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queensplay's reviews
99 reviews
Crank Palace by James Dashner
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
I wish I would have read this when I read the series. Still really good
Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White
dark
sad
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? Yes
4.5
A gruesome story about a religious cult and a trans boy. I loved it. It was my first horror, and gruesome is quite literally the most accurate word for it.
The Graces, the fact that they are people, hurts. That they used to be a person.
I absolutely love when the mc is like "I'm going to make them pay. I'm going to burn the world down" likeeeeee, ugh, love. It. and Benji delivered on that!!
Nick and Benji have my heart 🫶
The Graces, the fact that they are people, hurts. That they used to be a person.
I absolutely love when the mc is like "I'm going to make them pay. I'm going to burn the world down" likeeeeee, ugh, love. It. and Benji delivered on that!!
Nick and Benji have my heart 🫶
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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? No
4.75
Synopsis of my review:
An amazing read. The beginning was hard to get into, but once you understood, you could easily read the book. The plot twists? Love. The mystery, kind of horror, elements where totally there.
Gideon is the best character, fight me. She's just so funny, and bright I love it.
Harrow and Gideons' nicknames for each other 😍
Loved it. Would recommend.
Full Review:
Oh damn. Oh damn. Oh damn (and that's three Oh damns).
First off - Amazing book. At times, it could be pretty slow, as it was more of a mystery, but it has enough action and medium paced scenes to make up for the slow parts. It was hard getting into, also, for me, and confusing (which is why it's a 4.5), but as I got through the book, it got a lot easier to understand and read.
Gideon is by far my most favourite character. She was so funny, and really brightened up every room she went into. Her humour was top-notch. Harrow should give her a big hug - her backstory and her self-worth needs it.
I love love love Gideon and Harrow as they go through the series. They've come so far from where they started 🥹
Harrow also needs a big hug (which she good, thank god). The way they raised her, why she was born, was horrible. She deserves so much more.
Am I the only one who though Colum deserved better? He deserves better then Silas. Honestly, Silas didn't even seem to acknowledge how Colum was feeling, he was so self-centered, with all his big talk about the greater good. Towards the end, I began to like Colum so much more - if someone would think about what their house represents, they would think of him. How he stood for what he believed in, and how he honoured his word.
The ending hurt.
An amazing read. The beginning was hard to get into, but once you understood, you could easily read the book. The plot twists? Love. The mystery, kind of horror, elements where totally there.
Gideon is the best character, fight me. She's just so funny, and bright I love it.
Harrow and Gideons' nicknames for each other 😍
Loved it. Would recommend.
Full Review:
Oh damn. Oh damn. Oh damn (and that's three Oh damns).
First off - Amazing book. At times, it could be pretty slow, as it was more of a mystery, but it has enough action and medium paced scenes to make up for the slow parts. It was hard getting into, also, for me, and confusing (which is why it's a 4.5), but as I got through the book, it got a lot easier to understand and read.
Gideon is by far my most favourite character. She was so funny, and really brightened up every room she went into. Her humour was top-notch. Harrow should give her a big hug - her backstory and her self-worth needs it.
I love love love Gideon and Harrow as they go through the series. They've come so far from where they started 🥹
Harrow also needs a big hug (which she good, thank god). The way they raised her, why she was born, was horrible. She deserves so much more.
Am I the only one who though Colum deserved better? He deserves better then Silas. Honestly, Silas didn't even seem to acknowledge how Colum was feeling, he was so self-centered, with all his big talk about the greater good. Towards the end, I began to like Colum so much more - if someone would think about what their house represents, they would think of him. How he stood for what he believed in, and how he honoured his word.
The ending hurt.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Cancer, Blood, and Grief
Minor: Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Cannibalism, and Suicide attempt
The Fine Print by Lauren Asher
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? Yes
4.5
A cute and light read! It's been a minute since I've read a romance, and this was a great comeback! Rowan and Zahra are so cute together 🥰🥰
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
challenging
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
The Wren in the Holly Library by K.A. Linde
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
Normally, even if I didn't like the book, I can get immersed into it. This was one of the books where I was checking the pages to see how far i was, and wishing I could read faster to get it done.
