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tanya_tate's reviews
594 reviews
Music of the Night by Angela J. Ford
2.0
Book Stats
Stars: 2.5 Stars
Start Date : 02/20/24
Ending Date: 02/25/24
Genre: NA Gothic Romance Fantasy
Form: Epub
Page Count: 252
Publishing Date: 02/15/21
Point of View: 1st Person ,Dual POV’s
My Blog: https://tanyasreading.wordpress.com/2024/02/29/music-of-the-night-by-angela-j-ford/
Storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/d03fbcf6-6c82-4a4b-81bb-55dc345cb251
Music of the night is a Phantom of the Opera retelling mixed in with Beauty and the Beast. Aria is an inspiring singer who lost her fortune and father a while back. She lives in the High Tower Castle thanks to Count Zorik for exchange of room and board; she is a dancer for the theater Count Zorik runs. In order to become a better singer, she goes to the mysterious Tower that is on the outskirts of the city when she hears music coming from it. She finds the master of the tower, Uriah, a mysterious young man who lives in the tower who has magical abilities who is also secretly cursed. He becomes Aria's teacher to develop her singing voice better.
My main problem with this book was the main character, Aria. Aria was bland, borderline Mary Sue and dramatic as hell. Honestly if it wasn't for the gorgeous cover I wouldn't even know she was a black woman for real. She was so bland that she didn't feel real. She had really no motivation other than just to sing and get out of having an arranged marriage. Even she looked down upon the others who were having parties to have a good time drinking and doing other things even though she had lustful desires on her own thinking about Uriah.
She honestly lacked critical thinking skills that the author really tried past it off as naivety but she's 21 years old acting like she damn 16. Like the first scene she had with Count Z I knew straight off the bat when he said he had something to bring up with her that I knew he was thinking about marrying her. She couldn't figure out why and she was confused at how he acted possessive towards her in the 60% mark of the book.
The biggest offense that had me looking up towards the air like it was a camera in my face like the office and I'm breaking the fourth wall comes with the whole monster killing people at the theater plot. Now she keeps thinking that Uriah was the monster and killing people but most of the time, with the expectation of one time, when an attack happens she was with him in the tower.
Especially that one time when they had their first night together while it was a ball going on and a person got killed. Unless he got out of the bed, hurl ass to the castle to kill this person as the monster then hurl ass back to the tower before you even woke up from his bed how the hell can you assume he's the monster? He was with you the whole fucking night while yall sing then had sex so when the fuck he had time?? That's too much fucking work going back and frond from the tower and castle in a short period of time. It took this chick like 5-6 chapters later to realize that he wasn't a monster because every time a monster attacked they were together. Like I fucking figured this out and she had to go through dramatics and thinking he was the monster before applying critical thinking skills to realized that it wasn't him. 2 plus 2 equals four chick. It's not that hard if you fucking think.
I really hate books that have me figuring out things like a way ahead before the main character does. It really not fun as a reader to figure out something when your main character is still clueless as fuck with no irking at all because they just will not think. It's more fun when you as reader have an irking along with the character and you both found out or arrive at that conclusion at the same time.
Uriah was ok but really felt like a great value version of Erik that went stale. It was really more to be desired with him for the most part. I just wish we had more of his POV chapters since they were the only ones I could have a full stomach and not eye roll. It's the fact he didn't tell her everything which she kept whining for him to do until the last two chapters of the book..
Like you don't put a whole book's worth of plot that should have been incorporated into the book into the last two chapters of the book. This is really reminding me of the OG Beauty and the Beast that after the beast turned back to the prince and the story was over, the book had like 20 more pages of exposition thanks to the Fairy telling her tale. Which is the reason why a lot of versions of BATB don't even put that tale in there.
The writing had me rolling as well. If I see a version of “Clasped my hands together" one more time. Or the phrase “hurled myself on the bed crying”. This book was so fucking dramatic which it didn't take all that for real. “Clasped my hands together" was used 15 times and this book is one 250 pages long.
Just everyone in this book was underused and underdeveloped. She tried so hard to be a beat from beat version of POTO that her own ideas didn't get fully developed. The last two chapters with the exposition were really good but it should have been throughout the story. I was going to read her other works but after this one was such a disappointment, I doubt it.
The real rating is a two but the artwork raised it up .5 stars.
