booktalkcorner's reviews
268 reviews

Sunbringer by Hannah Kaner

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful 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? No

3.5

Cut and Thirst by Margaret Atwood

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lighthearted slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No

3.25

This short story begins immediately with dialogue, which was unexpected and not something I’m used to, but I think it worked well to set the tone and pace of the story. It also helped flesh out the characters within the first few pages, which is often hard to find in a short story format. 

I admittedly went into this hoping for a short story along the same vein as some of her older ones (namely, Dancing Girls) so this left me a little disappointed. Margaret Atwood’s writing/narration style is always a pleasure to read, but the plot felt convoluted despite almost nothing actually happening. That being said, I think this would appeal to an older audience looking for a quick, fun read. 

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. 
Masters of Death by Olivie Blake

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emotional funny hopeful mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

The Atlas Complex by Olivie Blake

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3.0

Update: finished the second half between 19/08/24 and 23/08/24. It redeemed itself but I’m still overall pretty disappointed with the conclusion to this trilogy. 

———

DNF @ 45% (11/04/24–17/04/24)

I really wanted to like this because I LOVE the way Olivie Blake writes, but this book just didn’t do anything for me. I expected more character development by the third book in this series or at least an interesting plot, but I was bored on both fronts. 

I’ll probably end up finishing it at some point since it’s the last book in the series but that won’t be anytime soon.
A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang

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challenging emotional 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

4.25

I went into this book expecting a fun, plot-heavy romance with political intrigue and instead got one of the most heart-wrenching character-driven reading experiences of my life. 

Xishi’s character development was the foundation of this story and I loved how nuanced and complicated her feelings were, especially towards the end. Ann Liang effortlessly weaves each character’s story in a way that feels wholly organic without sacrificing the complexity of her characters, and I especially liked that these complexities were explored through Xishi’s point of view as a means of developing her character. 

The pacing was also incredible! This book was so hard to put down and I loved that it went in a direction I wasn’t expecting at all (in the very best way). That being said, I think this premise needed more detail plot-wise to really shine; so many events were barely mentioned despite them being integral to the story. 

Ultimately, this was a great book and would be perfect for anyone who typically reads plot-driven books and is looking to branch out into something a little more character-driven. 

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. 
What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez

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adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen

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adventurous emotional 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

4.5

The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo

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dark emotional 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

4.5

The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin

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adventurous challenging emotional 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

4.25

Cabbage by C. S. Fritz

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

2.5

This was such a quick and unique read and I absolutely loved the premise! The story was unsettling and weird in the best way, and I really think it was made for this type of (short story) format. 

Unfortunately, the writing itself was weak and the pacing took me out of the story a little bit, as many of the characters’ choices felt incredibly abrupt. I wish certain scenes had been expanded upon to eliminate this reading whiplash. 

Overall, I enjoyed the premise, and the imagery was incredible. I also really liked how the author tied various quotes into the narrative — I found that they added an interesting layer of nuance that can sometimes be missing in short stories simply due to their length. 

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.