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phoenix2's reviews
1177 reviews
An Alcoholic Case - Publishing People Series by F. Scott Fitzgerald
dark
fast-paced
3.0
'An Alcoholic Case' is a short psychological drama. Quite interesting.
May Day by F. Scott Fitzgerald
dark
medium-paced
3.0
'May Day' follows many characters that are all connected and the story comes together in the end with quite a shocking ending.
The Lees of Happiness (Dodo Press) by F. Scott Fitzgerald
3.0
Sad but well-constructed story for a short novella.
This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
'This Side of Paradise' is the tale of a young rich man who loses his money and that changes his life.
The story has an interesting character in the center and feels quite autumn-y as it is mostly set in the college years of the main lead.
The romantic adventures were also entertaining to follow and showed the character's change from being a boy to becoming a man.
However, there were some parts that were quite boring.
The story has an interesting character in the center and feels quite autumn-y as it is mostly set in the college years of the main lead.
The romantic adventures were also entertaining to follow and showed the character's change from being a boy to becoming a man.
However, there were some parts that were quite boring.
The Grandest Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
0.75
'The Grandest Game' is the first book of the new series that takes place a few years after the events that happened in the Inheritance games.
Honestly, this one was a desperate effort to keep the series alive and it showed. The story is so watered down and follows the pattern of the rest of the books, with hardly any character development and paper-thin characters, that gets boring faster than the 'The Brothers Hawthorne' did.
The riddles, moreover, were tedious and not as inspiring as the ones in the first books, which didn't aid the plot at all. The characters were stereotypes and had no special flare to them, hence, the love stories were eye-rolling and too sudden, as the feelings between almost strangers were developed in a night!
Also, that old woman who kept hinting at things but never said what she meant was annoying. Not to mention that most of the participants in the grandest game were rich and with no need of the prize...
I don't know if the second book gets better, but if this continues I'm afraid it will ruin the rest of the series for me.
Honestly, this one was a desperate effort to keep the series alive and it showed. The story is so watered down and follows the pattern of the rest of the books, with hardly any character development and paper-thin characters, that gets boring faster than the 'The Brothers Hawthorne' did.
The riddles, moreover, were tedious and not as inspiring as the ones in the first books, which didn't aid the plot at all. The characters were stereotypes and had no special flare to them, hence, the love stories were eye-rolling and too sudden, as the feelings between almost strangers were developed in a night!
Also, that old woman who kept hinting at things but never said what she meant was annoying. Not to mention that most of the participants in the grandest game were rich and with no need of the prize...
I don't know if the second book gets better, but if this continues I'm afraid it will ruin the rest of the series for me.
An Irish Bookshop Murder by Lucy Connelly
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-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
4.0
Big Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!!
'An Irish Bookshop Murder' is a cozy mystery with all the right vibes: a small town (in Irland!!), two sisters, an author as the main lead, quirky neighbors, a handsome police officer, a crazy mystery, a bookstore, (and a dog that will probably be the main attraction of the books to come!!!).
First of all, I loved the sisterly bond and the background the author gave them, making them multidimensional and not just some random newcomers trying to solve a mystery.
The mystery, also, was nicely embedded in the whole cozy small-town story, though it was easy to predict after the small crumbs the author kept leaving us here and there.
However, there was an immense effort to make other characters seem like the culprits or throw the reader off the murder's scent, which ended up being tiring, especially when the police officer was involved.
Finally, the audiobook production was splendid and the narrator did a great job with the accents.
'An Irish Bookshop Murder' is a cozy mystery with all the right vibes: a small town (in Irland!!), two sisters, an author as the main lead, quirky neighbors, a handsome police officer, a crazy mystery, a bookstore, (and a dog that will probably be the main attraction of the books to come!!!).
First of all, I loved the sisterly bond and the background the author gave them, making them multidimensional and not just some random newcomers trying to solve a mystery.
The mystery, also, was nicely embedded in the whole cozy small-town story, though it was easy to predict after the small crumbs the author kept leaving us here and there.
However, there was an immense effort to make other characters seem like the culprits or throw the reader off the murder's scent, which ended up being tiring, especially when the police officer was involved.
Finally, the audiobook production was splendid and the narrator did a great job with the accents.
Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Big Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!!
'Long Live Evil' is an epic fantasy comedy that brings to mind those anime about reincarnation in an alternative universe (see That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime Weekly & Monthly ... Fans!)
The story is pretty unique, with some interesting premises that blend an epic fantasy tale with humor and contemporary details.
The book also is filled with twists (especially the final one was chef's kiss) and turns and the worldbuilding is smooth. Fortunately, the romance was an afterthought for this one, so it was more focused on the characters and developing the story rather than throwing in a half-baked love story. Though, I can see some romance in future books, but, by then, the characters and the story would have developed enough so that the dynamics would be believable.
However, I would have to point out that, and even though the switch was one of the smoothest I've read so far, the multiple povs didn't work for me at first, especially since we didn't know the characters yet and it was confusing. It got better though in the second half of the book.
Finally, the narrator of the book did a great job presenting all the characters with different dynamics for each one. The production was also splendid.
'Long Live Evil' is an epic fantasy comedy that brings to mind those anime about reincarnation in an alternative universe (see That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime Weekly & Monthly ... Fans!)
The story is pretty unique, with some interesting premises that blend an epic fantasy tale with humor and contemporary details.
The book also is filled with twists (especially the final one was chef's kiss) and turns and the worldbuilding is smooth. Fortunately, the romance was an afterthought for this one, so it was more focused on the characters and developing the story rather than throwing in a half-baked love story. Though, I can see some romance in future books, but, by then, the characters and the story would have developed enough so that the dynamics would be believable.
However, I would have to point out that, and even though the switch was one of the smoothest I've read so far, the multiple povs didn't work for me at first, especially since we didn't know the characters yet and it was confusing. It got better though in the second half of the book.
Finally, the narrator of the book did a great job presenting all the characters with different dynamics for each one. The production was also splendid.
Murder at the Dinner Party by C.J. Archer
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
'Murder at the Dinner Party' is the eighth book of the 'Cleopatra Fox' series.
Though it's far into the series, it's not hard to read without having read the rest of the series, though, I will admit, it robs you of some of the romantic banter.
Still, the characters were interesting and the author managed to create the perfect atmosphere.
However, the mystery, though it started strong, it got a bit side-sided as the story progressed.
Though it's far into the series, it's not hard to read without having read the rest of the series, though, I will admit, it robs you of some of the romantic banter.
Still, the characters were interesting and the author managed to create the perfect atmosphere.
However, the mystery, though it started strong, it got a bit side-sided as the story progressed.
Evermore by Sara Holland
Did not finish book. Stopped at 84%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 84%.
'Evermore' is the continuation of the series and we follow the main hero as she tries to discover who she is and what has happened in the past so that she can deal with the problems of now.
It's probably my fault that I wasn't able to finish this one, as I didn't like the first book but I thought that the story would get better in the second one. And it did get better, there was more action and I found that our main character got some spine and was more sure of herself. But I also found that the story was not engaging enough.
Hopefully, I will come back to it...
It's probably my fault that I wasn't able to finish this one, as I didn't like the first book but I thought that the story would get better in the second one. And it did get better, there was more action and I found that our main character got some spine and was more sure of herself. But I also found that the story was not engaging enough.
Hopefully, I will come back to it...