knitreadkate's reviews
76 reviews

Denying Red: A hot Firefighter romance by Misha Blake
Did not finish book. Stopped at 10%.

This book reads like a poorly written fan fic and desperately needs a decent editor. 
I can’t get past 30 pages. 

Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas

adventurous dark emotional sad tense 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

4.75

I needed a day for that to sink in. 

I was not in a million years expecting

Live, Manon. Live.

That was so hard.

Also,

the part of Aelin begging to take it off had me in an emotional mess. And the moment Dorian finally sees Chaol and they hug.

At first, I was annoyed that SJM had built up this big, dangerous and deadly battle. I felt that final boss battle was too easy. I guess it is YA and I adore all the characters, what they have been through and the family/court they have built. I'm happy they lived, they had their happy endings and there was peace for all.

I loved reading Throne of Glass series and I can't wait to read it again.

Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

It’s a great audiobook to have on while doing something else that requires some focus. 

It is whimsical and light hearted and the one plot twist happens about 90% into the book. 

I couldn’t feel a connection to any of the characters and wasn’t really invested in the main plot. I didn’t care what happened to them. 

In saying this, I’ve never read a terry pratchett book, good omens or watched princess bride before. Perhaps if you love those, this would be right up your alley. 

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I find Kvothe hard to like as a main character.

Listening to this book was the best decision. The narrator is fantastic! Worth his weight in gold and kept the book entertaining ever through the dull, grindy moments.

Rothfuss goes into exquisite detail throughout the book. The imagery is very strong. I'm a bit put off on how women were portrayed. I'm not sure if that was on purpose, like a comment on the society within that world. We repeatedly go into the classism and Kvothe's poverty.

I found the book a bit of a grind to get through  and I wasn't sure what the point was besides an autobiography of a fictional character. Maybe, I'm biased towards more action in plots.

I feel the pinnacle of the book was Kvothe winning his pipes, after this I found it hard to pick it back up and keep going with the story. This took over 4 months to finish with many moment where I wanted to DNF.

I think Patrick Rothfuss is an incredible author. I'm not sure the story was for me or if I'll continue with the series.

Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 

I think after Crown of Midnight, this is on par as my favourite book of the series. 

I think this is one of the best books of the entire throne of glass series. 

That long, slow burn of Aelin and Rowan that has been teased and teased for 2 full books

finally explodes in a sensational medium-spicy love scene at Skulls Bay. I need another re-read of that scene.

This book was full of emotion and action. 

From the agony of Manon saving Dorian, to be almost killed by her grandmother and finding out she is the last Crochan Queen after killing her only living relative in the previous book, to abraxos flying to Aelin to save Manon and abraxos flying to being the 13 to Manon.

God I love Manon.

That ending tho. 

Aelin doesn’t know what TOD Nesryn has found out on Maeve. 
How does Aelin know this was all going to happen?

The witching mirror with the memories for Aelin gave me a flash of Harry re-watching Severus’ memories and Snape yelling at Dumbledore, "You used Harry. You've been raising him like a pig to slaughter." 
I feel like Elena has done the same to Aelin.

Like Elena would have known she is asking all of this from Aelin and to die for it. That Aelin might be immortal hinted by Maeve but no, she’ll lose all that and her powers and probably her life for this cause for a better world. 
Then we find out that the mate bond is confirmed. They’re married. 
OMG. 
Chills.

Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas

adventurous challenging emotional funny mysterious sad tense slow-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

 

I’m really glad I did the tandem read of EOS & TOD. I think TOD as a standalone read would have been a chore to read through. 

It was exciting to go to a new environment. Antica and the Torre, the Palace and the Ruks were so interesting to read and be in that new world. 

I love Chaol from CoM but from QoS he really pissed me off. I could not understand his stubbornness to Aelin. This did play into the story a bit. 

I was favouring Nesryn & Sartaq for most of the book. I think Yrene was a great counterbalance to Chaol’s blunt dickheadedness.

