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asreadbyallie's reviews
241 reviews
Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How to Heal from Distant, Rejecting, or Self-Involved Parents by Lindsay C. Gibson
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Gallant by V.E. Schwab
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
One of my favourite reads this year!
Sesame Salt and Pudding, Vol 1 by Yufuko Suzuki
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Enchanting Fate (Fairy Tales of Gallia Book One) by Ashley Evercott
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.75
Actual rating: 3.8 out of 5 stars. This is a non-spoiler review of Enchanting Fate. I received this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Enchanting Fate is a whimsical adaptation of Beauty and the Beast. If you’re familiar with the fable or the Disney version, you’ll see a lot of influences, and new changes to a tale as old as time.
The story follows Henri, a newly made count who is estranged from his father’s family. After a harsh childhood, he now has power, money and the control to live the life he wants. His upbringing and irrational choices catch up to him, causing his downfall and the people who serve him. It also follows Marguerite, the eldest daughter of a once-wealthy merchant who has lost everything. As the eldest, she takes it upon herself to sacrifice her happiness to save her family. Fate brings them together to break a curse, one that can only be cured by love. But can you really fall in love with someone out of obligation?
MY THOUGHTS
This story wasn’t the most thrilling story for me, but it was comforting and familiar, as I am a fan of Beauty and the Beast and its many iterations. It made me get out of my reading slump and had many good parts to it.
This adaption draws on a lot of influences from the source material and makes alludes to the Disney version as well (I really appreciated some of those references sprinkled in). I really like the changes in this story, particularly with the character backstories.
This story follows Henri and Marguerite (who are the Beast and Beauty in this tale), but it also switches perspective with Isa and Claude, two staff members who work for Henri (and are ultimately cursed with him), who get entangled with our two main characters; you do get invested in the personal lives of these other characters, and the dynamics of them as well. Evercott is really good at expanding them and making all the characters well-rounded.
However, as much as I liked it, there are a couple of reasons why I rated this book the way I did.
I felt like Henri, one of the main characters (the Beast), had a drastic change in character from Chapters 1-3. The story starts off with him, and it starts STRONG. However, his personality in that opening chapter and when the inciting incident of his character happens (when he turns into the Beast): seems detached. They seemed like two different people, and it left me confused.
As the story progresses, the conflict and damage of his nature are pieced together, and you get an understanding as to why he acted the way he did when he was transformed, but it was sudden enough for me to notice and personally didn't feel his severe flaws were properly expressed from the top (to add: I felt like his actions, in the beginning, were justified and made sense. Were they nice? No, but considering his upbringing... wasn't entirely selfish). On a positive note: his journey from emotional immaturity to responsibility and humanity was refreshing. It is a slow journey, but he gets there.
The writing was easy to follow, and the story world itself was easy to understand; I just wish we got to know more about it. The world these characters live in, Gallia, actually alludes to a rich culture with peoples who have progressed yet still have these very old beliefs in magic. It mentions gods, Three Hells, and a magic system that includes Enchanters who can curse people. It really is fascinating, and I would be open to reading a story with original characters set in this world.
The plot and conflict were pretty straightforward, but with a familiar tale like this, there are only so many ways to tell it. There were no major plot twists (at least that I perceived), at it was foreshadowed pretty early on/it was easy to piece together what would happen next. Also, this book was marketed as a 'new adult', but it reads more like a young adult novel.
But, as adaptations go, I appreciate how it didn’t follow that conventional ending, and that the rationale behind the character's romantic interests was realistic and grounded-which was refreshing. I think if you're someone that wants to read a fantasy romance that is familiar to get out of your reading slump, this would be the book for you.
MY RATING:
I'm giving this book a 3.8 out of 5 stars.
The driving force behind this story was definitely the characters and their relationships with one another. It wasn't the most complex story, but it brought some new twists to this classic tale. Having people in forced closed proximity to each other with a lot of tension always leads to something—and it always involves chaos and a resolution. And in this case, it was a good and satisfying one.
One thing I can say is that it’s evident Evercott had fun writing this story, and I enjoyed reading it at the end of the day. It's also clear that she cared so deeply about the characters and world she was writing about. She knows how to enthrall her readers, and has a bright future ahead of her as well.
Enchanting Fate is a whimsical adaptation of Beauty and the Beast. If you’re familiar with the fable or the Disney version, you’ll see a lot of influences, and new changes to a tale as old as time.
