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stardust_heidi's reviews
462 reviews
Legendary by Stephanie Garber
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
3.5
I could not get through the audiobook and ended up finishing the last 25% with the paperback. I want to love this series, but I’m so bored. I don’t really like the characters all that much, and it’s difficult to really care about the story.
The Weavers of Alamaxa by Hadeer Elsbai
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
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? Yes
5.0
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
*keyboard smash*
🥰🥹🥰
🥰🥹🥰
Caraval by Stephanie Garber
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
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? No
3.5
The Daughters of Izdihar by Hadeer Elsbai
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
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? Yes
5.0
Holy shit. Destroy the patriarchy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
The Wicked Bargain by Gabe Cole Novoa
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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? Yes
5.0
This is a fucking delight and Vico Ortiz did an incredible narrating job.
Bridge of Souls by V.E. Schwab
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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? No
4.0
I think this was my favorite book of the trilogy. Loved meeting the members of the society.
Honestly, I’m just really disappointed about all the HP references. Like I’ve mentioned before, their addition felt so OOC for the author (having read all their other works), and every time I read one, it jarred me right out of the story.
Tbh, this series is my least fave of VES’s works. :( But I also realize I’m not the target audience.
Honestly, I’m just really disappointed about all the HP references. Like I’ve mentioned before, their addition felt so OOC for the author (having read all their other works), and every time I read one, it jarred me right out of the story.
Tbh, this series is my least fave of VES’s works. :( But I also realize I’m not the target audience.
Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
I honestly don't know if this is how I want to rate this book, but I'm rolling with it for now. I had such conflicting thoughts throughout this book, though I overall enjoyed it.
Honestly, Mallory annoyed me a lot. A LOT. She's controlling, single minded in her aims (like telling herself she's the only one who can take care of her family), etc. I understand that her world fell apart at 14 and that she more recently experienced even greater loss, intricately tied to the events from years before. I had a lot of complicated feelings about Mallory's mother and her lack of....i don't know...stepping up? Enforcing more appropriate boundaries regarding Mallory basically stepping in as the head of the household, etc etc. Mallory was allowed to get away with her bullshit for so long until she just erupted, which.... Not surprised tbh. Basically, I wanted to throw Mallory into a giant wheelbarrow and cart her off to a therapist for the majority of the book.
However, even with all this, Ali delivered a classic Ali way. Gotta love thatboring/predictable/lazy third act breakup and all that drama. I will say... I read a few other reviews on SG that said C&M read more like a coming of age story than a romance, and I wholeheartedly agree. I liked the romance, sure. Nolan is precious, as are his friends. BUT. I think the more important focus of this book is on Mallory and her confronting a lot demons and traumas from her childhood and start to learn how to grow and mature. Ali really did nail that immature and "I KNOW EVERYTHING" 18 year old mentality; maybe that's why Mallory annoyed me so much lmao. But Mallory really needed that lecture from Oz -- I was so relieved when he showed up. And then that implosion with her family -- also MUCH needed and very much belated.
Sometimes we all need that reminder that the universe does not, in fact, revolve around our individual selves.
I'm glad Mallory and Easton were able to work through their shit as well; that whole "I just assumed" on behalf of someone else's thoughts and decisions is something I can relate strongly to. I'm guilty of that as well.
The ending was....a bit anticlimactic tbh. I realize it would have been impossible to go through all 12 games together, but to basically reunite Nolan and Mallory for 10 seconds and then end with an ARTICLE epilogue from a different POV was not as satisfying as I would have liked it to be.
Honestly, Mallory annoyed me a lot. A LOT. She's controlling, single minded in her aims (like telling herself she's the only one who can take care of her family), etc. I understand that her world fell apart at 14 and that she more recently experienced even greater loss, intricately tied to the events from years before. I had a lot of complicated feelings about Mallory's mother and her lack of....i don't know...stepping up? Enforcing more appropriate boundaries regarding Mallory basically stepping in as the head of the household, etc etc. Mallory was allowed to get away with her bullshit for so long until she just erupted, which.... Not surprised tbh. Basically, I wanted to throw Mallory into a giant wheelbarrow and cart her off to a therapist for the majority of the book.
However, even with all this, Ali delivered a classic Ali way. Gotta love that
Sometimes we all need that reminder that the universe does not, in fact, revolve around our individual selves.
I'm glad Mallory and Easton were able to work through their shit as well; that whole "I just assumed" on behalf of someone else's thoughts and decisions is something I can relate strongly to. I'm guilty of that as well.
The ending was....a bit anticlimactic tbh. I realize it would have been impossible to go through all 12 games together, but to basically reunite Nolan and Mallory for 10 seconds and then end with an ARTICLE epilogue from a different POV was not as satisfying as I would have liked it to be.
Tunnel of Bones by V.E. Schwab
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? No
4.0
The story was fun but...
Pls stop with the HP references. WAY too many.
Pls stop with the HP references. WAY too many.
Against Dark Tides by Clare Sager
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0