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mirandanoel's reviews
64 reviews
The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik
3.0
I think this series lost steam the longer it went on, and more or less took every turn you expected it to turn. Certainly the weakest of the series, and not quite satisfying as a conclusion (though Naomi Novik doesn't seem to ever tie things as neatly as I’d like)
The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik
adventurous
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
adventurous
dark
medium-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
4.25
Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.25
Shocking: hot blonde girl is pretty even if she has a gap in her teeth, and maybe mind invasion can be ethical.
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
4 stars because it got me out of my summer reading slump.
I don’t think this book is honestly anything to write home about; the world building is more unique than your run-of-the-mill romantasy, but the plot beats and characters are relatively ordinary.
I was afraid of getting disinterested so I read this as fast as humanely possible, meaning if I had to take a pop quiz about what happened I would certainly fail.
Anyway, I like that it scratched the part of my mind that had a manic episode after a breakup and got into Tarot cards.
I don’t think this book is honestly anything to write home about; the world building is more unique than your run-of-the-mill romantasy, but the plot beats and characters are relatively ordinary.
I was afraid of getting disinterested so I read this as fast as humanely possible, meaning if I had to take a pop quiz about what happened I would certainly fail.
Anyway, I like that it scratched the part of my mind that had a manic episode after a breakup and got into Tarot cards.
A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen
2.25
Danielle Jensen is just not for me. I think the prose itself is a real slog to get through and, like the Bridge Kingdom, I did not give a **** about the main characters - absolutely no tension or chemistry imo.
Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli
3.75
Overall this book was a good version of what it was trying to be. It was entertaining, it was emotional, and the writing was propulsive. It’s definitely not setting out to reinvent the wheel, but it doesn’t suffer for that.
I did not realize until I came here to review it that it is being marketed as YA, and I would caution you that it is definitely mature for YA. There are some explicit scenes but, beyond that, I think the book gets into murky water when it comes to sexual consent (ie some seduction under false pretenses).
I think the biggest shortcoming is the ending - the author seemed to sacrifice a satisfying ending in order to set up her sequel. Had I knows this, I likely would have waiting to read the book until we were closer to the sequel’s release. IMO, the first 350 pages were leagues better than the last 50.
I did not realize until I came here to review it that it is being marketed as YA, and I would caution you that it is definitely mature for YA. There are some explicit scenes but, beyond that, I think the book gets into murky water when it comes to sexual consent (ie some seduction under false pretenses).
I think the biggest shortcoming is the ending - the author seemed to sacrifice a satisfying ending in order to set up her sequel. Had I knows this, I likely would have waiting to read the book until we were closer to the sequel’s release. IMO, the first 350 pages were leagues better than the last 50.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault