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zoeelizabethk's reviews
595 reviews
Homeward by Angela Jackson-Brown
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-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
4.0
Homeward follows Rose Perkins in the early 60s as she navigates marriage, loss, infidelity, and the Civil Rights movement. I enjoyed the slow build of the story and how character focused it was and the focus on the reluctance of some communities to embrace the Civil Rights movement. Jackson-Brown does a really good job making you feel all of Rose's emotions and struggles and I felt very immersed in her story. My only complaint is that the book ended rather abruptly and I honestly would have loved more.
The challenge for some people is going to be that this character work takes up about half of the book before we really get into the Civil Rights part of the story. I think the other challenge for some people will be that Homeward really focuses on the personal/familial impact of the Civil Rights movement and what the cost of getting involved was. I thought this was a great choice and done very well, but do not go in expecting an action-filled story of the Movement.
Jackson-Brown's writing was evocative and beautifully crafted. I'm definitely excited to try more of her work in future!
Thanks to Harper Collins Focus, Harper Muse, Harper Audio, and Netgalley for an audioARC of Homeward.
The challenge for some people is going to be that this character work takes up about half of the book before we really get into the Civil Rights part of the story. I think the other challenge for some people will be that Homeward really focuses on the personal/familial impact of the Civil Rights movement and what the cost of getting involved was. I thought this was a great choice and done very well, but do not go in expecting an action-filled story of the Movement.
Jackson-Brown's writing was evocative and beautifully crafted. I'm definitely excited to try more of her work in future!
Thanks to Harper Collins Focus, Harper Muse, Harper Audio, and Netgalley for an audioARC of Homeward.
Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
slow-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
4.5
I love so much about Knife of Dreams. Egwene's arc in this book is absolutely fantastic, and I love all the Aes Sedai machinations and manoevering. I still don't love Perrin's plotline in this book. Faile's is fine, but Perrin's a struggle for me here. BUT we are moving onward and upwards.
The Crew by Sadir S. Samir
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Overall I enjoyed The Crew. It's quite a unique feel in a book. It felt like an quest rpg in the sense of: To have X join your party, find X item. Now they have joined, continue on your quest. You have encountered a rogue boss battle. Prepare to engage. It also reminded me of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy as there was a lot of meandering and silliness. It definitely has plot but it's not terribly focused (on purpose), so you’re just kinda along for the ride. The world and racial/class structure is fascinating, and the characters were vibrant, but I didn’t feel like the characters got a ton of development. For me too much of it was done for fun and giggles without delving much deeper, and when Sadir did pull in themes they felt a little too on the nose for me. Overall I would recommend The Crew to those looking for a unique and spirited adventure romp with cool worldbuilding. Go in expecting a wacky time and you'll enjoy the time.
As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh
dark
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
DNF at 60%.
I liked the story of As Long As the Lemon Trees Grow, but I sadly didn’t love the central romance here and didn’t find the characters very compelling. By 60% I could tell it wasn’t going to get any better for me most likely. Ultimately I think these were more issues with me as a reader as I’ve read a couple similar stories this year that were absolutely stunning. So I can’t help a bit but compare this to those. I think this will be great for a lot of readers and it is a really important perspective about the horrors of war and the terrible realities of the Syrian War.
I liked the story of As Long As the Lemon Trees Grow, but I sadly didn’t love the central romance here and didn’t find the characters very compelling. By 60% I could tell it wasn’t going to get any better for me most likely. Ultimately I think these were more issues with me as a reader as I’ve read a couple similar stories this year that were absolutely stunning. So I can’t help a bit but compare this to those. I think this will be great for a lot of readers and it is a really important perspective about the horrors of war and the terrible realities of the Syrian War.
The Last Gifts of the Universe by Riley August
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
3.0
The Last Gifts of the Universe was at times sweet, reflective, tense, and mysterious as we follow two brothers and their cat as they investigate what has happened to their world. There's a secondary story going on that I really loved and was invested in. Ultimately I wasn't as invested in the main story and would have preferred the second story to be a larger part. I do recommend The Last Gifts if you're looking for a short sci-fi that explores the meaning of life and what it means to be human.
Merry Kismet by Anneka R. Walker
lighthearted
relaxing
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? Yes
4.0
Merry Kismet was such a sweet, second chance romance. I really enjoyed the relationship and the characters. It's a short romance at just over 200 pages, but the development was really well done and nothing felt too rushed or too dragged out. And I loved that there was no 3rd act drama and communication was prioritized. The Christmas aspect is not overwhelming, but people who love really Christmassy romances may find this isn't enough for them. Overall, a very enjoyable read, and I recommend to fans of clean romance and second chances.
I listened to the audio and the narration was fine, but the speed and volume of the narrators did not match and I had to adjust speed and volume whenever the narrator switched. Hopefully this gets evened out before publication.
Thanks to Dreamscape Select, Anneka Walker, and Negalley for an audioARC in exchange for an honest review!
I listened to the audio and the narration was fine, but the speed and volume of the narrators did not match and I had to adjust speed and volume whenever the narrator switched. Hopefully this gets evened out before publication.
Thanks to Dreamscape Select, Anneka Walker, and Negalley for an audioARC in exchange for an honest review!
Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio
DNF at 50%. I think I’m just not in the mood for this at the moment. It’s very Hadrian-centric and I’m finding the lack of other foils is making it hard for me to be invested. I think I’ll like this a lot more at another time when I’m in the mood for sci-fi