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eve_reads's reviews
121 reviews
Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Overall Thoughts:
⁕ Out of all the books in the Shadow and Bone series, this is by far the strongest. I loved seeing Bardugo's writing develop and strengthen with each novel.
⁕ THE ENDING, oh my gosh the ending. It made all the meh moments of the first book worth it.
⁕ I super appreciated that Bardugo gave us more time to know and love the minor characters that weren't as present in the earlier books, especially Zoya. Her inclusion of them makes me even more excited to start the King of Scars sequel series.
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⁕ Out of all the books in the Shadow and Bone series, this is by far the strongest. I loved seeing Bardugo's writing develop and strengthen with each novel.
⁕ THE ENDING, oh my gosh the ending. It made all the meh moments of the first book worth it.
⁕ I super appreciated that Bardugo gave us more time to know and love the minor characters that weren't as present in the earlier books, especially Zoya. Her inclusion of them makes me even more excited to start the King of Scars sequel series.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
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Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? Yes
3.75
Overall Thoughts:
⁕ I would like to give a standing ovation to the audiobook narrator of this book, Marin Ireland, for absolutely KICKING BUTT with their voice acting. This book was 10 million times funnier, touching, and terrifying because of them. I would not have had the same experience reading it on my own.
⁕ Most contemporaries leave me feeling sad or meh, but this one was just so freaking beautiful and funny 😭 Even moments that packed an emotional punch left me with a smile on my face.
⁕ I was not able to figure out the major plot twist/mystery of the novel until it was revealed to me by the author! It was so refreshingly not obvious but totally believable.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
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⁕ I would like to give a standing ovation to the audiobook narrator of this book, Marin Ireland, for absolutely KICKING BUTT with their voice acting. This book was 10 million times funnier, touching, and terrifying because of them. I would not have had the same experience reading it on my own.
⁕ Most contemporaries leave me feeling sad or meh, but this one was just so freaking beautiful and funny 😭 Even moments that packed an emotional punch left me with a smile on my face.
⁕ I was not able to figure out the major plot twist/mystery of the novel until it was revealed to me by the author! It was so refreshingly not obvious but totally believable.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
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Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Kidnapping, and Suicide attempt
Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Overall Thoughts:
⁕ The beginning of this book jumps right into things, and major plot developments occur in a manner of pages. It is too quick for my liking.
⁕ I LOVE the development of Alina's character and her deep desire for power at the expense of her relationships. It's such a refreshing depiction of a female lead in YA.
⁕ Overall, I think this book is stronger in terms of Bardugo's writing than Shadow and Bone. I hope this trend continues.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
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⁕ The beginning of this book jumps right into things, and major plot developments occur in a manner of pages. It is too quick for my liking.
⁕ I LOVE the development of Alina's character and her deep desire for power at the expense of her relationships. It's such a refreshing depiction of a female lead in YA.
⁕ Overall, I think this book is stronger in terms of Bardugo's writing than Shadow and Bone. I hope this trend continues.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
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Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Toxic relationship, and Violence
From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Overall Thoughts:
⁕ Armentrout utilizes a lot of popular fantasy tropes really well (the chosen one, the jealous/protective lover, werewolves and vampires, etc.). While these things aren’t new, they were super engaging and fun to relish in.
⁕ Most of y’all already know this, but there’s A LOT of smut in this book.... like a lot. Sometimes so much so that I felt it detracted from the plot (but to each their own, I suppose 😅).
⁕ For a book labeled as “high fantasy,” I was expecting more world-building. Hopefully, such developments will come in the next books of the series.
⁕ I’m not sure I 100% buy into the main relationship of the book (but honestly I don’t think the main character does either, so, again, we’ll see where the sequel takes us).
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
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⁕ Armentrout utilizes a lot of popular fantasy tropes really well (the chosen one, the jealous/protective lover, werewolves and vampires, etc.). While these things aren’t new, they were super engaging and fun to relish in.
⁕ Most of y’all already know this, but there’s A LOT of smut in this book.... like a lot. Sometimes so much so that I felt it detracted from the plot (but to each their own, I suppose 😅).
⁕ For a book labeled as “high fantasy,” I was expecting more world-building. Hopefully, such developments will come in the next books of the series.
⁕ I’m not sure I 100% buy into the main relationship of the book (but honestly I don’t think the main character does either, so, again, we’ll see where the sequel takes us).
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
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Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, and Death of parent
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
3.0
Overall Thoughts:
⁕ This book is SO fast-paced. On one hand, this kept me interested. On the other, it resulted in what felt like rushed and unsubstantial character development.
⁕ I may be judged for this, but the scene with “The Cut” and its consequential explanation was super cheesy and I can no longer take it seriously when that power is used.
⁕ Even though I’ve already read Six of Crows, I wish there was more world-building in this one — especially pertaining to Grisha ranking and politics.
⁕ This book is SO fast-paced. On one hand, this kept me interested. On the other, it resulted in what felt like rushed and unsubstantial character development.
⁕ I may be judged for this, but the scene with “The Cut” and its consequential explanation was super cheesy and I can no longer take it seriously when that power is used.
⁕ Even though I’ve already read Six of Crows, I wish there was more world-building in this one — especially pertaining to Grisha ranking and politics.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
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For regular book-related content, follow my Instagram account: @eve_reads
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Violence
A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
Overall Thoughts:
⁕ V.E. Schwab does not pull ANY punches with this one. It is a nail-biting, heart-wrenching, fast-paced read from start to finish. You will feel all the feelings while reading.