The story follows Henri, a newly made count who is estranged from his father’s family. After a harsh childhood, he now has power, money and the control to live the life he wants. His upbringing and irrational choices catch up to him, causing his downfall and the people who serve him. It also follows Marguerite, the eldest daughter of a once-wealthy merchant who has lost everything. As the eldest, she takes it upon herself to sacrifice her happiness to save her family. Fate brings them together to break a curse, one that can only be cured by love. But can you really fall in love with someone out of obligation?
MY THOUGHTS
This story wasn’t the most thrilling story for me, but it was comforting and familiar, as I am a fan of Beauty and the Beast and its many iterations. It made me get out of my reading slump and had many good parts to it.
This adaption draws on a lot of influences from the source material and makes alludes to the Disney version as well (I really appreciated some of those references sprinkled in). I really like the changes in this story, particularly with the character backstories.
This story follows Henri and Marguerite (who are the Beast and Beauty in this tale), but it also switches perspective with Isa and Claude, two staff members who work for Henri (and are ultimately cursed with him), who get entangled with our two main characters; you do get invested in the personal lives of these other characters, and the dynamics of them as well. Evercott is really good at expanding them and making all the characters well-rounded.
However, as much as I liked it, there are a couple of reasons why I rated this book the way I did.
I felt like Henri, one of the main characters (the Beast), had a drastic change in character from Chapters 1-3. The story starts off with him, and it starts STRONG. However, his personality in that opening chapter and when the inciting incident of his character happens (when he turns into the Beast): seems detached. They seemed like two different people, and it left me confused.
As the story progresses, the conflict and damage of his nature are pieced together, and you get an understanding as to why he acted the way he did when he was transformed, but it was sudden enough for me to notice and personally didn't feel his severe flaws were properly expressed from the top (to add: I felt like his actions, in the beginning, were justified and made sense. Were they nice? No, but considering his upbringing... wasn't entirely selfish). On a positive note: his journey from emotional immaturity to responsibility and humanity was refreshing. It is a slow journey, but he gets there.
The writing was easy to follow, and the story world itself was easy to understand; I just wish we got to know more about it. The world these characters live in, Gallia, actually alludes to a rich culture with peoples who have progressed yet still have these very old beliefs in magic. It mentions gods, Three Hells, and a magic system that includes Enchanters who can curse people. It really is fascinating, and I would be open to reading a story with original characters set in this world.
The plot and conflict were pretty straightforward, but with a familiar tale like this, there are only so many ways to tell it. There were no major plot twists (at least that I perceived), at it was foreshadowed pretty early on/it was easy to piece together what would happen next. Also, this book was marketed as a 'new adult', but it reads more like a young adult novel.
But, as adaptations go, I appreciate how it didn’t follow that conventional ending, and that the rationale behind the character's romantic interests was realistic and grounded-which was refreshing. I think if you're someone that wants to read a fantasy romance that is familiar to get out of your reading slump, this would be the book for you.
MY RATING:
I'm giving this book a 3.8 out of 5 stars.
The driving force behind this story was definitely the characters and their relationships with one another. It wasn't the most complex story, but it brought some new twists to this classic tale. Having people in forced closed proximity to each other with a lot of tension always leads to something—and it always involves chaos and a resolution. And in this case, it was a good and satisfying one.
One thing I can say is that it’s evident Evercott had fun writing this story, and I enjoyed reading it at the end of the day. It's also clear that she cared so deeply about the characters and world she was writing about. She knows how to enthrall her readers, and has a bright future ahead of her as well.
The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System: Ren Zha Fanpai Zijiu Xitong (Novel) Vol. 1 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu
fast-paced
3.5
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Originally posted on asreadbyallie.wordpress.com
One thing that readers should know: this is a book about fairies, but not a fairytale.
Taken away as a child after her parents are brutally murdered to live amongst the faeries in Elfhame, Jude's life is the definition of unconventional. A mortal child raised as an equal in fairyland is rare, causing Jude and her twin, Taryn, a myriad of problems. Constantly feeling like she has nothing and everything to lose, Jude makes it her mission to rightfully earn her place among them. However, her attempts lead her down a darker path, to a fate that entangles her further into a world of politics, passion, and the power of Elfhame.
MY THOUGHTS
This book was definitely one that captured my attention from the beginning. It starts with tragedy, is set in a bloodthirsty fairy court, and ends with a cliffhanger.
It's a world that's fantastical and terrifying at the same time. Enemies and betrayal are at every corner. There are plenty of twists that keep you at the edge of your seat. And as for the romance? It's a very slow burn, but one that will definitely grow into something beautiful.
