character-driven read than it was plot-driven. The characters were endearing, no more than Takako's uncle.
It had a strong first half, a lull for the next quarter, followed by a strong ending. I've already started the next book, so that indicates my ongoing interest in seeing more from this place and people.
It had a strong first half, a lull for the next quarter, followed by a strong ending. I've already started the next book, so that indicates my ongoing interest in seeing more from this place and people.
The Mime Order: Author's Preferred Text by Samantha Shannon, Samantha Shannon
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Headlines:
Gang land
Keep your enemies close
Characterisation gets better and better
I didn't know how well this installment would work for me despite my love for book one because I knew we were heading into gang land territory. Books about criminal gangs and mobs rarely work for me but I realise now that if Samantha Shannon writes it, I'm in. Finding out about the Seven Dials was gripping and I loved to hate Jaxon. The other gang sects were vicious, untrustworthy and a scary bunch, but I savoured their spotlights.
Paige is just a fantastic lead character and part of what I like about her is her unpredictability, her strength when she has weakness and her values in this criminal underworld. I continued to like Warden and Nick as side characters, they are so well fleshed out and yey, to the low-key romantic developments.
The last 20% of this book was stress-reading in the best way. The 'battle' was fantastic and while sometimes I can find battles boring or want to zone-out, I was glued to the page with this one. Those final lines though...what a cliff of an ending; I was aghast.
Lucky me, I can line up book three asap because I need what's next.
"Hope is the lifeblood of revolution. Without it, we are nothing but ash, waiting for the wind to take us."
Gang land
Keep your enemies close
Characterisation gets better and better
I didn't know how well this installment would work for me despite my love for book one because I knew we were heading into gang land territory. Books about criminal gangs and mobs rarely work for me but I realise now that if Samantha Shannon writes it, I'm in. Finding out about the Seven Dials was gripping and I loved to hate Jaxon. The other gang sects were vicious, untrustworthy and a scary bunch, but I savoured their spotlights.
Paige is just a fantastic lead character and part of what I like about her is her unpredictability, her strength when she has weakness and her values in this criminal underworld. I continued to like Warden and Nick as side characters, they are so well fleshed out and yey, to the low-key romantic developments.
The last 20% of this book was stress-reading in the best way. The 'battle' was fantastic and while sometimes I can find battles boring or want to zone-out, I was glued to the page with this one. Those final lines though...what a cliff of an ending; I was aghast.
Lucky me, I can line up book three asap because I need what's next.
"Hope is the lifeblood of revolution. Without it, we are nothing but ash, waiting for the wind to take us."
Secretly Yours by Tessa Bailey
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
I really enjoyed the set up and characterisation of these two. The mental health background to the MMC was well written. Unfortunately, the plot waned and even though this wasn't a long book, it felt a bit long winded. I finished liking the characters still but not being that invested in the later journey.
Under the Oak Tree: Volume 1 (The Novel) by Suji Kim
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Headlines:
Marriage of convenience
Getting to know one another
Self worth
This text novel of the graphic novel (web comic to hard copy) was so worth the read. I have previously enjoyed the graphic novel and reading the text novel with all that visualisation in my mind was vivid and rich. The characterisation of the two MCs Maxi and Riftan was so appealing as I got to know each of them better and better as the story unfolded.
It was all brusque meets shyness, confidence meets uncertainty and temper meets meekness. These two contrasted completely and yet they were a complimentary match with real feelings seeming to catch fire. Talking of catching fire, this was relatively graphic in the intimacy department but it conveyed a tangible connection.
Maxi is by far my favourite character. She was abused by her father and there is no doubt she was traumatised. Maxi had a speech impairment and this is a key focus in this novel. She had huge issues with self worth and she just wanted to be useful and to matter to someone. Honestly, my heart still really goes out to her.
Riftan was a bit oblivious to her issues but her truly does care for her. I cannot wait for some future honesty between them about their developing feelings.
I wait to read on, to be honest, that wait will be impatient.
Thank you to Inklore Books for the review copy.
Marriage of convenience
Getting to know one another
Self worth
This text novel of the graphic novel (web comic to hard copy) was so worth the read. I have previously enjoyed the graphic novel and reading the text novel with all that visualisation in my mind was vivid and rich. The characterisation of the two MCs Maxi and Riftan was so appealing as I got to know each of them better and better as the story unfolded.
