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hippolyta_vi's reviews
157 reviews
My Lady Jane by Jodi Meadows, Brodi Ashton, Cynthia Hand
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
4.0
I started reading My Lady Jane because of the cancellation of the television show, and in a rare turn of events, I thought the show was better! I know it's unfair to compare the two pieces of media, but a lot of the changes made to the show I think benefitted the characters and the overall plot. The plot of the book is a bit simple and straightforward, very easy.
My biggest criqitue of the book is that it really felt more centered on Edward, especially in the latter part of the story. The main plot is concerned withgetting him back on the throne , so everyone else feels like side characters in his story, which felt wrong for a book with Jane's name in the title.
Overall, I did have a really fun time with the book. The tone is still cheeky and fun, which I appreciated. I did absolutely love how much G and Jane were obsessed with each other despite not having very much time together. Maybe because I already knew the characters from the show, but I loved them. Also, we were deprived of poet G in the show!
My biggest criqitue of the book is that it really felt more centered on Edward, especially in the latter part of the story. The main plot is concerned with
Overall, I did have a really fun time with the book. The tone is still cheeky and fun, which I appreciated. I did absolutely love how much G and Jane were obsessed with each other despite not having very much time together. Maybe because I already knew the characters from the show, but I loved them. Also, we were deprived of poet G in the show!
The End Crowns All by Bea Fitzgerald
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I'm disappointed to say that this did not live up to my expectations. I absolutely adored Girl, Goddess, Queen, so when I heard about the premise of The End Crowns, I was so psyched. Unfortunately, I was often bored. For a 500+ page book, so much happens, and yet so little is accomplished.
To me, it felt as though everything was happening to the characters, rather than them actually enacting anything, which is odd considering the entire plot is about Cassandra using her powers of prophecy to change the outcome of the war and Helen doing everything she can to aid in that. Maybe there's a message there, that some aspects of the future are truly set it stone and life is what you make of it. I just felt like everything the women were doing didn't really amount to much. The only thing that did isthe little army of women .
Will I read more of Bea Fitzgerald? Yeah probably.
To me, it felt as though everything was happening to the characters, rather than them actually enacting anything, which is odd considering the entire plot is about Cassandra using her powers of prophecy to change the outcome of the war and Helen doing everything she can to aid in that. Maybe there's a message there, that some aspects of the future are truly set it stone and life is what you make of it. I just felt like everything the women were doing didn't really amount to much. The only thing that did is
Will I read more of Bea Fitzgerald? Yeah probably.
One Piece, Vol. 1: Romance Dawn by Eiichiro Oda
Did not finish book. Stopped at 23%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 23%.
Needed to return it to the library lol
The Davenports by Krystal Marquis
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
This book was exactly what I needed. I've been reading a lot of mediocre books recently, but this one grasped me from the get-go and didn't let me go. It was a perfect mix of Downton Abbey's charm, Bridgerton's romance (although MUCH more PG), and Self Made's black historical excellence. I would be absolutely thrilled if this were ever adapted to television.
I can praise this book to the moon and back, but it does have its faults. Whereas most authors spend 370-odd pages on one (maybe two) romances and plots, Marquis tells us four. Because of this, everyone's plots felt rushed and occasionally inauthentic. The characters fell in love too fast, and the climaxes fell too fast. I absolutely appreciate everything Marquis was able to fit into this story, but I felt it was often lacking.
For example, it was obvious that Olivia was skirting her duties as eldest daughter, sister, and friend to pursue activism and her love interest, but she doesn't reflect on it very much besides "wow I really missed a lot huh..." It could've been interesting to see her grappling with this feeling of being torn between two worlds. I think this reflection would've foreshadowed the decision she makes in the end (which happened so fast it was jarring).
And this is going to be a series, so why not draw out the plots? Let them breathe?
I'm also not sure what we were to make of Mr. And Mrs. Davenport. Firstly, they were mostly right about...everything. Were they supposed to be villainized? Also, for a former enslaved man and a woman who grew up impoverished, they seemed like any other 1910 aristocrats. I wished we got to learn more about them and how they adapted to riches and high society. This again reflects on how much detail was left out because so many plots needed to fit into 370ish pages.
All the male love interests kinda felt the same to me...ngl. and at some points the romances felt the same because chapter to chapter, the same thing would be happening to each couple. Like I'm pretty sure 2-3 of the couples have their first kiss in the span of a few chapters. Another drawback of four straight romances happening at once. Could this not have been four separate books, a lá Bridgeton?
Lastly, I love Ruby. I was eating UP her storyline. The things I would do to see it as a Netflix show...(even though they probably wouldn't do it justice).
