Scan barcode
helenafaustina's reviews
377 reviews
The Iron Sword by Julie Kagawa
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I jumped into this series with this book, so I really was unfamiliar with how the worlds worked and it made it a little less fun for me, I think. But, it was a really good read regardless. The characters were pretty cool, so was their magic. The plot was interesting, well-written, and moved forward. It ends on a cliffhanger so I feel like I randomly got a chunk of an adventure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Forced institutionalization, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Pregnancy, War, and Classism
Mild language, the most being a dashed out f-word, quite a bit of violence. 13+, depending on the person.
The Story of Kullervo by J.R.R. Tolkien, Verlyn Flieger
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
Not my favorite but good from a literary point of view.
The Fathers of the Church: An Introduction to the First Christian Teachers by Mike Aquilina
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
I took this as part of a course, and I loved every minute of reading the excerpts, and want to read it again on my own! Reading it made me even more passionate about my Catholic Faith than ever and ready to defend it, especially in regards to Scripture and Tradition.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Genocide, Incest, Torture, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, and Fire/Fire injury
Just mentions of things tagged above for historical reasons, either that happened or that people were accused of. Nothing triggering at all, really.
Golden Daughter by Anne Elisabeth Stengl
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Oh...oh my... *sobs in realization that this is the last Tales of Goldstone Wood novel*
This series has been an absolute journey, and although I'm glad there's two more novellas to finish, it's so bittersweet to finish this. This has really been the first series that is my favorite that I have found in my older years, so it means a lot to me and has truly taken me on an adventure.
I know I really ought to stop thinking that her next book can't possibly be as good as previous ones, but I did, and was proven wrong again. It was not my favorite in the series, but it still carried that adventurous flavor, charming world, dearest prose, with it's own unique style that separates it from the other books. As usual, the plot isn't predictable in the slightest, and it's an amazing end. The characters are awesome, and I love to see reoccurring ones. *Eanrin fangirling ensues*
This series has been an absolute journey, and although I'm glad there's two more novellas to finish, it's so bittersweet to finish this. This has really been the first series that is my favorite that I have found in my older years, so it means a lot to me and has truly taken me on an adventure.
I know I really ought to stop thinking that her next book can't possibly be as good as previous ones, but I did, and was proven wrong again. It was not my favorite in the series, but it still carried that adventurous flavor, charming world, dearest prose, with it's own unique style that separates it from the other books. As usual, the plot isn't predictable in the slightest, and it's an amazing end. The characters are awesome, and I love to see reoccurring ones. *Eanrin fangirling ensues*
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Medical content and Murder
Minor: Confinement, Self harm, Slavery, and Torture
Swearing that's made up for the series.
Consecration to St. Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father by Donald H. Calloway
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
This book has seriously changed my life, I don't even know where to begin! The consecration is awesome, you read the whole thing throughout 33 days. There's so much insight on the life of St. Joseph and meditation material, not to mention many beautiful prayers and learning about what different saints thought of him and how the Church has taught about him. If you want to become closer to God, pick up this book and do it through St. Joseph!!
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death, Death, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I really enjoyed this! I think it’s underrated, as I’ve always heard that it’s long, slow, and boring, but I found the plot to be really interesting and the characters really awesome. And I love Dickens’s writing, especially with the occasional clever quips and the way he illustrates someone’s character so well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Gore, Mental illness, Violence, Grief, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Genocide, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Cursing, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Nothing is inappropriate, but should be for a more mature audience, good for high school.
Beautiful Eucharist by Matthew Kelly
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
An incredibly good and simple book to help one reflect on the awesomeness and power of the Eucharist!
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
A woman wrapped in silence, by John W. Lynch
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
This book was beautiful. The insight into the Holy Family's life, especially Our Lady's, made it so much more personal and lovely. I'd highly recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death
Minor: Blood
The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This book kept getting better and better, and I'm glad I picked it up.
The first thing I'd like to say is that this would be a great book to read for anyone who wants to get into creative writing. There is a lot of descriptive writing with beautiful similes, prose, and things like that that are not only enjoyable, but would be really good for students to pay attention to.
It's a cozy book, full of twists and turns. It gets rather crazy at some points, and there was a lot of shocking plot twists that I didn't expect, although I did predict one from the beginning that I'm proud of myself for. I'd like to reread this knowing all that happens. The writing, in true Montgomery fashion, is gorgeous. As a nature lover myself I absolutely relished those parts. Romantic tropes came up, but it wasn't cringy, and it was enjoyable and sweet.
The only think that made me take away a half star was that during Valancy's rebellion, her attitude towards swearing was weird. She was decent in every way, but she had become weirdly tolerant of it to the point of considering doing it herself. It was an odd point in her character development.
The first thing I'd like to say is that this would be a great book to read for anyone who wants to get into creative writing. There is a lot of descriptive writing with beautiful similes, prose, and things like that that are not only enjoyable, but would be really good for students to pay attention to.
It's a cozy book, full of twists and turns. It gets rather crazy at some points, and there was a lot of shocking plot twists that I didn't expect, although I did predict one from the beginning that I'm proud of myself for. I'd like to reread this knowing all that happens. The writing, in true Montgomery fashion, is gorgeous. As a nature lover myself I absolutely relished those parts. Romantic tropes came up, but it wasn't cringy, and it was enjoyable and sweet.
The only think that made me take away a half star was that during Valancy's rebellion, her attitude towards swearing was weird. She was decent in every way, but she had become weirdly tolerant of it to the point of considering doing it herself. It was an odd point in her character development.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Medical content, Grief, and Medical trauma
Minor: Sexual content
Mild swear words, like d*mn. Mild physical romance, nothing to worry about.
