notsamwilson's reviews
64 reviews

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

adventurous funny lighthearted slow-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

A bit of a slow start but still a good book. The main character had a lot of bravery and every right to be as cautious as she was. She did learn to trust with the help of patient and open friends. It was good to see how caring Kiela was all living things on her island. I liked all of the characters, even grumpy old Fenerer, but my favorites were Caz and Meep.

Weyward by Emilia Hart

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

I went into this not knowing what it was about because I picked it up based on the cover. This is one of those books that have slightly altered my brain chemistry. It’s a story that shows such incredible strength shared across generations in a single family. It’s a story of holding onto and rediscovering a legacy that is part of these women’s strength. I need a copy for my own shelf.

Fake Dating a Witch by Brigid Hunt

adventurous lighthearted 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

3.0

My second foray back into romance novels. I enjoyed the characters; they all had their own personalities and desires. It was good to see them grow and really go for what they wanted. However, the relationship between the main characters did happen quickly. I’m more interested in what’s going on with the sisters and mother though I did somewhat connect with Grant because I’ve had a recent wrist injury.

Christmas At Last: A Heartwarming Christmas Tale by Sidney St James

funny hopeful fast-paced

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

3.0

My foray back into romance novels. I got this during stuff your kindle day because I wanted to try out the genre again. The relationships were a little fast moving, but there was body positivity and some focus on what the characters enjoyed outside of the relationships. I’m a Christmas nut so I enjoyed that aspect of it. There was a lesson about loving yourself for what you are instead of what you can physically provide. While I did enjoy it, it was linear and not a lot of interconnecting plot points to give the world more substance. I am willing to continue reading romance books though.

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

challenging dark sad 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

5.0

No book has ever made such an impact on my brain chemistry as this one has. Sure it was a slow start, but it turned into a cascade of very descriptive and unimaginable things. I cannot fathom, even though I read it, what these characters went through. I cannot fathom the suffering any of them had to endure. And I cannot bring myself to hate them for the decisions they made. This book is such a great window into how situations can break a person. It is a window into how holding onto trauma can influence decisions. I am anxious to finish the series because I struggled getting through one particular part of the book. But I know the next two will be just as altering to my brain chemistry as this. I truly believe this series will be a favorite of mine for quite a long time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Child death, Death, Drug use, Genocide, Rape, Sexual violence, Blood, Murder, and War

Moderate: Forced institutionalization and Grief

Minor: Bullying, Confinement, Mental illness, Torture, Excrement, Colonisation, and Classism

Wisteria by Adalyn Grace

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad 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

5.0

I honestly was not sure if I would like this as much as the first two, but boy did it surprise me. The banter between Blythe and Aris was so good. It was at parts heartbreaking, hopeful, and one unexpected moment. About half way through I knew this book was going to make me cry, and it very much did. Right before work was not a good time to finish it. All in all, this book turned out to be my favorite of the series.

Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

adventurous funny lighthearted 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

I loved the banter and Evie’s humor. I loved seeing her grow as a character and in her relationships with the others. I’m strangely really enjoying the incredibly slow burn romances and hope each gets a happy ending. These characters are a family that mesh so well together. This book, and series, holds a special place my heart because both came along when I needed something light in my life. But dang that cliff hanger at the end.

The Scarlet Throne by Amy Leow
Did not finish book. Stopped at 16%.

It was an interesting concept, but the book was really slow and it almost felt like a chore to try reading. I’m happy to try it as an audio book if it gets a copy in that format.

Jade City by Fonda Lee

challenging dark sad tense fast-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

5.0

I am honestly scared about how the rest of this series is going to go. In a good way. I got so invested in these characters. Even the ones I didn’t like. This book was the best kind of soap opera in written form and I can imagine the rest of the series getting even crazier. Yes I have already cried.

I did struggle to read a physical copy of this so I switched to audio and the narrator was really good.

Epilogues for Lost Gods by Cat Rector
Did not finish book. Stopped at 43%.

I spent too long trying to read this and getting distracted by other books. When I came back to it I was too disconnected from the characters to enjoy it anymore.