hforsythe26's reviews
160 reviews

The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman

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adventurous dark funny 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? It's complicated

4.25

I was surprised by The Blacktongue Thief. The description led me to expect a fantasy action story, perhaps a bit of a quest, maybe some witty puns here and there. And I did find all of those things inside the pages of this odd book but I also found something unexpected... heart. Nothing prepared me for the emotional punch packed into this story. It's weird and it's violent and sometimes the humor is more roll-your-eyes funny than laugh-out-loud funny but I absolutely loved it all. There's a depth to the characters and relationships that fosters a level of emotional investment that is often missing in books twice as long. The main problem is that the second installment in the series isn't out yet and I desperately need to know what happens to everybody next. Hurry up, Mr. Buehlman!
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Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

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adventurous hopeful lighthearted 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

5.0

Not much to say beyond the fact that I'll never forget sweet Rocky <3 Five star read with a delightful mix of scientific theory, space exploration, and one of the most developed friendships that I've read in a long time... maybe ever.
Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence

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

3.75

If you like books about bad people doing bad things then this is the book for you. The main character is not a good person and I did have a hard time connecting to him in the beginning, however, as we learn about his past we find out more about why he is how he is. I do think he ended with some hints of a redemption arc which makes me want to read more and I enjoyed the writing style - complex but direct. Overall, I do want to keep going with the series but this first one was a slow start and I wasn't really invested until the last third or so.
Over the Woodward Wall by A. Deborah Baker

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adventurous dark 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

3.0

I picked this book up in the adult SFF section at the library so I went in with a little misconception (this is most definitely middle grade, not adult) which left me waiting for the other shoe to drop but it never did and I feel like that is why I didn't like this one more. It was a quirky story with cute characters and a fun little adventure. The overall tone is not fun though, it's more... somber. I listened to the audiobook and quite enjoyed it. I think it's a good choice for audio because it's an easy story to follow without too many different character voices and the narrator did an excellent job. Overall, this was one of the most successful reads that I've tried from Seanan McGuire but her tone still isn't a great fit for me.  
The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchison

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dark sad fast-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? No

4.5

This was a Wild! Ride! The entire story takes place over the course of just a few days as FBI "Special Agent in Charge Victor Hanoverian" interviews one of the survivors of a kidnapping situation. Inara/Maya tells her story, slowly peeling back the layers and revealing the absolute horror endured by The Gardener's "Butterflies" - young women kidnapped and forced to live in his indoor garden to be used and abused by him and others. There is some sick stuff in this book but it doesn't feel gratuitous, it feels raw and real and painful. But it's not all pain and horror, we also get to see the women's quiet strength that knows no bound. Forced into an unimaginable situation beyond their control, they are forced to choose each other as their support system and family, forming bonds that cannot be broken not matter how intense the pressure. I flew (no pun intended) through The Butterfly Garden and it's a top rate thriller but be warned, there are some very dark situations throughout.
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Burial Rites by Hannah Kent

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

3.5

I enjoyed reading Agnes' story but the pace was quite slow for the first two thirds of the book. It wasn't until the last third that I really felt gripped and was excited to pick it up and find out how her story would end. This book was atmospheric and I enjoyed the portrayal of rural Iceland and seeing a glimpse of how people lived in that time and place. Definitely not a book with a happy ending but still an emotionally intense story and a fascinating look at a time period not often shown in historical fiction.
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

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funny hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.75

Cute. Sweet. Wholesome. Darling. All of those are words that describe this book. What a precious cozy story of magic and family and conquering one's fear. This is not my normal type of read, there were no high stakes or edge of your seat cliffhangers, but there was heart. Getting to know Mika Moon and the three young witches that she watches over was such a fun treat. I can't recommend this enough for when you might need a cheerful fresh breath of air. This is the kind of story that warms you from the inside like a hot cup of tea. I did knock it a quarter star because I felt that some of the language and sexual references detracted from the overall tone a bit but overall I'm so happy I picked this one up. A cinnamon roll of a book!
Blood of Elves by Andrzej Sapkowski

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adventurous lighthearted 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? Yes

4.0

This is the third book in the Witcher series, taking place after the first two collections of short stories. This is the first book that occurs linearly and I greatly enjoyed it. We see more of Geralt and Ciri as well as Yennefer and Ciri which was a fun dynamic. The tone is light and airy but the plot is thick with insinuations of things to come. If the short stories were the introduction, Blood of Elves is an intriguing start to Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri's journey. 
Defending Jacob by William Landay

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dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This. Book. This book packs an emotional wallop! I won't say much beyond the fact that the character work is absolutely phenomenal. I could feel the emotions of every character. I hurt with them, celebrated with them, and struggled right alongside them as they grappled with the events told in the story. As a (step) parent of teen boys, I'll be thinking about this story for a long long time. 
The Ice Princess by Camilla Läckberg

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 29%.
I tried so hard to get through this one! I loved The Golden Cage by the same author but I just couldn't connect with this main character. She was flat and bland, which might have been bearable if the plot was gripping but it just.... wasn't. By 137 pages I really didn't care who the murderer was and I had no desire to keep following the MC. In fact, I cant even remember her name to include in this review. I will say, while this isn't going to be the series for me, I'm not done with Lackberg just yet. I definitely want to read the sequel to The Golden Cage.