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tiffanysmith's reviews
262 reviews
Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
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? It's complicated
3.75
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Lesbophobia, and Alcohol
Minor: Cancer, Sexism, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Abortion, and Pregnancy
The Rose Code by Kate Quinn
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.75
Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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 enjoy Gabaldon’s immersion into historical times and characters, but this did get quite slow for me toward the middle. To keep my momentum, I actually switched to audiobook to get through the middle and then went back to reading toward the end when the excitement redeveloped. The pacing of the first book was somewhat better, but it also had it’s moments of unhurried storytelling.
Still, I love how she drew me in with details and emotion. Gabaldon is very skilled with gifting the reader with all their senses during the read. It’s as if you can taste, hear, and smell every moment for better or worse. This is a true reflection of the magic of being immersed in an amazing read.
There were a few moments I had some conflicting thoughts about how the author approached rape and sex in this installment. Some of Jamie’s remarks/actions were probably in remarkably bad taste. Admittedly, the events of Claire and Jamie’s relationship take place in the 18th century, so relationships were quite different back then. I don’t believe Jamie is a bad man, only that there were some specific choices of words or actions he made that made me cringe at the vulgarity.
Overall, the book is well-written and I do feel like I am a part of the world woven by the author. It’s full of beautiful moments of love and heartbreak, as well as loyalty, betrayal, and a sincere fierceness to protect those that we hold most dear. And then the heartbreak! I look forward to the next book! I’ve realized by now that I’m committed and in it for the long-haul.
Still, I love how she drew me in with details and emotion. Gabaldon is very skilled with gifting the reader with all their senses during the read. It’s as if you can taste, hear, and smell every moment for better or worse. This is a true reflection of the magic of being immersed in an amazing read.
There were a few moments I had some conflicting thoughts about how the author approached rape and sex in this installment. Some of Jamie’s remarks/actions were probably in remarkably bad taste. Admittedly, the events of Claire and Jamie’s relationship take place in the 18th century, so relationships were quite different back then. I don’t believe Jamie is a bad man, only that there were some specific choices of words or actions he made that made me cringe at the vulgarity.
Overall, the book is well-written and I do feel like I am a part of the world woven by the author. It’s full of beautiful moments of love and heartbreak, as well as loyalty, betrayal, and a sincere fierceness to protect those that we hold most dear. And then the heartbreak! I look forward to the next book! I’ve realized by now that I’m committed and in it for the long-haul.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Torture, Vomit, Sexual harassment, and War
Minor: Drug use, Murder, Alcohol, and Classism
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
3.75
The Duke and I by Julia Quinn
challenging
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The Caretakers by Eliza Maxwell
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
I might have enjoyed this book if not for how confusing and frazzled all the plot points made for the reading experience. The first half was a challenge to continue reading. Parts of it felt underdeveloped or incomplete. I had trouble connecting with the cast of characters. There were too many plot lines and it was difficult to grasp or feel involved.
I wanted more of the Fallbrook murders. That was my favorite part. The subplot about the documentary and kidnapping was an entirely other story that didn’t connect. I think the author was trying to build the character development through this, but it was too frazzling, underdeveloped, and insignificant to the other sections of the story.
At the climax, when the plot lines overlapped, they didn’t make sense doing so. There were just two many stories that the author was trying to tie together, and so the read was cumbersome and felt like it was all over the place.
I wanted more of the Fallbrook murders. That was my favorite part. The subplot about the documentary and kidnapping was an entirely other story that didn’t connect. I think the author was trying to build the character development through this, but it was too frazzling, underdeveloped, and insignificant to the other sections of the story.
At the climax, when the plot lines overlapped, they didn’t make sense doing so. There were just two many stories that the author was trying to tie together, and so the read was cumbersome and felt like it was all over the place.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Mental illness, Kidnapping, and Grief
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Lore by Alexandra Bracken
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail