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kenfrommars's reviews
23 reviews
Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Mother fucking Saga
A Thousand Boy Kisses by Tillie Cole
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Initially, I was loving this book. The story, while utterly heartbreaking, captured me in a way a book hadn't in really long time. It was endearing but also frustrating.
I suppose that is how I kept feeling the deeper I got into the story. I did cry but this book also made me mad. The characters made me mad.
I hated the mutual codependency of Rune and Poppy and that they couldn't be happy without each other. But maybe I fall out of the key demographic of the novel.
I don't know.
Spoilers for the epilogue below!
Rune being dead after ten years pissed me off so much. Left such a sour taste in my mouth. I wished Rune could have been happy without Poppy but it just made zero sense to me that Tillie Cole decided not to go that route.
I suppose that is how I kept feeling the deeper I got into the story. I did cry but this book also made me mad. The characters made me mad.
I hated the mutual codependency of Rune and Poppy and that they couldn't be happy without each other. But maybe I fall out of the key demographic of the novel.
I don't know.
Spoilers for the epilogue below!
Rune being dead after ten years pissed me off so much. Left such a sour taste in my mouth. I wished Rune could have been happy without Poppy but it just made zero sense to me that Tillie Cole decided not to go that route.
The Blinding Knife by Brent Weeks
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
4.5
The Black Prism by Brent Weeks
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
4.0
The Bourbon Kings by J.R. Ward
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
What a wild ride. This was my first true read of J.R. Ward. I understand that she is known mainly for her Dark Dagger Brotherhood series, but that one never clicked with me. But, the kind of 80s primetime soap opera vibes that The Bourbon Kings gave me is what I live for in my books. I mean, I grew up on soap operas (among other things). And my own WIP novels have a lot of soapy elements to them.
So when I took up the task of reading this, I was going in expecting a lot of high drama, explosive characters, twists and turns, and just about anything I came to expect from the soap opera genre. And what I got was that and then some.
JR knows how to write her characters well. Even the ones I shouldn't like proved to be my favorites. The intrigue, the plot threads set up for book two, and all of the romance were so well-written.
I have to admit, some of the sex scenes threw me, but I also respected the tasteful approach. It felt like it had a purpose and that's the life I'm all about.
This is definitely one of my favorite books and I look forward to reading The Angel's Share.
So when I took up the task of reading this, I was going in expecting a lot of high drama, explosive characters, twists and turns, and just about anything I came to expect from the soap opera genre. And what I got was that and then some.
JR knows how to write her characters well. Even the ones I shouldn't like proved to be my favorites. The intrigue, the plot threads set up for book two, and all of the romance were so well-written.
I have to admit, some of the sex scenes threw me, but I also respected the tasteful approach. It felt like it had a purpose and that's the life I'm all about.
This is definitely one of my favorite books and I look forward to reading The Angel's Share.
Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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
5.0
This will be a spoiler free review of Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt.
When I first heard of this novel, I was looking for books to buy myself for Christmas. I knew I wanted a book that would break my heart. I don't know why I was wanting this kind of experience, but I did. So I was going through Amazon and ended up having zero luck.
So I went to booktok. I searched up sad book recs. There were so many that I considered. So many that went on the cart and left the cart. Eventually I decided on this one.
Boy am I glad that I did.
This story, while not to spoil anything past what is included in the synopsis, is about a boy (I know we've heard that one before), but this boy is named Joseph. He's a middle schooler who has a daughter named Jupiter. He gets placed into foster care and his foster brother, Jackson (insists on Jack, however), there's a bond between them.
and what a beautiful bond it is. There's so much I can say — that I want to say. I want to talk about what happened (and I will in a spoiler review of it), but allow me just this final thought.
You know the old jingle about the Klondike Bar.
What would you dooooo-ooooo for a Klondike Bar?
That's the best way I can compare the journey this story took me on. I was laughing, angrily reacting as I turned each page, smiling and happy crying, then exclaiming in absolute shock and horror of some events that transpired.
This book was exactly what I wanted and was both exactly what I expected and genuinely and delightfully surprised me.
I am but one reader who has likely given this novel a positive review, but this one reader will recommend this book to anyone and everyone he knows. Just perfect.
When I first heard of this novel, I was looking for books to buy myself for Christmas. I knew I wanted a book that would break my heart. I don't know why I was wanting this kind of experience, but I did. So I was going through Amazon and ended up having zero luck.
So I went to booktok. I searched up sad book recs. There were so many that I considered. So many that went on the cart and left the cart. Eventually I decided on this one.
Boy am I glad that I did.
This story, while not to spoil anything past what is included in the synopsis, is about a boy (I know we've heard that one before), but this boy is named Joseph. He's a middle schooler who has a daughter named Jupiter. He gets placed into foster care and his foster brother, Jackson (insists on Jack, however), there's a bond between them.
and what a beautiful bond it is. There's so much I can say — that I want to say. I want to talk about what happened (and I will in a spoiler review of it), but allow me just this final thought.
You know the old jingle about the Klondike Bar.
What would you dooooo-ooooo for a Klondike Bar?
That's the best way I can compare the journey this story took me on. I was laughing, angrily reacting as I turned each page, smiling and happy crying, then exclaiming in absolute shock and horror of some events that transpired.
This book was exactly what I wanted and was both exactly what I expected and genuinely and delightfully surprised me.
I am but one reader who has likely given this novel a positive review, but this one reader will recommend this book to anyone and everyone he knows. Just perfect.