⁕ A decent portion of this is quest-centered — which I usually find very cringe — but Schwab does an AMAZING job keeping the stakes high and infusing it with character development. It never felt like a tedious journey from point a to point b, but rather an engaging and essential part of the entire series arc.
⁕ The ending is SO satisfying and stands well on its own. And YET, I cannot wait for Threads of Power to be released. I need more Kell and Lilah and I need them now 😂
⁕ V.E. Schwab does not pull ANY punches with this one. It is a nail-biting, heart-wrenching, fast-paced read from start to finish. You will feel all the feelings while reading.
⁕ A decent portion of this is quest-centered — which I usually find very cringe — but Schwab does an AMAZING job keeping the stakes high and infusing it with character development. It never felt like a tedious journey from point a to point b, but rather an engaging and essential part of the entire series arc.
⁕ The ending is SO satisfying and stands well on its own. And YET, I cannot wait for Threads of Power to be released. I need more Kell and Lilah and I need them now 😂
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
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Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Gore, Violence, and Death of parent
A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
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adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
4.5
Overall Thoughts:
⁕ This book is all about character development! I love how much it builds the reader’s understanding of Lilah and Kell, as well as secondary characters that weren’t as prominent in the first book.
⁕ The main conflict of the series takes a backseat to make way for smaller character subplots, but never fear — it's there by the end.
⁕ I love that Schwab expands beyond the city of Red London and lets the reader see more of the magical world that Kell lives in.
⁕ This book is all about character development! I love how much it builds the reader’s understanding of Lilah and Kell, as well as secondary characters that weren’t as prominent in the first book.
⁕ The main conflict of the series takes a backseat to make way for smaller character subplots, but never fear — it's there by the end.
⁕ I love that Schwab expands beyond the city of Red London and lets the reader see more of the magical world that Kell lives in.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
For regular book-related content, follow my Instagram account: @eve_reads
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Violence
Know My Name by Chanel Miller
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
5.0
Overall Thoughts:
⁕ Miller’s prose combined with her relentless commitment to detail and the truth of her experience made this a beautiful, gripping, and heart-wrenching read. It’s a hard book to put down, but I recommend reading in smaller chunks so that the gravity of her words has time to sink in.
⁕ I learned A LOT about the mechanisms and failings of the legal system when it comes to survivors of assault. If you have ever found yourself wondering “why don’t survivors just report to the police,” I HIGHLY encourage you to read this.
⁕ I don’t share all of her experiences but, as a woman, her willingness to share her story means so much to me. There were so many moments when reading where my fears and anger felt seen and validated.
⁕ Miller’s prose combined with her relentless commitment to detail and the truth of her experience made this a beautiful, gripping, and heart-wrenching read. It’s a hard book to put down, but I recommend reading in smaller chunks so that the gravity of her words has time to sink in.
⁕ I learned A LOT about the mechanisms and failings of the legal system when it comes to survivors of assault. If you have ever found yourself wondering “why don’t survivors just report to the police,” I HIGHLY encourage you to read this.
⁕ I don’t share all of her experiences but, as a woman, her willingness to share her story means so much to me. There were so many moments when reading where my fears and anger felt seen and validated.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
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For regular book-related content, follow my Instagram account: @eve_reads
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Mental illness, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Invisible Girl by Lisa Jewell
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Overall Thoughts:
⁕ Honestly, this story had way more layers than the typical thriller, especially in terms of character development. Owen especially is so complicated, and Jewell’s humanization of someone who is so flawed REALLY made me think about my own biases and assumptions.
⁕ There were some recapping of traumatic events that the characters experienced which I really didn’t feel were necessary to go into detail on. It felt like they were more there for shock value than to contribute to the actual story.
⁕ The ending was a bit rushed and almost felt too neat.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
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⁕ Honestly, this story had way more layers than the typical thriller, especially in terms of character development. Owen especially is so complicated, and Jewell’s humanization of someone who is so flawed REALLY made me think about my own biases and assumptions.
⁕ There were some recapping of traumatic events that the characters experienced which I really didn’t feel were necessary to go into detail on. It felt like they were more there for shock value than to contribute to the actual story.
⁕ The ending was a bit rushed and almost felt too neat.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
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Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Stalking
This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
3.75
Overall Thoughts:
⁕ The side characters in this book are absolute comedic gold, and the narration in the audiobook only added to their hilarity.
⁕ I didn’t really feel too much for Quinn one way or another, but Minnie’s character development was wonderfully written.
⁕ This book is advertised as a romantic contemporary, but I honestly think the relationship between Quinn and Minnie is more of a subplot that runs alongside them trying to sort out major financial and family conflicts. This isn’t a bad thing, just different from what I expected.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
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⁕ The side characters in this book are absolute comedic gold, and the narration in the audiobook only added to their hilarity.
⁕ I didn’t really feel too much for Quinn one way or another, but Minnie’s character development was wonderfully written.
⁕ This book is advertised as a romantic contemporary, but I honestly think the relationship between Quinn and Minnie is more of a subplot that runs alongside them trying to sort out major financial and family conflicts. This isn’t a bad thing, just different from what I expected.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
For regular book-related content, follow my Instagram account: @eve_reads
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders