leafy_literature's reviews
63 reviews

Sleep Tight by J.H. Markert

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.5

This book is FAST PACED. 321 pages holding events that only take place over the course of 48 hours. It was a solid read! I feel like it'd be best read in just one or two sittings. If you wait too long you forget what's going on - and there's A LOT of that, so you'll get lost behind. Characters were mostly well written - the church and cult parts were cringey. Priests are people, they don't just speak in biblical jargon. And a cult with HUNDREDS of followers, and no one tripped up and tipped off the authorities? Especially a crowd of rampant drug users, you'd think one would spill on a bender or something and the plan would be ruined. It just felt so unrealistic that it took me out of the story.

Five-Star Stranger by Kat Tang

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

I LOVED this book. The characters felt like real people, and the writing was so easy to follow and flow with. I know some people might not be happy about the ending, but I honestly feel like the ending was the most realistic it could've been.

This is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone, Amal El-Mohtar

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.75

This book was hard to get into, but once you did, it's hard to put down! The ending twist just KILLED me, I literally yelled! This is an awesome book, but I would definitely NOT recommend it if you are someone who isn't already well read. The wording can feel convoluted if you aren't used to this sort of story telling.

The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer

adventurous emotional funny inspiring tense medium-paced

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

2.75

Well, that was an interesting read to say the least. The dialogue was comically bad - I felt like I was reading from some fan fiction with the level of 'oh so witty' remarks. The story itself and the premise was interesting and definitely there. I just feel like I could summarize the entire book quite well in about 7 sentences. It leans more YA then I was expecting. Overall pretty alright.

The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious reflective 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

5.0

I LOOOOVED this book! Holy crap! This was one of the most well written stories I've read in a long time. The more mytical aspects were very easy to follow and explained very well. The characters were all so real feeling! I'm excited to read more from the author. Kd recommend this book to any breathing human with a beating heart.

The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

adventurous mysterious 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? No

4.0

I'm really enjoying this series. The mysteries are really well written, and the story is effortless to follow. I'd love to read more by this author.

Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater

emotional lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

I enjoyed this book a lot more than I was expecting. The characters were realistic, and the fantasy/historical fiction were blended very well.

Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke And Other Misfortunes by Eric LaRocca

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.25

The first story blew me away. There were some parts you needed to suspend disbelief for, but over all it was amazing. The second and third really fell flat. I felt like the ending was so rushed on the second story, and I was confused with the ending. What does the circle even mean? The third was definitely better and much more realistic than the former. But I have a hard time believing the extent everyone is willing to go for the sake of "politeness." Over all, good quick read.

Madam by Phoebe Wynne

dark emotional mysterious 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? No

5.0

I genuinely got so sucked in to this book. I thought each character seemed very realistic, and the writing was great; though there were definitely some words I could tell the author liked, lol. I didn't see coming what the premise of the school was, and I am so glad that was revealed in a timely enough manor where we could get some resolution - I feel like a lot if books I read lately are 300 pages of build up with 50 pages of plot/climax. I've already been recommending this book to friends. Great read!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, and Classism

Immunity by Erin Bowman

adventurous dark emotional hopeful tense 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

3.0

I ate the first 250 pages UP. I couldn't put it down! Then it got a little weird and a lot rushed! This easily could have been elaborated out into a trilogy. So much just seemed grazed over in terms of detail and character development.

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Content Warnings

I have no idea what happened there at the very end. That should have been left out - it makes me feel like Naree is a bad person. Why would we want to make her mother who she's been searching for her whole life a bad person in the last 5 pages? Just for revenge? It felt so ugly.