Stars: 2.5 Stars
Start Date : 02/20/24
Ending Date: 02/25/24
Genre: NA Gothic Romance Fantasy
Form: Epub
Page Count: 252
Publishing Date: 02/15/21
Point of View: 1st Person ,Dual POV’s
My Blog: https://tanyasreading.wordpress.com/2024/02/29/music-of-the-night-by-angela-j-ford/
Storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/d03fbcf6-6c82-4a4b-81bb-55dc345cb251
Music of the night is a Phantom of the Opera retelling mixed in with Beauty and the Beast. Aria is an inspiring singer who lost her fortune and father a while back. She lives in the High Tower Castle thanks to Count Zorik for exchange of room and board; she is a dancer for the theater Count Zorik runs. In order to become a better singer, she goes to the mysterious Tower that is on the outskirts of the city when she hears music coming from it. She finds the master of the tower, Uriah, a mysterious young man who lives in the tower who has magical abilities who is also secretly cursed. He becomes Aria's teacher to develop her singing voice better.
My main problem with this book was the main character, Aria. Aria was bland, borderline Mary Sue and dramatic as hell. Honestly if it wasn't for the gorgeous cover I wouldn't even know she was a black woman for real. She was so bland that she didn't feel real. She had really no motivation other than just to sing and get out of having an arranged marriage. Even she looked down upon the others who were having parties to have a good time drinking and doing other things even though she had lustful desires on her own thinking about Uriah.
She honestly lacked critical thinking skills that the author really tried past it off as naivety but she's 21 years old acting like she damn 16. Like the first scene she had with Count Z I knew straight off the bat when he said he had something to bring up with her that I knew he was thinking about marrying her. She couldn't figure out why and she was confused at how he acted possessive towards her in the 60% mark of the book.
The biggest offense that had me looking up towards the air like it was a camera in my face like the office and I'm breaking the fourth wall comes with the whole monster killing people at the theater plot. Now she keeps thinking that Uriah was the monster and killing people but most of the time, with the expectation of one time, when an attack happens she was with him in the tower.
Especially that one time when they had their first night together while it was a ball going on and a person got killed. Unless he got out of the bed, hurl ass to the castle to kill this person as the monster then hurl ass back to the tower before you even woke up from his bed how the hell can you assume he's the monster? He was with you the whole fucking night while yall sing then had sex so when the fuck he had time?? That's too much fucking work going back and frond from the tower and castle in a short period of time. It took this chick like 5-6 chapters later to realize that he wasn't a monster because every time a monster attacked they were together. Like I fucking figured this out and she had to go through dramatics and thinking he was the monster before applying critical thinking skills to realized that it wasn't him. 2 plus 2 equals four chick. It's not that hard if you fucking think.
I really hate books that have me figuring out things like a way ahead before the main character does. It really not fun as a reader to figure out something when your main character is still clueless as fuck with no irking at all because they just will not think. It's more fun when you as reader have an irking along with the character and you both found out or arrive at that conclusion at the same time.
Uriah was ok but really felt like a great value version of Erik that went stale. It was really more to be desired with him for the most part. I just wish we had more of his POV chapters since they were the only ones I could have a full stomach and not eye roll. It's the fact he didn't tell her everything which she kept whining for him to do until the last two chapters of the book..
Like you don't put a whole book's worth of plot that should have been incorporated into the book into the last two chapters of the book. This is really reminding me of the OG Beauty and the Beast that after the beast turned back to the prince and the story was over, the book had like 20 more pages of exposition thanks to the Fairy telling her tale. Which is the reason why a lot of versions of BATB don't even put that tale in there.
The writing had me rolling as well. If I see a version of “Clasped my hands together" one more time. Or the phrase “hurled myself on the bed crying”. This book was so fucking dramatic which it didn't take all that for real. “Clasped my hands together" was used 15 times and this book is one 250 pages long.
Just everyone in this book was underused and underdeveloped. She tried so hard to be a beat from beat version of POTO that her own ideas didn't get fully developed. The last two chapters with the exposition were really good but it should have been throughout the story. I was going to read her other works but after this one was such a disappointment, I doubt it.
The real rating is a two but the artwork raised it up .5 stars.
Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli
Did not finish book.
Did not finish book.
Book Stats
Stars: DNFED at 50%/190 pages
Start Date : 12/16/2023
Ending Date: 03/05/24
Genre: YA Fantasy Romance
Form: E-Arc
Page Count: 400
Publishing Date: 02/20/24
Point of View: 3rd Person, Dual POV’s
Setting:
My Blog:https://tanyasreading.wordpress.com/2024/03/05/heartless-hunter-the-crimson-moth-by-kristen-ciccarelli/
StoryGraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/7d67afce-7914-4b4c-9394-e34bbe08ec71
DNFED at 50%/190 pages
Thank you Netgalley for the E-arc in exchange for an honest review.
