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sophs_mood_reading's reviews
396 reviews
Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I originally wondered if it was necessary to read this book in the series as it strays from the main story. However, I read it in tandem with Empire of Storms and I’m so glad I did.
This book not only explores Chaol and Nesryn more but also adds an array of worlds and characters that just give the whole series more depth. I love all the links with the assasins blade that keep popping up as well.
This book not only explores Chaol and Nesryn more but also adds an array of worlds and characters that just give the whole series more depth. I love all the links with the assasins blade that keep popping up as well.
Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
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
4.5
Another brilliant instalment. I read this alongside Tower of Dawn as a tandem read.
I found this one particularly slow to start. Not sure if it’s because I’m not really gelling with Aelin or that I know we have slow going before SJM turns the action up 300% in the last 1/3 of the book as always.
I did really like Elide’s development in this book and the found family group really being established.
Now just to emotionally prepare for KOA.
I found this one particularly slow to start. Not sure if it’s because I’m not really gelling with Aelin or that I know we have slow going before SJM turns the action up 300% in the last 1/3 of the book as always.
I did really like Elide’s development in this book and the found family group really being established.
Now just to emotionally prepare for KOA.
Shield Maiden by Sharon Emmerichs
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
A beautifully written retelling of Beowulf from the perspective of his niece, Fryda.
Fryda journey is that of reclaiming her own life and power against those who would see her silenced. Where her wishes are not just for her self but for those of her people.
The writing quickly immerses you in the landscape of the Swedish clan where you can easily picture story you are being told and understand the world around Fryda and her people. There is not in your face world building her but a picture that easily forms in your mind of this medieval world.
We are also lucky to have not only Fryda’s point of view but those of others in the story which helps to really develop the story and gives you that extra depth to the tale.
Fryda for her headstrong and determined nature does seemed to have lead a blind life to the true going ons of the clan behind the men in power and seems to trust before questioning anyone.
I also loved the added magical, power element that all great viking tales should really have a sprinkling of.
Fryda journey is that of reclaiming her own life and power against those who would see her silenced. Where her wishes are not just for her self but for those of her people.
The writing quickly immerses you in the landscape of the Swedish clan where you can easily picture story you are being told and understand the world around Fryda and her people. There is not in your face world building her but a picture that easily forms in your mind of this medieval world.
We are also lucky to have not only Fryda’s point of view but those of others in the story which helps to really develop the story and gives you that extra depth to the tale.
Fryda for her headstrong and determined nature does seemed to have lead a blind life to the true going ons of the clan behind the men in power and seems to trust before questioning anyone.
I also loved the added magical, power element that all great viking tales should really have a sprinkling of.
The City of Stardust by Georgia Summers
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
A mysterious magical society.
A family curse.
Secret worlds.
Vengeful gods.
Untrustworthy friends and surprising allies.
A young girl trying to find her mother and end the suffering.
This was a beautifully written novel which sucked you into a magical, mysterious world. Prepare for love, treachery, twists and turns.
Read if you enjoy books such as A Darker Shade of Magic trilogy and the night circus.
A family curse.
Secret worlds.
Vengeful gods.
Untrustworthy friends and surprising allies.
A young girl trying to find her mother and end the suffering.
This was a beautifully written novel which sucked you into a magical, mysterious world. Prepare for love, treachery, twists and turns.
Read if you enjoy books such as A Darker Shade of Magic trilogy and the night circus.
The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker
emotional
funny
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
5.0
Calla is without a job, boyfriend and is flying to Alaska to see her estranged father after she’s discovered he has been diagnosed with cancer. But the awkwardness of 12 years silence also has to compete with remote living, bugs, lack of access to her creature comforts and a grumpy yeti Alaskan pilot who keeps showing up everywhere.
I am so glad I was told to read this! I was always hesitant as I don’t see myself as a general romance reader but this book just may have convinced me I was wrong.
The banter between Jonah and Calla is fantastic and yes yay romance but this book had so much more. There was a beautiful story about coming to peace with life decisions, the beauty in the simple life and really digging into what is important.
This book made me laugh, cry and a really think about some things. I would happily read it again and again just to revisit the world of Bangor Alaska.
I am so glad I was told to read this! I was always hesitant as I don’t see myself as a general romance reader but this book just may have convinced me I was wrong.
The banter between Jonah and Calla is fantastic and yes yay romance but this book had so much more. There was a beautiful story about coming to peace with life decisions, the beauty in the simple life and really digging into what is important.
This book made me laugh, cry and a really think about some things. I would happily read it again and again just to revisit the world of Bangor Alaska.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Death of parent
Moderate: Abandonment
The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies by Alison Goodman
adventurous
emotional
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Twin spinster sisters in regency London, living a relatively free life with a good income and no responsibilities. So what else is there to do then to rescue the suffering woman and children of London. Here we have Augusta (the ring leader/heroine) and Julia (the protector/sensible sister) saving kidnapped children, suffering wives and abandoned sisters.
The novel is really more like three seperate novellas in a series, following the sisters through three different “rescues” while an overriding story follows through all three.
I really enjoyed the relationship of Gus and Julia, especially their conversations that seem to occur through a series of looks and facial expressions. There is also a bit of a romance brewing however it sticks to regency era proprieties so don’t expect spice.
There were some tangents regarding illness and the lack of medical advancement and very much a focus on the disadvantages of women in the era, specifically in controlling their own life and how the patriarchy failed them in all stations of wealth and status.
I think I would have preferred if there was more detail with the book focusing on one case rather than three separate cases, as it did feel like we were coasting through tales rather than really getting into the story.
Overall a fun read for those who are fans of regency era novels with strong willed, female saviours.
