melissareads77's reviews
12 reviews

The Eleventh Metal by Brandon Sanderson

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adventurous informative tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

Another novella; in the Arcanum Unbounded.
This is the story of Kelsier beyond the veil so to speak. We get to see all the workings of Ruin and Preservation along with our favorite thief Kels. 

There is a LOT of good information in this short story - I see now why they say to read it after Mistborn Era 1. It helps tie up some things and give some finality to Vin and Elend’s story. It shows up how Kelsier never gives up that need for power and how destructive his listening (or lack thereof) skills are. Really great addition to have after the first trilogy.
The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

Still recovering from absolutely sobbing because the ending of this trilogy. 
This is hands down the greatest epic fantasy trilogy I’ve ever read. This third installment of the Mistborn trilogy #1 continues VIN’s story along with Elend, Sazed, and the rest of Kelsier’s crew that is left. The power from the Well of Ascension has been unleashed on the world and now Ruin is trying to destroy all of creation. Our hero’s must fight with everything they have and more. 
I am usually good about figuring out plot - however this entire storyline was so freaking well done I had no idea what was happening. The gasps, curses and astounding sounds that left me as I read this through have only ever happened with one other series. Hands down this was a wild ride! So so good!! 

“I am, unfortunately, the Hero of Ages” - I have still not recovered from this line.
Violence & Virtues: A Mafia Anthology by Sophie Dyer

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dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

A fantastic collection of bonus material from your favorite authors! Chapter after chapter filled with flaming slice levels. My personal favorite is from Effie Campbell and her bonus content of Alfie. 
To know him is to love him and boy do the people in a Scotland love him. If you’ve read any of the McGown Mafia series, this one is set about 10 years prior to that. 

Don’t miss out on some quick mafia reads to get the heat back in your cheeks and blood moving in your veins! 
The Darkness Beyond the Daisies by Cori Zahara

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dark emotional reflective sad tense 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

4.0

PLEASE check trigger warnings before you dig into this one.

This was such a tough read, not in a bad way. It was filled with so much trauma, violence, and heartache. The things the de characters went through were unspeakable and absolutely disgusting. But as we all know - literacy can be helpful for those with trauma. I was in such an anxiety filled ball with hope swirling around me as I read these words scattered on pages. A gorgeous story of survival and endurance. 
The character development and break down is extremely well done. 
The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson

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adventurous emotional mysterious tense fast-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

It’s always that last 20% that kicks into high gear and slaps you around like a street worker  that stole money from her pimp. I’m currently feeling bamboozled and completely wrecked inside and out. Like a napkin that was left in a pocket and thrown in the wash. 
So Book 2 of the Mistborn I trilogy continues the story of Vin and the kingdom they fought hard to get back from the Lord Ruler in the first book. We get a whole lot more of Elend (and by the Goddess, his character arc and development is freaking phenomenal!) but we also get some insight into the crew and especially Sazed. They continue to free the skaa and now have to worry about incoming threats and finding the Lord Rulers stash of Atium. And the biggest threat of all, another Mistborn is here and out to assassinate… well, I won’t spoil it. 
A Love Letter to Whiskey: Hello Lovely Box Special Edition by Kandi Steiner

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emotional hopeful sad tense 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? Yes

4.0

Kandi Kandi Kandi… THIS is the ending we all deserved years ago with the first publishing of this book. This amazing beautiful heart wrenching book filled with so much toxic crap and even more love. 

Jamie and B struggle for a good part of their young adult life to be together, not communicating and always ending up together (and by together I don’t mean dating, more like in the same place) at the wrong time. 
In this version of the book we finally get Jamie’s side and OH WHAT A SIDE it is!!!  I was absolutely sobbing by the end.  I’d read this a million times and still have that pang of ache in my heart for them everytime!!
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

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dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

A heart wrenching book filled with lessons of love and sacrifice.

I’ve got so many notes highlights and underlines in this wonderfully and beautifully story. It’s filled with a struggle I could never understand, along with fear, pain, and heartache. But somehow in the mist of war, abuse, neglect, and betrayal - two women find a love for each other that surpasses death. 
Two very contrasting lives Mariam and Laila have lived, but end up on the same path and forever bonded through trauma and survival. 
I reflected so much in a differences between life in Afghanistan and the US, my heart broke for the women who had to try and be invisible under the new laws after living so free.
Drowned in Silence by Runa Nelson

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dark emotional sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Can I get a little commotion for the author!?
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Heck YES Runa has done it again, in this very dark and disturbing tale. PLEASE check triggers, your mental health matters to me and to Runa! 
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Come though this dark past Dynah has lived and out the other end healing and safe. Her past isn’t one that many survive and live to tell about it, and even less get their revenge. Elliot has been searching for her for years and he finally happens upon her while working a job. He is stunned into reality and does everything in his power to keep her safe and make her his. 
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So many twists and turns for a novella, I couldn’t stop reading! I’m so excited for the next installment - I have to know what happens after!

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Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective 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? Yes

5.0

Everything you hear about a Brandon Sanderson book is true! It’s captivating, enthralling, emotional, epic!! The world building is outstanding, the character development is perfect. 
Mistborn is the first in a much larger series in the Cosmere Universe. You follow along the story of the Skaa and an unlikely pair of rebels. Vin, a sheepish thief girl who is owned by a crew leader as a debt paid from her brother who abandons her. She has luck and that’s the only thing making her useful enough to waste valuable food and lodging on. Until she needs Kelsier who teachers her what her luck really is. Can they over throw the Lord Ruler and form a rebellion? 

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Blood On My Name by K. Elle Morrison

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adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

The best part of finding a new author is being submerged in a new and wonderful world.
Mara (FMC) is down on her luck and willing to make a deal at the crossroads to save her life. Little did she know it would send her life into a spiral of the unknown and dangers she’d never have experienced in the human world. But she also never would have found the love of her life in Zepar.
Angels, Demons, Sinners and more come alive in this tale of deals and lore. Fantastic read! I can’t wait to get into the next book.