This is one of the cases of “It’s me not you” because I really lost interest in this book like in January. I have been on this book since December aka two months before it came out and barely made any progress to pick it up which now it’s been out for almost two weeks. I have literally read and finished six books and DNFED three since I started this one.
For the most part it's fine a book but it just is not working out for me. I got the audiobook to see if that would help and that just made it even worse.
The main premise is a game of cat and mouse between a Witch (Rune Winters) and a Witch Hunter (Gideon Sharpe) who are trying to Intel from each other while fake courting each other and possibly fall for each other. So pretty much enemies to lovers which I do like but just couldn’t get aboard on this one.
So if you liked Serpent & Dove which I couldn’t get past the 20% mark, this is for you.
For me my main thing is that I wanted to see Rune as the Crimson Moth more to save other witches not being told that she does and we don’t see it. Yes the main thing should be her trying to save her Grandmother’s best friend but let me see her trying to rescue other witches while Gideon is on her tail.
I’m really not liking the magical system as well since witches have to use menstrual blood if they can’t cut themselves to perform spells. If a witch cut themselves to perform spells it would leave scars on their body which people will know they are witches. Even though fresh blood aka cutting themselves works better than older blood because the spell is stronger with fresh blood. Also the fact Verity, Rune’s second best friend, knows way too much about how witches operate not to be a witch. It goes beyond being close to them since her two sisters were ones. (Side Note: I skipped the ending and I know why she does. That is still not holding me to finish this book. )
Also the fact it's a possible love triangle with Rune and the two brothers, Gideon and Alex (Rune’s best friend) that is turning me off as well. Gideon just feels like all he wants to do is find out Rune is Crimson Moth and jump into her knickers. Alex is fine but I’m going to need him to go ahead and shoot his shot instead of going around the bush with it. I don’t feel like staying anymore to see if he does since I’m just not feeling this one so I’m just going to cut my losses here.
I don't normally rate books that I DNFed but since it was more of a “It’s me not you” case which I just wasn't feeling it but doesn't mean I didn't like it, I'm giving it a three.
Stars: DNFED at 50%/190 pages
Start Date : 12/16/2023
Ending Date: 03/05/24
Genre: YA Fantasy Romance
Form: E-Arc
Page Count: 400
Publishing Date: 02/20/24
Point of View: 3rd Person, Dual POV’s
Setting:
My Blog:https://tanyasreading.wordpress.com/2024/03/05/heartless-hunter-the-crimson-moth-by-kristen-ciccarelli/
StoryGraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/7d67afce-7914-4b4c-9394-e34bbe08ec71
DNFED at 50%/190 pages
Thank you Netgalley for the E-arc in exchange for an honest review.
This is one of the cases of “It’s me not you” because I really lost interest in this book like in January. I have been on this book since December aka two months before it came out and barely made any progress to pick it up which now it’s been out for almost two weeks. I have literally read and finished six books and DNFED three since I started this one.
For the most part it's fine a book but it just is not working out for me. I got the audiobook to see if that would help and that just made it even worse.
The main premise is a game of cat and mouse between a Witch (Rune Winters) and a Witch Hunter (Gideon Sharpe) who are trying to Intel from each other while fake courting each other and possibly fall for each other. So pretty much enemies to lovers which I do like but just couldn’t get aboard on this one.
So if you liked Serpent & Dove which I couldn’t get past the 20% mark, this is for you.
For me my main thing is that I wanted to see Rune as the Crimson Moth more to save other witches not being told that she does and we don’t see it. Yes the main thing should be her trying to save her Grandmother’s best friend but let me see her trying to rescue other witches while Gideon is on her tail.
I’m really not liking the magical system as well since witches have to use menstrual blood if they can’t cut themselves to perform spells. If a witch cut themselves to perform spells it would leave scars on their body which people will know they are witches. Even though fresh blood aka cutting themselves works better than older blood because the spell is stronger with fresh blood. Also the fact Verity, Rune’s second best friend, knows way too much about how witches operate not to be a witch. It goes beyond being close to them since her two sisters were ones. (Side Note: I skipped the ending and I know why she does. That is still not holding me to finish this book. )
Also the fact it's a possible love triangle with Rune and the two brothers, Gideon and Alex (Rune’s best friend) that is turning me off as well. Gideon just feels like all he wants to do is find out Rune is Crimson Moth and jump into her knickers. Alex is fine but I’m going to need him to go ahead and shoot his shot instead of going around the bush with it. I don’t feel like staying anymore to see if he does since I’m just not feeling this one so I’m just going to cut my losses here.
I don't normally rate books that I DNFed but since it was more of a “It’s me not you” case which I just wasn't feeling it but doesn't mean I didn't like it, I'm giving it a three.
