jo_cbooks's reviews
260 reviews

The Courting of Bristol Keats by Mary E. Pearson

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

The Well-Watered Woman: Rooted in Truth, Growing in Grace, Flourishing in Faith by Gretchen Saffles

challenging hopeful informative inspiring reflective

5.0

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

challenging informative reflective

Glow of the Everflame by Penn Cole

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Spark of the Everflame by Penn Cole

dark tense 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? Yes

5.0

Holy cow what a ride! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Sexual harassment, and War

The Huntress by Kate Quinn
Did not finish book. Stopped at 23%.

So bored from the first chapter 

Lovely War by Julie Berry

emotional tense

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect: A Novel by Benjamin Stevenson

adventurous funny mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.75

I enjoyed this just as much as the first book! 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Rape

Daughters of Olympus by Hannah Lynn

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I want to start off with a trigger warning for r*pe and SA. Because, though it is known that Greek mythology is ripe with these aspects of the god’s tales, readers need to be aware that this story does not hesitate to stay true to those stories. 

Hannah Lynn does it once again with her retelling of Demeter and Persephone’s stories in Daughters of Olympus. She captures the raw emotions of her characters and does a fantastic job contrasting mother and daughter. The way she intertwined all the little pieces of Greek mythology that cross both goddesses paths was so well done. Lynn made me fall in love with Hades, and not in the typical morally grey or comedic portrayal we often see. The depth of Demeter’s love, loss, grief, and pain was poignant and unabashed. The growth of both characters was so admirable. I would say that this is Lynn’s best story yet in the Grecian Women series!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Sexual content

The Last Song of Penelope by Claire North

challenging tense slow-paced

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

4.0

The Last Song of Penelope is a great closure to a fantastic trilogy. It did take a bit to draw me in as I was not as big of a fan of Athena’s narrating as I was of Hera. There were times I felt she went on unnecessary tangents that distracted from the story, but as the story picked up I was able to look past Athena’s ramblings. I absolutely loved seeing the character growth of Penelope, and finally getting to witness the dynamic between her and Odysseus! I will say, the entire book I was hoping for Telemachus to be killed because I find his disrespect to his mother infuriating. It just goes to show that Claire North writes fantastic characters, whether they are characters I like or not!