dracoaestas's reviews
788 reviews

The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo

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

4.25

Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff

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adventurous emotional funny mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.0

Very good if you like Guardians of the Galaxy or Voltron (has space-fantasy-adventure energy with a loveable ensemble cast). 
Why Fish Don't Exist: A Story of Loss, Love, and the Hidden Order of Life by Lulu Miller

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emotional funny informative reflective fast-paced

4.75

Gripping, poignant, and insightful. 
World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments by Aimee Nezhukumatathil

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emotional hopeful informative reflective fast-paced

3.75

 This was a really lovely book. Mostly, I'm very happy that it's so popular with general readers. Nezhukumatathil's lived experiences and the natural history in each chapter are beneficial and relevant to a wide audience. I'll note that this is a pretty uncomplicated, easy read. 
A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor by Hank Green

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adventurous emotional hopeful informative tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

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adventurous mysterious reflective medium-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

3.5

To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini

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

3.0

A tough review, because I loved a lot of the pieces of this book; Paolini has some really lovely, imaginative things in here (just as with Inheritance), but it was held together by a plot that often felt bland and characters that didn't feel fully realized until the last couple parts. To be fair, I don't really read space books (so space travel and battles and facility escapes kind of bored me). But, the last parts, where,
the weird, almost magical biology of Kira's symbiont and the Maw were the main focus, were excellent.
 
Self-Portrait with Cephalopod by Kathryn Smith

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dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

4.25

Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton

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emotional funny hopeful sad 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

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

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emotional mysterious reflective 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

4.0