yousei's reviews
902 reviews

Belladonna by Adalyn Grace

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

Full review coming soon!

The Cloisters by Katy Hays

challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

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

4.0

4 out of 5 stars! 🌿🃏🪻

Very dark gothic modern academia, a slow burn for sure. Not sure if any of the characters are likable, but that didn’t deter me from enjoying the story. Will be putting my thoughts together for a fuller review soon — which I will share on my TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@xyouseix

Caraval by Stephanie Garber

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

4.5

4.5 out of 5 stars! ⭐️🎪✨

What an absolute rollercoaster of a ride. It’s gonna be a little bit before I can get my hands on book 2 but in the meantime, watch my full review here on my TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGdd1wPE7/

The Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore

funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

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

3.5

3.5 out of 5 stars!

Overall enjoyed it. Was a very easy read which was a little jarring for me, but I went in without high expectations and because of that I was able to enjoy it for what it was: a simple contemporary romance with that Halmark feel.

See my full review on my TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGd1N5VGB/

The Prisoner's Throne by Holly Black

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.5

4.5 out of 5 stars!!

I adored Wren's POV, but I found Oak's more compelling. The flavour of his inner turmoil: desire vs. expectations; the political responsibilities of being Prince vs. wanting to righting old wrongs; wanting Wren's love vs. the fear of being truly known not just by her, but also understanding himself.

I do love a big, true, character reveal, and when it was happening I was on the edge of my seat reading it! I think, once I hit the halfway point, I knew I had to keep reading until the end, all in one go.

I know there are many people who also adore Jude & Cardan, and I do too. I was delighted they played a more important role in book two of this duology... but they did kinda steal the spotlight from Wren and Oak.

Also, I may be the only person who cares, but I love that Holly Black dropped a reference to Kaye and Roiben for us old timey (Tithe) fans. I would LOVE if those two came back into the main plot/storyline. Please please please!!

Full review can be found on my TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGd1NbS9u/

You Like It Darker by Stephen King

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Each of these stories were brilliant in their own ways. Some I loved more than others. Some were short and scary, whilst others were long and linger with me. 

All in all a great anthology of stories from one of my all time favourites. 5/5 stars for sure. 

Part 1 of my review on TikTok here: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGeo1fHQB/
Part 2 of my review on TikTok here: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGeo1HDNv/

The Stolen Heir by Holly Black

dark emotional mysterious tense 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

4.5

One of my last updates was waiting for the other shoe to drop — and drop it did at the end! Which meant I knew what the plot twist would be when it finally came, but I still really enjoyed how it was revealed. Wren’s past has been so awful it is no surprise that, as a creature of full of hurt and trauma, would end up taking a darker path.

“I can’t pretend that I don’t like the sound of him screaming my name.”

YAS QUEEN 👑✨
We support women’s rights and woman’s wrongs in this house 🙌🏼

Now it’s on to book 2!

Watch my full review on my TikTok! https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGeo1MgmQ/

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.0

The school/college set up is hard not to get repetitive. I think that's why I didn't devour this one as quickly as the first — felt like a lot of repeated moments, story beats, arguments between Violet and Xaden (communication 👏🏼 kids! 👏🏼), etc. 

Of course the final 6 or so chapters were non-stop and the kind of nail biting action that had me finishing the book at 

4:00 am! 

No spoilers, but the parts I liked most were when we weren't at Basgiath. Learning more about the wider world in the second book is really great, fun, and enriching. Some places we were taken were particularly interesting 👀✨ Would like to return and explore them more. 

I am hoping that, with the threat being more close to home and personal, the stakes will have more weight in the next book. As they were, they worked, they were alright, but the horrific twist at the end certainly had me going "oh shiet." Now to wait 5 months for Book 3...

Watch my review on TikTok! https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGeo1kLgF/

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

adventurous dark emotional inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

Fourth Wing (Book One of the Empyrean Series by Rebecca Yarros) is one of the most talked about romantasy books out there right now, rivalling ACOTAR in popularity. 

As someone who has enjoyed reading SJM's books, it was only a matter of time before I got my greedy little hands on these. Thankfully, my love got me Fourth Wing and Iron Flame for Yule. I am only kicking myself I didn't read them sooner! 

- I mean, it has dragons in it and I literally play a table top RPG called Dungeons and Dragons; there was no way I wasn't going to love it! — 

From Chapter One I was hooked. When I wasn't reading Fourth Wing, I was thinking about Fourth Wing. And when I was reading Fourth Wing, I could not put it down. I had to know what happened next. The amount of nights I stayed up late reading was more than l've done for any other recent read. 

What compelled me to keep reading besides the ever evolving plot were the characters. Everyone, from Violet to Xaden to Dain to Rhiannon to Liam to Jack to even the dragons, were so well thought out, so real, their depth made it easy to connect to them, to see them as the story unfolded. 

And boy what a story we got.
I won't say any more than that, to keep this review spoiler free. So I will conclude this with giving Fourth Wing a 5 out of 5 stars for my first read of it! I know I'll be rereading this in the future, so though I will say I reserve the right to change my mind on this rating, I doubt I will. 

Fourth Wing definitely goes on my summer recommended reading list. And if you haven't read it, you definitely should.

Watch my review on TikTok! https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGeo1rGje/

The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

The Familiar is a historical fantasy novel set in late 16th century Madrid, Spain. It is an adult standalone, and, as the author has said herself, inspired by Leigh Bardugo’s own family history.

Historical fantasy / fiction is always a fascinating genre to me. I only know surface level details of what it was like back during the Golden Age of Spain, at the Height of the Spanish Inquisition. But I know enough to realise the fine line Luiza was walking as she let her ambitions and wants driver her actions.

As with any new fantasy setting, especially one rooted in real world history, I was intrigued by the magic we were going to encounter — the milagritos, as they are called. As with the magic in the Alex Stern books, in the Familiar there is frightening consequences for magic bargained away or powered by unbridled want without direction. This all wrapped up in a time when the Church was on high alert for any and all signs of witchcraft, heresy, and dissemination of anything but their teachings, made each moment of magic shadowed with uncertainty.

For me, that was enticing. Kept me wanting to read more, to find out how far Luiza’s ambitions would take her, and who might be there for her when things finally came to a head.

Of course, there is also the romance part of the story. Santángel (san-tang-ill) is yet another tall, cloaked in shadows, mysterious figure, with a tragic backstory.

— This seems to be a favourite trope for the main male characters in Leigh’s novels and quite frankly I love it, a lot —

To me, it was clear there was something between Luiza and Santángel from the start, and though their relationship developed and progressed more as Luiza sought out more for her life than what she had, I found her a very practical, or level headed, romantic heroine. It’s why the ending surprised me, in a delightful and cathartic way. I won’t say more than that, because SPOILERS, but to suffice to say, a change in scene really can make a change in fortune.

Overall, I’d give this novel a 4 out of 5 stars for my first read of it. Of course, if/when I choose to reread it at a future date, I reserve the right to change my mind on this rating. But overall, definitely on my summer recommended reads list!

Watch my review on TikTok! https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGeo1kP5V/