chaotic_reading's reviews
181 reviews

“It is inevitable. Death comes for us all.” 

To say I love this book feels like a severe understatement. What initially caught my eye was the monstrous dragon on the front cover – and for those who have been around for a minute, y’all know how much I love dragons. The dragon may have caught my eye, but it was Gwynne’s immersive storytelling that kept me enthralled. 

Having lived in Denmark for a time in my youth, Viking history holds a special place in my education development. And, like a lot of young people who learn about polytheism for the first time, something about Norse mythology and lore has always tickled me. ‘The Shadow of the Gods’ does a handsome job in drawing from these two cultural influences, while also establishing a completely epic high fantasy realm of vengeful gods, brutal violence, magic, and spine-tingling monsters. 

As well, Gwynne’s ability to create and write severely characters POVs and have them all become character’s the reader wants to champion is a feat in itself that should not be overlooked. On top of that, to have an abundance of side characters that not only fulfill their ‘job’ of supporting the MCs, but have the reader developing attachments to them…I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: an author can have a plot that takes you from here to Timbuctoo and back, but I will die on a hill defending the book if they’ve written characters I’ve come to love. Give me ride or die and I will do just that; those are the kinds of characters Gwynne has written in this first installment of the Bloodsworn Trilogy. 

I cannot wait to continue reading this series, and can only hope it holds up to this amazing first book. 

Please be sure to check content warnings and summaries before picking up the book – it is incredibly physically violent and graphic, and is definitely not suitable for all readers. 

 “This book tells the story of a social experiment I began a few years ago, the events that precipitated it, the mistakes I’ve made along the way, and the twelve lessons I learned throughout the process. […] You are welcome to read this book as a guide on how to navigate difficult conversations of your own, or as a distant story that happened to someone once. Take what serves you and leave what doesn’t.”

Dylan Marron, author of Conversation with People Who Hate Me, has written an incredible book full of anecdotes, thought progressions, and imagery that perfectly summarize the experience that is the internet. The way the author shares these stories of self-realization and the conversation they have with people who "hate" them are engaging and personable, weaving a narrative that takes you right to the door of the point.

At times, the conversation topics were tough to read and digest, especially about ingrained doctrine that is inevitably harmful to marginalized communities. Content warning for: homophobia, racism, xenophobia, and violence. Without minimalizing the extreme harm that these beliefs can have on marginalized communities, it felt like a small crack of light was let through with some of the interactions because Marron was open to having a "civil" conversation and broke down talking points to teaching moments, objectivity in mind. (One might whittle it down to their "faith in humanity being restored".) This kind of emotional and educational undertaking is in no way a small feat, nor should it be on the shoulders of the marginalized community to be the sole bearers of this kind of labour. Reading this collection by Marron only continued to solidify the idea that these conversations are important to be having, however everyone needs to be having them, not just those who are directly affected by the harmful beliefs.

I think this book is a good resource for personal growth in that it gives readers the equation for starting to have those difficult conversations, and I will be recommending it to my friends and family.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in return for an honest review. 

 “In a world that’s both more connected and more isolating than ever before, we’re often tempted to do life alone.”

While I am not religious, I found this book to feel like a comforting blanket draped over the shoulders, while a warm beverage of choice was thrust into my hands, and a soothing hand gently rubbed my back.

Jennie Allen has a way of speaking to her audience that calls to being heard, seen, and understood. Sure, her niche anecdotes spoke to an existence I’m not at all familiar with (motherhood, Christianity, married life, being an Adult-adult), but on the grander scale of generality, she shared some insight and wisdom, such as the necessity and benefits of procuring and fostering deep friendships and community.

As a twenty-something who’s still trying to find and establish her place in the world, building and maintaining strong friendships of “my people” is something I think about constantly. Am I doing it right? Is there a right or wrong way to go about it? What constitutes a friend vs. an acquaintance? Does this person I want to be my friend make me a better or worse version of myself? So, so, so many questions. The one that always trumps the deck is: It shouldn’t be this hard, should it? And Jennie Allen answers all of these questions above, but namely she answers the Big One, and it is: no, it shouldn’t be this hard. There are hard aspects of building and maintaining friendships that last and matter, but the immense difficulty we seem to face comes from a society that no longer fosters connectivity in the sense we seek. Our WiFi signals may be strong, but our relationships…not so much.

