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shadow_summit's reviews
113 reviews
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This book has little to no plot. It's more a collection of whimsical lines or 'quotes' that will speak to some readers and fall flat for others.
The sketch-like drawings are cute, and the mole's penchant for cake made me laugh a few times too.
In conclusion, it's a super quick flip through, with social media post worthy lines, and is a perfect breather for between bigger reads...and it's cute.
The sketch-like drawings are cute, and the mole's penchant for cake made me laugh a few times too.
In conclusion, it's a super quick flip through, with social media post worthy lines, and is a perfect breather for between bigger reads...and it's cute.
Wormwood Abbey by Christina Baehr
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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? No
5.0
This books was a fun, quick read, and I'm honestly excited to continue the series.
There are a few Biblical themes and they are tastefully and perfectly handled and written.
The characters are lovely to follow and the creatures, dragons, mystery and the abbey definitely won me over too!
There are a few Biblical themes and they are tastefully and perfectly handled and written.
The characters are lovely to follow and the creatures, dragons, mystery and the abbey definitely won me over too!
The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I adored this book! It is definitely a more mature read compared to the Anne series and yet you still find the familiar witty and whimsical writing.
Valancy is a fun character to follow and her quips and observations are lively and makes relating to her an exciting time.
Her family, the Stirling's are eccentric and hilarious to follow and learn about, but you also feel the cumbersome weight they apply to Valancy.
Barney is a wonderful male lead too!
There are some cheesy parts, but they are written so magically that I loved the cliches because they felt right for the story.
I know this book is lesser known but by far a favourite of L.M. Montgomery! Highly recommend~
Valancy is a fun character to follow and her quips and observations are lively and makes relating to her an exciting time.
Her family, the Stirling's are eccentric and hilarious to follow and learn about, but you also feel the cumbersome weight they apply to Valancy.
Barney is a wonderful male lead too!
There are some cheesy parts, but they are written so magically that I loved the cliches because they felt right for the story.
I know this book is lesser known but by far a favourite of L.M. Montgomery! Highly recommend~
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Lout of Count's Family (Novel) Vol. 1 by Yu Ryeo-Han
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-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? No
5.0
This light novel is so much fun to read. Despite the chapters being long, it didn't feel like that at all!
Cale is a unique, reliable and yet quirky character. While his driving force is selfishness, we along with side-characters can see the good of the count's lout.
The side characters are memorable and each shine in their own ways, though everything surrounds our MC in the end.
The plot is mysterious and intriguing, but handled in a way that never feels info-dumpy.
Can't wait to read more!
Cale is a unique, reliable and yet quirky character. While his driving force is selfishness, we along with side-characters can see the good of the count's lout.
The side characters are memorable and each shine in their own ways, though everything surrounds our MC in the end.
The plot is mysterious and intriguing, but handled in a way that never feels info-dumpy.
Can't wait to read more!
Writing Book: A Practical Guide for Fiction Writers by Kate Grenville
informative
medium-paced
2.0
While I like that this book tackled some of the bad/weird advice writers get given when starting to write, and mentioned some voices are often ones we have to unlearn, I think that most of the advice given in this book can be found in better books.
There are a lot of exercises for people who don't know how to begin, but as someone who has no problem forming organic ideas and allowing characters to grow, I didn't find them helpful.
There are examples for each point and chapter too, but when they're talking about intriguing story introductions that draw in you audience and every example would make me drop the book, it's not for me.
There are a lot of exercises for people who don't know how to begin, but as someone who has no problem forming organic ideas and allowing characters to grow, I didn't find them helpful.
There are examples for each point and chapter too, but when they're talking about intriguing story introductions that draw in you audience and every example would make me drop the book, it's not for me.
Of Stormlarks and Silence by Constance Lopez
adventurous
funny
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
3.75
This was a fairly quick, fun read.
The only thing that really prevented my liking this book more, was that I personally don't enjoy books where from the beginning, as a reader, you know a characters revenge is aimed at the wrong person and then the character keeps on thinking how, despite all the evidence, they still have to hate the 'enemy'. I definitely enjoyed Tristan's POV more because of this.
It's nothing too ground-breaking, but for a debut novel and for those who enjoy standalones that have humour, political intrigue and really awesome side characters this is a fun read.
The only thing that really prevented my liking this book more, was that I personally don't enjoy books where from the beginning, as a reader, you know a characters revenge is aimed at the wrong person and then the character keeps on thinking how, despite all the evidence, they still have to hate the 'enemy'. I definitely enjoyed Tristan's POV more because of this.
It's nothing too ground-breaking, but for a debut novel and for those who enjoy standalones that have humour, political intrigue and really awesome side characters this is a fun read.
