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the_midwest_library's reviews
733 reviews
Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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
Another great installment in the Nevernight Chronicles, I really enjoyed where our story and our shadows took us in this one.
It's not without faults however, the plot is a bit all over the place in the middle and I honestly DID feel like the horny comments were a bit overdone in this book. Enough so that I noticed it was a bit heavy handed this go around. Though the sapphic romance was a nice touch!
The ending is where this book shines though which I expect from all of Jay's books at this point. The ending made the middle forgiveable to me but while I'm enjoying this series it's not five stars for me. But a solid 4 star series so far, for sure!!!
It's not without faults however, the plot is a bit all over the place in the middle and I honestly DID feel like the horny comments were a bit overdone in this book. Enough so that I noticed it was a bit heavy handed this go around. Though the sapphic romance was a nice touch!
The ending is where this book shines though which I expect from all of Jay's books at this point. The ending made the middle forgiveable to me but while I'm enjoying this series it's not five stars for me. But a solid 4 star series so far, for sure!!!
Nevernight by Jay Kristoff
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.0
I quite enjoyed this little number. And I'm starting to get annoyed at how much I do like Jay Kristoff's writing smh 😜. This is not without flaws for me, I think some poor moments were really wacky from a decision making standpoint.
The characters do act their age (as much as I expect them to be able to given the circumstances hahaha) which I appreciated. I'm a big believer that YA is a demographic and not a genre so the PG-13 content felt appropriate (and not sensationalized).
This book is fast paced, has the energy of Six of Crows with an assassin "school" setting. I'm excited to see where this series goes!
The characters do act their age (as much as I expect them to be able to given the circumstances hahaha) which I appreciated. I'm a big believer that YA is a demographic and not a genre so the PG-13 content felt appropriate (and not sensationalized).
This book is fast paced, has the energy of Six of Crows with an assassin "school" setting. I'm excited to see where this series goes!
The Sword Unbound by Gareth Hanrahan
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.0
Okay so, I'm still giving this 4 stars even though I also gave 4 stars to book 1 and I do think book 1 is better.
I enjoyed this one from a character growth perspective a ton. I truly think everyone needed to listen to the freaking sword because we could have cut this plot down a ton hahahaha
That was my biggest issue, the plot was so meandering in the middle but the back brought it back around for me! The ending was very Middle Earth vibes too which I liked!
I enjoyed this one from a character growth perspective a ton. I truly think everyone needed to listen to the freaking sword because we could have cut this plot down a ton hahahaha
That was my biggest issue, the plot was so meandering in the middle but the back brought it back around for me! The ending was very Middle Earth vibes too which I liked!
Gambit, Volume 1: Once a Thief... by James Asmus
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I wanted to pick up some of the standalone Gambit stories, and this one is always recommended. I gotta say while good it was also ....boring and had a weird tone at times. The stories were fun, but nothing groundbreaking.
Play of Shadows by Sebastien de Castell
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
So this is interesting, it's a solid book. A good installment into the greatcoats world. But tell me why the short story prequel leading up to this (crucible of chaos) was far more entertaining to me? This installment just felt small in scale honestly, the plot was good the characters were also compelling but overall I wasn't wowed by this installment. I'm curious where this takes us though as the ending was 0000
Crucible of Chaos by Sebastien de Castell
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Estevar was a wonderful MC for this book, and it really is a book not a short story per se which was what I was expecting going into this. The story is robust, while giving us that familiar feeling of the Greatcoats world. I loved the additional context we got with this story iykyk and I'm SO intrigued to read Play of Shadows next.
I truly love the Greatcoats world. Each of the Greatcoats that we encounter along the way I want to hear stories from. Estevar being focused on occult and spooky happenings was a great and mystical way to expand upon this world even more. I really enjoyed it overall, though there were some funky pacing moments.
I truly love the Greatcoats world. Each of the Greatcoats that we encounter along the way I want to hear stories from. Estevar being focused on occult and spooky happenings was a great and mystical way to expand upon this world even more. I really enjoyed it overall, though there were some funky pacing moments.
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This was the irl bookclub pick this month. It was fine. I don't particularly agree with the Donna Tart comparisons and overall found the plot to be a bit meandering and boring. I just don't love mysteries tbh and it's rare that one speaks to me. This one was fine, I've already forgotten half the characters names and I just finished it last night 😬
Tales of the Greatcoats Vol. 1: Swashbuckling Fantasy Stories by Sebastien de Castell
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
What a great collection of short stories in the Greatcoats world! Most of them are easily 5 stars but a few didn't wow me. So overall well worth the read. I'm biased of course but all the stories that centered our main trio were just fabulous and I need 50 more. Thank you so much, Sebastien please get right on that for me 😂😂😂
Jaded by Ela Lee
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
So I loved this, but man is it a read. It almost reads autobiographical in a way while also feeling a bit cold and distanced from the MC. Which given the subject matter of the book I can't decide if it's purposeful or not in the prose structure. I don't know how much of the story is self-insert as I went into this pretty blind, but I have to imagine, unfortunately, that this story was born of trauma in one way of another.
Regardless, it's a really good read. While sexual assault against women is not an uncommon narrative the exploration of control, trauma and ethnic and racial complexities into the story were so well done. The last few chapters especially were well crafted, there's a tragically beautiful monologue we get from the MC towards the end that reminded me of America's monologue in Barbie....just more brutal.
Regardless, it's a really good read. While sexual assault against women is not an uncommon narrative the exploration of control, trauma and ethnic and racial complexities into the story were so well done. The last few chapters especially were well crafted, there's a tragically beautiful monologue we get from the MC towards the end that reminded me of America's monologue in Barbie....just more brutal.
Northern Wrath by Thilde Kold Holdt
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
So this would probably be a really great book for people who love Norse mythology. I tend to not....and yet I keep trying hahaha
Unfortunately while this book has some strengths I just found it a bit boring. I love a character driven story and the characters just felt a bit flat for me, and not very memorable. Especially the female characters which I just overall was not for me.
The writing was good though, I would read something else by this author. I thought the narrative voice was strong and the plot was enjoyable overall.
Unfortunately while this book has some strengths I just found it a bit boring. I love a character driven story and the characters just felt a bit flat for me, and not very memorable. Especially the female characters which I just overall was not for me.
The writing was good though, I would read something else by this author. I thought the narrative voice was strong and the plot was enjoyable overall.