leannarapier's reviews
114 reviews

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

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adventurous challenging lighthearted 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? No

5.0

A solid classic and foundational novel for pirate adventures. It’s easy to read and moves at a good pace. It was fun to note where Pirates of the Caribbean borrowed from this tale.
Scythe by Neal Shusterman

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adventurous dark emotional reflective 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

Fast-paced and exciting read, yet thought provoking at the same time. I look forward to continuing this series.
Elantris by Brandon Sanderson

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adventurous 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? Yes

5.0

Excellent storytelling. Especially for a debut novel. That said, Sanderson’s debut doesn’t read like a newbie author. I honestly recommend this book as the best starting place. Everyone recommended that I start with Mistborn and I dnfed it because the story dragged and I couldn’t connect with the characters, and there was no way I could even imagine myself beginning with a novel as thick as The Way of the Kings. I would probably have never attempted another Sanderson book if it wasn’t for the “secret project” novels which were right up my alley of weirdness. And I went from them to Elantris because the premise of this novel intrigued me. A city of basically living dead? Count me in. I was not disappointed.
The Queen and the Shadow Witch by Leanna Rapier

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective 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
This is my debut novel! (Not giving it a star rating).
The Dragonet Prophecy by Tui T. Sutherland

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-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? No

4.0

The Dragonet Prophecy is a fun MG read for kids who like fantasy, dragons, and battles. My daughter (age 8) liked the graphic novel version, but the regular novel was too long and complex for her. We will revisit later when she’s older. It feels more suitable for children ages 10+. 
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Beyond the Wind Music by Mary Emma Sivils

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adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious reflective 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

5.0

Yay for a story with a mom as the main character! Emotional and filled with hope. Highly recommend, esp. for moms, or just anyone feeling discouraged by routine life or feel like they’re not getting anywhere. 
The Frugal Wizard's Handbook for Surviving Medieval England by Brandon Sanderson

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adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious fast-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

5.0

I loved the wit and humor of this book. It included many of my favorite tropes: portals, alternate dimensions, time travel (sorta), amnesia. Strangely, I loved the inserts from the guide book perhaps even more than the story. A different sort of book than the other “secret projects” and more scifi than fantasy, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Dandelion Fire by N.D. Wilson

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

3.0

I loved the first book of this trilogy, and was excited for this one. I’ve been reading aloud to my 11yo son. This book could have been great. It had an intriguing premise, but was only okay because it was executed poorly. There were too many characters. The plot confusing and prose overly wordy. I still don’t know who the boy Richard is (introduced in the first book) or why he is in the story. 
Yumi and the Nightmare Painter by Brandon Sanderson

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective sad 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

5.0

This book had all the feels. It was soooo good! Cute and whimsical. I laughed at one point until I cried. The majority of it was a cozy fantasy. Then that last 10%—so tense. I ugly cried at the end, and I rarely ever cry. My husband thought something was wrong with me. 😭 🤣

I was hiding behind my book. 
Him: “Are you okay?”
Me: “Noooooo!! 😭 😭 😭
Accidentally a Supervillain by H.L. Burke, H.L. Burke

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funny lighthearted relaxing 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? Yes

3.5

Cute and funny superhero story—lighthearted and more romance than action. Still it was a quick, fun read and clean. I was expecting something a tad more serious, but this might be right up someone else’s alley.