themelodyofspring's reviews
544 reviews

Witch King by Martha Wells

adventurous dark inspiring mysterious 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

The adventures of a girl trying to find her wife and having her best friend tagging along. All three are bonded to each other and immortal. And the best friend happens to be the protagonist 😂 Possibly the best premise ever. 

The characters were so good and lovable. This is definitely on par with Murderbot, though a different genre. The story is just as intriguing.

The alternating flash back chapters were placed so well. Everytime we got to a new place or chapter character in the present, the past would show us how they came to be. 

Also, this is just a found family story at it's heart. Kai and Ziede were my favourite. They worked so well together. They even picked up two other abandoned people to pack bond with! RIP Ramad 🙏🏻 you could've had it all. 

This reads like a standalone. Although I realise we didn't get a few things answered but they don't affect the plot.

A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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

Jesus Christ! This was scary in a way I never expected it to be. But we met so many gentle and good people, and the geese. 
Old people in love, my beloved! Give me more stories with people in their fifties being in love. It was such a breath of fresh air. Hester was my favourite in the book. The butler gets honorary mention for being there when needed most. Man did not bat an eye at the weirdest requests.
Not the traumatic horse story in the acknowledgements 😂

The Sunlit Man by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous challenging hopeful inspiring mysterious 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

5.0

This was my favourite of the secret projects, simply by being Stormlight adjacent. It was so much fun to read. Hadn't had this much fun in a while.

Fucked up worlds with the sun/moon being the source of problems, my beloved.

The hints start dropping from page 2 and don't stop. It was pretty easy to guess who Nomad was, but it was so enjoyable seeing little references to things we loved in other books. That did not make the other reveals hurt any less, or the ending!

My favorite side character was Adonalsium-will-remember-our plight-eventually (nicknamed AWROPE by yours truly), who did not show up again. Hope he survived the very many catastrophic events. 

The only book which gave me a very strong urge to punch Hoid. Brandon will pay my therapy bill which is getting longer with every book!

Lore Olympus: Volume Six by Rachel Smythe

challenging emotional inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

Audiobook was so good. I didn't realise it was the same narrator for both characters till the end. 
The story was nice. The character names were horrendous! I enjoyed this a lot till I stopped listening due to no fault of the book itself.

Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell

lighthearted 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? It's complicated

4.0

Audiobook was so good. I didn't realise it was the same narrator for both characters till the end. 
The story was nice. The character names were horrendous! I enjoyed this a lot till I stopped listening due to no fault of the book itself.

Lore Olympus: Volume Seven by Rachel Smythe

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

4.0

Stop overwatering the jade plant! This is the therapy volume (finally)! Unhinged Hermes my beloved. Gooo Psyche wohooo!

Dawnshard by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous inspiring mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror

Moderate: Ableism

Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum

inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing 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

Hello to burnt out software engineers and other office workers!

This book hit the right spot at the right time. I loved all the characters. Didn't think it would be a found family book(shop) but it was so nice how everyone had things they were dealing with but still trying their best every day. Very human. 

The translation was very good and didn't feel weird or clipped like some other older translations I've read. The boom to read of you want to run away and open a bookshop because that's exactly what happened on this.

Dreadful by Caitlin Rozakis

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.0

Where the Dark Stands Still by A.B. Poranek

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad 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

3.0