bites_of_books's reviews
557 reviews
The Stone Sky, by N.K. Jemisin
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
What an end to a fantastic series!
Honestly what I love most is how NK Jemisin constructed the whole story, from the unique POVs to the narration style to the way each character was so carefully developed. I truly felt taken care of while reading this series, even in the hardest and most painful moments.
Can't say more without spoiling it but I urge you to read this whole series if you like apocalyptic stories that are carefully put together, that aren't just flashy and that do delve deep into what the characters in the story are feeling and how they make their choices.
All the stars!
Honestly what I love most is how NK Jemisin constructed the whole story, from the unique POVs to the narration style to the way each character was so carefully developed. I truly felt taken care of while reading this series, even in the hardest and most painful moments.
Can't say more without spoiling it but I urge you to read this whole series if you like apocalyptic stories that are carefully put together, that aren't just flashy and that do delve deep into what the characters in the story are feeling and how they make their choices.
All the stars!
Consumed: The Need for Collective Change: Colonialism, Climate Change, and Consumerism, by Aja Barber
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.75
Consumed was a great source of information regarding consumerism and fast fashion. It tells us the destiny of all the clothes we might buy at large department stores, never wear, and discard without a second thought. The answer is not pretty and everyone should know about it. Barber calls everyone to action, especially those who are in places of privilege, either by education, social status, race, etc., we all have some way that we can fight back the systems of consumerism.
I loved that there were two separate sections of the book. The first was to educate on the history, social aspects, and general ways that the fashion industry works. The second part dives into how we, as consumers, can change our behaviors and think about how/when we buy clothing. It was empowering to read about the ways that I can change my own habits, from the very simple one of just wearing the clothes I own, fixing whatever might be torn or worn, thinking twice about buying clothing from certain places, etc.
I'd highly recommend this book to everyone, we all need to acquire clothing from somewhere and, if we are able, we can make better choices to reduce the amount of clothing that ends up in landfills and contaminates our world everyday.
I loved that there were two separate sections of the book. The first was to educate on the history, social aspects, and general ways that the fashion industry works. The second part dives into how we, as consumers, can change our behaviors and think about how/when we buy clothing. It was empowering to read about the ways that I can change my own habits, from the very simple one of just wearing the clothes I own, fixing whatever might be torn or worn, thinking twice about buying clothing from certain places, etc.
I'd highly recommend this book to everyone, we all need to acquire clothing from somewhere and, if we are able, we can make better choices to reduce the amount of clothing that ends up in landfills and contaminates our world everyday.
Kindred, by Octavia E. Butler
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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? No
4.5
One of my favorite genres is historical fiction mixed with some magical/fantastical aspect and Kindred fits the bill perfectly.
We follow Dana, a Black woman living in California in the 70s, who is pulled back in time to 1815 Maryland to save a boy from drowning. This boy, Rufus, grows to be the key to her suffering but also her literal existence. As she navigates this time travel paradox, she is also faced with the social aspects of the time, slavery, freedom, education, heritage, and many others.
It is not an easy book to read because there are so many horrific things that happen throughout it. However, it is impossible to want to stop reading to find out how it is/if Dana will ever be able to go back to her normal life. The book as a whole also has this theme of heritage, those things that we carry within us from our ancestors. How the decisions they made decades ago have repercussions today and also the psychological trauma that is carried from generation to generation.
I'd recommend this to anyone who loves historical fiction with a touch of something fantastical as well as for anyone who wants a story with very high stakes.
We follow Dana, a Black woman living in California in the 70s, who is pulled back in time to 1815 Maryland to save a boy from drowning. This boy, Rufus, grows to be the key to her suffering but also her literal existence. As she navigates this time travel paradox, she is also faced with the social aspects of the time, slavery, freedom, education, heritage, and many others.
It is not an easy book to read because there are so many horrific things that happen throughout it. However, it is impossible to want to stop reading to find out how it is/if Dana will ever be able to go back to her normal life. The book as a whole also has this theme of heritage, those things that we carry within us from our ancestors. How the decisions they made decades ago have repercussions today and also the psychological trauma that is carried from generation to generation.
I'd recommend this to anyone who loves historical fiction with a touch of something fantastical as well as for anyone who wants a story with very high stakes.
What to do When Someone Dies, by Nicci French
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I picked up this mystery thriller on a whim when I visited my local bookstore. I am not very familiar with the mystery/thriller genre so this was a bit out of my comfort zone.
In this book we follow Ellie Faulkner's journey after her husband, Greg, dies in a car crash with a strange woman. As Ellie is trying to wrap her head around what just happened, she is also faced with the possibility that Greg might have been unfaithful to her. Between dealing with grief and all of the things that have to happen after someone dies (telling family and friends, funeral arrangements, grieving), she also starts to try to confirm if Greg was unfaithful or not. What follows is a case of her playing detective, lying to various people, and getting into a bit of a mess as the mystery starts to unravel.