The characters in this book are really well written. Our protagonist, Jude, and her older sisters, Vivi and Taryn (her twin), are shaped by their upbringing and are traumatized, which shows itself in different ways throughout the book. Family is a huge theme in this book (and belonging of course), and let me tell you, love and loyalty are on the line and it will leave you feeling a lot of emotions.
The characters are (almost) all morally gray. With the exception of the antagonists, the characters are not bad but neither are they truly good.
Jude wasn't the most lovable narrator to have, but slowly, as the novel progressed, I fell in love with her. I found her grit, roughness, and determination admirable because there were many places where she could've thrown in the towel, but she kept going. Granted, a lot of her actions are questionable, but when you're a 17-year-old human playing a game with fairies, things are bound to get messy. (Although, I did find myself screaming into the abyss: "GIRL WHAT ARE YOU DOING?").
Holly Black is one of those authors that I have a self-admitted soft-spot for, as I've been reading her books since I was 13 years old. First with the Spiderwick Chronicles, followed by her Modern Faerie Tale trilogy, which introduced me into her dark fairy world (side note: if you have read those books, characters from that one do make an appearance as they share the same universe as TCP! It isn't required to read those books to read this one though but if you're curious, I recommend it).
Her magical world of dark fairies and intrigue has always taken me on a thrilling ride, leaving me breathless and wanting more.
The Cruel Prince is no exception.
Her writing is lyrical and strings everything together into the wonderfully crafted story that is The Cruel Prince; think Alice in Wonderland meets Macbeth. She is amazing at capturing a reader's attention, and I think she is an amazing fantasy writer.
MY RATING
I definitely have to give this book a 4 out of 5 stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I think that this book is great for teens to adult readers. It's a book that will make you wonder "What's going to happen next?" and "It can't get worse, can it?", but will also have you heavily invested with what will happen next.
It really was a book that made me remember why I love reading fantasy.
Reader warning: this book contains bullying, abuse, and death.
One thing that readers should know: this is a book about fairies, but not a fairytale.
Taken away as a child after her parents are brutally murdered to live amongst the faeries in Elfhame, Jude's life is the definition of unconventional. A mortal child raised as an equal in fairyland is rare, causing Jude and her twin, Taryn, a myriad of problems. Constantly feeling like she has nothing and everything to lose, Jude makes it her mission to rightfully earn her place among them. However, her attempts lead her down a darker path, to a fate that entangles her further into a world of politics, passion, and the power of Elfhame.
MY THOUGHTS
This book was definitely one that captured my attention from the beginning. It starts with tragedy, is set in a bloodthirsty fairy court, and ends with a cliffhanger.
It's a world that's fantastical and terrifying at the same time. Enemies and betrayal are at every corner. There are plenty of twists that keep you at the edge of your seat. And as for the romance? It's a very slow burn, but one that will definitely grow into something beautiful.
The characters in this book are really well written. Our protagonist, Jude, and her older sisters, Vivi and Taryn (her twin), are shaped by their upbringing and are traumatized, which shows itself in different ways throughout the book. Family is a huge theme in this book (and belonging of course), and let me tell you, love and loyalty are on the line and it will leave you feeling a lot of emotions.
The characters are (almost) all morally gray. With the exception of the antagonists, the characters are not bad but neither are they truly good.
Jude wasn't the most lovable narrator to have, but slowly, as the novel progressed, I fell in love with her. I found her grit, roughness, and determination admirable because there were many places where she could've thrown in the towel, but she kept going. Granted, a lot of her actions are questionable, but when you're a 17-year-old human playing a game with fairies, things are bound to get messy. (Although, I did find myself screaming into the abyss: "GIRL WHAT ARE YOU DOING?").
Holly Black is one of those authors that I have a self-admitted soft-spot for, as I've been reading her books since I was 13 years old. First with the Spiderwick Chronicles, followed by her Modern Faerie Tale trilogy, which introduced me into her dark fairy world (side note: if you have read those books, characters from that one do make an appearance as they share the same universe as TCP! It isn't required to read those books to read this one though but if you're curious, I recommend it).
Her magical world of dark fairies and intrigue has always taken me on a thrilling ride, leaving me breathless and wanting more.
The Cruel Prince is no exception.
Her writing is lyrical and strings everything together into the wonderfully crafted story that is The Cruel Prince; think Alice in Wonderland meets Macbeth. She is amazing at capturing a reader's attention, and I think she is an amazing fantasy writer.
