stardust_heidi's reviews
462 reviews

Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

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adventurous dark mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.5

Overall enjoyed the book. The ending didn't really do it for me (waahhh) but I can get over it. I really enjoyed all the different vampires and lore about them. I liked the gritty noir vibes. 
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Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

A few disclaimers to explain my rating. I listened to the audiobook while on a road trip over the course of a few weeks, with several long gaps between listens. I don’t think that helped my overall cohesive understanding of the book and all the different POV interactions. The narrators were excellent but different voices required different volumes, especially while in the car with loud road noises. 

Overall, I did enjoy this book. I found it a fascinating critique (excellently scathing) about the US incarceration/prison system, and I think the futuristic Hunger Games-like setting was interesting. 

I found, at times, the multiple POVs really difficult to follow. I still don’t really understand the married couple’s purpose in the story, and I can’t figure out if their part had any resolution at the end. 

I had to ask someone to explain the ending for me. The ending of the fight scene was kind of confusing, and even though I listened to that last chapter twice, I wasn’t sure who lived or died. Or whatever. 

I liked all the footnotes throughout. Those added real context to events throughout. 

Overall, an excellent book. But I think a physical read would be easier for me to process. Might pick up a copy. 
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Gay the Pray Away by Natalie Naudus

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

5.0

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The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova

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adventurous dark emotional 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 one had been on my physical TBR for a long time, and I finally prioritized it. It was SO GOOD. 
Bi: The Hidden Culture, History, and Science of Bisexuality by Julia Shaw

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informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

Vampires Never Get Old: Tales with Fresh Bite by Natalie C. Parker, Zoraida Córdova

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4.0

Really enjoyed this anthology centered around vampires! The stories were diverse and queer, which was an extra level of fun. As with most short story collections, I enjoyed some more than others. But overall, it’s a super solid collection. 
The Diablo's Curse by Gabe Cole Novoa

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adventurous dark emotional funny lighthearted mysterious 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

4.0

Loved this follow up to The Wicked Bargain. I very much enjoyed it, but I don’t think it quite matched the first book. I found myself drifting away from the plot at times. Great characters, though! The quest was fun. 
Swan Lake: Quest for the Kingdoms by Rey Terciero, Megan Kearney

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adventurous funny lighthearted tense 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

So fun!!
Yona of the Dawn, Vol. 1 by Mizuho Kusanagi

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adventurous emotional sad tense fast-paced

3.0

In full disclosure, I only read this to fulfill StoryGraph’s genre challenge for manga. It’s not my go to genre. It was okay, I guess? The FMC was really annoying and just came off as weak, helpless, and besotted. I have zero interest in continuing the series (42 parts?!) so…yeah. Not for me. 
The Wolf and the Witch by Charissa Weaks

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

4.75

Honestly loved this book and its detour from our main pairing in book 1 & 2. I think it provided lots of important tidbits to hold us over until book 4, while also taking the time to establish another important pairing AND their individual powers. This series is WAY more smutty than I expected it to be, but when I’m in the right mood, I’m here for it. 

Rating it down only because I’m tired of this whole trend of calling women “little” this (pick your nickname) and “little” that with “dainty” hands and uggghhh. Please can we not. Imo it just infantilizes a strong, bad ass woman. [End rant lol]
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