martin888's reviews
116 reviews

Cruel Winter with You by Ali Hazelwood

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious relaxing fast-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

4.0

Only Hazelwood can make even 74 pages so packed with emotion and reflectiveness that you just completely forget that you're reading. 

Great short read to end the 2024 year's reading goal<3

Celestial Monsters by Aiden Thomas

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious 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

How dare you, Aiden Thomas! How dare you win over my heart with this series, shatter it to tiny pieces, make me cry and need a book two, then give it to me and shatter my heart even more! Well done, tho

I have never felt so seen and heard. This book reassured me and gave me hope for the future. It's a truly remarkable book with so multi-dimensionally complex characters that you have a hard time even hating the villains. Aiden Thomas is probably my new auto-buy author now.

Lies of the Wicked by B.L. Lewis

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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? No

4.5

It is an amazing book with great writing, simple yet compelling world-building, and colorful characters. 
🔮
A book that started as a simple book tour turned into an adventure worth remembering.

The author certainly has my full heart and support and I cannot wait to see more from her🐍🪻

FAVORITE QUOTES:

"She was a ball of night, and
he was her fury." 

"Perhaps it's not the spells I spent a century searching for, but rather you."

"It's bold of any female to trust a male wholeheartedly."

"...the difference between lust and love wasn't evident until she'd found it."

The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas

adventurous challenging emotional funny inspiring mysterious 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

This was amazing! But also WHAT DO YOU MEAN "TO BE CONTINUED"?!?! 

Uh! I hate it when this happens! But also, omg, this book spoke to me on such a personal level.

Aiden Thomas is my new auto-buy author who always nails the trans joys and sorrows. His books have given me hope and made me feel seen in so many ways<3


FAVORITE QUOTES:
"Why was it that just because his body was different from everyone else's, they thought they could ask whatever inappropriate questions they wanted?"

"Was being a Hero all it was cracked up to be? Was it worth being lonely and not having a life of his own? To be famous and beloved but at a distance?"

"I'm so proud of you."
Teo let out a bitter laugh. "Why? I haven't done a single thing for you to be proud of
...
"Why?" "Teo, you have become so completely yourself, I am in awe of the young man before me."

(I'm crying)

The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious 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

Absolute masterpiece! Chef's kiss🤌✨️ muah!

This story is so well built with complex characters, intriguing worldbuilding, Oscar-worthy twists, and political chess. 

I was never a big fantasy reader, but this book, Jude and Cardan, have my whole heart<3

FAVORITE QUOTES:
"I never wanted to be your enemy," I say. "But I didn't want to be in your power, either."

"By you, I am forever undone."

"I spent much of my life guarding my heart. I guarded it so well that I could behave as though I didn't have one at all. Even now, it is a shabby, worm-eaten, and scabrous thing. But it is yours."

The Sun and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur
Did not finish book. Stopped at 39%.

I mean... I skimmed through it, but I wouldn't call it reading. I guess Kupi Kaur's poetry just isn't my cup of tea. 

Didn't like Milk and Honey too much either but wanted to give this one a try. Well. I tried.

Tõde ja õigus II by A.H. Tammsaare

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? N/A

4.0

Def more fun than the first book. Also probably the longest of the series.
I did like it a lot, but took a while to finish.

The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides

challenging dark emotional informative reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

I feel like the last page told me more about the book than the other 240 ones. Depressing, lyrical, reflective and uniqe.

Also, the amazing quote:
"What are you doing here, honey? You're not even old enough to know how bad life gets." 

 "Obviously, Doctor,'" she said,
"you've never been a thirteen-year-old girl."

The Wicked King by Holly Black

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.75

This. Freaking. Book.
I have no words. I just devoured this book and now I have no idea what to do with myself.

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

adventurous emotional funny mysterious tense medium-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

4.5

This might be my new fav Ali Hazelwood book. I would love it if she wrote more paranormal romances<3