This book kind of felt like a whole cliche, with some exceptions, and honestly the writing was kind of bad.
Graves and Kierse's attraction was on fire, but their romantic relationship was flat. Dull. Fake. There were some moments, though, which I did enjoy.
The angst was good at the end. I like the ending - Graves (maybe) learned his lesson and I'm happy the direction Kierse is taking.
This book kind of felt like a whole cliche, with some exceptions, and honestly the writing was kind of bad.
Graves and Kierse's attraction was on fire, but their romantic relationship was flat. Dull. Fake. There were some moments, though, which I did enjoy.
The angst was good at the end. I like the ending - Graves (maybe) learned his lesson and I'm happy the direction Kierse is taking.
The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The beginning and the end of the book were really good, but the middle was slow. Its still a really good read regardless.
I'm disappointed that Rin didn't have her powers until more then half-way. I was really looking forward to see her at her peak, and then she lost her powers.
I also didn't like that she was under the command of someone. I guess I'm used to mcs being their own people, but it especially didn't feel right with her. The only good thing Vaisra did was get her off of the opium, but other then that, for the longest time I didn't know if he was good. And if he was, I was really hoping that Rin could trust someone other then Kitay. But Rin is her own person, she deserves her own command, deserves to do what she wants. I hope she gets that in the next book.
But her and Kitay are amazing together. He is amazing.
Ok.
Let me tell you - since the first book, I have been ROOTING for Nezha and Rin. Like, full on kicking my feet whenever they smile at each other. I loved them so much, and I know they loved each other. There were so so many scenes of them in this book. I could read and reread and reread their scenes together. I'm a slowburn girl, and this hits. Perfectly.
And thennnnn this fucking IDIOT goes and LITERALLY stabs her in the back. Like what?? You love her. Why would you do that? You were having a moment, you love each other. After everything you did? You called your god to save her, you protected her, and then you go and do this?
I really want to be mad at him. I really do. But it also doesn't feel like him. Because after all he did for her, for him to go and ruin it, it seems like something else is at play. And he tried to warn Rin before, so I'm sure he knew that Vaisra was bad. So why would he do that? And THEN let them go?? Something isn't adding up.
Don't talk to me about Suni and Baji. Don't. Talk. To. Me. Damn it, Kaung, why would you do that???Why would you break my heart like that??
What hurts so much, is that Suni was the complete opposite of his god. His god was to be big, strong, powerful and break things, and then Suni is this quiet, kind guy. I feel like he always tried to be different from his god on purpose, because he didn't want people to think he lost control. That's what gets me - he tried so hard. He tried so hard to fight his god, so hard to be the opposite of his god, tried so hard so that when people looked at him, they saw him, not his god (I could be wrong, but that's how i interpreted it). And at the end, people only saw him for his god. And they killed him for it. Damn it damn it.
I just can't get over the paragraph: "Four staggered shots punctuated the air. Baji's body jerked from side to side in a horrible dance with each bullet..." That scene. That paragraph. I can't get it out of my head. And Rin had to watch.
And then, like that wasn't enough, Kuang had to hit me with Ramsa. Like I wasn't already broken already. He sacrificed himself for Rin. He died for Rin. Because apparently Suni and Baji weren't enough.
There's a hashtag on tiktok that sums up this story perfectly: #rfkuangwillpayformytherapy
I'm disappointed that Rin didn't have her powers until more then half-way. I was really looking forward to see her at her peak, and then she lost her powers.
I also didn't like that she was under the command of someone. I guess I'm used to mcs being their own people, but it especially didn't feel right with her. The only good thing Vaisra did was get her off of the opium, but other then that, for the longest time I didn't know if he was good. And if he was, I was really hoping that Rin could trust someone other then Kitay. But Rin is her own person, she deserves her own command, deserves to do what she wants. I hope she gets that in the next book.
