shallyne's reviews
124 reviews

Dracula by Bram Stoker

dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.0

Van Helsing and Mina carried that book. Slay!

Keeper of Enchanted Rooms by Charlie N. Holmberg

3.0

The Guy For Me by Marzy Opal

fast-paced

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

2.0

I'm not a fan of spice but no spice ever gave me that many cringies, ever, like this one
The writing felt like I opened a 12 year old's first wattpad story, although I vould have enjoyed the 12 year old's story more because I would have known what to expect
Liam is such an inconsistent character, it's laughable. He's lowkey a creep, too. 
The best thing about this book is that it ended

This book threw me back into my reading slump in the worst way possible

Evidence of the Affair by Taylor Jenkins Reid

emotional hopeful 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

4.0

Not a fan of the cheating trope but knowing what I get into, I really enjoyed this book. The correspondence between David and Carrie
And that ending wss bittersweet

Morbidly Yours by Ivy Fairbanks

emotional funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

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

3.0

It wasn't the best read but it was fine
Sometimes it just dragged on and it was boring 
I really liked the subtle rep (idk how to say it otherwise) in the book. Maeve and her dead wife, non-binary Rory, Callum who has anxiety and stutters

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

relaxing fast-paced

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

2.25

I saw the reviews of that book and was so excited to read something cozy (but boy if I had known). The writing was...not good (if you know what I mean), the kids did not behave or talk like kids (more like tiny adults than kids most of the time), the names all threw me off (because most of the names didn't fit the characters!) and this book was just plain boring (it was too long and just dragged), I can see Mika and James being a couple (but I don't feel their connection!!!), everytime I thought it would finally get good, it instantly became boring again through the characters actions (I see some potential but it was thrown out of the window(the one Jamie kept open!!)) and what should have been funny became cringe so fast (I'm still shuddering from it), I thought it might be a children's book but then Mika and Jamie talked about Sex and that one scene where they did the deed (it wasn't explicit but still)(I was very confused) 
So to say there were few things I liked (one of them being that the book finally ended) 

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Five stars! 
I was more thinking about 4 stars throughout the book but the ending sold it for me, 5 stars. The writing is superb, all the characters were very well written and had their own unique personalities, the romance eas good and didn't overshadow the plot
I know I probably shouldn't but I'm kind of a fan of the nightmare
Also

I'm kind of glad that it didn't have a happy ending. I don't know if it will in the future but I'm very content with this first book not having one and I wouldn't mind it in future books either.

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

FIVE STARS
First of all I wanna say, I'm a Thimble stan. My boy is adorable af and I want to wrap him in a blanket and protect him at all costs
VIV AND TANDRI? I LOVEEEEEEE
And the Found Family 😭❤️ I LOVED THEM ALL (Except Fennus. Fuck Fennus.) also AMITY MY GIRL, I love the cat with my whole entire heart. 
This book was so cozy and calm and relaxing and amazing if you need a break of action but don't want to leave the fantasy genre
It was just cute and I want to hig this book and all its characters
Viv just wanted to retire and have a calm life and on top of that she found a new family and my heart is so full

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

It started slow to me. I did not see where all the 5stars reviews came frombut then, the moment Iris left, I got so into this and couldn't put the book book down anymore. It was SO GOOD! The plot, worldbuilding, characters, THE ROMANCE
But the cliffhanger is crime
I'm suing
How dare you, Rebecca

House of Roots and Ruin by Erin A. Craig

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

Sadly only three stars after the first one was an immediate 5 stars.
It was mostly boring but I fought through the pages because I knew it was all building up to an amazing, mindblowing plot twist
...only that the plot twist wasn't as amazing and mindblowing as it was
I will forever recommend the first book to anyone who asks but sadly not this one.
I already rold my friend while reading that if the first book was Barbie in the 12 dancing princesses in dark then this one would be Barbie as the island princess 

I guess it's my disappoint is my own fault because I really, really had high hopes for this one
ALSO if you read thsi review before reading the book and have hopes to meet Annaleigh and Cassius again, I'm sorry to destroy your hopes, I was sad, too. They were only mentioned once or twice