MY RATING
I definitely have to give this book a 4 out of 5 stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I think that this book is great for teens to adult readers. It's a book that will make you wonder "What's going to happen next?" and "It can't get worse, can it?", but will also have you heavily invested with what will happen next.
It really was a book that made me remember why I love reading fantasy.
Reader warning: this book contains bullying, abuse, and death.
Electric Idol by Katee Robert
Psyche Dimitriou is perfect in spite of her scandalous family, who gossips say that they were involved in a high-profile death (but who can prove it?). She is adored by many and doesn’t miss a beat. When her mother ensnares her in another deranged plot, she is targeted by Aphrodite. Under the threat of death, she does something out of character: she impulsively marries Eros to stop his blood-thirsty mother, as Aphrodite would never harm her son-right? What unfolds is a tale of two star-crossed lovers trying to outrun insatiable ambition and misdirected revenge.
MY THOUGHTS
This novel is an adaptation of the Psyche and Eros myth, which holds a special place in my heart as I actually wrote about this specific myth in a university Greek Mythology course. Since I was aware of the source material, I was interested to see how this specific myth was adapted to fit the Dark Olympus series.
For the most part: the myth is used well in this novel to start trouble for another Dimitriou sister. It relates to the source material in many ways, particularly the inciting incident: Psyche’s beauty was the pride of her family, which caused Aphrodite’s ire and led to her downfall; here, her mother to use her as another pretty sacrificial lamb, causing her life to quickly spiral out of control.
Psyche, arguably, is my favourite sister, as she is smart, self-aware, and relies on her own inner strength. She doesn’t fit the social conventions of Olympus but has mastered being in the spotlight after years of unwanted attention and gossip due to her mother’s position (and ambition). Psyche has learned how to deal with the cut-throat, upper-class social circle (à la Gossip Girl) by crafting her image meticulously, becoming an It-girl influencer, and keeping everyone (but her sisters) at arm’s length.
She’s mentioned to be “fat” by Olympus standards, which I couldn’t really discern if she was just curvy, plus-sized (which I personally interpreted as such), or just “influencer” bodied (inspired by the Kardashians) because the norm of the elite is a model-like physique. Regardless, I appreciate how she’s depicted to have worked hard on her own self-acceptance and is comfortable in her own skin. And she knows what works for her. She has an eye for beauty and has a lot of depth.
Surprisingly, Psyche is clever and is more like Demeter than her sisters: she’s level-headed and knows how to formulate a plan, even under pressure. Eros (don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten about him), for the most part, has a lot of issues (I mean, he WAS going to kill Psyche)-but does get vulnerable, and begins to truly accept the damage his mother has caused.
As this is the second book in this trilogy, the world is expanded, and I have to say, I think the female characters ATE this book up. Eros, you know, he did his part, but the females carried it: from our protagonist Psyche to baddie Aphrodite, to our ever-lovable Hermes, to the introduction of Helen and her sister, Eris.
Now here’s the juicy info you might want to know: this book wasn’t as spicy as its predecessor. There, I SAID IT.
Were there hot moments? Absolutely. The tension was great too. Did they [Psyche and Eros] get down and dirty? Of course! But this novel was definitely more memorable for the conflict/plot (in my opinion) than for the sexy moments. Which, isn’t really a bad thing. I still enjoyed those moments, and if you like more tension and the fake marriage plot, this is for you.
The downside for me was the back and forth between Psyche and Eros of, “oh they love me, they love me not”, but I will let it slide because everything was spontaneous for them. I will say that I felt like the stakes were much higher for them than it was for Persephone (and there were many lives at stake) because it was personal and unlike Persphone, neither Psyche nor Eros has much power or leverage on their side; they were definitely in a cat and mouse game.
I think where this story falls for me is that I definitely was expecting it to be hotter, as Psyche and Eros are the myth of beauty and love. But, as adaptations go, this was really good. I liked what I read, and I liked the characters too-angst, seduction, melodrama and all. It was a good story that I do recommend.
RATING
Thinking of a rating for this book was hard.
Hot moments? 3 out of 5 🥵🥵🥵
Overall rating: a 3.8 out of 5 stars. Same overall rating as Neon Gods, but my reasoning for rating them are completely different, as I did like the story more in this one.
Again, these are my thoughts on the book–you may find it more enjoyable than I did. And I did enjoy the book, but not in the ways I thought I would. It was still a good story, and I look forward to reading Wicked Beauty this summer (June 7, 2022).
