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the_rabble's reviews
112 reviews
Too Beautiful to Break by Tessa Bailey
Did not finish book. Stopped at 22%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 22%.
Skipped around a bit- seems like it's going to be a lot of torturing a claustrophobic guy in a Louisiana salt mine for no reason and I just can't go there (on top of a lingering parentage reveal, the well story, Sage's extremely sad background alcoholic, negligent parents, childhood sexual harassment , and a Boss Hogg style villian.)
It's a tragedy hat-on-a-hat-on-a-hat. Hard to see things getting sexy or heartwarming. Fucking BLEAK.
Poor Belmount. Damn dude.
It's a tragedy hat-on-a-hat-on-a-hat. Hard to see things getting sexy or heartwarming. Fucking BLEAK.
Poor Belmount. Damn dude.
The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love by India Holton
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
BIRD NERDS IN FANTASY VICTORIAN ENGLAND
This shit slaps. You have magic birds. You have a deeply apologetic lady professor dealing with academia-level misogyny ca. 1890 and the dude who wants her to take up as much space as she can and talk birdy to him. (But also, he's going to beat her to those birds... or is he?)
Fantasy naturalism is rad as hell and this book is a great time. Very fun, very swoony.
2 POVs, 3rd person past tense, light to medium spice, protagonists are in their 20s-ish, first book in a new series (stoked we're getting a Gabe/geographers book, but you can read this as a one-off)
India Holton spices up every setting and this is no different. The fantasy elements are excellent. The descriptions are great and the prose is interesting. She handles all the "I am a very smart character" traps authors fall into very well and balanced her protagonists beautifully.
Holton's prose has more room to play in this book and it gives some of the emotional beats a lot of added heft without deterring from the madcap rush to the finishline driving the plot. The developing intimacy between the characters and the main plot both get their due. Often flawlessly at the same time.
Narrator - Elizabeth Knowelden kills it. Her voices are fun. The use of "ummm..." gets a million bonus points.
And her rapid fire delivery of Holton's prose and some the jargon-laden dialogue elevates everything. Excellent delivery.
This shit slaps. You have magic birds. You have a deeply apologetic lady professor dealing with academia-level misogyny ca. 1890 and the dude who wants her to take up as much space as she can and talk birdy to him. (But also, he's going to beat her to those birds... or is he?)
Fantasy naturalism is rad as hell and this book is a great time. Very fun, very swoony.
2 POVs, 3rd person past tense, light to medium spice, protagonists are in their 20s-ish, first book in a new series (stoked we're getting a Gabe/geographers book, but you can read this as a one-off)
India Holton spices up every setting and this is no different. The fantasy elements are excellent. The descriptions are great and the prose is interesting. She handles all the "I am a very smart character" traps authors fall into very well and balanced her protagonists beautifully.
Holton's prose has more room to play in this book and it gives some of the emotional beats a lot of added heft without deterring from the madcap rush to the finishline driving the plot. The developing intimacy between the characters and the main plot both get their due. Often flawlessly at the same time.
Narrator - Elizabeth Knowelden kills it. Her voices are fun. The use of "ummm..." gets a million bonus points.
And her rapid fire delivery of Holton's prose and some the jargon-laden dialogue elevates everything. Excellent delivery.
Too Hot to Handle by Tessa Bailey
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
2.25
Contemporary romance with sibling bonding. Sets up the rest of the series.
Post-parental death/work failure roadtrip through New Mexico results in a car with estranged siblings breaking down in a small town. Middle sister falls in love with a local boy who sets out to woo her.
2 POVs, very spicy, protagonists are late 20s and early 30s, one week timeline
Genuinely pretty cute and emotionally interesting. One protagonist has a reputation he's trying to shake and it's pretty endearing. Second protagonist is dealing with her own identity and her relationship with her siblings.
Gets a little buckwild on the instalove (and I am very cool handwaving that, but this is pretty extreme in the back half re:making future plans. But I could biased against people interrupting roadtrips instead of just coming along. )
Post-parental death/work failure roadtrip through New Mexico results in a car with estranged siblings breaking down in a small town. Middle sister falls in love with a local boy who sets out to woo her.
