randi_jo's reviews
358 reviews

Mistress of Lies by K.M. Enright

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious 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? No

4.5

I think this one is worth marking your calendars for! ✍️

I love the evolution and applications of the vampire myth and here vampires feel more like Blood Mages a la Dragon Age, but they actually have to consume the blood (hence vampire) in order to use magic. While some of the ending plots seem to point to some more conventional tropes for the next book in the series, I feel very at peace with it and will be more than happy to pick up the next installment. In a way this book reminded me of Rin Chupeco's Silver Under Nightfall but less horror and Castlevania and more court intrigue and blood magic.😉

Some of the things I really liked about this book:

🩸- a triad poly relationship that isn't always sunshine and rainbows
🩸 - strong but fallible FMC
🩸 - no miscommunication tropes. they do lie though - as the title suggests lol
🩸 - believable political conspiracies and manipulation
🩸 - the feeling of otherness as a POC in a white dominate country/government
🩸- vampires can do magic using blood
🩸 - light murder mystery
Lost Ark Dreaming by Suyi Davies Okungbowa

Go to review page

challenging inspiring 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

3.75

I enjoyed this one! The background where the world has once again been (biblically) flooded is so interesting that I wish the story had taken place in more places than just the survival towers. It sort've feels like a missed opportunity, even though I know the true focus of the narrative was remembrance of your roots in order to make an informed future for oneself (and well, government/society in general) - and maybe also the idea that sacrifice begets sacrifice.

I liked the characters and to be fair I wish there was more about the Child/ren. I simply want more! This would be a great start to a series.
She Who Knows by Nnedi Okorafor

Go to review page

adventurous 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

5.0

So, I went into this not reading "Who Fears Death" first, even though this one is *technically* a prequel and I have read a couple of her other books that take place in a similar universe (I saw that nod to Noor!). I don't think anything is lost reading this first, either, with some very minor potential spoilers about the MC of Who Fears Death (MC here is her mother).

As for the book itself, I really enjoyed it! African juju/sorcery plots, vengeance, the making and breaking of a family - it has so much. Okorafor's writing always engrosses me and I can't wait for the next installment to find out what happens next. I'm such a sucker for a revenge story lol. In the meantime this one has definitely piqued my interest enough that I'll pick up "Who Fears Death".
Sword of Destiny by Andrzej Sapkowski

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional hopeful medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

I really liked this set of short stories for the Witcher universe. These ones delve more into the characters and their motivations, as well as their relationship dynamics (Yunnifer and Geralt, and Geralt and Ciri in particular). The pervasive idea of destiny only being as strong as you choose it to be was great, too.
Sea of Rust by C. Robert Cargill

Go to review page

adventurous reflective sad 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? Yes

3.75

Nothing like giving myself an existential crisis imagining that the future is just AI from different worlds/universes exploring space and absorbing one another in a battle for godly dominance of all sentience. But you know, just another Tuesday.

I liked Brittle a lot and her slow descent into "madness" (or maybe "humanness" lol). I think I'll pick up book two, even though I'm
really sad about Doc and Mercer
, I'm interested enough to see how Isaac 'saves the world' lol.
The Cat Who Saved Books by Sōsuke Natsukawa

Go to review page

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

3.0

A bit middle grade-ish, but it had all the elements of a fable to teach kids (and adults?) that they should read books with critical thinking skills haha.

Anyway, my major takeaway is that the debate team kid should be feared.
Severance by Ling Ma

Go to review page

challenging reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

I think for me, this book ended up being too much of not enough. There was a lot, but it was a lot of banging you over the head with the idea that the monotony of the capitalist lifestyle being a death sentence. There was enough background story for Candace, but it didn't go far enough into what made her different from the other immigrants that DID succumb. And the dystopian present/future didn't go far enough and ended up having a very lackluster ending.

One whole star is dedicated to writing a book that basically foretold COVID, though. lol
Jujutsu Kaisen, Vol. 3 by Gege Akutami

Go to review page

dark tense fast-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

3.0

Less plot in this one, but the set up for the arc is good.
Daughter of Redwinter by Ed McDonald

Go to review page

adventurous dark hopeful slow-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

I feel like this one was a great start to a trilogy set in a complex fantasy version of Scotland/Ireland. The world building is robust, filled with lore, magic rules, class stratification, and regional differences. Raine's transformation from innocent/naive to bitter and suspicious before finally resolving into a mix of the two is refreshing to see - a reminder that at this point she's still just 17 and is allowed to make mistakes, no matter what she's been through. I'm excited to read book two to see her finally get magic training that she deserved since the beginning lol.

As for the LGBT aspect
I liked that Raine understood her attraction to men, and while she could acknowledge her attraction to Esher (a female), she was confused as to why, how, and what she would even do with said attraction.
Blood Moon by Barbara Truelove

Go to review page

adventurous dark lighthearted medium-paced

For non-book records, review text and ratings are hidden. Only mood, pace, and content warnings are visible.