crumbofcare's reviews
398 reviews

Wish You Weren't Here by Erin Baldwin

funny lighthearted 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

5.0

I was gifted an audiobook ARC of this book from PRH Audio. I voluntarily read it and am leaving an honest review.

This was so good! This gave me all of the nostalgic, positive feelings from my week of church camp every summer growing up, but without any of the religious trauma. It also made the former theatre kid in me so happy. A casual zip, zap, zop reference? Yes, please. 

These characters were so relatable and fun. I enjoyed everything about it. Sapphic rivals to lovers with forced proximity, camp, camping, and theatre goodness. 

Fate of the Sun King by Nisha J. Tuli

adventurous emotional 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

5.0

I was gifted a physical ARC of this from Forever. I voluntarily read it and am leaving an honest review. 

Oh my goodness! Nisha doesn't miss. She remains an auto-buy author for me. She makes me feel ALL the emotions. I cannot wait to read book 4. These characters have stolen my heart and I can't wait to return to them in book 4. 

I have so many thoughts, theories, and questions and I can't wait for Nisha to answer them because I know she will. 

Heavenbreaker by Sara Wolf

adventurous 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

5.0

I was gifted a physical arc of this book from Red Tower books. I voluntarily read it and am leaving an honest review. 

Jousting with mech suits in space? Yes, please! Oh and they live on a space station with revenge and murder throughout. 

I enjoyed this book. I've seen some people saying it is fantasy, but I didn't pick up on any fantasy elements, just sci Fi (I just want people to have accurate expectations so they aren't disappointed). I cannot wait to read book 2. 

Audiobook review: I didn't get the chance to read this before release day so I listened to the audiobook through my library so I could get to it quicker. I liked the audiobook and overall it was good, but the way the narrator pronounced sigil (used frequently through the book) and hemoglobin (I only remember this being used once) was different than I have always heard them pronounced. It didn't take me out of the story, but if things like that annoy you, you may want to opt for ebook/physical format. 

Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier

adventurous 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

5.0

Ahhh I loved this book. How to train your dragon vibes in a magical island setting. This is a perfectly contained standalone, but the vibrant world building makes me want to be able to return to the world over and over again.

Blood at the Root by LaDarrion Williams

adventurous 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

5.0

I received a gifted audiobook copy of this book from PRH Audio. I voluntarily read this book and I'm leaving an honest review.

I enjoyed the beginning of this book, but around 55% I got HOOKED. I loved this and I'm excited to continue reading this series. I have so many theories and questions and can't wait to get the answers for them. I'll definitely continue reading this series.

The Duke Gets Desperate by Diana Quincy

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

4.75

Sweet Nightmare by Tracy Wolff

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

4.5

I was gifted a physical ARC copy of this book from Entangled. I voluntarily read it and am leaving an honest review. 

I loved this book and will definitely keep reading the series. I don't know if it would be as enjoyable without first reading the Crave series. I felt like the Crave series dragged on a little toward the end (but I read it all because I LOVED the characters) and I'm hoping that won't be the case here. I won't be screaming this book recommendation from the rooftops, but for people who have already read and enjoyed the Crave series I recommend that they also read this book. It was fun to revisit the world even if Calder academy is VERY different vibes from Katmere. 

The author said book 3 will be where we get the most Remy and Izzy, but I enjoyed getting to see them both a fair bit in this book. 

Dungeons & Drama by Kristy Boyce

funny lighthearted 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

5.0

I was gifted an audiobook copy of this from PRH audio influencer program. I voluntarily read it and am leaving an honest review. 

I laughed; I cried; I calculated how many days until I can play D&D again. I loved this so much. As a former theatre AND choir kid turned gaming nerd & D&D player, I felt like this was made for me. My husband got me into DND and a few of the board games mentioned in this book so it felt very relatable seeing her slowly falling in love with gaming and other nerdy things at the same time that she fell for MMC.

The Letters We Keep by Nisha Sharma

hopeful lighthearted 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? No

5.0

I was gifted an advanced audiobook copy of this from Netgalley. I voluntarily read it and am leaving an honest review. 

I JUST finished this book and I feel so at peace right now. I haven't had this content of a feeling after a book in a long time. This was such a good book and it had me HOOKED. Nisha Sharma remains an auto buy author for me and I want to do nothing more than go through her entire backlist now. 

A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal

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

5.0

Six of crows and peaky blinders but add vampires and themes of colonialism. I loved it and can't wait for book 2