Chaol actually made me snort so loud when reading this book 

The word play, the several innuendo’s was a great warmth from the many ‘nothing’ pages. This book could have been half the size. A nice 300 pager. 

It was a great break from the constant anxiety and action from EOS. Of course, in true SJM fashion, everything happens right at the end. 

Nesryn flying with Sartaq to meet the hearth mothers, the watch tower scene and the spiders was my favourite part of the book. They work so well as a couple. I’m glad they stayed grounded with Nesryn’s family as an anchor. 

Yrene was a breath of fresh air to Chaol. He desperately needed something to make him interesting. I’m excited to see their reaction to Lysandra and Aelin who may not remember Yrene at all.

Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

adventurous challenging emotional funny sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 

I had covid while reading this. I read as much as I could, I didn’t want to put it down. 

I love that we had some funny lines in here from different characters. 

Manon is fast becoming my strong favourite. She is so interesting, a mix of brutality and morality brewing. 

When Aelin found Rowan, I yelled. I yelled so loud. I had been waiting and waiting for Rowan to show up. I now they’re my favourites. 

This book was full of action and revenge. I loved it. This book was a ride and I don't have the words.

What You Are Looking For is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama

emotional funny mysterious reflective sad medium-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

4.5

 

Very cosy, heart-warming read. I read this after reading ‘The Reading List’ by Sara Nisha Adams and I feel these two books pair well together. 

Reading this book made me feel like even when I feel like I’m failing in my life, family, career, change your environment. Change your perspective, your path, do something different and outside your comfort zone. 

I love that each character’s POV ties in with another character in some small way. Many of these characters hit close to home for me and I wish I had an all-knowing Librarian with a felted gift and Honeydome cookies. 

The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas

adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-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

4.75

This definitely got me in the feels after reading Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight and Heir of Fire. 
I enjoyed reading Assassin’s Blade as the 4th book in the series. 
I love the novellas with the overarching story of Sam, Celeana and Arobynn. 

I cried and felt her emptiness at the end. I loved getting this backstory.  Having her realtionship with Sam grow throughout the book while knowing it would end... it was like a Shakespearean tradgey.

SJM hooked into my feels and broke me on this one. SJM is fantastic at angst, heartbreak, stress, build up, that everything is all happening at once. I cried. 

What an ending. We all knew it wold happen but it still broke me.

I loved that it was broken into different stories, with characters that make appearances in later books is cool. I loved we saw the brutality of Arobynn and why tht hate is deserved.

The part with the lavender soap broke me the most. Sam using ehr expensive lavender soap so she gives him the cheap soap and later, that is what she smells on his body. That hit hard. I tell me partner not to use my expensive shampoo or body wash! That perspective shift that it's such a small thing, let him use the lavender soap.

The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad slow-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

4.75

So many feelings from this book.

It was a cosy library read with many heart warming moments and a heavy, emotional moment about 75% in. That heaviness stayed with me for the remainder of the book and I don’t feel like it was resolved.

Like others have said, I completely didn’t see the years next to some of the chapters to denote flashbacks and but you pick up on it as you read. There are multiple POVs from different characters, mostly Mukesh and Aliesha.

I absolutely loved Mukesh’s story arc and provided so many heart warming moments.

I have so many questions for Aleisha.

Aidan had to give up his dreams to work long hours, late nights to pay the bills for the family. With Aidan gone, I don’t see Leilah able to work and support herself. Aleisha is off to university - how is all of this going to work?

As wonderful as the community get together in Aidan’s memory was - I couldn’t help but think the whole time that Aidan was trying so hard to take care of Leilah - he was parentified. 
While I don’t know the answer, I feel I need to know something about how Leilah would be taken care of after all of Aidan’s efforts. It shouldn't be left on Aleisha's shoulders.

I’d say it’s almost a cosy read however the book deals with heavy mental health and suicide.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Mental illness, Suicide, and Death of parent