You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Scan barcode
ck11's reviews
255 reviews
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-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? N/A
3.5
Cool
Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao
I'll also add that the romance bit had its ups and lows.The poly rep was cool though :)
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
So... I liked it better than I thought I would. It was actually going to be a 3-star read but then:
- I'm not a fan of the author naming the characters after actual historical figures (and I think that if I were Chinese/actually knew more about Chinese history I'd hate the book)
- The ending was horrible.
I could already tell that the hunduns were the actual inhabitants of the planet, but the email the gods sent Zetian?????????? HELLO?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
I'll also add that the romance bit had its ups and lows.
So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
Wow. I have very little to say about this book that is good. I think the only thing I actually liked was the conflict between the people of San Irie and Reeve?
Anyways, the world building felt unexplored and the plot wholly undercooked. In short, the book needed to be longer, because the author should’ve expanded on the previous war (maybe with flashbacks?) in order to make the reader connect with the very basis the story hinders on, as well as to make us understand the characters and their connection to each other. I didn’t care about Aveline, not because she didn’t have potential, but because the author should’ve exploited (for lack of a better word) her way more than she did.
Faron also struck me as a completely unlikeable character. I don’t get why she became the Childe Empyrean, why Reeve fell for her, just why she’s so elevated. Because there was no showing why. Honestly, the only thing that the author showed was that she was dumb and ‘cared about her sister’—but didn’t even have the energy to join Reeve in the library. Yeah. Fuck her.
The representation was cool, but it can only get you so far.
So. Yeah. This book needed much more revising and it needed to be at least a hundred pages longer, for the sake of delving into a story and relationships that were otherwise underdeveloped. The book had potential, okay?
Anyways, the world building felt unexplored and the plot wholly undercooked. In short, the book needed to be longer, because the author should’ve expanded on the previous war (maybe with flashbacks?) in order to make the reader connect with the very basis the story hinders on, as well as to make us understand the characters and their connection to each other. I didn’t care about Aveline, not because she didn’t have potential, but because the author should’ve exploited (for lack of a better word) her way more than she did.
The representation was cool, but it can only get you so far.
So. Yeah. This book needed much more revising and it needed to be at least a hundred pages longer, for the sake of delving into a story and relationships that were otherwise underdeveloped. The book had potential, okay?
House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Un coñazo de personaje principal
House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
SJM doesn't write romance. She writes people who's bond lies in the lust they feel for each other, then think they're in love because of it.
That being said, I'm kinda sad she writes so much smut because her plots and worlds have a lot of potential, but it gets lost in every overly-sexual descriptions and other inconsequential stuff.
Also, I hate Bryce.
That being said, I'm kinda sad she writes so much smut because her plots and worlds have a lot of potential, but it gets lost in every overly-sexual descriptions and other inconsequential stuff.
Also, I hate Bryce.
Redemptor by Jordan Ifueko
adventurous
dark
inspiring
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
WOW
Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This book was a complete masterpiece. Jordan Ifueko has a talent for worldbuilding and story spinning, that is undeniable.
I only disliked the ending (felt a tad anticlimactic) and how starkly different some chapters were from the previous ones (they disoriented me a bit).
I only disliked the ending (felt a tad anticlimactic) and how starkly different some chapters were from the previous ones (they disoriented me a bit).
Sing Me to Sleep by Gabi Burton
adventurous
dark
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? No
2.5
Pues menuda mierdecilla
PS: author stop sexualising a minor
PS: author stop sexualising a minor
A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid
Did not finish book. Stopped at 18%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 18%.
I'm not going to pretend I was enjoying it
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I have very, very mixed feelings about this book.
Evelyn Hugo is an intensely interesting character, from her background, to her personality, to her relationships. She isn’t charming nor even likeable: she’s intriguing and makes you want to learn more about her. She’s the perfect main character for what the book tries to do.
But here’s the thing: Dominique Grant is senselessly boring. This is the first time I find myself skipping through parts of a book—all of Dominique’s chapters, including the ones with Evelyn, when I just read the dialogues—because whereas I wanted to know more about Evelyn, I wish I knew less about Dominique. The author made her so boring, so bland, so mundane, so unmemorable I can only wonder how she could have also created Evelyn (or Harry, Celia, Don, etc.).
The way the book was focused, aka it being an interview between Evelyn and Dominique happening in the midst of Dominique’s much, much boring life, was a huge miss. It would’ve been better if it was Evelyn herself writing her autobiography. Similar things have been done before with great success (Isabel Allende’s Violeta will always break my heart). We didn’t need another character that, truly, had very little to contribute and who shrunk beside Evelyn.
Also, I have issues with the ending.I expected Evelyn to die, but her line about wanting the world to know, particularly, that she was bisexual and Celia was the love of her life? That her seven husbands were just husbands? I might’ve read a different book, but Harry wasn’t ‘just a husband’. He was Evelyn’s best friend, soul mate and the true love of her life—never mind how platonic.
I disliked Evelyn and Celia’s relationship. Rather, I disliked how it was made to be this great thing that overrode every other relationship (besides Connor ig, not that she was in the book much) Evelyn went through. They were in a toxic relationship, okay? Celia was immensely jealous and biphobic towards Evelyn for the vast majority of the book. Evelyn was constantly breaking Celia’s heart. I don’t care that they were wives, I care that theirs wasn’t a pure love, because it was stained with toxicity.
Harry, however? He was always there for Evelyn. Literally from the very beginning and very end. My favourite part of the book was him and Evelyn deciding to get married and having Connor together. I don’t ship them or anything, but they’re a beautiful ode to friendship and that’s what I’m taking away from this book: the friendship aspect, since the romance department was disappointing beyond words.
On the topic of Harry. I don’t care that he was in a relationship with Dominique’s father. Honestly. The grand reveal wasn’t worth the pain of her chapters and just her meh-ness.
Evelyn Hugo is an intensely interesting character, from her background, to her personality, to her relationships. She isn’t charming nor even likeable: she’s intriguing and makes you want to learn more about her. She’s the perfect main character for what the book tries to do.
But here’s the thing: Dominique Grant is senselessly boring. This is the first time I find myself skipping through parts of a book—all of Dominique’s chapters, including the ones with Evelyn, when I just read the dialogues—because whereas I wanted to know more about Evelyn, I wish I knew less about Dominique. The author made her so boring, so bland, so mundane, so unmemorable I can only wonder how she could have also created Evelyn (or Harry, Celia, Don, etc.).
The way the book was focused, aka it being an interview between Evelyn and Dominique happening in the midst of Dominique’s much, much boring life, was a huge miss. It would’ve been better if it was Evelyn herself writing her autobiography. Similar things have been done before with great success (Isabel Allende’s Violeta will always break my heart). We didn’t need another character that, truly, had very little to contribute and who shrunk beside Evelyn.
Also, I have issues with the ending.