It was all brusque meets shyness, confidence meets uncertainty and temper meets meekness. These two contrasted completely and yet they were a complimentary match with real feelings seeming to catch fire. Talking of catching fire, this was relatively graphic in the intimacy department but it conveyed a tangible connection.
Maxi is by far my favourite character. She was abused by her father and there is no doubt she was traumatised. Maxi had a speech impairment and this is a key focus in this novel. She had huge issues with self worth and she just wanted to be useful and to matter to someone. Honestly, my heart still really goes out to her.
Riftan was a bit oblivious to her issues but her truly does care for her. I cannot wait for some future honesty between them about their developing feelings.
I wait to read on, to be honest, that wait will be impatient.
Thank you to Inklore Books for the review copy.
The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Headlines:
Immersive
Layers
Allegiances
I'm irriated that I've sat on this series so long because now I want to hoover it up. I guess the upside is that I get to romp through four books at break-neck speed.
The lead character Paige made me compulsively read this book. Her surface character, her underworld character and her character in captivity made her multifaceted...and then there was her frustrating tendency to run headlong into stupid situations through obstinacy. I may have muttered at her a few times in annoyance.
The characters around her, Nick, Jaxon, Liss and the Warden (and more) were elusive in many ways and I turned those pages to find out more. The Rephs most of all were hard to fully understand from the anatomy, the skills and the allegiances they held. Alongside them, the buzzers remained a little elusive too.
The aether world was fascinating as were the talents of the unnaturals. These elements made Paige so interesting as I fathomed her and she fathomed others.
I made the hilarious mistake of looking up some art because I needed to mentally sketch out the warden but my goodness, that was not helpful. If anyone has any character art they know of, please help me!
Thank you to my buds Amy and Cat who have championed me opening these pages for years but have been patient until I have.
Immersive
Layers
Allegiances
I'm irriated that I've sat on this series so long because now I want to hoover it up. I guess the upside is that I get to romp through four books at break-neck speed.
The lead character Paige made me compulsively read this book. Her surface character, her underworld character and her character in captivity made her multifaceted...and then there was her frustrating tendency to run headlong into stupid situations through obstinacy. I may have muttered at her a few times in annoyance.
The characters around her, Nick, Jaxon, Liss and the Warden (and more) were elusive in many ways and I turned those pages to find out more. The Rephs most of all were hard to fully understand from the anatomy, the skills and the allegiances they held. Alongside them, the buzzers remained a little elusive too.
The aether world was fascinating as were the talents of the unnaturals. These elements made Paige so interesting as I fathomed her and she fathomed others.
I made the hilarious mistake of looking up some art because I needed to mentally sketch out the warden but my goodness, that was not helpful. If anyone has any character art they know of, please help me!
Thank you to my buds Amy and Cat who have championed me opening these pages for years but have been patient until I have.
Guardian of the Drowned Empire by Frankie Diane Mallis
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
In the prior book, I asked for clearer world building or a plateau in world building and I'm pleased to report that in that respect, there was stability in that and I became clearer on the magic, the skills and the baddies.
This installment had more of a relationship focus than the fantasy plot. I liked how the author turned this triangle into a pair. It was done without malice, it had a natural evolving. I do really like the emerging couple together. The late reveal about a shared aspect of their lives was something I did not see coming at all. There were some other great twists too.
The trials for the FMC kept coming, similar to book one in terms of persistent intensity. That said, she started to believe in herself a bit. I feel like I need a bit less repetition for the next book but I don't know if I'll get that.
Overall, I'm still invested in this series and I'll be picking up book three soon while everything is still fresh in my mind.
This installment had more of a relationship focus than the fantasy plot. I liked how the author turned this triangle into a pair. It was done without malice, it had a natural evolving. I do really like the emerging couple together. The late reveal about a shared aspect of their lives was something I did not see coming at all. There were some other great twists too.
The trials for the FMC kept coming, similar to book one in terms of persistent intensity. That said, she started to believe in herself a bit. I feel like I need a bit less repetition for the next book but I don't know if I'll get that.
Overall, I'm still invested in this series and I'll be picking up book three soon while everything is still fresh in my mind.