rikki_fae's reviews
7 reviews

The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller

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emotional reflective 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

4.25

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In Real Life by Jen Wang, Cory Doctorow

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adventurous inspiring lighthearted 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
The Promise, Part 1 by Bryan Konietzko, Michael Dante DiMartino, Gene Luen Yang

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adventurous lighthearted reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I love the representation of complex post war issues and the worldbuilding expansion! I especially enjoy Zuko's internal struggle about how to solve the international conflicts as Fire Lord. 
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The Fires of Vengeance by Evan Winter

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adventurous dark emotional fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

This sequel dishes out a LOT of consequences for both individuals and Omehi society. It is considerably darker than the first book, but the themes fit this point in the plot well. My favorite aspect is how the characters manipulate the magic system to solve problems; it was so well thought-out and satisfying! My only small complaint is a few chapters changed POV and I didn’t find it necessary or as emotionally impactful as it was intended 
(I think these chapters either needed to be cut or her POV should have been introduced sooner. I wasn't emotionally invested in her and I wasn't interested in having shallow, love-story based sympathy for an antagonist)
 Overall, I loved it and I am beyond excited for book three! 
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Political Order and Political Decay: From the Industrial Revolution to the Globalization of Democracy by Francis Fukuyama

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Did not finish book.
It was interesting but I was not in the mood at the time. It seemed a bit longwinded at times as well. 
Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 25%.
I'm not a fan of YA, so I was not the target audience. 
To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 50%.
First, a positive point: I really enjoyed some of the characters and their VERY witty banter! 

For cons, the book romanticized violence (at least in the beginning; I DNFed it) in the guise of a dark siren trope. I understand what the author intended but I think the themes/content of abuse and violence were not handled as responsibly as they could have been (especially for a YA audience). I think this is because the narrator not only subscribes to these violent ideologies, but praises them in her inner-dialogue. 

Which leads me to the second point; I felt the bloodlust was a bit over the top, and I enjoy the grim-dark genre. I did not enjoy the constant inner dialogue telling us how dark the she and the society are. This might be a consequence of some descriptions being told and not shown. 
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