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emilywemily6's reviews
338 reviews
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
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? Yes
4.75
This book was so good- almost perfect! It was a little hard to get into because I didn’t really understand what was happening with Elspeth and the Nightmare for the first little bit; I listened to the first two chapters a couple times until I got it, but from there the rest of the story was easy to follow. It has great gothic fairytale vibes and a unique magic system. The playing card magic system sounds dorky but it is really interesting and varied and has shaped this world. I loved the slow and subtle romance and the character development. The ending blew my mind and makes me want to read the second book asap, though I’m not sure what it will look like.
Daily Joy: A Devotional for Each Day of the Year by Russell M. Nelson
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.5
This devotional book was perfect for a quicker, more simple devotional study. Each page had a verse of scripture and a paragraph or two pulled from the talks of President Russell M. Nelson. The only thing this book was missing was references to all the talks from which the quotes were pulled. Even if they had a bibliography at the end, that would have been really nice. Otherwise, this was an inspiring read that Latter Day Saints would enjoy, and I feel like other Christians or spiritual people would still appreciate its teachings.
How to Steal a Galaxy by Beth Revis
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I loved this book! This series was so easy to binge and I’m sad I have to wait for the third and final novella. I enjoyed the pacing and storytelling of this book, though it didn’t have as much space magic or interesting things happening. There was a lot more talking and less doing. It was still hilarious and fast paced, and I love the dynamic of these main characters. I would love more development in their relationship to each other though!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Drug use, Kidnapping, and Alcohol
Full Speed to a Crash Landing by Beth Revis
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I loved this book and it was so unexpected for me! I started the second book in the series unknowingly, and then backtracked about 25% into the second book so I could read this one. This was funny, punchy, and had the perfect length and pacing. Lots of fun space travel and adventure, and a fun twist that had Ocean’s Eleven vibes. These characters were so fun to get to know and I couldn’t wait to dive back into the next book for more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Minor: Medical content, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic by Leigh Bardugo
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
If you are looking for dark, gothic fairytale retellings that feel both familiar and unexpected, this is for you. I enjoyed every story, though I definitely had a hard time staying awake at night to read them. The stories that stick with me the most are probably the fox, the fabrikator, and the mermaid stories. I like the Grishaverse flair these stories have. I especially loved the Darkling’s cameo in the last story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
A Very Merry Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This was actually my first read in this series and I liked it more than I thought I would! There are a ton of side characters that I feel like would be more understood if you have read the others in the series. While I understood Gretchen’s perspective, she got on my nerves, especially with the third act conflict. I honestly was team Colton the whole time and felt like everything potentially hurtful he said was 100% truth 🤷♀️ Gretchen’s family made me angry. In general, I liked the writing style and I adored Colton, so I see myself reading from this author again!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Gaslighting, and Classism
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Physical abuse
A Curse for True Love by Stephanie Garber
challenging
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
This was alright but not a super satisfying end to the trilogy. Lots of loose holes and questions remain. A lot happened in this book but it felt a bit disjointed as far as plot and pacing go. I love these characters, and while Apollo’s POV was intriguing, it didn’t add a lot to the story overall- 2 or 3 chapters would have been plenty.
Threadneedle by Cari Thomas
challenging
dark
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.25
This ended up being so good but this book was ridiculously slow for the first 20%, and it’s such a long book. I loved the magic system and seeing the main character learn more about the world of magic that her aunt neglected to share. While this book is set in a high school, the themes, content, and writing is definitely adult. Very dark with some trigger warnings. We still have a ton of questions after this book about what is truly happening to the magical world, but we learned a lot through the main character’s perspective so I’m hoping we continue to learn more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Chronic illness, Cursing, Drug use, Infidelity, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Kiki's Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This was a cute read! The movie is one of my favorites from growing up so I was delighted to have the chance to read the book. This is very slice-of-life as Kiki tries to make a place for herself in a new community as a little witch. The narrative style of the Japanese books I have read, including this one, isn’t my favorite. The story is not gripping and there is not true character arc. No big climax either. But this was a cozy and simple read that showed lots of vignettes about Kiki’s first year away from home..
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Grief
Immortal Longings by Chloe Gong
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I really enjoy Chloe Gong’s world building, and this concept was unique as expected. I wanted to read Anthony and Cleopatra first as a refresher, but didn’t get around to it. I didn’t connect to the characters or the love story as much as in her YA series but I still enjoyed them. This was a slower book that took a long time to reveal secrets but I was caught off guard multiple times. The plot twists! I kind of expected the ending, but not entirely. What a cliffhanger! I still have quite a few questions and hope things will be answered in the coming books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism