amypalmer's reviews
103 reviews

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious relaxing sad tense 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

5.0

What a phenomenal first read of the year. This book has everything you could want, fun characters in a war school setting, romantic tension, dragons with fierce personalities, plot twist, roller coasters and some emotional stuff too. I have no bad points to make. This book was a fun read and I devoured the 500 pages. 

Thor by Jason Aaron: The Complete Collection Vol. 1 by Jason Aaron

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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? Yes

4.75

This is a very well written comic book collection and has moments of excitement, fun, and adventure with some quite gruesome and dark moments intertwined. I really enjoyed this narrative and the art style is great too.

The Sandman: The Deluxe Edition Book Two by Neil Gaiman

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.5

I didnt like this as much as the first book and felt there was no solid plot through book 2. Mostly individual stories which I'm sure will be more relevant later. Some stand out good stories were Calliope, dream of a thousand cats, song of orpheus, a midsummer night's dream, and season of mists prologue. I enjoyed meeting tbe other endless more thoroughly. I also though the depictions of the worlds and hell were investing. I found there was a lot of sexulisation in this book and some rather negative depictions of women and violence on women. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence and Violence

Moderate: Death and Suicidal thoughts

Skyshade by Alex Aster

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

4.5

This is on par with the previous book nighbane. I do like the new plot developments Nd character growth. I do fi d the love triangle a little grating and feel by book 3 she needs to pick a man. There is some good world building and a great (but slightly annoying) cliffhanger at the end. I enjoyed the magics of this book and found d Grim more likable.

Nightbane by Alex Aster

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted tense 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? Yes

4.5

this is a great sequel and surpasses the previous book. I do love the flashbacks and now know the full backstory of Isla and Grim. The ending leave me wanting more. This was a fun easy read and was more adult than the previous book. The flaw with this book is Grim and although his character arc is somewhat cleared up right at the end I did struggle with the polar opposite personalities of the flash back and present Grim.

Lightlark by Alex Aster

adventurous funny hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.0

This book was a fun easy read. It had some fun worl building and interesting powers. I liked it. Definitely is a YA. Predictable plot twists, including the ending

Queen B by Juno Dawson

adventurous hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective fast-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

I enjoyed this but not as much as the first two novels. I found that the characters (especially Anne Boleyn) were not as fleshed out and felt that this book could have been longer. I enjoyed the back and fourth between before and after Anne's death. However I felt the story was a little empty. The ending was nice, but again didn't really add much. We get a vague idea of how HMRC is set up but not really enough. 

The Shadow Cabinet by Juno Dawson

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny lighthearted mysterious reflective tense 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

4.75

This surpassed the first book (which I still very much enjoyed). I found this one to be a little less "social justice warrior" which at times I felt the first book was too much. Although I feel those topics are important the first book did it in a way that was over the top. 

This book still hilights those topics but does it in a much more meaningful way. All the characters become fully explored and are all enjoyable. 

The plot twist at the end (while I was suspecting something) was still a big surprise and leaves me wanting more. This books was wonderful and difficult to put down.

Her Majesty's Royal Coven by Juno Dawson

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted reflective 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? Yes

4.5

I enjoyed this alot, more than I thought I would to be honest. The characters are really fun and interesting and I do love a bit of magic in my reads. This world although fantasy is well thought out and comes across as very real. 

I have a few critiques with some of the language used and plot point which may not be to everyone's taste. The language comes across very YA (though this is an adult series and does have colourful swear word choices).

Thins book handles the topic of transgender and transphobia well. However at times I didn't love some of the perspectives on cis-white characters. I felt cis-white characters were always seen as coming from a point of privilege and were at times vilified.

I think this is more of a personal criticism from myself as I am a cis-white woman who has not grown up with added privileges and come from a fairly disadvantaged background. 

One huge issue I have

is with Helena. Yes she is a rich white woman who has grown up with all the privileges possible. However her character at the end completely goes off the rails in an almost cartoonish fashion, it feels like a caricature. I completelyget that she is representing the toxic transphobic people that are real but its very oddly done. I am also concernedabout the character Snow, who seemed to show some remorse a d guilt but now seems to be of that same mindset as her mother at the end which was bizzare.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Panic attacks/disorders, Transphobia, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Car accident, and War

Minor: Racism and Sexism

A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson

dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious tense 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? Yes

4.75

I loved and devoured this book, I read it practically in a day. This isn't scary and my only criticism would be that I think the dark moments and gaslighting could have been darker. However the relationships and characters in this book are enjoyable. This also comes across as YA at times which I don't mine. I loved the style this was written in (diary/letter to dracula) and think this really worked with the plot.