vaniavela's reviews
403 reviews
As Good As Dead, by Holly Jackson
adventurous
dark
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
4.75
Holly Jackson, how does it feel to end the emotional stability of a poor young woman in disgrace?
Hi, I introduce myself. I'm that poor young woman in distress. After a great series of events, full of secrets, betrayals and surprises, this story has come to an end. I really can't believe how long it's taken me to read these books, but I absolutely refused to suffer any more than I already had. Spoiler Alert: I ended up destroyed.
By the end of this great story I had concluded several things:
1) My desire to study criminology and forensic medicine is still within me and makes me hesitate to change my career.
2) I don't have the emotional stability to be a criminologist but it is worth dreaming.
3) I want a Ravi in my life. Correction, I <b> need </b> a Ravi in my life. Will I ever get one? I don't think so. Do I feel sad about that? Clearly.
I understand that most people didn't like this book, mostly because of the lack of mystery, however I liked it. I loved reading that sequence and that the title of the first book had even more impact on the story.
I definitely loved this book series.
Hi, I introduce myself. I'm that poor young woman in distress. After a great series of events, full of secrets, betrayals and surprises, this story has come to an end. I really can't believe how long it's taken me to read these books, but I absolutely refused to suffer any more than I already had. Spoiler Alert: I ended up destroyed.
By the end of this great story I had concluded several things:
1) My desire to study criminology and forensic medicine is still within me and makes me hesitate to change my career.
2) I don't have the emotional stability to be a criminologist but it is worth dreaming.
3) I want a Ravi in my life. Correction, I <b> need </b> a Ravi in my life. Will I ever get one? I don't think so. Do I feel sad about that? Clearly.
I understand that most people didn't like this book, mostly because of the lack of mystery, however I liked it. I loved reading that sequence and that the title of the first book had even more impact on the story.
I definitely loved this book series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Stalking, Drug use, and Murder
Moderate: Vomit and Gore
Minor: Sexual assault and Animal death
Swipe Right for Murder, by Polly Harris
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
The Lost Hero, by Rick Riordan
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Nura and the Immortal Palace, by M.T. Khan
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Twelve-year-old Nura works long hours in a mica mine. Determined to find a legendary treasure known as "The Demon's Tongue" to help her family out of poverty, she causes a cave-in, resulting in several deaths. Nura, determined to save her friend, lands through a portal in the world of the jinn. Will Nura be able to save herself and her friend?
The writing in Nura and the Immortal Palace is magical. The author describes the setting so vividly, we can imagine ourselves there. The world is glamorous and captivating.
I love the way this book addresses child labor and the importance of education. The author combines these important issues in a middle grade fantasy book with engaging characters.
The world building is simply magical and easily transports the reader into the book. The atmosphere is colorful yet dark and feels like a story I would have loved to read as a child.
Overall, Nura and the Immortal Palace is an impressive middle grade fantasy that takes you on a dark adventure, reflecting of important real world issues.
If you like Ghibli vibes, a dark and twisted portal world, and a fierce protagonist, you need to read it!
CW: child labor, grief, parental death (off the page), fire.
The writing in Nura and the Immortal Palace is magical. The author describes the setting so vividly, we can imagine ourselves there. The world is glamorous and captivating.
I love the way this book addresses child labor and the importance of education. The author combines these important issues in a middle grade fantasy book with engaging characters.
The world building is simply magical and easily transports the reader into the book. The atmosphere is colorful yet dark and feels like a story I would have loved to read as a child.
Overall, Nura and the Immortal Palace is an impressive middle grade fantasy that takes you on a dark adventure, reflecting of important real world issues.
If you like Ghibli vibes, a dark and twisted portal world, and a fierce protagonist, you need to read it!
CW: child labor, grief, parental death (off the page), fire.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Child abuse
Minor: Death of parent
Freshwater, by Akwaeke Emezi
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Those Who Wait, by Haley Cass
emotional
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Homophobia, and Outing
Moderate: Lesbophobia and Biphobia
Minor: Emotional abuse
West Side Love Story, by Priscilla Oliveras
emotional
lighthearted
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault, and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Drug use
Never Saw Me Coming, by Vera Kurian
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
7 psychopaths. None of them trusts the others.
Told in several points of view, we follow Chloe Sevre, who has planned revenge on the man who raped her; Charles, the pretentious and wealthy son of a politician; and Andre, who faked his condition in order to afford the expenses of such a prestigious college education.
The premise of this book was interesting, with complex characters and mystery elements. At first, the book hooks you into the narrative, but the structure falls apart after a few chapters. Especially with such a slow pace. Likewise, I couldn't understand or empathize well with any of the characters as the different perspectives confused me. A book with only one perspective would have been a better choice.
Overall, a unique premise, but a half-hearted execution. It's a good book though, so I'll give the author's future works a read!
tw: murder, death, stalking, rape, sexual assault, gun violence, adult/minor relationship, suicide, blood, brutality, bullying, drug abuse, gore, mental illnesses, racism, sexual content, suicide, violence.
Told in several points of view, we follow Chloe Sevre, who has planned revenge on the man who raped her; Charles, the pretentious and wealthy son of a politician; and Andre, who faked his condition in order to afford the expenses of such a prestigious college education.