I would recommend this book to friends, family, and other readers who are looking to better ways to connect and interact. You do not have to be a Christian/religious to read this book, however note that there are many personal anecdotes from Allen that pertain to Christianity. (She in NO WAY tries to convert readers.)

Thank you to NetGalley and WaterBrook & Multnomah for providing me with an ARC of this book in return for an honest review. 

 So I've taken a couple days to sit with and reflect on my review before posting it, and honestly I think that was such a good idea because at this point I have also read Exodus and hindsight is 20/20.

Throughout the entirety of this series, I was constantly putting the the book aside and breaking the fourth wall to the camera that was not there, mumbling "What the fuck am I reading?" under my breath. Despite the chaotic highs and lows, I persevered and finished the book even though at times there were issues that I would normally not overlook (grammar, literal complete and utter chaos of a plot, emotional whiplash, character inner dialogue that made me cringe).

Now, before you go and write this book off, know that I am so fucking glad I pressed on. The roller-coaster ride that was this book was so worth it for the moments of clarity; the moments so raw, I felt like the author had scratched an itch on an emotion, sensation, memory, that I hadn't been able to vocalize or had long forgotten.

I don't think this book is a masterpiece, but I also don't flatter myself in thinking it's trying to be one. In a situation, a plot that is so out-of-this-world-wild and corrupt, it's painfully human. Prepare yourself for a spicy book full of love, lust, and secrets; oh, so many secrets. 

 "It was a year. Just one year, but it changed everything for me."

Where do I begin?

I read Flock and Exodus back-to-back, which I think was both a blessing and a curse. Blessing in that I very quickly kept with the story, but a curse because the Part 2 (the beginning of book 2) was not my cup of tea at all.

The love/hate relationship between Cecelia and Tobias was A Lot to deal with. It was hard for me to sympathize with either party because there was just so much, as a reader, I didn't know was going on. By the end of the book, everything (and I do mean everything is laid out bare and there are finally answers and understanding that explains the entirety of books 1 and 2, however I don't think it should take 2 full books of confusion, lies, deceit, red herrings, and hurt to climax and resolve in ~2 chapters.

With that being said, I inhaled this book like it was nobody's business. As I mentioned in my review of Flock, I do not think this series is a masterpiece, but I've made my peace with my original expectations and have accepted that these books have now, and will forever hold a special place in my heart for reasons I don't care to unpack.

Based in precedent and scientific prediction, this book gives a fictional taste of what our world could become, due to the current projections of our political and environmental climates.

On a quiet afternoon, a history book from the future lands in the Denzell household. Over the next 24 hours, the book appears to each member of the family and shows them an aspect of what the world will come to look like by the year 2200. The novel brings up thought-provoking ideas of what is past, present, and future in an interesting and creative way.

I enjoyed the inclusion of resources in this novel, such as the content pages, timelines, and appendix of referenced sources. Additionally, the narrative of the history book is compelling. My favourite part of this novel would be Plato, the cat.

Aside from the overall concept of the story and Plato, there was not a lot additionally that I enjoyed. The writing of the Denzell family was very much tell and not show, and their presence was little more than as the vehicle to tell the story of the history of the future. I found myself annoyed being pulled out of the history and back to the Denzell's. With that being said, the book is not poorly written. There is an audience out there for this style of writing; I am just not that audience.

Thank you to NetGalley and SparkPress for providing me with an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

 

I would've DNF'd if it weren't that I was buddy reading it with a friend.

There's no consistent plot, the character's are uncompelling and I didn't care about them, and the writing is all over the place (it was hard to follow anything that was happening without rereading some parts). This is not the kind of book I would readily recommend to any of my friends. 

 4.5 stars

If I were to describe this book in five words or less, it would be this: 1989 by Taylor Swift. Just…trust me on this.

Adelaide “Addie” Wright is a broke college student who, after finding herself being blackmailed by a former acquaintance, is thrown into the high-rolling life of art dealer Jack Nolan. Jack is older, wealthy, and powerful, but as Addie grows closer to him, she soon learns he’s not all he’s been made out to be. As the chemistry and angst build, sparks fly. Will Addie rise to the challenge of Jack’s charms, or fall victim to her blackmailer and the life she’s felt forced to carve out for herself.

