maartje_volder's reviews
575 reviews

The Man in the Queue by Josephine Tey

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dark mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

3.5

I figured I could give an old fashioned detective novel a spin, hadn't heard of him but well it's been a 100 years orso. First half didn't really catch me, just felt like the book was going through the motions. When the doubt stepped in, that's when it started to get interesting. 
Go as a River by Shelley Read

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dark hopeful slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

It's a fine story but wasn't for me. I got it because I liked where the crawdads sing and it is similar. Set in the past, different times, discrimination and bullying, loss and life. But what I liked there was that the character was like, bad? This is the same swing in that something happens that is bad, decisions are made, the works, but it just feels like this was a choice that most would have made so it doesn't feel like a gasp i liked this character and now I'm conflicted.
So good story, not for me. 
Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett

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adventurous funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

Good conclusion to a series, I like that it's not a complete buildup to one exciting points but there are multiple there. And it knits stuff together from the first book as well, which just feels very nice. And like they say themselves, the story leaves a loophole. I don't see a new Emily book coming anytime soon, but there are plenty of options. 
When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker

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adventurous dark hopeful sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

Good story, past and present are interwoven very nicely. The suppressed trauma, the magic, the dragons. It greatly hints in every way. I just want to know more of this world. What other types of magic are out there, the cardgame with the dragons, I need it all. Still not a smut fan. 
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

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adventurous hopeful medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

4.0

This was not at all what I expected. It took a while to see how the 3 narratives would come together. 2 of them are so obvious, that the 3rd seemed like an odd one out. But it was a great read. Love octopuses as well so that helped. 
The Elements of Marie Curie: How the Glow of Radium Lit a Path for Women in Science by Dava Sobel

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informative inspiring slow-paced

4.0

Good story about a remarkable woman. And all the women surrounding her. Do have to say it's been a while so the further the story progressed, the less it was known science to me. Also just a little bit less relatable. Glad I added this to my biography list though. 
Hooked by Emily McIntire

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

3.0

Love a good twist on a fairytale but euhm, I'm not into smut. Like if I want P I will go and find P, in my books it just feels awkward. Just being there like okaaaay can we get to the next scene please?
Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett

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adventurous medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

The name of the book has rarely bein so besides the point. I get that they want to continue the series but the whole map book is mentioned maybe 3 times. Could have been called Emily Wilde and the search for the back door into Wendells land. Storywise it goes very much like the first book. There is a quest, people join the quest while they aren't wanted, they search, befriend, find, go to the otherland, adventure, voila. Still a fun read. 
The Goodbye Cat by Hiro Arikawa

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adventurous emotional sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

Bought this book at the airport for a trip to Japan, it seemed the right choice. Lovely little stories, lots of sad endings. I liked the first few stories more, the last 2 didn't really get me. 
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

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adventurous funny inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Loved this more than I expected. The cozy genre is nice but a tad predictable, this gave a few twists I didn't see coming. I don't necessarily care for the love arc but alas, it seems imbedded in a lot of books.