aleshag's reviews
38 reviews

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

adventurous lighthearted mysterious 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? No

4.5

I fell in love with this story! The ending was perfect, exactly what I needed from the book. 

I loved following along Kiela and Caz’s journey throughout the story and how they adapted to survive. 

The jam shop was the cutest idea! I loved following along Kiela’s good nature and immediate decision to share the magic with the town in any way she could. She didn’t stop until they had a semi-decent way to hide the magic and help.

Their good hearts were shown various times throughout the story,

having the spells never once changed Kiela. Despite how Radane had treated them, they all accepted her anyway.

They all make such a cute family in their town and I love it!

It was refreshing to read such a magical story with a sweet ending, I’m happy I picked this up!

Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover

emotional hopeful inspiring medium-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

4.0

I loved this story! It was a great read, everything was super realistic and many parts I found myself relating to. What Kenna says throughout the story really resonates with me. 

You read the story of a mother who really has hit rock bottom.

She’s lost the man she loves, due to her own negligence and bad decisions, and had a child with him. that’s difficult on its own, on top of that everyone in the world is beating you down. She pushes on and never gives up, it’s a nice story to read.

The Memory Thieves by Dhonielle Clayton

adventurous mysterious 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? No

3.5

I’m loving the adventure Ella and her friends find themselves on each year.

Once again, they managed to save the day! We also received a bunch more answers in this book about Brigit, The Aces, Ella’s ancestors, and the history behind the Marvellian world!

I’m very excited to continue with the series and keep learning everything there is to discover. I cannot wait to see what Ella’s companion will be, what will happen now that Brigit knows both her parents, and what Gia will do next!

The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

This was a fun read! 

I love Ella, truly, and I’m hooked on following her adventure!

I hope the Marvellers truly learn to accept Ella and other Conjurors into society. Gia’s storyline was also interesting

, I’ll definitely be picking up the next book to learn more. 

It broke my heart to see how everyone treated Ella, they’re only 11!

When reading the story, it’s important to remember the characters are kids. The author does a great job at writing their personalities for the age group. 

Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I loved how this series wrapped up!
I picked up the second book hoping for some more answers and I got them!

I learned to like the Shepherd King in this book, he truly did care for Elspeth and tried to help her friends. I loved reading as they adventured to

find the last card. I felt like I was there, I had fun imagining what I thought the woods and the Spirit would look like.

I’m very happy with this ending and I’m glad I stuck until the end.

All of my favorite characters lived AND got the life they deserved. Hauth is the worst and deserved what he got. I teared up a bit when the Shepherd King left, but he’s finally reunited with his family.

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I enjoyed this book, it was fun to read about another way magic can be incorporated — it isn’t always necessarily a wand, it can be many forms. I will say, most of the characters bugged me, I found it difficult to stay focused until the end. 

I did predict that the “Nightmare” in her head was the Shepard King, I was very happy to find that I was right. I wish we could’ve gotten more of Ravyn’s and Elspeth love story.. I was shipping them from the very beginning.

The book made me very attached to Ravyn and Elspeth, the end brought a few tears. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Child death, Blood, and Death of parent

The Striker by Ana Huang

emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I enjoyed this story! Their love story was refreshing, I loved following along as new problems would present themselves and the two of them would find a solution — together.

They came a long way from pushing each other (and their emotions) away for the sake of her brother. he’s an adult and so is she, i found their constant need to push away quite irritating!

A few parts of the story made me tear up, Ana does a great job at making you fall in love with the characters in the story within a few pages. 

Also, I loved reading as Scarlett conquered fears and put her past to rest.. on her own terms. It truly was inspiring a bit to read her thought process as she figured out solutions or realized she was pushing herself too hard. She came a long way from where she started in the beginning, I think she’s absolutely glowing now.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Car accident, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Bullying and Alcohol

Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-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? No

4.0

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

adventurous dark medium-paced

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

4.0

The story wasn’t bad, I enjoyed seeing how everything progressed further. Alina just keeps escaping death magically, she starts resenting her friends for it at the end.. poor girl. 
Mal is really getting on my nerves, he’s so head over heels for her and insanely insecure now that she has powers. where was this love when she was just the orphan girl he grew up with and he’s swooning over the Grisha girls at the camp?? 🙄 and then he has the audacity throughout the book to keep accusing her of not wanting him, wanting others, blah blah when he’s all that’s ever been on her mind… STILL on her mind. I just think he needs to relax a bit, or she should just forget about him and go to Nikolai.. 🫣

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

I loved following along the story of Alina, I was hooked from start to finish.