banscout's reviews
43 reviews

Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White

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adventurous challenging dark medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

the book has been Phenomenally written, the author's strong point most definitely lies in body horror nd it's one of the best ways i've seen it written. the plot was interestin, i just felt the endin felt so rushed nd too much was just cast aside or hurriedly ammended like with the creator of the armageddon... that stuff didn't really make sense. the whole big fight at the end had pretty underwhelmin impact due to the pacin of it, i found myself unable to remain immersed. immersion broke for me a few times, i do think it's just the rise of slang in YA novels, though. i also found it hard to sit through the Friendship is Magic part. i understand togetherness is really important especially for a novel about trans youth, but it was done in such a cliché way w everyone suddenly not carin abt how grotesque the mc, supposed to be Their Enemy, came to appear that it took away from that sweetness i think the author was tryin to go for. idk. too much was just brushed over nd the novel feels incomplete. i also do have to note that there's only so many times i can read the word 'ribs'. besides from all of my criticisms nd critiques, i did really enjoy the style of writin, nd that i got context on the quote from the beginnin of theo's chapter since i picked this book up Specifically for that. 
If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio

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

3.75

i did enjoy this book, but it wasn't entirely loved by me. i was left feeling simply just whelmed by the book, not too happy, not too sad. it wasn't written in a way that i necessarily enjoyed, and i found myself predicting things too early. i kinda knew what really happened before it was even explained. but i did enjoy how the writer showed the love between james and oliver before ever having oliver explictly confirm it. that was nice. idk, wasn't my favourite read ever, but still pretty strong.
The Prisoner's Throne by Holly Black

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adventurous 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? Yes

5.0

i'm so mad this series is over, so much feels like it has been left unsaid and i'm MAD it hasn't been said but it was such a beautifully written book once again in the elfhame series and i got everything i wanted. 

BIG SHOUTOUT TO NO PREGNANCY SUBPLOT OF EITHER OF THE MAIN PAIRINGS TOO I LOVE YOU SO MUCH HOLLY BLACK MWAH

also tiernan and hyacinthe ruined me with the love they shared, i'm so glad that their responsibilities and their flaws did not tear them apart. i'm so happy that wren has finally broken free from that which bound her. 

i'm happy for garrett's transformation into a fucking tree too, i guess. good for you, buddy! 
These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

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dark informative mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

i gave it a 2.5 stars because i enjoyed some of the things that the author worded, otherwise it would have been a less. this was a genuinely disappointing read. it took so many weeks to pull myself through these pages, but i did due to my own stubborness and my unwillingness to dnf books. 

this is a book that relies far too much on telling the reader what is happening instead of showing. there's such an excessive amount of description that does not add anything to an already poor plot. the premise of the book itself had me excited to delve in and is why i picked it up in the first place, but actually experiencing the premise as i read was a whole other thing. 

the 'monster' not being something metaphorical but instead being an actual monster in a semi-historical setting actually threw me so out of the world of the book that i did not want to go back in. the ending was also an incredible let down, you'd think with so much build-up to the end and the reveal of who this monster is that the ending would be strong. but no. the epilogue cemented my complete unwillingness to continue the series and read 'our violent ends'. i am begging for authors to keep characters dead. 

also, the characters are flat with no development whatsoever. juliette is a highly annoying protagonist and is the worst for being a flat character. her entire characterisation is just being a badass, do-what-i-want heroine. in theory, it should have worked. however, juliette only came off as a brat and her actions gave me second-hand embarrassment. she just acted like a child 90% of the time.

i ended the book feeling nothing for any of the characters, and also with the beginning of a reading slump. just not a good story at all, really.
The Stolen Heir by Holly Black

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

5.0

i did not think this one would be a 5 star as i've rated the past folk of the air books. but that ending. THAT ENDING SURPASSED 5 STARS. I AM STILL IN SO MUCH SHOCK. HOLLY BLACK THE WRITER THAT YOU ARE. I AM IN ABSOLUTE AWE THAT YOU ORCHESTRATED RIGHT BENEATH MY NOSE. THAT I SAW NONE OF IT COMING. the writing in this is once again pure poetry. suren has one of my favourite character designs, and oak is one of the most interesting characterisations in the folk of the air series imo. SO enriching and immersive. i devoured every last word. i cannot wait for the next book because that ending will have me in a guaranteed chokehold for the next month leading up to the release of the sequel. thank you for creating this world holly my brain worms are hungry and you are delivering.
How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories by Holly Black

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adventurous informative inspiring reflective fast-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

cardan's perspective of so many little events we read about in book one and two of the cruel prince were so interesting!!! his crush on jude!!!!!!!! i also loved the message that everyone has the ability to change through the story of the boy with the heart of stone, no matter what, and that the monster of the story does not need to be saved, nor do they need to be changed. sometimes the monster only needs some love.
The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black

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adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

i will love this series to the day i die. this is the third book of the series, and i love it as much as i do the first or the second. there is no flaw to any of it, not to me. the consistency is the one thing about this series that i only hope i will bring to my own writing. holly black's mastery with worlds beyond comprehension and with WORDS has to be studied at some point! what a fantastic legacy to leave behind. my praise is without bounds for this series.
The Wicked King by Holly Black

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adventurous challenging mysterious 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

it is so rare to come across a book series that is a back to back 5 star rating, but the wicked king blew me away. the characterisation of jude and cardan are consistent and CRUEL, and that alone deserves a fountain of praise. i haven't had a novel make me gasp and whisper-scream at the pages in a Long time! neither have i had a book surprise me so much, usually plot twists become predictable but a number of the ones in the wicked king tripped me up So Bad!!!! the writing is once again unforgettable, pure poetry at points and will be lines that i will rot over for WEEKS. but honestly i think this series might be one that changes me forever, changes how i write forever, how i Think about writing forever. holly black is one of the best examples of a writer yet. 
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

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adventurous dark 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? Yes

5.0

this was the easiest 5 star read i've ever given. there is not one thing i dislike about this book, not One. that is an incredibly difficult thing for me to come by with novels, yet the cruel prince blew me away. the writing is phenomenal, the story is so strong with a pacing that never leaves you bored or itching for more action. it is fluid with the most gorgeous structuring i've ever seen. the characters are a whole other thing, i've never been so shocked by a character's actions in my entire reading journey. jude is a one of a kind and i am so in love with holly black's artistry for weaving together such an incredible example of a twisted protagonist. 
Thousand Autumns: Qian Qiu (Novel) Vol. 3 by Meng Xi Shi

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adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

old man yaoi but make it tragic and also SHOCK!!!!! the bad guy acts like a bad guy 20x worse in this volume. but it was actually really refreshing to read! win for old man yaoi!