the_literary_cat's reviews
252 reviews

The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern

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

3.0

I can’t really tell whether I liked or disliked this book to be honest. The Night Circus is written in a very beautiful and atmospherical way and I really liked that about the book. The characters were all very lovable and the plot was interesting. However, the story was very slow paced and this made the story drag in. Because of this, I was very bored at some points.  
The Mysteries of Thorn Manor, by Margaret Rogerson

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adventurous lighthearted mysterious
  • 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

The Mysteries of Thorn Manor was an extremely cute novella. I personally liked this story better than Sorcery of Thorns because it features fun fantasy hijinks and has a light-hearted and low stakes vibe. I think the shorter story does the author’s writing style justice, because I found some parts of Sorcery of Thorns boring and I didn’t have this problem with the novella. I would highly recommend reading this if you liked Sorcery of Thorns.
The Travelling Cat Chronicles, by Hiro Arikawa

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emotional hopeful relaxing sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

5.0

This book is probably the first book in a very long while that made me cry. This was such a sweet and genuine story that it hurt when I actually finished it. The translation is done very well and the writing style is simple and elegant. The dialogues are just perfect, and I don’t think it’s possible to dislike any of the characters. If you’re a cat lover and have developed deep bonds with cats or other pets in your life, then this novel  is a must read for you. 

Sorcery of Thorns, by Margaret Rogerson

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adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

4.0

This was overall a good standalone fantasy novel. I had a rough time getting into the story at first, but after reading the first 50 pages I was enjoying it. The story could have been shorter, but the ending sure makes up for it. The worldbuilding was done very well and I liked the characters. Silas was my favourite. The magic system was also very unique and unlike I’ve ever read before. 

The Prison Healer, by Lynette Noni

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adventurous dark 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

4.5

I didn’t expect this book to be this good. I couldn’t put it down. The story was very easy to follow and has lots of little plot twists and very loveable characters. I can’t wait to read the next part. 

The Mystery of the Blue Train, by Agatha Christie

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

3.5

The Mystery of the Blue Train was an okay read, but it just didn’t grip me the way other Poirot stories did. The first section of the story is about the backstories of the characters that are involved with the mystery later. Once Poirot appears, we’re off. The romance plot was unexpected for me, but it was written very well. The mystery was interesting enough. The mystery is more action packed than other Poirot mysteries. 

House of Hollow, by Krystal Sutherland

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emotional mysterious sad 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

4.25

I really enjoyed House of Hollow.  The pacing was slow in the beginning, but it really picks up after one third of the book. The character development was really good. This story itself is dark and weird and is definitely darker than my normal reads and left me shivering a couple of times, but I really loved the storyline and the gripping clues. I would recommend this if you like dark fantasy/horror stories. 

Bring Me Your Midnight, by Rachel Griffin

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emotional hopeful 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? Yes

3.75

Thank you, Sourcebooks Fire, and Netgalley for granting my wish and allowing me to read Bring Me Your Midnight in exchange for an honest review! 

This was a very light and entertaining story about Tana and her struggle with choosing between what she wants and what everyone expects of her. Tana lives on an island witch her coven and only practices a gentle version of their magic. In order to maintain this magic, her coven releases leftover magic into the sea once a month during a full moon ritual. When Tana misses one of these rituals, she meets a boy who uses a different kind of magic. Tana then starts beginning questioning all that she has known. 

I really enjoyed reading this book. It’s written in a very beautiful, romantic and atmospheric way. Unfortunately, there were some small things I didn’t really like about it. For instance, I couldn’t tell in what period this story took place. I also thought different about Tana’s situation than she was, but this might be because she’s a teenager. 

I would still recommend this book if you like a light YA witchy fantasy romance. I would also definitely read another book by this author in the future. 

The Sign of Four, by Arthur Conan Doyle

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

3.0

This was an enjoyable read, but it didn't grip me the way A Study in Scarlet did years ago. The mystery wasn't as suspenseful as I thought it would be, and the long winded story about the 'villain' in the end was a bit dull. 
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Thunderhead, by Neal Shusterman

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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? Yes

4.5

Thunderhead is a great second installment in this series. The worldbuilding is amazing, and the characters had fantastic arcs. I loved all the twists and turns that I didn’t see coming, and omg that ending! The one thing I disliked about the series is the romance between Rowan and Citra. It feels forced, and I don’t think that a romance between the two characters is necessary. Nevertheless, The Arc of a Scythe is my favorite dystopian series so far.