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takarakei's reviews
486 reviews
An Island Princess Starts a Scandal by Adriana Herrera
emotional
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? Yes
3.25
Wish we got more of the 'dates'/ nightlife experiences on page (as opposed to just being told about them) as that was the basis for Cora and Manuela's meeting.
🌶️4/5
🌶️4/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual content, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Racism
Minor: Toxic relationship and Violence
Illusionary by Zoraida CĂłrdova
adventurous
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
3.5
I waited too long to write this review and now my brain is empty. All I remember is not quite liking it as much as Incendiary and feeling like the conclusion was a bit lackluster??
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Confinement, Sexual content, and Torture
Minor: Child death, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
The Name-Bearer by Natalia Hernandez
adventurous
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
3.5
I really loved this when it first started off! I was immediately intrigued by the concept of this child 'name-bearer' and the world building. I love a prophecy gone wrong. However, once I got about ~30-40% into the book it really began to drag plot-wise and ultimately by the end I didn't really feel as if much had happened (feels like all the action will be coming in a sequel). So ultimately a bit of a disappointment overall - if this is just a duology I might still listen to the sequel to see the conclusion of the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault, Xenophobia, and Trafficking
Minor: Rape and War
This Savage Song (Collectors Edition) by V.E. Schwab
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
My second time reading this, but I never read the sequel so I had to reread to remember anything.
Really interesting and unique concept for a YA fantasy (set in a future altered US) in the territory of Verity monsters are controlled by two sides of a divided V-City. We follow two povs one on each side - Kate Harker the daughter to one of the men in power, and August Flynn who is one of the rarest kinds of monsters (his found family are on the other side of power). Monsters form from various kinds of violent /bad things that happen (ex: murder at various levels) and there are three different types. Kate and Flynn meet at a private school in the best part of the city, and are then thrust together when murders happen for which someone tries to frame Flynn for.
This book is asking the question "what really makes a monster?" - is August really a monster just because everyone says he is? Both August and Kate are complex characters whom you can't help but root for. If you're looking for a dark/gritty book with questions about good vs evil - AND it reads fast! This is it!
Really interesting and unique concept for a YA fantasy (set in a future altered US) in the territory of Verity monsters are controlled by two sides of a divided V-City. We follow two povs one on each side - Kate Harker the daughter to one of the men in power, and August Flynn who is one of the rarest kinds of monsters (his found family are on the other side of power). Monsters form from various kinds of violent /bad things that happen (ex: murder at various levels) and there are three different types. Kate and Flynn meet at a private school in the best part of the city, and are then thrust together when murders happen for which someone tries to frame Flynn for.
This book is asking the question "what really makes a monster?" - is August really a monster just because everyone says he is? Both August and Kate are complex characters whom you can't help but root for. If you're looking for a dark/gritty book with questions about good vs evil - AND it reads fast! This is it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Cursing, Gore, Torture, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying, Toxic relationship, Mass/school shootings, and Fire/Fire injury
Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig
adventurous
dark
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? Yes
2.75
This unfortunately had some pacing issues that proved difficult for me to get through, which was a disappointment because I enjoyed the world building and magic of One Dark Window. I also struggled with not getting ODW spoiler: Elspeth's pov for most of the book and instead getting only male POVs. While I understand why it was done this way it did feel like there was some spark to the book missing. I really powered through this and at about 70% in things finally got interesting plot-wise. However, I still felt the conclusion of the story to be a bit predictable and overall lackluster.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Sexual content, and Torture
Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Child death
Once Upon a Marquess by Courtney Milan
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? Yes
3.5
I liked the romance, but the other plot points were too varied, a bit hard to follow and a bit distracting. Charles is such a hilarious love interest tho and I enjoyed reading his pov.
🌶️3.5/5
🌶️3.5/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, and Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse, Drug abuse, and Mental illness
Minor: Suicide and Death of parent
It’s not explicitly stated but it’s pretty clear that Charles has what would now be called OCD
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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
5.0
(re-read) It was so interesting to come back to this story knowing where the series goes. I underlined so many things that I totally didn't pick up on my first time reading and really made me appreciate R.F. Kuang's ability to world-build with so much detail, history and lore. This book does read almost like two books, the first 1/3 to half-ish being almost dark academia-esque with our MC Rin getting into this prestigious military school and she is one of the only poor students whose family isn't well connected. Then a war breaks out and she along with her fellow students must join to fight against an invading country. The rest of the book really sets up the rest of the series.
Rin is a very... interesting main character to read as she is extremely morally gray. Is actually told constantly by her professor Jiang that the magic ability she is learning is dangerous, but she does not heed the warnings. This is an overall theme throughout the books, so it's important to know going in that she can be often unlikeable at times due to the decisions that she makes.
I really can't wait to continue my re-read of the whole series.
Rin is a very... interesting main character to read as she is extremely morally gray. Is actually told constantly by her professor Jiang that the magic ability she is learning is dangerous, but she does not heed the warnings. This is an overall theme throughout the books, so it's important to know going in that she can be often unlikeable at times due to the decisions that she makes.
I really can't wait to continue my re-read of the whole series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, Genocide, Racism, Violence, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Bullying, Rape, Self harm, Torture, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death
This book contains very graphic gruesome and hard to read passages of the effects of war and genocide.
The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I'm a puddle on the floor
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, and Grief
Moderate: Sexual content
🌶️3/5
Gilded by Marissa Meyer
adventurous
mysterious
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? Yes
3.25
I’m not super familiar with the Rumplestiltskin fairy tale but this seemed like a fairly dark twist on the tale. I think it was a bit long and could’ve been edited down to keep it more condensed and punchy plot wise. I really enjoyed Serilda’s gift for storytelling throughout the book, but this did the whole - not a whole lot of action must be saving it all for book 2 thing
🌶️ 2.5/5 (closed door)
🌶️ 2.5/5 (closed door)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Animal death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, and Pregnancy
Minor: Sexual content and Abortion
The Future by Naomi Alderman
Naomi always writes books at the right times when they are just so spot on. The Power is a fav and this one did not disappoint (although they are very different books). This book is about how important human connection and community are, as well as connection with nature. I highly recommend it to everyone cause we’re basically all living in this reality, but especially if you're interested in how technology has and can continue to influence our world.
Thank you to the publisher for this arc.
adventurous
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
4.5
We are in a not so distant future where tech billionaires are building bunkers to survive the inevitable end of the world (whatever that reason is probably exacerbated by their influence). Sound familiar?? Enter some people close to these billionaires who are unsettled by their selfishness and want to help create a better future. While parts of this book are grim and disturbingly REAL overall I feel the direction it headed was one of optimism, which I appreciated. Be sure to pay attention as the plot jump back and forth in time at parts. Some minor pacing issues here and there. Even though the beginning few chapters suck you in - the plot takes a bit to really reveal itself, but once things get going it's a page turner. Overall this was a very poignant and thought provoking read!
Naomi always writes books at the right times when they are just so spot on. The Power is a fav and this one did not disappoint (although they are very different books). This book is about how important human connection and community are, as well as connection with nature. I highly recommend it to everyone cause we’re basically all living in this reality, but especially if you're interested in how technology has and can continue to influence our world.
Thank you to the publisher for this arc.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Gore, Suicide, Violence, Suicide attempt, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Cancer, Gun violence, Sexual content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Incest and Mental illness
animal death - hunting also, an instance of survival human v animal
civil/political unrest, refugee camps, religious cults