But her and Kitay are amazing together. He is amazing.
Ok.
Let me tell you - since the first book, I have been ROOTING for Nezha and Rin. Like, full on kicking my feet whenever they smile at each other. I loved them so much, and I know they loved each other. There were so so many scenes of them in this book. I could read and reread and reread their scenes together. I'm a slowburn girl, and this hits. Perfectly.
I really want to be mad at him. I really do. But it also doesn't feel like him. Because after all he did for her, for him to go and ruin it, it seems like something else is at play. And he tried to warn Rin before, so I'm sure he knew that Vaisra was bad. So why would he do that? And THEN let them go?? Something isn't adding up.
Don't talk to me about Suni and Baji. Don't. Talk. To. Me. Damn it, Kaung, why would you do that???Why would you break my heart like that??
What hurts so much, is that Suni was the complete opposite of his god. His god was to be big, strong, powerful and break things, and then Suni is this quiet, kind guy. I feel like he always tried to be different from his god on purpose, because he didn't want people to think he lost control. That's what gets me - he tried so hard. He tried so hard to fight his god, so hard to be the opposite of his god, tried so hard so that when people looked at him, they saw him, not his god (I could be wrong, but that's how i interpreted it). And at the end, people only saw him for his god. And they killed him for it. Damn it damn it.
I just can't get over the paragraph: "Four staggered shots punctuated the air. Baji's body jerked from side to side in a horrible dance with each bullet..." That scene. That paragraph. I can't get it out of my head. And Rin had to watch.
And then, like that wasn't enough, Kuang had to hit me with Ramsa. Like I wasn't already broken already. He sacrificed himself for Rin. He died for Rin. Because apparently Suni and Baji weren't enough.
There's a hashtag on tiktok that sums up this story perfectly: #rfkuangwillpayformytherapy
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and War
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
The Burning God by R.F. Kuang
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Objectively, this is the perfect ending to this book. Objectively.
But, natively, I thought it would be a happy ending. I mean, I thought it was a unspoken rule that every fantasy had a happy ending. So I don't like the ending, because Rin was supposed to be with Nezha, they were supposed to be together, she was supposed to win the war and heal the world. Do I still like the ending? Yes. That doesn't mean I don't wish it didn't go differently.
What hurts is at the ending, in Nezha's pov, he says that he is alone. They left him alone. They choose each other over him (not word for word - I don't have the book beside me right now). And that hurts. I hope Nezha finds someone to help him. I hope he has someone by his side so that he's not alone again.
I'm so glad that Rin got to use her powers so much more in this book. I got to see so much power in her, it was amazing.
My heart breaks for Nezha. What he had to go through isn't fair to him. I hate the Hesperians so much.
I guess I was right when I said I thought there was something else going on.
And don't get me started on his pov in the end of the book. Are you trying to make me cry, Kuang???
Rin and Kitay are the perfect platonic soulmates, I don't make the rules.
What hurts is at the ending, in Nezha's pov, he says that he is alone. They left him alone. They choose each other over him (not word for word - I don't have the book beside me right now). And that hurts. I hope Nezha finds someone to help him. I hope he has someone by his side so that he's not alone again.
I'm so glad that Rin got to use her powers so much more in this book. I got to see so much power in her, it was amazing.
My heart breaks for Nezha. What he had to go through isn't fair to him. I hate the Hesperians so much.
I guess I was right when I said I thought there was something else going on.
And don't get me started on his pov in the end of the book. Are you trying to make me cry, Kuang???
Rin and Kitay are the perfect platonic soulmates, I don't make the rules.
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
dark
tense
slow-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
4.5
A Fantastic read. I'm so excited to see Rin with her full power. Its been a long time since I've been this interested in a series, and I'm eager to see where it goes!
I am also so interested in her and Nezha...
I am also so interested in her and Nezha...