maileesque's reviews
21 reviews

The Rise of Kyoshi by F.C. Yee

5.0

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

4.0

Confrontaties by Simone Atangana Bekono

4.5

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

5.0

Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar

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? Yes

5.0

De donkere kamer van Damokles by Willem Frederik Hermans

challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Sexual content, Transphobia, and Antisemitism

Minor: Homophobia, Racial slurs, and Rape

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

adventurous dark mysterious fast-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

4.5

I really liked the book!! it was definitely a little darker than what I usually read, and I should have looked up the trigger warnings to mentally prepare myself, but I loved the plot and characters. well, except Matthias. I literally could not give two shits about him. I hated the romance between him and Nina; it felt like an oppressor/oppressed romance, which I absolutely loathe.

there was one constant mistake that really annoyed me, however. Bardugo only added an apostrophe instead of an apostrophe and an s for the possesive of names that ended in an s; for example, Matthias’ instead of Matthias’s. how this slipped through, I don’t know.

The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan

adventurous medium-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

1.5

the book was… awful. it was incredibly disappointing, the build-up was not at all concluded in a satisfying way—the ending was way too easy. a bunch of kids can defeat the literal earth within a few pages? don’t make me laugh. the only reason I’m not giving this 1 star is because I liked the scenes with Reyna, Nico, and coach Hedge. that’s it.

The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-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? Yes

4.75

there are no info dumps. the world building and magic system are awesome. the multiple POVs can be a bit messy or confusing, but they happen for a reason. Priya and Malini are maidservant and princess to reluctant allies to lovers and I love them so fucking much aaaaaaaaaah

Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron

adventurous dark hopeful 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? No

3.75

I liked it but it slightly feels like a first draft and the ending feels a bit… rushed? too easy, too.