sai_g's reviews
216 reviews

Radiance by Grace Draven

adventurous funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

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

5.0

Yes! Friends to lovers supremacy. 

A couple who start from the foundation of a genuine friendship and are reasonable characters with good communication between them and have mutual respect for each other? The recipe for a perfect romance (in my humble opinion). 

The other plotlines are also considerably interesting. I will read the next book for sure. 

Overall, a must needed read to renew faith in "proper" romance. 

Jade Legacy by Fonda Lee

adventurous dark emotional tense slow-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

I have no idea what to do with my life anymore. There is a wide chasm of emptyness in my life where this series used to be. Now that I've completed it, I feel empty. 

I loved:

~As usual, the characters. Hilo is a wonderfully written character, definitely my favorite from this series. He is such a contradiction of traits, it's beautiful to read about. 

~The character interactions. Loyalty, friendship, brotherhood, family and love are themes I have always and will always enjoy (an understatement). 

~The emotions. Now, I am empty, empty is me. 

~The "vastness" of the story. The sheer timespan it covered had my head spinning. 


I personally didn't like(some of these I have mentioned in my review of the previous book):

~The pacing. It was driving me crazy. This book took me too many days to complete because the pacing slowed down so much sometimes that I got bored(a bit). 

~Major(imo) incidents happening offscreen. I am unable to get over how many scenes I could've read about that just happened off page. 

Overall, one the greatest stories of I have read. Has major pacing issues, but that cannot be helped with the nature of the story. I loved it. 

Jade War by Fonda Lee

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

5.0

I love how the stakes have gotten "broader" now, spanning on an international level. 

The characters are moving towards morally black from morally grey but I am only loving them more. Hilo you sly bastard. I have no idea why I love this character so much when I should absolutely not. Ughh. Rooting for a character of his kind is making me question myself. (Cannot forget Shae and Wen when talking about good characters, who are among the best written female characters) 

I cannot believe I have only one more book with them. This is getting over too soon. But I can't wait to read the next book. 

The time skips and most incidents happening off the screen were a bit jarring. But I eventually got used to it and have come to the conclusion that this writing style suits this story. 

Though the plot kinda almost slowed in between. The whole book was a setup for the last 25% of it. Have to admit that last 25% was worth it. 

Overall, exceptional character work with little bit of pacing issues(to me) where everything pays off in the end to a worthy read. 

Jade City by Fonda Lee

adventurous dark emotional 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? No

4.0

Awesome. 

It had been a long time since I cared this much for characters. Excellent character work by the author. 

Family, friendship, brotherhood and loyalty. I am a sucker for these themes and I loved every aspect of this book. 

Cannot wait to read the next book. 

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

emotional funny reflective sad 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

5.0

Take the five stars and go away! 
I have some bloody crying to do. 

Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Took me more than almost half the book to start caring for it. Even then, I couldn't care much. 

The only part I liked was the dog. And there were some fun dialogues that I enjoyed amidst this evolution paced book. 

Overall, I think people who want a cozy story with the slowest pace possible in extravagant wording(I sometimes liked it. But it was overdone)would like this.

The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang

dark inspiring sad 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

I liked:

The good portrayal of complex characters. 

How the book did not end with the war (that would have been boring) but showed what happened later and not just in a tiny epilogue but a few chapters. 

Portrayal of motherhood and womanhood. 

Matsuda Takeru's arc. 

I did not like(mild spoilers):

The Matsuda kids not behaving according to their age. I know that it was explained why. Still didn't like it. 

The story not picking up the plot line of overthrowing the tyrant or a turn away from the sexism. (Maybe it's in the other books the author has written in the same theonite world. And i understand that this book is more of a character study than a plot oriented story.) 

Takeru's arc. Yes. I know I mentioned liking it. But I felt it was cowardly and that he is getting off my hate train easy. Still better than nothing. So I'll have it. 

Overall, readers whose tastes are character oriented will love this book. 

Furysong by Rosaria Munda

adventurous challenging dark 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

5.0

Agony and satisfaction combined. 

Annie defeating Ixion on her period was the single most powerful scene I have read in a long time.

Every single character arc was very well executed. Yes. Every character. It had me tearing up a little here and there. I love it. 

Overall, a wonderful conclusion and a true masterpiece of a series.

Flamefall by Rosaria Munda

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

5.0

A good sequel. 

Considering the cliffhanger and the whole situation, I can't wait to read the next book. 

This book was a little easier for me because I got a person I could hate. If you have the read the book you know which pathetic excuse of a human I'm talking about. And I so can't wait for that character's end. 

If you have read the first book and loved it, but still wanted to have seen more interactions between the dragons and the people(I wanted to), then you will enjoy this book. The dragons are so cute, I love it. Don't go exepcting too much, it's just more than in the first book. 

Politics wise, again, a fantastic book. If not better than the first one. I feel for Annie though. She is always on the opposite side of her friends and is getting left alone. It's sad to see. 

Overall, a good sequel and can't wait to read the next book. 

PS: I love Sparker

Fireborne by Rosaria Munda

challenging dark emotional 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

Politics, situations that test ones ethics, friendship and loyalty. 

Class system and how its removal will look like. The aftermath of a revolution. 

How much bad can the cause of 'greater good' excuse? Can a good cause really justify evil deeds? 

Do "logical" and "realistic" decisions equate to "correct" and "fair" decisions? 

And most importantly, is the new government really better than what it destroyed to originate?

Amidst all this, characters who have gone through so much and deserve the world but are being repeatedly subjected to the same traumatic events over and over. 

I haven't had my morals questioned like this in a long time. 

Ughh. So good.
 
A solid writing style(the tournament scenes were some of the best I have read. Had me feeling the adrenaline rush the characters felt). 

Overall, a wonderful portrayal of political systems and its effects on individual lives combined with 

PS: Dragons ✨