Did I have a lot of criticisms for this book? Yes. Will I be reading the next book in the series? Absolutely.
I can praise this book to the moon and back, but it does have its faults. Whereas most authors spend 370-odd pages on one (maybe two) romances and plots, Marquis tells us four. Because of this, everyone's plots felt rushed and occasionally inauthentic. The characters fell in love too fast, and the climaxes fell too fast. I absolutely appreciate everything Marquis was able to fit into this story, but I felt it was often lacking.
For example, it was obvious that Olivia was skirting her duties as eldest daughter, sister, and friend to pursue activism and her love interest, but she doesn't reflect on it very much besides "wow I really missed a lot huh..." It could've been interesting to see her grappling with this feeling of being torn between two worlds. I think this reflection would've foreshadowed the decision she makes in the end (which happened so fast it was jarring).
And this is going to be a series, so why not draw out the plots? Let them breathe?
I'm also not sure what we were to make of Mr. And Mrs. Davenport. Firstly, they were mostly right about...everything. Were they supposed to be villainized? Also, for a former enslaved man and a woman who grew up impoverished, they seemed like any other 1910 aristocrats. I wished we got to learn more about them and how they adapted to riches and high society. This again reflects on how much detail was left out because so many plots needed to fit into 370ish pages.
All the male love interests kinda felt the same to me...ngl. and at some points the romances felt the same because chapter to chapter, the same thing would be happening to each couple. Like I'm pretty sure 2-3 of the couples have their first kiss in the span of a few chapters. Another drawback of four straight romances happening at once. Could this not have been four separate books, a lá Bridgeton?
Lastly, I love Ruby. I was eating UP her storyline. The things I would do to see it as a Netflix show...(even though they probably wouldn't do it justice).
Did I have a lot of criticisms for this book? Yes. Will I be reading the next book in the series? Absolutely.
Herc by Phoenicia Rogerson
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It took me OVER A MONTH to finish this book. The almost-unique POV for every chapter made it hard to want to continue reading. Each chapter was like a complete little story. Some characters I liked, others I hated, and I did not care for Herc at all (shocker). That made it hard for me to care about continuing.
I still think this concept is very cool in that it communicates a significant message. Every person affects everyone else in their life in some way, either positive, negative, or both. We all mean something to someone.
I still think this concept is very cool in that it communicates a significant message. Every person affects everyone else in their life in some way, either positive, negative, or both. We all mean something to someone.
The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
I have to agree with many other readers that this book is unlike Bardugo's others, and I don't necessarily mean that in a good way.
As always, her prose is delicious and her characters are interesting. That's where my praise ends — not that this book is bad by any means...just...boring? Too much happened off the page for my liking. And although I typically like books that focus on many characters, I didn't think it served this story. Or at the very least, the style of storytelling Bardugo chose did not create a page-turner.
The ending was very sweet though :)
As always, her prose is delicious and her characters are interesting. That's where my praise ends — not that this book is bad by any means...just...boring? Too much happened off the page for my liking. And although I typically like books that focus on many characters, I didn't think it served this story. Or at the very least, the style of storytelling Bardugo chose did not create a page-turner.
The ending was very sweet though :)
Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler
4.0
I knew I needed to read this book in 2024 because that is when it begins. Octavia E. Butler's writing is timeless and her stories are near-prophetic. This book was published in 1993, but if you'd told me it came out in the 2020s I'd believe you.
In 1999, Butler said, "I looked at the growing rich/poor gap, at throwaway labor, at our willingness to build and fill prisons, our reluctance to build and repair schools and libraries, and at our assault on the environment." TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO AND IT STILL RINGS TRUE. It honestly sort of depresses me. It's grest to know that the society I live in hasn't crumbled like it did in Parable of the Sower's 2024-2027, but could still happen?
Butler saw and wrote about a potential future. With the right people, we can rebuild the world.
In 1999, Butler said, "I looked at the growing rich/poor gap, at throwaway labor, at our willingness to build and fill prisons, our reluctance to build and repair schools and libraries, and at our assault on the environment." TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO AND IT STILL RINGS TRUE. It honestly sort of depresses me. It's grest to know that the society I live in hasn't crumbled like it did in Parable of the Sower's 2024-2027, but could still happen?
Butler saw and wrote about a potential future. With the right people, we can rebuild the world.
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
Did not finish book. Stopped at 6%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 6%.
nah I just think I'm too dumb (I'm just not a huge sci-fi reader so the beginning was a slog to get through and I've been slipping into a reading slump so better quit while I'm ahead)