Enemies to Lovers by Portia MacIntosh, Portia MacIntosh
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.0
Lara and Sonny are rival entertainment journalists whose main aim in life seems to be to sabotage and one up each other to find the best showbiz scoop. Following a public press event mishap their bosses send them away together to an exclusive couples therapy retreat to get the ultimate scoop on tv’s hottest couple.
What could go wrong, undercover reporting with your enemy pretending to be in love on a tropical island.
This was a fun rom-com with a unique setting. There was some good banter between Lara and Sonny and the therapists at Eden retreat were hilariously crazy and the things the couples had to do made for some decent entertainment. You could see this easily playing out as a tv show.
I did find the relationship a little forced and felt we missed pages of them getting closer or even talking to each other. The other guests at the retreat were also very one dimensional characters.
This was an easy read, and made me wish I could book a tropical holiday (however I would pass on the ‘quinoa surprise’).
Thank you Boldworld Books and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What could go wrong, undercover reporting with your enemy pretending to be in love on a tropical island.
This was a fun rom-com with a unique setting. There was some good banter between Lara and Sonny and the therapists at Eden retreat were hilariously crazy and the things the couples had to do made for some decent entertainment. You could see this easily playing out as a tv show.
I did find the relationship a little forced and felt we missed pages of them getting closer or even talking to each other. The other guests at the retreat were also very one dimensional characters.
This was an easy read, and made me wish I could book a tropical holiday (however I would pass on the ‘quinoa surprise’).
Thank you Boldworld Books and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-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? It's complicated
4.5
Ladies and gentlemen we have ourselves another fantastic fantasy/romantasy series.
A long standing war between two nations sees Talasyn and Aleric as mortal enemies, but when a new (and much worse) threat becomes apparent they need to work together to survive.
This was a brilliant first book for a series. We have two worlds at war, both sure they are in the right. Magical systems that are being squandered and others enhanced. Royalty and all that comes with it (treaty’s, allies and enemies). Plus and a matriarchal society, powerful strong woman and warriors and you have The Hurricane Wars.
I really enjoyed this book. It didn’t so much have twists and shock plot points but there was enough wonder to keep you going. Plus some slow burn tension and great banter.
We also get multiple point of views between our to main characters throughout chapters which was a great way to know what’s really going on.
The first third of the book was heavy going with intense world building (very much required) but once we got though that the story really took off and I was hooked.
Looking forward to continuing the series (according to the authors website it will be a trilogy).
A long standing war between two nations sees Talasyn and Aleric as mortal enemies, but when a new (and much worse) threat becomes apparent they need to work together to survive.
This was a brilliant first book for a series. We have two worlds at war, both sure they are in the right. Magical systems that are being squandered and others enhanced. Royalty and all that comes with it (treaty’s, allies and enemies). Plus and a matriarchal society, powerful strong woman and warriors and you have The Hurricane Wars.
I really enjoyed this book. It didn’t so much have twists and shock plot points but there was enough wonder to keep you going. Plus some slow burn tension and great banter.
We also get multiple point of views between our to main characters throughout chapters which was a great way to know what’s really going on.
The first third of the book was heavy going with intense world building (very much required) but once we got though that the story really took off and I was hooked.
Looking forward to continuing the series (according to the authors website it will be a trilogy).
The Love Scribe by Amy Meyerson
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
A beautiful story of love. Finding love, loosing love, passionate love, dangerous love and other types of love in between.
Alice does not want love or a relationship, these things are not for her. However, she feels strangely compelled to write a story for her friend Gabby who is struggling after a break up. When finally hearing back from her friend two weeks later, Gabby claims the story magically made her find love and the same occurred for the next few people who read her story.
Word gets out and soon Alice is being paid thousands of dollars a book as a love scribe.
One day Alice is asked by Madeline who asks her to write her a story, yet Alice can’t manage to write this story. As Alice tries to get to know Madeline, in order to get the words to flow, she starts to uncover more than she expected.
This was a beautiful book, I loved the idea of a a book magically making someone discover who they are and open up to love. There was also a great, darker twist to the story that wasn’t expected but gave it so much more depth.
I did feel it could be slightly shorter but enjoyed it all the same.
Alice does not want love or a relationship, these things are not for her. However, she feels strangely compelled to write a story for her friend Gabby who is struggling after a break up. When finally hearing back from her friend two weeks later, Gabby claims the story magically made her find love and the same occurred for the next few people who read her story.
Word gets out and soon Alice is being paid thousands of dollars a book as a love scribe.
One day Alice is asked by Madeline who asks her to write her a story, yet Alice can’t manage to write this story. As Alice tries to get to know Madeline, in order to get the words to flow, she starts to uncover more than she expected.
This was a beautiful book, I loved the idea of a a book magically making someone discover who they are and open up to love. There was also a great, darker twist to the story that wasn’t expected but gave it so much more depth.
I did feel it could be slightly shorter but enjoyed it all the same.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Physical abuse and Murder
Minor: Cancer, Death, and Car accident
The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A great YA mystery about a surprise inheritance for a young girl. From being a poor abandoned teen to a billionaire heiress over night, Avery has no idea how all this happened but she is working with the disinherited Hawthorne brothers to follow the clues and riddles left for them to work out why her.
This was a fun little mystery filled with puzzles and discoveries. I could just picture the secret clues and hidden passages clicking and opening.
The end of the book didn’t really come with any answers but just more clues to solve in the second book.
I really enjoyed the audiobook. It was well narrated and flowed really well. And best thing is I had the next one ready to dive straight into.
This was a fun little mystery filled with puzzles and discoveries. I could just picture the secret clues and hidden passages clicking and opening.
The end of the book didn’t really come with any answers but just more clues to solve in the second book.
I really enjoyed the audiobook. It was well narrated and flowed really well. And best thing is I had the next one ready to dive straight into.