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leannj's reviews
2133 reviews
Sun of a Beach by Mia Sosa
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? Yes
3.25
This probably won't be super memorable in the long run, but it did remind me that I need to check out more of this author's work.
Over All the Earth by Alexandra Rowland
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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
4.0
Glad to have finally finished the series, even if this was not necessarily a mandatory entry to read. I was impressed by how the author managed to evoke strong such strong emotion in the writing with the smaller amount of pages, and I found it to be a really nice return to the world of these books.
Just Like Magic by Sarah Hogle
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
5.0
This might sound cheesy, but Sarah Hogle just gets me when it comes to writing romances that I will enjoy. This was silly and goofy, even borderline chaotic, but at the same time it was heartwarming and heart-wrenching. Never thought I'd find my perfect holiday romance book in April, but I'm not complaining.
Empress of All Seasons by Emiko Jean
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
From the synopsis and the start of this book I thought this would fall in line with the more typical young adult fantasy books out there, but as the story progressed it reminded me more of dark fairy tales. Definitely subverted some of my expectations and overall was a enjoyable reading experience, if not super memorable.
Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
3.25
As I was reading I was enjoying the story, but after finishing I realized I was waiting for the plot to build into something without fully getting the payoff. It felt like I never really got to know the characters and their different relationships with each other as much as I would have liked to, across a longer period of time.
The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
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
4.25
I was so pleasantly surprised by this book. It took a setup that could have easily become very cliche and subverted expectations, instead telling a beautiful story about fate, love, and sacrifice. All the characters had their compelling motivations, even the antagonistic ones, and the setting felt really vivid.
A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? Yes
4.5
I'm so glad to be reading a book by Hafsah Faizal again; this one might be my favorite so far. All the characters felt distinct, and I enjoyed all of their different dynamics with each other. I also really liked the word building, and how the fantasy and historical aspects felt seamless. Loved the twist on Arthurian mythology and I liked how the lore world from Faizal's previous books was integrated into this book in an authentic way, without feeling too much like fan service. The last fifty/sixty pages had my jaw on the floor, leaving me eagerly waiting for the next book.
Bird Summons by Leila Aboulela
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
3.0
At the end of the day, I like a lot of the ideas the author put forth while finding the execution of said ideas a bit lacking. Definitely still interested in checking out other books by this author.