etherealiz's reviews
137 reviews

Beren and Lúthien by J.R.R. Tolkien

emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

This story was beautifully written and very lyrical, but I think this version of the story was made for people that are interested in also studying how Tolkien created and wrote his works, much more so than people wanting to learn more about the lore surrounding LOTR. It was a sweet story, a bit weird (in a good way) at times, just didn't stick with me as much as other bodies of work by the same author. 

The Happy Couple by Naoise Dolan

funny reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

I have to preface this review by saying I went in thinking this was a romance (misleading shelving should have done more research) and boy, was I wrong! This book is.. weird? In a sorta good way? The characters were engaging and they sometimes feel like they're in a Greek tragedy: they do feel doomed since the beginning of the story. This book does a great job at making us sympathize with human emotions, especially the whole thing about cheating& how it's done / perceived by the main characters. Otherwise, the book fell a bit flat, it moves quickly so it's easy to read, but nothing stuck with me past the last page. 

The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary

dark emotional funny fast-paced

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

4.0

Romances often have these subplots that you can see coming from a mile away, but the Flatshare does it in a really nice way, the surrounding supporting characters are actually really enjoyable as well as their relationships with the mmc / fmc. This novel does a good job at having a very sweet, touching (and kind of slow burn) romance between its main characters whilst also addressing pretty dark themes (abuse, manipulation). It was a very light-hearted read that I'm really glad I picked up!

the whole plot and romance of this book being created throughout post it notes that turn into love letters was the best thing to come out of this book

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse

George Orwell's 1984: An Audible Original adaptation by George Orwell

dark reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This is a masterpiece. It grips you from the first second and doesn't let you go. It is more of an audio-adaptation than an factual audio-book, but it is brilliant. Especially for people who haven't read this classic yet and want to have a go at the story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture

Happy Place by Emily Henry

emotional funny sad medium-paced

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

4.5

I have resisted the Emily Henry hype for a while and what a mistake that was! This book was such a beautiful adventure with characters that were so human they were mostly frustrating (only half joking). Romances always have a bit of flare to them that do make them sweet but very unlikely to play out the way they do, Happy Place feels like a real story, and keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end

I honestly wasn't sure they would end up together until the last two chapters

. I think my favorite part of this book is that's its a love story, but not only between Wyn and Harriet, but also between all of the ones that make up their Happy Place. It touches up on friends that become family and does so beautifully. 
PS : Wyn manages to be super self-deprecating whilst also being extremely hot, so props to the writer for that I guess. 

Just For the Summer by Abby Jimenez

challenging emotional funny fast-paced

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

4.25

Don't read this book expecting no tears if you have a complicated relationship with a mentally ill mother or mommy issues in general, nor if you have recently experienced all-consuming grief because a loved one died. This book was a beautiful love story, and a very funny one at that. Absolutely loved it!

Blood to Poison by Mary Watson

adventurous funny 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

3.75

Blood To Poison really holds its weight as a YA novel. It has that teenage feel to the writing whilst still talking about hard themes (especially surrounding female rage, what it stems from and how it's perceived) in a really powerful way. The plot twists are nothing brand new, but the magic system was interesting and I loved learning/being involved in news lore coming from a very underrepresented culture in mainstream books. It's a very nice read, funny at times, and is also a great way to diversify your reading habits. The main character truly feels like a teenager in all its complex ways, that's what I loved most about this novel (and the romance! Very very cute, with some interesting twists) 

The Mask Falling by Samantha Shannon

adventurous dark tense 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? Yes

4.5

Again, this book was a roller-coaster of emotions! I loved every second of it and seeing Warden and Paige interact is always a pleasure : Shannon has woven a very complex relationship between two characters, it is establishing itself as the true foundation of this series for me. Shannon does a beautiful job at thoroughly researching the places she writes about, as a French person, I loved this twist on a Scion-modified Paris. I cannot give this book 5 stars as it did not give me as much as The Bone Season did, but it is still a great sequel and I do not know how I'm gonna be able to cope with waiting 6 months for the next one and then years for the series to be over.

Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood

challenging funny tense 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

3.0

I like the direction Hazelwood is taking this book, but it feels a bit off. This book had the potential to be spicy, angsty and deeply emotional and fell flat to me unlike Love, Theorically for example (that is also a little spicier). The main characters were really interesting tho and worked well together, I flew through this book like I do for most of Hazelwood's works. 

The Dawn Chorus by Samantha Shannon

emotional reflective fast-paced

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

4.0

Such a sweet novella, it filled gaps within the Bone Season novel itself and also helps be better acquainted with the state Paige's in in the Mask Falling. How could you say no to more Arcturus and Paige anyway?