journalsmarts's reviews
7 reviews

Kindling by Traci Chee

Go to review page

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? It's complicated

4.75

Loved this book! I teared up/cried several times! Ben is my favorite character, but all the others get plenty of growth and complexity that I appreciate, and overall I was satisfied with the bittersweet ending.
The Nightland Express by J.M. Lee

Go to review page

adventurous emotional mysterious 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

4.75

I was obsessed with the Pony Express as a kid, so when I saw this I knew I had to pick it up. If you like your historical fictions with a good helping of magic (like I do), then you'll enjoy this.

I really liked Jesse and Ben's development. I think I could have done with a little more concrete explanation, but at the same time I think that might take away from the magic of it all. The development of the characters is very personal, so if there's something I didn't understand I think it's on me. I will definitely reread this in the future.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Disabled Tyrant's Beloved Pet Fish: Canji Baojun de Zhangxin Yu Chong (Novel) Vol. 1 by Xue Shan Fei Hu

Go to review page

funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

5.0

Very cute and lighthearted! Li Yu is such a funny narrator, I got plenty of laughs.
Cannonball by Kelsey Wroten

Go to review page

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

3.5

I really wanted to like Caroline more, but I felt she made it sorted of difficult to be likable. On the flip side, I think that's sort of the point.
Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley

Go to review page

dark 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? It's complicated

4.75

I loved this book. Daunis was such a lively character, and I was really interested in her investigation. Boulley expertly balanced the fictional story with the very real statistics and experiences of Native American women. 

I think the book starts off a little bit slow, but it picks up and just snowballs extremely fast. With that said, I think all the "slowness" is necessary, as there's a lot of plot threads to set up and I think they were all well-tied in the end.

Edit: I forgot to add this in the original, but check the content warnings. There's some heavy stuff in here, and I really wish I had known about some of it beforehand. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher

Go to review page

dark mysterious reflective slow-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

4.5

I liked this a lot. It's a sort of slow, creeping horror. I only wish it was a bit longer, as I felt the ending was sort of abrupt. I enjoyed Alex as a character, and would love more of them!
Togo by Robert J. Blake

Go to review page

inspiring medium-paced

5.0

I read this book as a kid in my school library and absolutely loved it. I bought it as an adult and am continuing to enjoy the beautiful art and story.