The premise of this book was interesting, with complex characters and mystery elements. At first, the book hooks you into the narrative, but the structure falls apart after a few chapters. Especially with such a slow pace. Likewise, I couldn't understand or empathize well with any of the characters as the different perspectives confused me. A book with only one perspective would have been a better choice.
Overall, a unique premise, but a half-hearted execution. It's a good book though, so I'll give the author's future works a read!
tw: murder, death, stalking, rape, sexual assault, gun violence, adult/minor relationship, suicide, blood, brutality, bullying, drug abuse, gore, mental illnesses, racism, sexual content, suicide, violence.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, and Stalking
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Gun violence
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Suicide, and Blood
All These Bodies, by Kendare Blake
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Sixteen bloodless bodies. Two teenagers. An impossible explanation.
Michael was an interesting narrator. He was able to separate his emotions from the investigation at such a young age and with no prior experience, which is impressive.
This book focuses on someone who doesn't talk at all, either to defend herself or plead guilty, which was somehow boring and annoying. There are no breakthroughs or investigations, there is just Michael trying to get Marie to talk and Marie refusing to do so.
We never find out what really happened. I wanted answers and instead got an ambiguous ending. The pacing was also slow, which didn't help.
In the end, I'm not sure how I felt about this book. I couldn't even tell if the story included paranormal elements or not. I would have liked some action moments in the story, but that wasn't the case.
This just disappointed me, it had so much potential, but in the end it was poorly executed.
tw: murder, blood, death, adult/minor relationship, animal death, physical abuse, child abuse, rape, sexism, abandonment, underage alcohol consumption, child death, confinement, death of parent, grief, misogyny, violence.
Michael was an interesting narrator. He was able to separate his emotions from the investigation at such a young age and with no prior experience, which is impressive.
This book focuses on someone who doesn't talk at all, either to defend herself or plead guilty, which was somehow boring and annoying. There are no breakthroughs or investigations, there is just Michael trying to get Marie to talk and Marie refusing to do so.
We never find out what really happened. I wanted answers and instead got an ambiguous ending. The pacing was also slow, which didn't help.
In the end, I'm not sure how I felt about this book. I couldn't even tell if the story included paranormal elements or not. I would have liked some action moments in the story, but that wasn't the case.
This just disappointed me, it had so much potential, but in the end it was poorly executed.
tw: murder, blood, death, adult/minor relationship, animal death, physical abuse, child abuse, rape, sexism, abandonment, underage alcohol consumption, child death, confinement, death of parent, grief, misogyny, violence.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, and Physical abuse
Minor: Child abuse, Rape, and Sexism
Tink and Wendy, by Kelly Ann Jacobson
emotional
sad
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? Yes
4.0
What happens when Tinkerbell is in love with Peter Pan and Wendy?
I've never been a big fan of the Peter Pan story, but I really enjoyed this book.
I loved how the chapters changed from Then ( Peter and Tinkerbell met Wendy ) to Now ( Wendy and Peter's granddaughter discover Tinkerbell living in the old Darling house ) to Excerpts from Neverland: A History ( Historical information about Neverland and Tink and Peter's relationship ). This was such a creative and interesting idea and I loved reading these short excerpts.
Kelly Ann Jacobson's writing fits the story perfectly. The descriptions portray the setting and express the characters' feelings in a great way. It was lyrical and touching, blooming beautifully.
I would have liked more Sapphic elements in the story. All the books I've read before feature the typical story of Tink falling in love with Peter Pan, and when I read this premise I was thrilled. While we do get some scenes of Tink and Wendy together, we don't get the epic love story that this book promised. I was disappointed in this aspect.
Also, the plot has some plot holes, which I would have liked to see resolved or better explained.
Overall, the story was good and kept my attention. I would have liked some things to be different, but it's still a good book and I enjoyed it.
trigger warning: addiction, alcoholism, self harm, suicidal thoughts, medical content, grief, death, car crash, teen pregnancy, death of friend's parent, parental abandonment, use of ableist language, multiple deaths.
I've never been a big fan of the Peter Pan story, but I really enjoyed this book.
I loved how the chapters changed from Then ( Peter and Tinkerbell met Wendy ) to Now ( Wendy and Peter's granddaughter discover Tinkerbell living in the old Darling house ) to Excerpts from Neverland: A History ( Historical information about Neverland and Tink and Peter's relationship ). This was such a creative and interesting idea and I loved reading these short excerpts.
Kelly Ann Jacobson's writing fits the story perfectly. The descriptions portray the setting and express the characters' feelings in a great way. It was lyrical and touching, blooming beautifully.
I would have liked more Sapphic elements in the story. All the books I've read before feature the typical story of Tink falling in love with Peter Pan, and when I read this premise I was thrilled. While we do get some scenes of Tink and Wendy together, we don't get the epic love story that this book promised. I was disappointed in this aspect.
Also, the plot has some plot holes, which I would have liked to see resolved or better explained.
Overall, the story was good and kept my attention. I would have liked some things to be different, but it's still a good book and I enjoyed it.
trigger warning: addiction, alcoholism, self harm, suicidal thoughts, medical content, grief, death, car crash, teen pregnancy, death of friend's parent, parental abandonment, use of ableist language, multiple deaths.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Self harm
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Medical content
Minor: Car accident, Death of parent, and Pregnancy