a_reader_obsessed's reviews
3104 reviews

An Easy Death by Charlaine Harris

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

I haven’t read a Charlaine Harris novel in a little over ten years, and what stood out to me the most is that her female protagonists are still sensible and resilient.  What also remains the same is her simple storytelling that just pulls the reader along easily with no fuss.

Here, Lisbeth Rose is a very good gunslinger, and she knows it.  So when she takes a job escorting and guarding two wizards across the southern US and into Mexico, she does it not only for the money but to also ensure some secrets remain hidden. As Lisbeth and her two companions travel across the brutal landscape, one knows that their journey will be anything but easy.

This series is an untamed alternate history Western, where the US has been devastated by disease, loss, and an unraveling of the government and its territories.  Toss in the Holy Russian Empire who now rules from California, along with plenty of magic and shootouts, this is a world where everyone’s just trying to survive any which way they can.

Overall, Lisbeth is an unconventional heroine, competent and deadly when needed, older than her young 19 years, firmly grounded in practicality, and not prone to nonsense from herself and certainly, not from others.

I enjoyed exploring Harris’s latest creation and plan to come back to see what’s in store for this shrewd heroine soon!

Ice Planet Holiday by Ruby Dixon

emotional medium-paced

3.5

Another enjoyable interlude as the women from earth think it’s the perfect time to break up the winter monotony. They’ve been mostly thriving for over a year now and many are paired up, pregnant, and some are even moms, so why not make a holiday of it to give thanks and liven things up for their newfound family!

Focusing on Georgie who’s pregnant and tired of being so, as well as unmated Claire who’s struggling in her current miserable relationship with Bek, I liked seeing how these two separate peoples and cultures have come together so harmoniously.

A nice read to indulge in a feast, treats, and presents, not to mention a few births and a newly resonated couple!

The Brides of High Hill by Nghi Vo

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Well, that certainly took an unexpected turn! 

As per the blurb our beloved cleric Chih finds themselves accompanying a would-be bride to meet her potential husband to engage in a 3 day event of negotiations and hopefully, celebration.  However, suspicious event after suspicious event makes Chih slowly realize that everything is not as it seems.

I really don’t want to spoil things. I applaud Vo for throwing such a curveball, as Chih’s usual efforts at discovering any story they can, results in finding themselves eyeball deep in the making of one.

My personal favorites of this series are those with more of an emotional heft such as The Empress of Salt and Fortune and Mammoths at the Gate, but despite a more mystery vibe with layers of horror, this was still a captivating look at a fantasy world reminiscent of Imperial China.  

Overall, I have enjoyed myself with these varied adventures of Chih and their companion bird Almost Brilliant, and I will do so for as long as Vo continues to write them!

Thank you to the author and Tordotcom via NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review

Steelstriker by Marie Lu

adventurous dark emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

Again, that gorgeous cover just catches the eye!

Look.  I’m not sad or mad that I read this.  However, know that for me, the romance was uninspired and the struggles to survive were the usual roadblocks seen in this standard dystopia YA.  If that is what you love, then this fully delivers!

What I enjoyed were the little plot twists and reveals and the supporting cast with their own personal angsty struggles. 

Overall, tough awful decisions were made, the big battle was big, and the win comes at a very high cost.  Be reassured that Talin and Red win the end game and live to heal and ultimately, thrive, and in the end, that’s what counts. 

Time's Agent by Brenda Peynado

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

Truly original and truly steeped in speculative science.

Here, this is a future where small pockets of worlds exist, each with their own ecosystem and time dilation (either super slow or super fast compared to current reality).  They represent every hope and opportunity to make life on earth better, learning about old civilizations, discovering new flora and fauna, and in turn, seizing a chance on renewable resources.  

Following scientist Raquel, who is part of the venerated Institute that spearheads exploring these wondrous worlds, she makes one small mistake, setting off a chain reaction where every good intention goes horribly wrong.

In this alternate reality, Peynado unfurls a grim outlook on corporate greed and voracious negligent consumerism that is an endless cycle of depletion and enslavement to the big machine that keeps things turning.  As Raquel tries to right her wrongs in a world that is hostile and hopeless, how Peynado brings forth Raquel’s enlightenment and ultimately, how she tries to resolve her issues was actually quite ingenious. 

Overall, this story wasn’t an easy or happy read. It is seriously mired with tech, AI, scientific advancements, and unfathomable repercussions of all these small alternate realities that are readily accessible and exploitable.  However, Peynado surprised me through Raquel’s grief and guilt as she offers her protagonist a miniscule chance of healing redemption through her drive for an unobtainable utopia, forcing her to make a grand sacrifice.

Again, this is far from a tidy HEA, but it made me think hard, and I only hope that Raquel’s offering was enough to keep a part of the universe whole and untainted.

Thank you to the author and Tordotcom via NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review

Never Was a Stranger by Dira Sudis

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But Not With Haste by uraneia

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Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

3.0

As Libby investigates her family's death to exonerate her own guilt, she unravels some unbelievable reveals.

Best intentions go horribly wrong.
Dreams and plans are misinterpreted.
Greed and fear create lies.

Actions do have consequences and when all these things conspire willing and unknowingly, it creates an amalgam of events that ends up in tragedy. A tragedy that doesn't really get justice because when it's all said and done, there's no bringing back the dead.

This was not an easy read.
This does not contain a happy ending nor a satisfying conclusion.
This was something that was hard to get through but admittedly, was compelling nonetheless.

Staring into the sun by Original_Cypher

3.0

This is sorta like high school/college Sterek, which I admit I have an affinity for. This being an X-Men-like AU didn't hurt either.

Deaton runs a school for the gifted. Each student is chosen early before their power fully manifests and they are trained to utilize it well, whether or not they ultimately go on to join a "specials" task force. The whole gang is talented except Stiles - his ability has yet to make an appearance.

So you have broody Derek who has trust issues and Stiles who's keeping secrets. Forced to work together on an assignment, they form a tentative friendship.

A crisis arises, everyone is kick ass awesome, and of course Stiles gets his guy. We wouldn't want it any other way :)

Every Step You Take by Nokomis (AO3)

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