elysian's reviews
23 reviews
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Did not finish book. Stopped at 21%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 21%.
It's not for me. I don't like the characters, they feel too mature for their actual age as well as all of them being edgy doesn't help. If I was a teenager still I would eat it up.
I truly only enjoyed chapter one. That's it.
I truly only enjoyed chapter one. That's it.
All Systems Red by Martha Wells
Title: All Systems Red
Author: Martha Wells
Rating: FIVE STARS OMG
This book made me realise two things:
- I don't nearly read enough scifi.
- Martha Wells is a slay.
The pacing was absolutely perfect. I was always invested in the story. It had enough complex world building for me to understand all the concepts perfectly while not overloading me. Also this book gave me ALL the feels. ALL of them.
The characters are chefs kiss. I was so attached to them, but especially the MC. This book has a large cast of figures and I have to applaud Martha for making remembering their names worth my while. (i am sooo bad at remembering names!!!)
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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
5.0
Title: All Systems Red
Author: Martha Wells
Rating: FIVE STARS OMG
This book made me realise two things:
- I don't nearly read enough scifi.
- Martha Wells is a slay.
The pacing was absolutely perfect. I was always invested in the story. It had enough complex world building for me to understand all the concepts perfectly while not overloading me. Also this book gave me ALL the feels. ALL of them.
The characters are chefs kiss. I was so attached to them, but especially the MC. This book has a large cast of figures and I have to applaud Martha for making remembering their names worth my while. (i am sooo bad at remembering names!!!)
Across the Green Grass Fields by Seanan McGuire
adventurous
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
5.0
5 star Read
I absolutely loved this one!
- The message it wanted to convey was strong and carried through the entire book with the MC growing and changing her opinion on it.
- All the characters are just lovable. Chicory is just 🥰
- The world is so interesting and solid. Genuinely wish I could live there too.
- The ending left me wanting for more, but I am definitely satisfied with the ending and resolution. I hope Regan gets a spotlight in other Wayward Children books: tho I understand if she wouldn't as it comes a bit contrary to the message of the book.
I absolutely loved this one!
- The message it wanted to convey was strong and carried through the entire book with the MC growing and changing her opinion on it.
- All the characters are just lovable. Chicory is just 🥰
- The world is so interesting and solid. Genuinely wish I could live there too.
- The ending left me wanting for more, but I am definitely satisfied with the ending and resolution. I hope Regan gets a spotlight in other Wayward Children books: tho I understand if she wouldn't as it comes a bit contrary to the message of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Outing, and Body shaming
Taproot by Keezy Young
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
It's a cute lil story about falling in love with a human as a ghost.
Themes like death and grief are there but not in a way that it will press down on you.
Themes like death and grief are there but not in a way that it will press down on you.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
Born of the Sea by Kate Castle
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
3 stars
The book was fine. I felt like the pacing was off. It was very insta lovey - too much - for my taste. The romance was not very well developed.
The book was fine. I felt like the pacing was off. It was very insta lovey - too much - for my taste. The romance was not very well developed.
You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron
dark
mysterious
tense
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? No
5.0
Solid. This one was such a good read. A slasher with a real nice summer feel, a friendgroup to be attached to and feel for. And many many twists and turns. Kinda making it stand out in the genre.
The gore is rather minimal really, but I can't complain as I adore the characters.
The gore is rather minimal really, but I can't complain as I adore the characters.
Juliet Takes a Breath: The Graphic Novel by Gabby Rivera
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
It was fun, quick, emotional. Sometimes I bit cringe at times in terms of writing and dialogue. Definitely aimed for POC sapphic youth and a good- ok read.
A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher
funny
lighthearted
medium-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? No
3.5
Title: A House of good bones
Author: T. Kingfisher
Rating: 3.5/5
This book was a lot of fun to read and extremly well written. It's classified as horror, but it really isn't too scary and I think perfect for beginners/ non horror readers who want to tap into horror.
I loved MC Sam a lot. She is hilariously funny and I quoted so many of her lines. Her bond with her mom is very sweet. Tho there were sadly not that many daughter- mom moments. Also amazing fat representation in a horror novel. How often do we have a fat MC in horror???!!!
The plot dragged a bit in the middle part and I was a bit disappointed that I completely was able to guess the entire plot asap as a tiny bit of info was revealed.
Ending
Author: T. Kingfisher
Rating: 3.5/5
This book was a lot of fun to read and extremly well written. It's classified as horror, but it really isn't too scary and I think perfect for beginners/ non horror readers who want to tap into horror.
I loved MC Sam a lot. She is hilariously funny and I quoted so many of her lines. Her bond with her mom is very sweet. Tho there were sadly not that many daughter- mom moments. Also amazing fat representation in a horror novel. How often do we have a fat MC in horror???!!!
The plot dragged a bit in the middle part and I was a bit disappointed that I completely was able to guess the entire plot asap as a tiny bit of info was revealed.
Ending
Spoiler
Personally, didn't like the ending too much. I loved when everything went down with grandma like woow omg!!! but the Underground children fight was boring and anticlimactic.
STAGTOWN by Punko
dark
funny
mysterious
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
4.0
Very good and very solid.
It had a strong start, stronger middle part but a weak ending leaving many questions unanswered.
The characters were great (we love intelligent MCs in horror) and the entire mystery of the town was so interesting. At the end you could see how well planned everything was and all the foreshadowing in earlier chapters.
It had a strong start, stronger middle part but a weak ending leaving many questions unanswered.
The characters were great (we love intelligent MCs in horror) and the entire mystery of the town was so interesting. At the end you could see how well planned everything was and all the foreshadowing in earlier chapters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Suicide