This book had me in its grips the entire time. This had everything I want in a romance book: a reasonably realistic MC, a chaotic plot full of high stakes, excellent smut, a third act that was true to the characters/plot, and a subsequent reunion that was true to the characters/plot.

I liked the premise and the pace of the plot. The whiplash of emotions between Addie and Jack were a lot sometimes, but seemed on par for the unusual personal-yet-professional relationship tight-rope they were trying to walk – which was the recipe for making the good times good, and the bad times bad.

While the book may not be entirely flawless (I’ll talk about that a little further down), HOWEVER it is completely, 100%, a good time. It’s fun, dirty, and a little out of this world – in a great way. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Rules of Arrangement; I couldn’t put it down and plan on picking up a physical copy ASAP.

Below are SPOILERS

[Some critiques that I have about the book include the inclusion of the suicide attempt and the family drama. I felt a little weird about Declan’s suicide attempt; it felt unnecessarily dark and took away from the main narrative of the story. As another reviewer pointed out, the blackmail could’ve entirely been removed from the storyline and Addie would’ve still had a perfectly good reason to enter into the arrangement with Jack.

Additionally, the family drama was leaned into a little too hard for my liking, especially for it to be mostly forgiven by the end. There was 3+ years of bad blood and hurt that seemed to get resolved relatively quickly (not completely, but a bit too much too fast imo). I think a strained/estranged relationship instead of an outright hatred would’ve been more beneficial in this instance. (hide spoiler)]

Neither of my critiques spoiled my enjoyment of the book overall.

So happy with Maren Mackenzie’s debut novel, I’ll definitely be keeping my eye out for future publishings.

CW: Suicide attempt – not graphic

Thank you to NetGalley and Marmack Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

 

Have you ever been in a situation where you wished you’d had one more opportunity to say something to someone? To make your peace? The Book of Last Letters is a sweet and touching story that explores this human need to offer closure both with ourselves and our loved ones.

Elsie is a nurse working and living in London during the Second World War. Her brother, Billy, died at Dunkirk and her friend Nelly ignores letters from home – Elsie can’t help but think about what is left unsaid and unread by those we love. When she offers to send a letter to the family of a patient, an idea unfolds: she begins a book of last letters, messages to be sent to loved ones of wounded soldiers in the case the worst should happen.

Stephanie is a struggling artist living in present-day London. Like Elsie, last words and unsaid sentiments are haunting Stephanie’s past as well. With an estranged brother and her nan who has dementia, Stephanie is looking for a way to cope. When she discovers Elsie’s book of wartime letters, Stephanie uncovers the intricate and intimate lives laid bare in these letters, and realizes the importance of our final words.

I loved this book right from the get-go. The author writes in a way that is accessible and easy to breeze through, but keeps the reader enthralled with the loveable characters and sensory description of the scene that makes the reader feel as if they are actually there.

The pace of the book was incredibly done; not once was I itching for “The Next Big Thing” to happen. Instead, I found myself nearing the end and not wanting the story to finish. While personally I would’ve read ample more on Elsie and Stephanie, if it were provided, I think the length of this book is perfect.

I had a lot of fun reading this book, and I think it’s a great gateway if you’re trying historical romantic fiction for the first time. Or, if you’re well-versed already, it’s a loving story to add to your repertoire. I will definitely be looking to read more by this author in the future.

CW: death, mention of rape

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for providing me with an ARC of this book in return for an honest review. 

This book is everything I love in a romance book: it's funny and a lil cheesy, it's steamy, the angst is strong, the characters are loveable, and the is character growth is visible and admirable.

What I consider the perfect test for this holy grail is "Can the author deliver a cheesy/cliché line that has me grinning, rather than cringing?" - and Tessa Bailey knows how to deliver. I don't think there was a single moment in this book that I wasn't either hooked (hehe, get it?) or giggling along while reading. One aside, though, is that I would love this novel even more if it came with a Spotify playlist that has all of the music Hannah and Fox reference on it. Not necessarily to go along with the book, but I feel like that playlist would be epic.

Hook, Line, and Sinker is a fun, breezy sequel in the Bellinger Sisters series. When reading, I didn't have a single critical thought enter my mind - it was pure vibes and fun energy the entire time. I would recommend it to fans of Tessa Bailey's other works, anyone who loves a good romcom movie or book, or really anyone who's down for an easy and delightful story.