tacoshark's reviews
856 reviews

Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots

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challenging dark funny tense 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? It's complicated

3.0

Boy I wanted to like this so much more than I did. It started out strong, I was in the mood for something just FUN and at the outset, this was - the world was interesting, the main character was relatable and entertaining. And then over the course of that book, all of that kind of disappeared. The MC became less and less relatable and while the world building was interesting, it wasn’t well done and the rules never became very clear - it felt like they were whatever the author needed them to be, which is fundamentally unsatisfying. The middle really sagged and overall the book felt about 100 pages longer than it needed to be. I guess this is the beginning of a series but I won’t be reading more. 

Also, just as an FYI bc there’s no real way to content-warning this with the existing tags: in the last 50 or so pages of the book, there is an unbelievably extended, disgusting and frankly disturbing depiction of a series of injuries that probably would have made me stop reading if it weren’t the last 50 pages. If body horror is a turnoff for you (it’s a huge one for me), this book is NOT worth it. 
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A Charmed Christmas by Alison Cochrun

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hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

5.0

Here We Go Again by Alison Cochrun

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful sad 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

4.5

Don’t read this if you don’t want to cry buckets - but also read it because it’s good. It was a bit slow to get going but once it did, I was sucked in and along for the ride. The characters are so interesting and well drawn, and it’s so fun until you remember that it’s ultimately a book about how you walk beside someone who is dying and that’s when the crying starts. It’s beautiful, though, as sad as it is. It’s almost a shame this will get shelved in the romance section - it’s so much more than that. 
One Night in Hartswood by Emma Denny

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

4.0

I really liked this, as implausible as it was. The main relationship was a great slow burn and both MCs were so charming and sweet. 
Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

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challenging dark emotional 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? No

4.5

Reading this in 2024, when it begins in July of this year, is a wild experience. It’s not us but it’s us - or an all too plausible near-term version of us. It’s not an easy read but it’s vivid and compelling enough that it’s impossible to look away either. Really fascinating. It’s a bit dated in some ways but none that really dilute the message or the foresight, and that’s disturbing as hell. 

(This edition was rather poorly edited, a disservice to Ms. Butler and occasionally distracting.)
Only and Forever by Chloe Liese

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emotional hopeful lighthearted 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? No

4.0

This was a solid and satisfying wrap on the series. I was a bit worried that I wouldn’t like this bc I’ve always found Viggo a bit obnoxious in the other books, but I was thoroughly charmed by him. I found Tallulah’s arc a bit less plausible (mostly in timeline), but it was still well put together and satisfying. The author had a lot to juggle to wrap this up and did a pretty solid job. 
A Market of Dreams and Destiny by Trip Galey

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

3.5

This was a mixed bag for me - the whole thing felt a bit undercooked. The world building was pretty lackadaisical but to the extent it existed, it was interesting - the same for the magic system, which seemed to be of the why not everything school of thought. The romance was also quite undeveloped, though I did find both characters fairly charming. What kept me interested was the deal making, which was the strongest part of the book, I’d say, and the anti capitalist underpinnings. Overall, not a thoroughly successful book but I’ll keep an eye on what this author does in the future. 
A Rogue of One's Own by Evie Dunmore

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

3.5

I really liked the resolution in this but it was only okay otherwise - trying to do too much I think. 
True Biz by Sara Nović

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challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective 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

This was excellent - beautifully written, fascinating, compelling. I liked the shifting perspectives, though the one first person out of nowhere was a bit weird and confusing. Overall, though, I thought this was really good. 
Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore

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

3.75

This was a fun, satisfying little romance - a nice twist on historical romance, which is not always my favorite sub genre.