The Darkness Within Us by Tricia Levenseller
3.0
Book Stats
Stars: 3 Stars
Start Date : 03/18/24
Ending Date: 03/21/24
Genre: YA Fantasy Romance
Form: Audiobook Arc/ E-Arc
Page Count: 336
Publishing Date: 07/09/24
Point of View: 1st Person
Setting: Victorian England I mean Naxos
My Blog: https://tanyasreading.wordpress.com/2024/03/22/the-darkness-within-us-by-tricia-levenseller/
StoryGraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/b1185885-2f5e-4afd-a61d-b5baba1debf5
Thank you MacMillan Audio for the Audiobook Arc exchange for an honest review.
Thank you Edelweiss for the E-Arc in exchange for an honest review.
I really can't believe I requested this after giving the Shadows between Us a 2.5 but here we go.
Which for the most part I enjoyed this more than Shadows even tho I was so close to DNFED it.
This is set around the same time as the Events of Shadows but can pretty much be read as a Stand Alone or a Companion Piece. If you don't want to be spoiled with some events of Shadows, you can read Shadows first then this but it's not needed to understand this because certain things will get explained. This is not a direct sequel to Shadows.
The Darkness Within Us is dealing with Chrysantha Santos aka Alessandra Sister which if you read Shadows was only mentioned in letters to Alessandra.
Chrysantha played the role of an airhead for seven years to get married to a duke who is actually a smart woman but her perception of her little sister is all wrong.
Chry is married to a duke at 19 which she gained the full Dukedom ( title, land ,and money) when the Duked died but lost it when his “ Grandson” Eryx Demos came back to claim it for him and want her gone.
I almost DNFED this at 13% if it was for the Chry and Eryx interaction at breakfast which saved it for me and made me give it a chance. Before that scene it was looking really shaky for me because I didn’t like Chry at all.
The banter between the two is really the backbone of this book and what keeps this book fun and funny. I saw another reviewer say this but think of The Princess Diaries Two which did give me those vibes. It also surprisingly gives me Beauty and the Beast vibes if you are familiar with the OG BATB story and not the Disney Version.
I didn’t like Chry at first because I felt she was very hypocritical towards her sister but she calls herself out on it towards the middle of the book. I do like the fact she does care about her servants to the point she gave them raises and felt like they were family towards here. Also the fact that she was smart as hell that she was figuring out things way before the private investigator aka the person she paid to figure out things for her.
Eryx Demos for the most part was pretty good for a love interest and a character since his banter was Chry is what kept the book fun. At first he was an asshole then you realized he was a tortured soul like most of them are.
There is still really no World Building like in Shadows. Like I said in Shadows, Naxos is Victorian England. Nothing groundbreaking about it.
The Magical System still doesn’t make no lick of sense.
The plot is simple and nothing convoluted which is why the pacing is pretty fast in this. It also feels rushed towards the end and everything is wrapped up in a nice bow as always.
Some side characters of flat with the expectation of two or three you will care about.
No one really faces any consequences of their actions. I mean it’s a body count but no one seems to care about that at all.
There is feminism in this story like just in Shadows but if I get into the logistics of it this will turn into an essay. It just feels really shallow.
I have to remind myself that Chry and Eryx are 19 and 18 years old because both of them feel like they are in their 20’s just like Alessandra and Kallias did in Shadows. Like this supposed to be upper YA but could have benefited being NA because the Author tightropes the line between YA and NA.
All and All Like this one better than Shadows because I didn't take it as seriously as Shadows.
Recommend this if you want something low stakes, Enemies to Lovers, Witty banter, some feminism, don’t really care about world building ,plot, and magical system, some steam and romantic tension.
Stars: 3 Stars
Start Date : 03/18/24
Ending Date: 03/21/24
Genre: YA Fantasy Romance
Form: Audiobook Arc/ E-Arc
Page Count: 336
Publishing Date: 07/09/24
Point of View: 1st Person
Setting: Victorian England I mean Naxos
My Blog: https://tanyasreading.wordpress.com/2024/03/22/the-darkness-within-us-by-tricia-levenseller/
StoryGraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/b1185885-2f5e-4afd-a61d-b5baba1debf5
Thank you MacMillan Audio for the Audiobook Arc exchange for an honest review.
Thank you Edelweiss for the E-Arc in exchange for an honest review.
I really can't believe I requested this after giving the Shadows between Us a 2.5 but here we go.
Which for the most part I enjoyed this more than Shadows even tho I was so close to DNFED it.
