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tilla's reviews
140 reviews
Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“People are like this too, you know”, he says eventually. “We break. We put ourselves back together. The cracks are the best part. You don’t have to hide them.”
A story about people broken in many different ways. People living fast-paced lives that sometimes run them over.
Of people not being right for each other and only making each other worse. It’s sad moments and beautiful moments and sometimes strangely hopeful.
A story about people broken in many different ways. People living fast-paced lives that sometimes run them over.
Of people not being right for each other and only making each other worse. It’s sad moments and beautiful moments and sometimes strangely hopeful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug use, Sexual content, and Suicide attempt
The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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? No
3.75
This promised me a tale of returning to a fairytale land like Narnia and it was exactly what it gave me. I quite appreciated that this didn't go the way of like.. 'The fairytale world is so dark because it is for adults'. - The world was whimsical and magical with one specific shadow area.. Very childhood fairytale land, which was fun.
I enjoyed reading about the characters, they were very sweet and lovely - lived up to their genre. They do all have deeper issues and traumas that we see throughout the story - I would not have minded exploring that a bit more, it could probably have helped flesh out the characters more.. sometimes I felt like we had just scratched the surface.
I don't know if it was just me - something about the pacing was a bit off to me - they didn't get to Shanandoah until 40% through the book, and i feel like the things happening in that place were sort of quick and the world a little unexplored. I guess it depends on expectations - I think this story was more about Rafe, Jeremy and Emilie as characters than the world which is also very good but it also promised Narnia for when you are grow up. The climactic moments didn't really hit the same way I remember a lot the climatic moments hitting in the stories i read as a child, but maybe it is only that it has been so long since I read them..
I enjoyed reading about the characters, they were very sweet and lovely - lived up to their genre. They do all have deeper issues and traumas that we see throughout the story - I would not have minded exploring that a bit more, it could probably have helped flesh out the characters more.. sometimes I felt like we had just scratched the surface.
I don't know if it was just me - something about the pacing was a bit off to me - they didn't get to Shanandoah until 40% through the book, and i feel like the things happening in that place were sort of quick and the world a little unexplored. I guess it depends on expectations - I think this story was more about Rafe, Jeremy and Emilie as characters than the world which is also very good but it also promised Narnia for when you are grow up. The climactic moments didn't really hit the same way I remember a lot the climatic moments hitting in the stories i read as a child, but maybe it is only that it has been so long since I read them..
Ravensong by TJ Klune
adventurous
emotional
tense
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
4.25
A wonderful follow-up to the first book. I really enjoyed Gordo as a narrator - he was great (even if he is very stubborn and dumb).
I dont know.. I just really enjoy a group of people being very attached to each other (and being stupid together)
I dont know.. I just really enjoy a group of people being very attached to each other (and being stupid together)
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
adventurous
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Just reread this and I still just love it.
As many others, I read it first as a child (young teen probably) in school and returning to it as an adult, I still adore the characters and their relationships.
I don’t know if I would have rated it 5 stars if I read it for the first time now - I’m sure nostalgia also plays a big part - and some of the writing is a bit.. not necessarily the best, a little sentimental, maybe a little strained, but honestly, I’m glad this was one book I was made to read in school and it is just one of my favorite books that I can read again and again even if it’s not perfect.
As many others, I read it first as a child (young teen probably) in school and returning to it as an adult, I still adore the characters and their relationships.
I don’t know if I would have rated it 5 stars if I read it for the first time now - I’m sure nostalgia also plays a big part - and some of the writing is a bit.. not necessarily the best, a little sentimental, maybe a little strained, but honestly, I’m glad this was one book I was made to read in school and it is just one of my favorite books that I can read again and again even if it’s not perfect.
Bound by Ravens by Jesikah Sundin
adventurous
lighthearted
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? No
3.25
It was cute. Not very heavy so if you’re looking for something light and short, this might be good.
Perhaps because it was quite short, it sometimes felt like we were speedrunning romantasy tropes.
I think maybe I’m not that into this type of romantasy, so i didn’t really care that much and found it a little forgettable.
I listened to the audiobook and I did really enjoy the narrators - they added a voice and tone to the characters that I might have lacked otherwise
Perhaps because it was quite short, it sometimes felt like we were speedrunning romantasy tropes.
I think maybe I’m not that into this type of romantasy, so i didn’t really care that much and found it a little forgettable.
I listened to the audiobook and I did really enjoy the narrators - they added a voice and tone to the characters that I might have lacked otherwise
Wolfsong by TJ Klune
adventurous
emotional
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
All Klune’s books are just so good! He is so good at writing characters and relationship that you just can’t help caring so much about.
I really enjoyed Ox as a narrator and the writing just got his voice across so well.
I really enjoyed Ox as a narrator and the writing just got his voice across so well.
Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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? No
4.25
This was so good! There was something about the voice and tone of the book that really spoke to me. I enjoyed that Ellie's family was involved - though it was mostly the teenagers solving the mystery and everything, Ellie's parents were present and supportive.
The characters felt real, like they had a life outside of the plot - I enjoyed when Ellie spoke on the phone with Jay and other things like his sister's engagement or his cheer-practice or whatever came up. Very nice. And I adore Ellie - a great character and asexual - something that was briefly mentioned but otherwise just one tiny part of Ellie's character.
The characters felt real, like they had a life outside of the plot - I enjoyed when Ellie spoke on the phone with Jay and other things like his sister's engagement or his cheer-practice or whatever came up. Very nice. And I adore Ellie - a great character and asexual - something that was briefly mentioned but otherwise just one tiny part of Ellie's character.
Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
It is a good series and very engaging, though it is not my favourite of Bardugo's.
This was a good follow-up to the first book, that explored and explained more of the universe and set up the next installment(s?), which I definitely will return to (though I for some reason thought this was a duology). I like the characters a lot and find them quite interesting - I feel that Bardugo is often good at writing morally questionable characters (that you still want to root for). I still felt a bit disconnected from almost all other characters than Alex and Darlington. I like the other characters in their little group but still felt they were somewhat on the sideline and I didn't feel that close to the others which is a shame. I hope in the next books I will have a different experience.
I did think that this one suffered a bit from middle-book-syndrome. It had to unfold way more of the world, be a follow-up and set up the next one. This resulted in what I felt was a slightly strange pacing in the last 100 pages that had to wrap-up and move along a lot of differing storylines that then felt a little... rushed.
This was a good follow-up to the first book, that explored and explained more of the universe and set up the next installment(s?), which I definitely will return to (though I for some reason thought this was a duology). I like the characters a lot and find them quite interesting - I feel that Bardugo is often good at writing morally questionable characters (that you still want to root for). I still felt a bit disconnected from almost all other characters than Alex and Darlington. I like the other characters in their little group but still felt they were somewhat on the sideline and I didn't feel that close to the others which is a shame. I hope in the next books I will have a different experience.
I did think that this one suffered a bit from middle-book-syndrome. It had to unfold way more of the world, be a follow-up and set up the next one. This resulted in what I felt was a slightly strange pacing in the last 100 pages that had to wrap-up and move along a lot of differing storylines that then felt a little... rushed.
You're the Problem, It's You by Emma R. Alban
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
Like the first one, this was adorable! Very cute characters and interactions- both between main characters and all of the others.
Lighthearted and fun but the problems surrounding being queer in regency area are still there.
Lighthearted and fun but the problems surrounding being queer in regency area are still there.
Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Bittersweet and romantic. About growing up and looking back and missing things and people. Missed chances and life being different than you imagined when you were a teenager. But mostly about growing into yourself. Second chances, finding each other when you are ready and allowing yourself to be somewhere you enjoy in life.