2 POVs, very spicy, protagonists are late 20s and early 30s, one week timeline
Genuinely pretty cute and emotionally interesting. One protagonist has a reputation he's trying to shake and it's pretty endearing. Second protagonist is dealing with her own identity and her relationship with her siblings.
Gets a little buckwild on the instalove (and I am very cool handwaving that, but this is pretty extreme in the back half re:
Not Your Ex's Hexes by April Asher
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Totally adequate NYCer contemporary supernatural romance. Jaded demon veterinarian + witch trying to get it together.
2 POVs, characters are mid 30s, spicy, supernatural violence, rescued animals
The plot on these is always stronger than the vibe. Characters are all very fun.
Setup is cute, but there's a lot of poop talk upfront. Prose has a bit of stutter-stop throughout, but has sweetspots. Dialogue is usually pretty strong.
[Ending pace]The couple has problems until the very end- there is no moment of peace or payoff for the relationship. I think you get like, two sentences post resolution of the main hurdle and I'm still not wildly clear on what happened with that plotline.
I followed everything else but the main relationship resolution was lore heavy wo lore explanation. ]
2 POVs, characters are mid 30s, spicy, supernatural violence, rescued animals
The plot on these is always stronger than the vibe. Characters are all very fun.
Setup is cute, but there's a lot of poop talk upfront. Prose has a bit of stutter-stop throughout, but has sweetspots. Dialogue is usually pretty strong.
[Ending pace]
I followed everything else but the main relationship resolution was lore heavy wo lore explanation.
Too Hard to Forget by Tessa Bailey
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
Tough one to get through. Super unhealthy relationship with a 13 year age gap, former "authority figure/student" old flame situation. Plus he's a parent- there's just a lot to handwave in order to fit the "you've got one week to fix it all" framework.
Tessa Bailey is still a hell of a writer, but this one is hard to root for.
The sibling relationship keeps you wanting to read this series, but it's a progressively lighter and lighter touch.
Tessa Bailey is still a hell of a writer, but this one is hard to root for.
The sibling relationship keeps you wanting to read this series, but it's a progressively lighter and lighter touch.
Bryony and Roses by T. Kingfisher
adventurous
funny
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.5
Rock solid Beauty and the Beast adaptation.
Bryony, our heroine, is a normal ass gardener doomed by rutabagas and the second protagonist is given a lot more depth than usually allowed.
Things get spooky, like a tale of "who's imprisoning who?" would be bound to, but it the tone is cut enough with humor and mystery that it never feels too heavy.
Bryony, our heroine, is a normal ass gardener doomed by rutabagas and the second protagonist is given a lot more depth than usually allowed.
Things get spooky, like a tale of "who's imprisoning who?" would be bound to, but it the tone is cut enough with humor and mystery that it never feels too heavy.
Business Casual by B.K. Borison
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This book is very good at what it does.
Incredibly engaging story of spooky magic and adventure. The characters are rad, there's an adorable bone dog right off the bat, and Kingfisher's worldbuilding remains topnotch.
During what is definitely a romp, the book also hits a tight series of bullet points on childbirth, abusive relationships, and how being around those relationships impacts the way bystanders and loved ones help, view others, their choices, and themselves.
It's such a cleanly done story about heavy topics.
Narrator: Kingfisher's other stuff I've listened to is kinda bouncy and either epically or jovially voiced. Amara Jasper opts for a neutral Natalie Naudus-y quietly pitched voice that is significantly creepier.
Her dialogue voices break it up and totally rock, but the vibe stays somber any time the straight prose hits.
Incredibly engaging story of spooky magic and adventure. The characters are rad, there's an adorable bone dog right off the bat, and Kingfisher's worldbuilding remains topnotch.
During what is definitely a romp, the book also hits a tight series of bullet points on childbirth, abusive relationships, and how being around those relationships impacts the way bystanders and loved ones help, view others, their choices, and themselves.
It's such a cleanly done story about heavy topics.
Narrator: Kingfisher's other stuff I've listened to is kinda bouncy and either epically or jovially voiced. Amara Jasper opts for a neutral Natalie Naudus-y quietly pitched voice that is significantly creepier.
Her dialogue voices break it up and totally rock, but the vibe stays somber any time the straight prose hits.
Swordheart by T. Kingfisher
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.75
Paladin's Hope by T. Kingfisher
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75