The One by Kiera Cass
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
Disclaimer: I did not find anything to like about this book so I'm going to be brutally honest with this review. If you loved the book, you may not want to continue reading. 😂
Perhaps the title, The One, was a hint to how I would give it one star. Perhaps I should not have picked up a series because it was popular and continued reading to say that I finished a story so that people couldn't tell me I don't deserve an opinion unless I know the end. (Actually, that's not a perhaps. Don't waste your time with books you don't like, even if they are quick.) I've seen this series described as mental junk food, and that is a perfect description. But it never gave me the pleasure that junk food does, BUT it did make me really appreciate other actual pieces of literature.
First off, we have America. The ultimate cliche girl who prefers pants, doesn't like makeup, thinks she's ugly, and all that jazz. She's "brave", "unique", (even though I only recall a few examples of when she was reckless with good intentions) and "has a good moral compass and love of doing the right thing" even though she has abundantly shown herself to do the wrong thing way more, such cheating on a guy she's dating (with zero remorse or conscience pricks), jumping to whatever conclusion her brain reaches first, and being impure. And no, I don't care if that's "the norm" for the series, immodesty still isn't right and I'm not going to adjust my opinion on this for a character's trashy standards.
Then we have the boys, the 2/3 of the love triangle. Maxon, the prince, who in the first book, actually seems pretty decent! He keeps his distance, he has standards, I had expectations for him! Expectations WHICH HE SLAUGHTERED when he (probably catching on from America) dates and flirts with the other girls and keeps one especially for backup. He hangs out with one of the most hated girls just because, oh woe is me oh poor little neglected boy, he wants the experience. BAH. Aspen doesn't get much better. He definitely never treated America like a lady, not that she gave him any reason to. But in this book, he doesn't show up much unless it's to give a hurt look to America or whatever. But then his problem is quickly done away withwhen all of a sudden we find out that he's in love with someone else! Now everyone can live happily ever after, hooray!🎉 I'm sorry, but that's a cheap plot.
Then, the one character I liked, Marlee, ends up destroying my faith in humanity as well whenshe cheats on Maxon. And everyone's like, aw poor Marlee, she doesn't deserve that! First of all, she could have gotten way worse. Secondly, she literally broke an oath and the law AND was impure, why should she have any special kind of sympathy? I liked the maids too, until they conspired with America to design a dress to attract Maxon. 🙄 That, by the way, is the only time America takes the time to think of something with a plan. The only character I ended up remotely liking was the queen, who turned out to be a bit spineless and she died, not only in a lackluster ending but it seriously wasn't fun. Then there's the tyrannical bully of a king who-ah, what's this? Another weak plotpoint? HE DIES! Also, can we talk about how when something interesting starts to happen America gets locked up so we don't get to see it??
I could go on (especially about how the whole politics and war subplot makes no sense), but I'll leave with this: This book teaches that if you are attracted to someone and have feelings for them, you can do a whole bunch of horrible things and it's fine because it's meant to be, and therefore beautiful, because all's fair in love and war or whatnot, and you'll end up together in the end! It shows that a lack of self control or ability to stop and think is just fine and dandy if you have good intentions. It's false romance.
Perhaps the title, The One, was a hint to how I would give it one star. Perhaps I should not have picked up a series because it was popular and continued reading to say that I finished a story so that people couldn't tell me I don't deserve an opinion unless I know the end. (Actually, that's not a perhaps. Don't waste your time with books you don't like, even if they are quick.) I've seen this series described as mental junk food, and that is a perfect description. But it never gave me the pleasure that junk food does, BUT it did make me really appreciate other actual pieces of literature.
First off, we have America. The ultimate cliche girl who prefers pants, doesn't like makeup, thinks she's ugly, and all that jazz. She's "brave", "unique", (even though I only recall a few examples of when she was reckless with good intentions) and "has a good moral compass and love of doing the right thing" even though she has abundantly shown herself to do the wrong thing way more, such cheating on a guy she's dating (with zero remorse or conscience pricks), jumping to whatever conclusion her brain reaches first, and being impure. And no, I don't care if that's "the norm" for the series, immodesty still isn't right and I'm not going to adjust my opinion on this for a character's trashy standards.
Then we have the boys, the 2/3 of the love triangle. Maxon, the prince, who in the first book, actually seems pretty decent! He keeps his distance, he has standards, I had expectations for him! Expectations WHICH HE SLAUGHTERED when he (probably catching on from America) dates and flirts with the other girls and keeps one especially for backup. He hangs out with one of the most hated girls just because, oh woe is me oh poor little neglected boy, he wants the experience. BAH. Aspen doesn't get much better. He definitely never treated America like a lady, not that she gave him any reason to. But in this book, he doesn't show up much unless it's to give a hurt look to America or whatever. But then his problem is quickly done away with
Then, the one character I liked, Marlee, ends up destroying my faith in humanity as well when
I could go on (especially about how the whole politics and war subplot makes no sense), but I'll leave with this: This book teaches that if you are attracted to someone and have feelings for them, you can do a whole bunch of horrible things and it's fine because it's meant to be, and therefore beautiful, because all's fair in love and war or whatnot, and you'll end up together in the end! It shows that a lack of self control or ability to stop and think is just fine and dandy if you have good intentions. It's false romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, and Death of parent
Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Murder, and War
Minor: Bullying, Confinement, and Classism
Chapter 2 can be skipped. After an announcement happens in Chapter 27, the rest of that can be skipped too. There's mid-level language in the book.