etherealiz's reviews
137 reviews

Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid

dark mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

2.75

This was not the worst book I've read this year but it was my biggest disappointment of the year. I had high hopes (a manipulative witch in a gothic& Shakespeare-inspired atmosphere? Sign me up) but they were not met at all. The prose is always what saves Ava Reid's writing, she's wonderful at creating atmospheres. Other than that, the romance is the same way every of her other books went& any chances we had of seeing Lady Macbeth's badass moment went out the window because she was saved by some guy, again. For a supposedly feminist retelling, this was nothing like it: women are allowed to be cunning, cruel and vengeful on purpose. 

The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan

adventurous funny sad 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? Yes

4.0

Nothing hits home like a good re-read of Percy Jackson and The Olympians, it's a good read, very fun and packed with a lot of action and emotions. I think everyone should read the series at least once. The Last Olympian finishes it beautifully, it doesn't, however, compare to how much I love The Lightning Thief sooo 

I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman

challenging reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was extremely reflective, I've read it quite quickly as it is quite short but I think I'll go back and re-read it at some point to fully grasp the story. It is a very poetic journey into what makes us human and what humanity is without memories as well (or history at least). The one thing this book especially succeeds in is making us feel like it's only us and The Child against the rest of a world that we cannot quite understand. Don't go into it expecting a closed off and satisfying ending tho. 

The Palace of Eros by Caro De Robertis

emotional inspiring 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? Yes

4.5

This!! I've always had a soft spot for Sapphic fantasy but this superseded all the expectations I had for it. It's a beautifully written novel, that does a great job at adding an actual twist to a myth-retelling which can sometimes be a bit lackluster especially for myths like Eros&Psyche that are petty straightforward. This definitely wasn't straight and the way gender fluidity is approached makes it all the more interesting. Be warned that it is quite spicy (in a very lyrical way), Eros isn't the symbol of lust and desire for nothing in this book. 

Beach Read by Emily Henry

emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Emily Henry has a very specific way of writing romance in a very funny, light-hearted way which always makes for very easy reads. Not my favorite story of hers but a great romance

which doesnt end in a proposal finally!!

, and I did really love Gus and January. 

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik

adventurous dark funny 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? Yes

4.0

A very fun read, it's hard to make a fantasy that is as fun as it's interesting and this book does it really well! I've laughed out loud and been impressed by the way the school is set up, it's very unique. I can't wait to read the rest of the series, the characters are really really lovable - just curious why this isn't classified as YA tho, it fits the genre much more. 

In These Hallowed Halls by Marie O'Regan, Paul Kane

dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

This was very meh, as is the curse of Anthologies I'd say: it's hard to have all around great works that fit within 50 pages. Olivie Blake and a few other authors made great novellas, fun with just enough character development to make you care and a simple enough world building to not make it too much of the story. However, I also got pretty bored with the other half of the stories, they didn't strike me as very memorable or anything. It was a pretty easy read with some fun stories, but that's pretty much it (which saddens me very much, I really wanted to love this book). 

Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett

adventurous funny 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? Yes

4.5

This audiobook is just the peak of English humour&literature done just right. It was funny, on top of a very interesting plot, and it was such a fun thing to listen to. The actors from the TV series are top notch and the actual propre narrator is probably the best part of this adaptation. Really enjoyed it!

Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse

adventurous dark mysterious 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? Yes

4.0

This is what the future of epic fantasy should look like! I was growing so tired of fantasy works being set in a medieval England copycat, Black Sun takes you out of that completely in a very interesting way. This reads very easily, you're pulled in and the way the time-line is set up in a sort of back and forth between flashbacks and days counting down towards The Convergence make the book feel driven, like it's going "somewhere". Loved our characters,  just wished they had a little bit more flaws, which is why it's not a 5 stars. But the magic system, the world, the third gender, the class system!! 

Juniper & Thorn by Ava Reid

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Reid's writing style is always what draws me into their works. It's very beautiful, lyrical, and full of metaphors that make the reading experience very different. I loved the world, loved the main character and overall the way magic was perceived and portrayed (

I seem to have a thing for ritualistic cannibalism

). The rest fell a bit flat, the romance in this book isn't advertised as a main plot point, but takes a lot of the story without feeling "worth" it. I enjoyed reading this book, and I see myself recommending it, I just don't think it's one of Reid's best work (and I had high expectations coming in)