sapphicstars's reviews
142 reviews

This is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone, Amal El-Mohtar
Did not finish book. Stopped at 47%.

So sad this wasn't for me, because for years i heard people raving about this book. Worked so hard to get through half the book and I didn't understand a thing that was going on. Then I decided I have way too many books in my tbr to waste time pushing through a book that I simply don't enjoy at all!

Wading in Waist-high water by Colgatebluemintygel

funny lighthearted relaxing 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

5.0

My father's eyes, my mother's rage by Rose Brik

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

4.0

The Six Deaths of the Saint by Alix E. Harrow

adventurous dark mysterious relaxing fast-paced

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

4.0

The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa

relaxing fast-paced

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

2.5

I found this book very disappointing. The plot really intrigued me, and I think there was so much potential here, but that's just wasted. The title is 'Days at the Morisaki Bookshop', but we hardly spend any actual time at the Morisaki Bookshop. The first half of the story moves at such a speed that I just couldn't get myself to care for any of the characters, and so when the second half came around (that somehow moved so much slower I started skim-reading the last 30-ish pages) I just didn't feel anything when the aunts storyline came into play. The whole book just feel incredibly flat to me.
Only reason it's getting 2,5 stars is because of the plot and the fact that I think there is an actually incredible story buried somewhere deep, deep down the shallowness of the writing in this book.

Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious relaxing 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

4.0

Flower Fairies of the Trees by Cicely Mary Barker

funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.75

Such cute little poems. Not all of them are equal in my opinion, but there's definitely some little treasures in here. Can't wait to read these with my children in a few years!

The Wheel of the Year: An Illustrated Guide to Nature's Rhythms by Fiona Cook

hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

4.5

Upon reading this book it's very clear that the intended audience is children, when the book itself is not marketed that way. The constant reminders to 'ask my adult for permission' continuously took me out of the flow of reading, which is a shame, but near the end of the book it also kind of made me giggle. Besides that, I really enjoyed the book. I found it informative, with great recipes and rituals I'm so excited to try out and I definitely see myself reaching for this book the next time one of the holidays comes around. I found it incredibly beautiful and refreshing and important that the book has a great focus on explaining the history and origin behind a lot of the different practices and very clearly speaks out against cultural appropriation. That combined with the breathtaking illustrations from Jessica Roux makes it a near perfect 4,5 stars from me!

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

adventurous dark emotional funny lighthearted mysterious relaxing 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

4.0