loves_nurse's reviews
175 reviews

A Heart of Fire and Flame by K. J. Johnson
Did not finish book. Stopped at 12%.

Instant love/sex. Meh.

Nectar of the Wicked by Ella Fields

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

3.0

A story of marriage and lies. Our overly innocent nubile FMC goes on a journey to marry a king, so that he can take revenge upon her family. She does not know this at first. We discover she's a hidden princes  daughter to a different king. She's being used for revenge. 

 FMC is guided by MMC in every aspect of her life and the spicy scenes are almost cringey with young virgin/ older experienced partner tropes. Is he a werewolf? Is he a vampire? Fae? I dunno. Why are we at war other than revenge? Story mostly unfolds near the end of the first book.  Not a clean wrap up to the next in the series, as book 2 picks up in the same scene. 
Story is entertaining and spicy scenes build along the way. World building is somewhat weak.

Leaves of Grass: 1855 Edition by Walt Whitman

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A

How does one judge poetry? I think I need to read this in tandem with the physical copy, as there are treasures within the lines, but hard to absorb via audiobook for me.

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

adventurous

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

3.25

Adventure and destiny for our characters. This book is action packed and Adventure driven. Seperate goals by our FMC and MMC and the people in their closest circles clash as the story unfolds.  

The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury

adventurous challenging 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? It's complicated

3.75

Is it Bill & Ted meets the island boys of Lord of the Flies, but not so severe and terrible? I dunno. Sacrifices are made, in good faith and with choice. 
Interesting short novel! 1972

Oleander Girl by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

slow-paced

3.0

Beautiful writing with a tedious story.

Unfamiliar Fishes by Sarah Vowell

challenging informative slow-paced

4.75

Excellent history telling! Hawaii and it's monarchs and their lands rich history intertwined with early American history is well presented! Love the subtle sarcasm and dry wit also written into this book. Like the Bob Newhart of historians! 

Behold a Pale Horse by Milton William Cooper

slow-paced

Hoooooboy. Lots to unpack. This conspiracy theorists "exposing" of the government as a backdrop to how we're controlled by fascist government and potential revocation of the constitution...? I'm supposing the physical copy has documents proving his claims, but the audiobook felt like an extremesists rambling of " this exists simply because I say it exists, and that's my evidence " is really heavy handed on new world order control. Written from an extreme white man's perspective, it is jarring to know that many people who are attracted to this type of rhetoric are so easily swayed into other avenues of extremist thinking.

X-Files portrayed some of these theories in a fantastical FICTIONAL show, and in that form, it's highly entertaining and imaginative. As written to be a journalism piece, I do not think it holds merit for people that are unwilling to dig in governmental archives and interpret the history of actions and laws.

Entreat Me by Grace Draven

adventurous emotional 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 really enjoyed this story! Inspired by Beauty & The Beast, the characters were well fleshed out and the story clipped along at a pace that was satisfying. I enjoyed the side characters and their spurs of sarcasm. The spices scenes were the right amout of spice and while they were sort of heavy handed in the middle of the story, they didn't detract from the tale. Audio book narration was well done! 

Kingdom of Villains by Ella Fields

adventurous slow-paced

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

3.0

Stand alone Vampire/Dragon/Captive fae fantasty book with spice. It was alright. Better than some, not as good as others. Meh.