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-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
3.5
Rating: 3.8 stars. Originally posted on asreadbyallie.wordpress.com
Electric Idol was definitely one of my most anticipated reads this year-and it surprised me in different ways.
Electric Idol was definitely one of my most anticipated reads this year-and it surprised me in different ways.
Psyche Dimitriou is perfect in spite of her scandalous family, who gossips say that they were involved in a high-profile death (but who can prove it?). She is adored by many and doesn’t miss a beat. When her mother ensnares her in another deranged plot, she is targeted by Aphrodite. Under the threat of death, she does something out of character: she impulsively marries Eros to stop his blood-thirsty mother, as Aphrodite would never harm her son-right? What unfolds is a tale of two star-crossed lovers trying to outrun insatiable ambition and misdirected revenge.
MY THOUGHTS
This novel is an adaptation of the Psyche and Eros myth, which holds a special place in my heart as I actually wrote about this specific myth in a university Greek Mythology course. Since I was aware of the source material, I was interested to see how this specific myth was adapted to fit the Dark Olympus series.
For the most part: the myth is used well in this novel to start trouble for another Dimitriou sister. It relates to the source material in many ways, particularly the inciting incident: Psyche’s beauty was the pride of her family, which caused Aphrodite’s ire and led to her downfall; here, her mother to use her as another pretty sacrificial lamb, causing her life to quickly spiral out of control.
Psyche, arguably, is my favourite sister, as she is smart, self-aware, and relies on her own inner strength. She doesn’t fit the social conventions of Olympus but has mastered being in the spotlight after years of unwanted attention and gossip due to her mother’s position (and ambition). Psyche has learned how to deal with the cut-throat, upper-class social circle (à la Gossip Girl) by crafting her image meticulously, becoming an It-girl influencer, and keeping everyone (but her sisters) at arm’s length.
She’s mentioned to be “fat” by Olympus standards, which I couldn’t really discern if she was just curvy, plus-sized (which I personally interpreted as such), or just “influencer” bodied (inspired by the Kardashians) because the norm of the elite is a model-like physique. Regardless, I appreciate how she’s depicted to have worked hard on her own self-acceptance and is comfortable in her own skin. And she knows what works for her. She has an eye for beauty and has a lot of depth.
Surprisingly, Psyche is clever and is more like Demeter than her sisters: she’s level-headed and knows how to formulate a plan, even under pressure. Eros (don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten about him), for the most part, has a lot of issues (I mean, he WAS going to kill Psyche)-but does get vulnerable, and begins to truly accept the damage his mother has caused.
As this is the second book in this trilogy, the world is expanded, and I have to say, I think the female characters ATE this book up. Eros, you know, he did his part, but the females carried it: from our protagonist Psyche to baddie Aphrodite, to our ever-lovable Hermes, to the introduction of Helen and her sister, Eris.
Now here’s the juicy info you might want to know: this book wasn’t as spicy as its predecessor. There, I SAID IT.
Were there hot moments? Absolutely. The tension was great too. Did they [Psyche and Eros] get down and dirty? Of course! But this novel was definitely more memorable for the conflict/plot (in my opinion) than for the sexy moments. Which, isn’t really a bad thing. I still enjoyed those moments, and if you like more tension and the fake marriage plot, this is for you.
The downside for me was the back and forth between Psyche and Eros of, “oh they love me, they love me not”, but I will let it slide because everything was spontaneous for them. I will say that I felt like the stakes were much higher for them than it was for Persephone (and there were many lives at stake) because it was personal and unlike Persphone, neither Psyche nor Eros has much power or leverage on their side; they were definitely in a cat and mouse game.
I think where this story falls for me is that I definitely was expecting it to be hotter, as Psyche and Eros are the myth of beauty and love. But, as adaptations go, this was really good. I liked what I read, and I liked the characters too-angst, seduction, melodrama and all. It was a good story that I do recommend.
RATING
Thinking of a rating for this book was hard.
Hot moments? 3 out of 5 🥵🥵🥵
Overall rating: a 3.8 out of 5 stars. Same overall rating as Neon Gods, but my reasoning for rating them are completely different, as I did like the story more in this one.
Again, these are my thoughts on the book–you may find it more enjoyable than I did. And I did enjoy the book, but not in the ways I thought I would. It was still a good story, and I look forward to reading Wicked Beauty this summer (June 7, 2022).
Messy Roots: A Graphic Memoir of a Wuhanese-American by Laura Gao
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
4.0