Once I Knew by Victoria Lynn
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I really wanted to like this book going into it, but although I soldiered on through, it fell super flat in the end.
(Please check trigger warnings if you choose to read this book! I went in thinking it wouldn't have some stuff, like sexual harassment, etc. but there are unexpected, rather confronting scenes)
There is a lot of monologue in this, you are in the characters heads more than following any action and for me, it made the story drag, especially when some of the monologues felt repetitive after a while.
The repetitiveness isn't helped by the fact:
1. The characters feel like throwing up every chapter pretty much.
2. The main characters get hit over the head, punched in the gut, slapped or faint, every second chapter.
I think this book would have been helped by a severe structural edit, a close line edit, etc. (On top of pacing issues, there were so many clunky sentences, incorrect punctuation and grammar mistakes).
I'll touch on the characters briefly:
I think my review is telltale when I say my only liked characters, were: a Horse, a Blacksmith and a character that didn't appear until near the very end.
I assume Violet isn't meant to be a character you dislike...but she really wasn't likeable. If you look at her reasoning for everything it's very self-focused.
Obed was really lovable in the beginning and when he gave Violet a reality check, but he seemed a token lover boi, despite Violets cold attitude, and then kind of lost his unique spark after the 50% mark.
The ending was very lacklustre, as the author threw in almost a final chapter conflict that didn't make sense and really just hammered the nail into the coffin of disliking Violet. I wasn't cheering them on in Chapter 30 at all.
There are a few Biblical things that didn't sit right either but ultimately you get enough of an idea from the rest of my review, if you care. 😅
The repetitiveness isn't helped by the fact:
1. The characters feel like throwing up every chapter pretty much.
2. The main characters get hit over the head, punched in the gut, slapped or faint, every second chapter.
I think this book would have been helped by a severe structural edit, a close line edit, etc. (On top of pacing issues, there were so many clunky sentences, incorrect punctuation and grammar mistakes).
I'll touch on the characters briefly:
I think my review is telltale when I say my only liked characters, were: a Horse, a Blacksmith and a character that didn't appear until near the very end.
I assume Violet isn't meant to be a character you dislike...but she really wasn't likeable. If you look at her reasoning for everything it's very self-focused.
Obed was really lovable in the beginning and when he gave Violet a reality check, but he seemed a token lover boi, despite Violets cold attitude, and then kind of lost his unique spark after the 50% mark.
The ending was very lacklustre, as the author threw in almost a final chapter conflict that didn't make sense and really just hammered the nail into the coffin of disliking Violet. I wasn't cheering them on in Chapter 30 at all.
There are a few Biblical things that didn't sit right either but ultimately you get enough of an idea from the rest of my review, if you care. 😅
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Death of parent
Moderate: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Sexual harassment, and War
Yona of the Dawn, Vol. 26 by Mizuho Kusanagi
adventurous
emotional
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Ah, what a fun wrap to the Xing tension and gotta love that ending~ The crews reactions are priceless.
I love how when the dragons can't be with Yona, Ao is right there with her, such a strong, protector.
I love how when the dragons can't be with Yona, Ao is right there with her, such a strong, protector.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, and War
The Burning Bridge by John Flanagan
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This book took a moment to get in to. I think the last 4 sentences of the prologue could have been left out, so that the 'twist' later on could have had a flying chance of being surprising (for those not naturally suspicious-minded, and already suspecting it). It would have been fun to discover the twist alongside the characters rather than waiting for the penny to drop.
I was enjoying the brief following of Halt more than adventuring with Will, but fortunately after a bit Will, Horace, and a newly introduced character, started getting down to business and things moves swiftly on from there.
A lot of lore, countries and characters are introduced in this book.
As other reviews say, the ending is a cliffhanger, so be forewarned.
I was enjoying the brief following of Halt more than adventuring with Will, but fortunately after a bit Will, Horace, and a newly introduced character, started getting down to business and things moves swiftly on from there.
A lot of lore, countries and characters are introduced in this book.
As other reviews say, the ending is a cliffhanger, so be forewarned.
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Anne of Green Gables shall always be a book of inspiration and joy to me.
Anne encapsulates a wonder of the world, of both nature's beautiful and the human characters living amongst it.
There are so many underline worthy quotes in this, spun together with wit and poetic musings.
I laughed, learnt lessons and cried alongside Anne, and, as the ages pass, this book shall forever remain a recommendable favourite~
Anne encapsulates a wonder of the world, of both nature's beautiful and the human characters living amongst it.
There are so many underline worthy quotes in this, spun together with wit and poetic musings.
I laughed, learnt lessons and cried alongside Anne, and, as the ages pass, this book shall forever remain a recommendable favourite~