emilyrandolph_epstein's reviews
1073 reviews

Mislaid in Parts Half-Known by Seanan McGuire

adventurous hopeful lighthearted fast-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

 I'm giving Mislaid in Parts Half-Known 4.75 stars out of 5. Overall, I really enjoyed this whirlwind tour through the doors and I loved getting to see more about how the worlds connect. I'm really hoping we see more in upcoming books. I always like getting to see more of the characters we've come to know and love and this book was no exception. It did feel like maybe this book was a bit more overcrowded than some of the others and not everyone really had a chance to have their moment, but it also felt like this was a book where the author was starting to bring some of the older characters to their narrative conclusions and bringing in newer characters. 

The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden

dark emotional hopeful reflective tense medium-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

5.0

 An atmospheric fantasy set during WWI, The Warm Hands of Ghosts follow siblings Laura and Freddie - a combat nurse and soldier - as they struggle to find each other when separated by a sinister, supernatural force.

The prose was breathtaking. The characterization was heartbreaking. The portrayal of war was brutal and intimate and not once does the narrative try to glamorize it.

I'll be thinking about this one for a long time. 

Dragonfall by L.R. Lam

adventurous mysterious 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? No

4.25

A cool spin on dragons and dragon mythology. I always enjoy when epic fantasy uses a heist storyline. I also really enjoyed the two leads and how their relationship grew over the course of the novel. I'm curious to see how the series progresses.

The Briar Book of the Dead by A.G. Slatter

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

4.75

 A bit of gothic horror woven with folklore that explores the way in which family legends are warped as they're passed down through generations. I found Ellie Briar to be a likeable heroine amidst a cast of interesting a flawed characters.
I kept comparing the story in my head to the show Ghosts and the movie Encanto except with more existential dread. 

Wings Once Cursed & Bound by Piper J. Drake

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

 Super refreshing take on vampires, werewolves, and fae within the paranormal romance genre. I loved the inclusion of South Asian, specifically Thai, mythology. I always prefer romance where the leads are able to maintain an open line of communication throughout and the conflict comes from external conflict not within the relationship, so this definitely checked those boxes for me. 

If I See You Again Tomorrow by Robbie Couch

emotional hopeful 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

4.75

The Butcher of the Forest by Premee Mohamed

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

4.75

I only wish this book was a little bit longer.

A Quantum Love Story by Mike Chen

hopeful inspiring 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? No

5.0

Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher

hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Sun of Blood and Ruin by Mariely Lares

adventurous emotional 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

4.5

I really liked some things about this book: the protagonist who can transform into a panther, the incorporation of mythology, the nod to Zorro, and the political machinations within the court of New Spain.
On the other hand, I didn't particularly care for the male lead. I didn't like how he made decisions for Leonora and kept her in the dark about things she had the right to know. He was frequently dismissive of her, and I didn't feel he ever did enough to make that up to her. I kept finding myself thinking that Leonora needed some better men in her life.
There were also a couple of points in the plot where I felt like things got sidetracked for no discernable reason. Particularly one episode that didn't seem to develop the plot and what character development there was didn't seem worth the detour. But I'm not familiar enough with the mythology, so perhaps it was simply a reference I don't know.
That said, I thought this book was fun and refreshing. I found it compelling enough to stay up reading until 3 a.m., even though I am fully adult with adult responsibilities. There were multiple twists that I didn't expect, and they surprised me in a good way. I think the one thing that would have pushed it up to a full five stars for me is if the male lead turned out to be a secret baddie. Who knows, maybe the next book will make that happen because I really don't like him for Leonora.