lizcallahan's reviews
21 reviews

The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

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

5.0

And yeah, I did spend 10 minutes crying after I finished this book because it was so good, what about it?

The Sanderlanche fully had me wringing my hands towards the end of this book and almost throwing it across the room on 3 separate occasions. It rocked my world in the best way possible.

I'm so happy the world is left with those who still have hope, something to work towards, or someone to love and live with ❤️ I cannot wait for my next Brandon Sanderson read

The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.25

I'm screaming, crying, and throwing up from this book in the best way possible 😅 This book truly took the story of Mistborn and elevated it to the highest degree. Everyone loves a heist, of course, but to explore the aftermath of that heist? The character conflicts, both internal and external? To see these development arcs between a teenage girl and a middle aged priest meet and fall in the exact place the other started????! A wonderful sequel, I cannot recommend it enough. 

My only gripe is that Dockson deserved more time and development, but in the end, there's only so much one can focus on ❤️

The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

Am I so behind on this train? Yes. Am I screaming, crying, and throwing up by how good this book was????! Also yes. I'm on the Brandon Sanderson train now.

On a real note, Brandon knows how to make a magic system and really embed it into the daily systems of the world. Truly some prolific world building, and I cannot wait to read more ❤️

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Slavery, Violence, and War

Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs

adventurous lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

YES MA'AM GIVE ME THAT SWEET SWEET MAGICAL MYSTERY WHERE YOU AS THE READER HAVE MORE INFORMATION THAN THE CHARACTERS  😍😍 What a fun magical read this was! Loved the world building, loved the slow horror that the book introduces and all the vaguely macabre elements! The characters were so well developed while still allowing for the plot to seamlessly progress.

My only knock is that I was able to guess the ending about 300 pgs in, which really gave me more of a feeling of triumph than anything. Highly recommended for any fantasy lovers looking for an easy but engaging read!

She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

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

5.0

"When all we have are these brief spans between our nonexistences, why not make the most of the life you are living now? The price is worth it".

I am utterly wrecked by this book !!!!! The burden of fate, of desire, tradition, and choosing life is so intricately woven into this heart wrenching tale. I could read this again and again and find something new to take from it. Each relationship is so deeply explored, the prose is fantastic, and above all, the plot had me hooked around every turn. Truly a fantastic work ❤️

Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

Every time I think Brandon can't possibly come up with a new magic system that feels fully developed I am yet again proved wrong!! 

There is quite a bit of tone shifting throughout this book, which sometimes made it difficult to actually sit with the hardship and character development. Especially when we go from Vivenna starving on the streets to Lightsong lounging and making jokes, it made me cringe and put the book down. Which, I guess, is what it was supposed to make me feel, but I couldn't tell if that was purposeful or just a happy accident. 

The twists and plot hooks, however, are stellar as always! Cannot wait to read more about Vivenna and Vasher in the future 😍

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment and Classism

Elantris by Brandon Sanderson

dark inspiring mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.5

Overall rating 3.5 stars

Should I have read this in 5 days immediately after finishing Warbreaker? Probably not, but man was it a fun ride 😍

I love the premise of Elantris, I love the slow development of New Elantris, the political machinations, the character development of Sarene and her little band, that aspect of plot building Brandon has always been stellar at!

The Sanderlanche was where I fell off with this one. Hrathen saves Sarene because he LOVES HER????? That feels like a flimsy reason given all the buildup with his faith crisis. Also, wtf was Iadon sacrificing people for FOR WEEKS, we never get an explanation!! There are some other minor plotholes that overall made the pacing just feel to fast for everything that was going on.

All in all, a fun read! I'm happy to see where Brandon started out, and I can't wait to read more of the Cosmere ❤️

The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous challenging reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I have completed my first book of 2024 at the stroke of midnight (technically 12:01) 😎 and of course it's Brandon Sanderson! Quarantining really set me up to finish this in an absurdly short time, but I loved it all the same 🥰 I cannot wait for more Bridge 4, more lore, and of course, more Wit 😜

Masters of Death by Olivie Blake

funny mysterious tense fast-paced

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

2.5

What in the CW show did I just read 😅

"But PAPA I LOVE HIM" he says, about the hundreds of years old demigod who has known him since he was a child. Yikes

I love the Atlas Six series, but this was not consistent with her other works

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship

A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson

dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This book was a delicacy, a heady descent into madness, lust, loyalty, and finding your freedom in forever. The diaristic narrative was perfect for this story, and it was the perfect length. Absolutely in love with this novel, so happy I finally got it out of the Libby queue ❤️

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse