unheardmelokate's reviews
2891 reviews

The Queen of Poisons by Robert Thorogood

lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

Stella and Marigold by Annie Barrows

funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.5

Girlmode by Magdalene Visaggio

emotional hopeful inspiring 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

4.5

The Terrifying Tales of Vivian Vance by Josh Ulrich

adventurous dark mysterious tense 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

3.5

A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall by Jasmine Warga

adventurous emotional hopeful 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? No

4.0

Middle school is not off to a great start for sixth grader Rami Ahmed. Not only did his best friend ditch him for no apparent reason, but a painting has gone missing at the museum where his mom works - and both Rami and his mom are suspects! When Rami starts seeing a mysterious, floating girl around the museum - the same girl who features in the missing painting - he's sure she's the key to solving this mystery. Can Rami, along with the help of an aspiring-sleuth classmate and an artistically-inclined turtle, clear his and his mother's names?

While the mystery itself is fairly predictable, cozy mystery fans will enjoy this latest story from Jasmine Warga for its characters and heart.

I Shall Never Fall in Love by Hari Conner

emotional funny 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

4.5

As Jane Austen once said, "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." Young George Kingsley may not be a man in the traditional sense, but they have just inherited their father's estate - and they'd love a wife, if only 1800s England was more open-minded. Instead, they must dress as a girl and pretend their neighbor Eleanor Woodford is nothing more than a dear friend.

Except... Eleanor has never wanted to marry a man either. And now that George is "too busy" to spend time with Eleanor, she's started to wonder if her feelings for George might go beyond mere friendship.

Set in Surrey and London in 1807, I Shall Never Fall in Love takes on issues of race, class, gender, attraction, and mental health, all while maintaining a surprisingly light-hearted tone. The main and supporting cast are (for the most part) endearing, and readers will cheer on their happy endings. Conner's illustrations pair beautifully with the story, featuring expressive characters and colorful backdrops.

All-told, this is a charming historical romance sure to appeal to fans of Heartstopper, The Prince and the Dressmaker, Check, Please!, or even Jane Austen herself.

The Dagger and the Flame by Catherine Doyle

adventurous dark 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

3.0

After her mother is killed and her home destroyed, eighteen-year-old Seraphine Marchant finds sanctuary with the Order of Cloaks, one of two feuding factions that rule the underworld in Fantome. Utilizing Shade, a magical - and illegal - powder used to manipulate shadows, Cloaks steal while rival Daggers murder. And Seraphine is the latest target of heir-apparent Dahger Ransom Hale. As Seraphine and Random play cat-and-mouse across the city, sparks start to fly - and new dangers begin to emerge from the shadows of Fantome.

I was drawn to this title for its similarities to The Night Circus, a comparison that is in some ways (magical rivals) apt. However, The Dagger and the Flame sits much more squarely in the increasingly popular romantasy genre, and with it's steamy enemies-to-lovers plot, this series opener is sure to appeal to adult readers or YA romantasy as well as older high schoolers who enjoy Sabaa Tahir, Shelby Mahurin, or Leigh Bardugo.

Songlight by Moira Buffini

adventurous dark 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

3.5

Received from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review:

Eighteen-year-old Elsa and her boyfriend, Eye, live in the lovely coastal town of Northaven. But things aren't lovely for the two secret Torches, unhumans with telepathic abilities they're forced to hide for fear of extermination. After Rye's powers are discovered and he's outed by Elsa's older brother, Elsa's grief forces a connection with Nightingale, a fellow unhuman living hundreds of miles away. Once the two realize the true extent of their power, they're thrust headfirst into war and revolution.

Pairing action and political intrigue, and told from multiple perspectives, Songlight is a dystopian fantasy readers are sure to devour. This first in a planned trilogy from debut author Moira Buffini will appeal to fans of Sansa Tahir, Rhoda Belleza, and Suzanne Collins.

Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

2.5

Received from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review:

How far will one girl go to save her sister? Kidan Adam's knows she's a danger to the world, but she's willing to unleash the full force of her fury until she finds her missing twin sister, June. After torturing and murdering the one person who should have kept her safe, Kidan is surprised by an invitation to the place she believes June has been taken to - Uxlay University. The catch: She'll have to live in her family's ancestral home alongside the vampire she believes kidnapped June. But as Kidan adjusts to her new world, she begins to question everything she once believes to be true. Will she be able to untangle the mysteries of Uxlay before it's too late - for both herself and everyone she loves?

A fresh take on the dark academia and romantasy genres, Immortal Dark features a cast of Black characters steeped in Ethiopian tradition, vampires, and a steamy (though certainly tame enough for a high school audience) romance. Fans of ACOTAR and Twilight alike are sure to lap up this first in a planned trilogy by debut author Tigest Girma.

Give Me Something Good to Eat by D.W. Gillespie

adventurous dark medium-paced

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

2.0