librarianlayla's reviews
589 reviews

The Gilded Ones, by Namina Forna

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

Emotionally driven and filled with action. I could not put this book down. 

Beautifully written, haunting and at times difficult to read - but so essential. I cannot wait for the sequel. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Gore, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Confinement, Physical abuse, Violence, Death, Gaslighting, Torture, Vomit, War, Xenophobia, Body horror, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Hate crime, and Slavery

Vi Spy: Licence To Chill, by Maz Evans

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.25

Witty and full of adventure.

This is perfect for readers who enjoy all things spy related but also enjoy a good laugh. Fast paced action and a good amount of character development throughout. 

Supernova, by Marissa Meyer

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.75

It only doesn't get the full 5 stars due to the ending leaving it open for further books and I demand to know answers - haha. 

Overall a fantastic trilogy that I adored. So many twists and turns, a cat and mouse chase that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.

Winterborne Home for Mayhem and Mystery, by Ally Carter

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious sad fast-paced

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

4.0

An emotional rollercoaster.

Sincerely hope that this has a sequel as there is so much more story to tell and mysteries to be solved! 

Ordinary Monsters, by J.M. Miro

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

Prepare yourself for a heartbreaking, raw,  ride. Beautifully written, darkly descriptive, and intense. 

The only reason this doesn't get the full 5 stars is because there was very little ebb and flow of emotions. It is mostly fraught, with very few light moments to break up the harshness. But I did enjoy it greatly, and am looking forward to the sequel!

For fans of Miss Peregrine's, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and The Nevers.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Grief, Toxic relationship, Death, Blood, Toxic friendship, and Injury/injury detail

Moderate: Confinement, Hate crime, Racism, Addiction, Racial slurs, Gore, Gun violence, Murder, Child death, Gaslighting, Torture, Drug use, Physical abuse, and Self harm

The Hobbit, or There and Back Again, by J.R.R. Tolkien

adventurous funny 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? It's complicated

5.0

Frizzy, by Claribel A. Ortega

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

A perfect graphic novel for all us curly haired people that have ever been led to believe that we are not enough with our natural hair.

I adored the journey this took us on and the accurate representation of societal pressure to look a certain way with which to be respected and / or appreciated. 

The Letter for the King, by Tonke Dragt

adventurous funny lighthearted 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

4.5

You can see the heavy Tolkien influence within this story. It was witty and adventurous and filled with intriguing characters. 

All of Our Demise, by C.L. Herman, Amanda Foody

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

This doesn't quite get the full 5 stars as I felt there was something from the first book that was missing in this one. The ending also didn't quite tie everything up as I'd hoped. But I did enjoy the twists and turns, the savage undercurrent ect.

The Tale of the Outcasts Vol. 1, by Makoto Hoshino

dark hopeful sad fast-paced

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

4.75

An interesting start to this series, I think it's one that will slowly work its way into the heart of the reader.