While I thought that the plot was quite well crafted, at times I did find it tiring and a bit repetitive to be inside Ellie's mind throughout the book. This is certainly understandable since she's going through a lot, remembering her husband, and also trying to connect the dots surrounding his death but for me it made it a bit slower than I would have liked. The time jumps also seemed strange, but again, this might be to mirror Ellie's state of mind where some days just melt into others and all of a sudden it is weeks or months later, I just tend to like to have a better sense of the timeline for a mystery I'm trying to solve LOL.
Overall, if you're interested in a mystery thriller that really dives into someone processing grief, interesting twists, and a supporting cast of wonderful friends, then do check this one out! It's a nice read for rainy evenings with a hot cup of tea.
In this book we follow Ellie Faulkner's journey after her husband, Greg, dies in a car crash with a strange woman. As Ellie is trying to wrap her head around what just happened, she is also faced with the possibility that Greg might have been unfaithful to her. Between dealing with grief and all of the things that have to happen after someone dies (telling family and friends, funeral arrangements, grieving), she also starts to try to confirm if Greg was unfaithful or not. What follows is a case of her playing detective, lying to various people, and getting into a bit of a mess as the mystery starts to unravel.
While I thought that the plot was quite well crafted, at times I did find it tiring and a bit repetitive to be inside Ellie's mind throughout the book. This is certainly understandable since she's going through a lot, remembering her husband, and also trying to connect the dots surrounding his death but for me it made it a bit slower than I would have liked. The time jumps also seemed strange, but again, this might be to mirror Ellie's state of mind where some days just melt into others and all of a sudden it is weeks or months later, I just tend to like to have a better sense of the timeline for a mystery I'm trying to solve LOL.
Overall, if you're interested in a mystery thriller that really dives into someone processing grief, interesting twists, and a supporting cast of wonderful friends, then do check this one out! It's a nice read for rainy evenings with a hot cup of tea.
The Last Hero, by Terry Pratchett, Paul Kidby
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
What a treat!
In this illustrated novel, we follow some familiar characters from the Discworld as they try to save the world, once again. This time, some heroes got the idea to return a gift to the gods, which would pretty much destroy all magic and the world. To save it, Rincewind is thrown into an adventure that will (once again) take him beyond the edge of the world and... well, beyond! ha!
As always, I enjoy the humor, the satire, the overall wholesome and also incredibly relatable characters.
Even if you haven't read a single Discworld novel, the illustrations by Paul Kidby really take this one above and beyond enjoyment. I highly recommend it!
In this illustrated novel, we follow some familiar characters from the Discworld as they try to save the world, once again. This time, some heroes got the idea to return a gift to the gods, which would pretty much destroy all magic and the world. To save it, Rincewind is thrown into an adventure that will (once again) take him beyond the edge of the world and... well, beyond! ha!
As always, I enjoy the humor, the satire, the overall wholesome and also incredibly relatable characters.
Even if you haven't read a single Discworld novel, the illustrations by Paul Kidby really take this one above and beyond enjoyment. I highly recommend it!
We Can Never Leave This Place, by Eric LaRocca
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
How can horror be beautiful? Eric LaRocca knows the answer and they do an amazing job in this gothic dark fairy tale.
We follow a teen girl and her mother as they process loss, grief, anger, and betrayal. There are strange creatures that come into their house as explosions happen outside. It's a claustrophobic tale that reminded me of Coraline at times and also Pan's Labyrinth. The magic of imagination but also the way that trauma is processed in different ways by different people is all fit into this 100 page story.
I highly recommend it to anyone who likes strange and gruesome stories as well as dark fairy tales that will leave you wanting more of that twisted world.
We follow a teen girl and her mother as they process loss, grief, anger, and betrayal. There are strange creatures that come into their house as explosions happen outside. It's a claustrophobic tale that reminded me of Coraline at times and also Pan's Labyrinth. The magic of imagination but also the way that trauma is processed in different ways by different people is all fit into this 100 page story.
I highly recommend it to anyone who likes strange and gruesome stories as well as dark fairy tales that will leave you wanting more of that twisted world.
One Hundred Names, by Cecelia Ahern
adventurous
emotional
funny
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 really enjoy Cecelia Ahern's writing, she has a way of making a 500pg book just fly and this was no exception.
This is the story of Kitty Logan, a young reporter who made a terrible mistake and has been making some very questionable decisions for some time now. Her professional life is in shambles and now her only chance to recover everything is to figure out what links 100 people and write a story for the only magazine who still believes in her talent.
While there are a lot of characters to keep track of and at times it jumps around, I couldn't help but feel attached to all these different stories within the book. Kitty was an unlikeable character, and that's not going to be for everyone, for me it was great to see her character learn and change throughout the book. I did feel like she learned some lessons and life wasn't easy on her, she had to learn them the hard way at times.
I'd recommend this for anyone looking for a contemporary read that's not heavy on the romance, instead it explores how everyone has a story to tell, if one just spends a bit of time getting to know them.
