hailslynn's reviews
211 reviews

Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo

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adventurous challenging dark 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? Yes

3.75

Knowing that I was going to be let down by this book honestly improved it's chances of me actually liking it. It's unfair to compare this book to Ninth House despite it being the direct sequel to but Ninth House is just one of those flagbearing titles for the dark academia subgenre that it's difficult not to. Leigh Bardugo does improve on some things such as character development and interactions, but she also straight up ignores some aspects that made Ninth House great in the first place. The secret societies was what drew me to pick up Ninth House in the first place and they virtually disappear in this book with only short appearances that only minority contributor to the plot if they do at all. 

I didn't not like this book, I actually quite enjoyed the premise and plot, but it feels like such a weird left turn from the tone and premise of Ninth House that I feel it would have performed better as a separate book from the series. I don't think it's quite Second Book Syndrome as in a way to connect books 2 and 3, but I do think there were better avenues to get the same desired outcome.
Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White

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challenging dark informative mysterious sad 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

4.25

AJW strays from his previous works discussing religious trauma to give us a timely and necessary perspective on what in means to be queer and neurodivergent in a community that you've only known to love but fundamentally hates who you are. This book doesn't hold back on the harshness of what can and does happen to trans youth in rural America and what can happen when community stands together. If you love AJW's gruesome body horror and depictions of gore from his previous works, be warned that this book is not as gory but still depicts very disgusting actions. I overall enjoyed this but felt that he deviated from the main plot a little too much and was often repetitive discussing the current political environmental of rural West Virginia. Very pleased to see aromantic and queer platonic relationship representation amongst AJW's standard representation. 
Graveyard Shift by M.L. Rio

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

A delectable little morsel of a book. M.L. Rio really showcases their storytelling capabilities with this novella because this story hooks you right away and keeps you hooked all the way until the end. 5 hazbins of the night with nicotine addictions discover, investigate, solve, and reveal a mystery in their college town's cemetery on their nightly smoke break in what feels like The Last of Us meets Ninth House. I could have easily devoured this in one sitting, and it's a delightfully dark read. I wish the conclusion didn't feel so rushed, but I can 1000% see myself coming back to this when I'm in the mood for something a bit creepy. Thank you Flatiron for the advanced copy!
Daydream by Hannah Grace

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emotional funny lighthearted relaxing 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? Yes

4.0

Honestly a vast improvement from both Icebreaker and Wildfire. I wasn't sure how I would feel when I found out the fmc has an extremely similar name to me (it turns me off from a book idk) and in all honesty it felt like a massive call out in some parts, but the chemistry between Henry and Halle is unmatched. The character development between the two is realistic and vulnerable  so you're rooting for our main couple the entire time. 

The biggest downfall is that the plot itself is boring and overdone and it caused me to have difficulty getting started with the book itself. I wouldn't really even consider it a plot because there was virtually no conflict or "action." 

I can't say I'll read another Maple Hills books as much as I enjoyed this one because I'm not really invested in any of the other characters, but I do recommend reading Daydream if you're looking for a fun swoon-worthy read 💜✨
Wisteria by Adalyn Grace

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dark emotional mysterious sad 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? Yes

4.75

Wow just wow. What an impeccable and magnificent ending to this series. Blythe has always been my favorite character in this series since Signa met her in Belladonna, and I knew Adalyn Grace would deliver on her story and boy did she. It's a second chance romance meet foes to lovers which doesn't make sense until you read it, and it's just so so great it had me an absolute wreck at the end. I despised Fate for all of Foxglove and for a good chunk of Wisteria, but she did a FABULOUS job of making you love him in the end. The plot and twists were genuinely the best in the series they had me audibly reacting while on break at work (where I typically don't like to noticeably react to books) Thank GOD Adalyn said she wants to return to this world because I have so many unanswered questions that I know couldn't be answered in this series.
Given, Vol. 9 by Natsuki Kizu

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emotional inspiring relaxing sad slow-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

Alright buddy on the shelf you go... I'm in severe emotional distress. 

Why I chose to read this, knowing I would cry reading it, right after I finished another book that also made me cry is beyond me. But I found this volume to be such a sweet ending to Mafayu's journey. I'm sad that it's over, but I'm happy to have been introduced to this series so early in my manga journey and I'm excited to revisit the series in the future.
Foxglove by Adalyn Grace

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dark emotional mysterious relaxing sad 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

4.75

Dare I say... anti second book syndrome?

Foxglove does not necessarily feel like a better book, but it definitely does not deteriorate the love and adoration I have for the Belladonna universe. I found myself enjoying the plot more than I normally do for a second book in a trilogy, but I did find it quite predictable. However, Adalyn Grace does a great job of keeping you entertained and interested in what's going to happen next despite pretty obvious foreshadowing. I found myself wondering how and when these big reveals and twists are going to come into play, and that is a great testament to how strong Adalyn is as a writer.

And oh boy, nothing can compare to the romance between Signa and Death. Their love feels like Anthony and Kate in season 3 of Bridgerton, and it always had me kicking my feet and blushing. The forced "love" triangle from our new antagonist does not subtract their yearning, and it's so beautiful. And I love seeing Adalyn set up the enemies-to-lovers romance we'll be seeing in the next book.

Thank god Wisteria comes out today because I'm so excited to start it next!
Belladonna by Adalyn Grace

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4.75

The Pairing by Casey McQuiston

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5.0

Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid

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challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Saying this as someone who absolutely loves Shakespeare, I think this is a fantastic retelling. Ava Reid perfectly blends the original trilogy play with her own fantastical elements to modernize the story and introduce a Macbeth to new readers and people who may not have as deep as a love for Shakespeare. I found a few choices to be quite odd, but I nonetheless enjoyed them and was extremely happy to see more fantasy elements incorporated into a story that already screamed a fantasy. 

However, I did find the character of Lady Macbeth very flat, and this is often an issue I have with retellings. I don't expect authors to completely reimagine a character back to life, but I find that authors have difficulty keeping the characters as interesting as the original source material which is the issue I have here. Lady Macbeth is still extremely clever and a wonderful villainess in Reid portrayal, and I love the backstory she gave her. However, she lacks urgency for a majority of the book and almost seems content with her situation instead of trying to progress the story. Yes, much of the "action" happens off page, but it's difficult to root for a character when most of the time you spend with them is them laying in wait. 

Definitely not my favorite of Ava Reid's work (that spot is reserved for A Study in Drowning my dark academia love), but it has secured the spot as my favorite modern Shaekespeare retelling (cough*Olivie Blake*cough)
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