This is the story of Kitty Logan, a young reporter who made a terrible mistake and has been making some very questionable decisions for some time now. Her professional life is in shambles and now her only chance to recover everything is to figure out what links 100 people and write a story for the only magazine who still believes in her talent.
While there are a lot of characters to keep track of and at times it jumps around, I couldn't help but feel attached to all these different stories within the book. Kitty was an unlikeable character, and that's not going to be for everyone, for me it was great to see her character learn and change throughout the book. I did feel like she learned some lessons and life wasn't easy on her, she had to learn them the hard way at times.
I'd recommend this for anyone looking for a contemporary read that's not heavy on the romance, instead it explores how everyone has a story to tell, if one just spends a bit of time getting to know them.
A Merry Little Meet Cute, by Julie Murphy, Sierra Simone
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This was a surprising book for me. I did not know what the synopsis was going in and I was not prepared for all the spicy scenes. That being said, I did have quite a bit of fun with it! Was it ridiculous? YES Was it unbelievable? Absolutely! Just like any good ol' Hallmark Christmas movie XD
I enjoyed all the various themes though, fame, sex work, bisexual rep, plus size rep, etc.
I did feel like both the title and the cover had NOTHING to do with the actual plot of the book which felt a bit strange to me.
I'd definitely recommend it for anyone looking for a spicy holiday book that'll make you laugh, also if you like to poke fun at Hallmark movies it could be very entertaining in that sense.
I anticipate that a spin-off with some of the other characters could be happening, and I might just pick it up out of curiosity if it did.
I enjoyed all the various themes though, fame, sex work, bisexual rep, plus size rep, etc.
I did feel like both the title and the cover had NOTHING to do with the actual plot of the book which felt a bit strange to me.
I'd definitely recommend it for anyone looking for a spicy holiday book that'll make you laugh, also if you like to poke fun at Hallmark movies it could be very entertaining in that sense.
I anticipate that a spin-off with some of the other characters could be happening, and I might just pick it up out of curiosity if it did.
The Cloisters, by Katy Hays
dark
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
The idea of a dark academia book about tarot was so intriguing, especially since it takes place in contemporary New York City. The magic of the city plus tarot plus a museum setting was really exciting... but I was mostly bored.
Our main character, Ann, was so detached from everything happening around her. We spend most of the time in her mind and even when really exciting/surprising/stressful things are happening, I couldn't feel it at all. The descriptions of the museum were a bit overdone for my liking, it was also very repetitive how many times it is explained how hot it was in New York that summer.
The plot was definitely on the interesting side, there's nothing remotely related to fantasy, it's more like a contemporary psychological thriller (but very subtle on the thrill).
If you are really interested in art history, curation, and descriptions of The Cloisters in New York, you might enjoy this one. I only wish it had been more exciting all the way through!
Our main character, Ann, was so detached from everything happening around her. We spend most of the time in her mind and even when really exciting/surprising/stressful things are happening, I couldn't feel it at all. The descriptions of the museum were a bit overdone for my liking, it was also very repetitive how many times it is explained how hot it was in New York that summer.
The plot was definitely on the interesting side, there's nothing remotely related to fantasy, it's more like a contemporary psychological thriller (but very subtle on the thrill).
If you are really interested in art history, curation, and descriptions of The Cloisters in New York, you might enjoy this one. I only wish it had been more exciting all the way through!
Certain Dark Things, by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.5
A book about vampires set in an alternate Mexico City, a Mexico City that is full of the character of the real and present one but adding the noir atmosphere and vampire mythology. It was truly wonderful to see a city I love depicted in a book, from a character buying Gansitos to the descriptions of streets of La Roma as well as the dark and violent things that do happen in both the alternate and real Mexico City.
Domingo is a young man who collects trash to sell at the junkyard, it's not glamorous but it's an honest job. He lives with dreams of something more in this world and he gets just that when he meets Atl, a vampire of Aztec origins. She is alone in the city with her dog, Cualli, and in search of someone who can help her so she enlists Domingo's help thinking that he'd be a good servant. Both are not prepared for what will come their way as they dodge a rival vampire group as well as a clever detective who is an expert at killing vampires.
I'd highly recommend it if you love vampire stories, if you wish to see Mexico City depicted in a very real and raw style, and if you're ready for some gore and violence. These characters will stay with me for a while to come and I can't wait to read more of Silvia Moreno-Garcia's works.
Domingo is a young man who collects trash to sell at the junkyard, it's not glamorous but it's an honest job. He lives with dreams of something more in this world and he gets just that when he meets Atl, a vampire of Aztec origins. She is alone in the city with her dog, Cualli, and in search of someone who can help her so she enlists Domingo's help thinking that he'd be a good servant. Both are not prepared for what will come their way as they dodge a rival vampire group as well as a clever detective who is an expert at killing vampires.
I'd highly recommend it if you love vampire stories, if you wish to see Mexico City depicted in a very real and raw style, and if you're ready for some gore and violence. These characters will stay with me for a while to come and I can't wait to read more of Silvia Moreno-Garcia's works.