This is set around the same time as the Events of Shadows but can pretty much be read as a Stand Alone or a Companion Piece. If you don't want to be spoiled with some events of Shadows, you can read Shadows first then this but it's not needed to understand this because certain things will get explained. This is not a direct sequel to Shadows.
The Darkness Within Us is dealing with Chrysantha Santos aka Alessandra Sister which if you read Shadows was only mentioned in letters to Alessandra.
Chrysantha played the role of an airhead for seven years to get married to a duke who is actually a smart woman but her perception of her little sister is all wrong.
Chry is married to a duke at 19 which she gained the full Dukedom ( title, land ,and money) when the Duked died but lost it when his “ Grandson” Eryx Demos came back to claim it for him and want her gone.
I almost DNFED this at 13% if it was for the Chry and Eryx interaction at breakfast which saved it for me and made me give it a chance. Before that scene it was looking really shaky for me because I didn’t like Chry at all.
The banter between the two is really the backbone of this book and what keeps this book fun and funny. I saw another reviewer say this but think of The Princess Diaries Two which did give me those vibes. It also surprisingly gives me Beauty and the Beast vibes if you are familiar with the OG BATB story and not the Disney Version.
I didn’t like Chry at first because I felt she was very hypocritical towards her sister but she calls herself out on it towards the middle of the book. I do like the fact she does care about her servants to the point she gave them raises and felt like they were family towards here. Also the fact that she was smart as hell that she was figuring out things way before the private investigator aka the person she paid to figure out things for her.
Eryx Demos for the most part was pretty good for a love interest and a character since his banter was Chry is what kept the book fun. At first he was an asshole then you realized he was a tortured soul like most of them are.
There is still really no World Building like in Shadows. Like I said in Shadows, Naxos is Victorian England. Nothing groundbreaking about it.
The Magical System still doesn’t make no lick of sense.
The plot is simple and nothing convoluted which is why the pacing is pretty fast in this. It also feels rushed towards the end and everything is wrapped up in a nice bow as always.
Some side characters of flat with the expectation of two or three you will care about.
No one really faces any consequences of their actions. I mean it’s a body count but no one seems to care about that at all.
There is feminism in this story like just in Shadows but if I get into the logistics of it this will turn into an essay. It just feels really shallow.
I have to remind myself that Chry and Eryx are 19 and 18 years old because both of them feel like they are in their 20’s just like Alessandra and Kallias did in Shadows. Like this supposed to be upper YA but could have benefited being NA because the Author tightropes the line between YA and NA.
All and All Like this one better than Shadows because I didn't take it as seriously as Shadows.
Recommend this if you want something low stakes, Enemies to Lovers, Witty banter, some feminism, don’t really care about world building ,plot, and magical system, some steam and romantic tension.
Blackout by Nicola Yoon, Dhonielle Clayton, Ashley Woodfolk, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas
emotional
reflective
relaxing
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
4.0
Book Stats
Stars: 3.5 Stars
Start Date : 02/11/24
Ending Date: 02/16/24
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Form: Hardback Book/ Audiobook
Page Count: 256
Publishing Date: 06/22/21
Point of View: 1st Person ,Dual POV's
Setting: New York City and Brooklyn
My Blog: https://tanyasreading.wordpress.com/2024/02/16/blackout-by-various-authors/
StoryGraph:https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/8cebab75-b6f1-4181-91f8-34a679506cee
BlackOut is a set of short stories set in New York City in the middle of a Blackout where an upcoming Block party in Brooklyn interconnects them.
The Long Walk Home by Tiffany D. Jackson :4.0 Stars- This one starts the book off and is told in five acts which kind of acts like an intermission between the other short stories. I have read Grown by Tiffany Jackson before so I already knew and loved her work. I enjoyed this one for the most part but I just got tired of the Main Character acting towards her ex boyfriend that she still was in love with but for some reason couldn't trust.
Mask Off by Nic Stone:4.5 Stars- This honestly was one of the strongest stories in the book by a mile. It's all about self identity and finding out who you are behind the mask.
Made to Fit by Ashley Woodfolk: 4.5- The second strongest story in the book because the main character's grandfather and her grandparents' love story is interconnecting with hers. I will be reading Ashley Woolfolk books in the future because I loved her writing.
After these three, it seems like everything went downhill quickly with the last three.
All the Great Love Stories and Dust By Dhonielle Clayton: 2.5 Stars I did not like the love interest at all and felt like the main character could do better. The Love interest didn't take anything serious so it was unbelievable to me that he would take the MC love confession at the end seriously and actually be in love with her. I have read Dhonielle Clayton's The Belles Series before which I like the first one and DNFed the second so I knew her writing already. This one was boring as hell and it was in a library after closing hours.
No Sleep Till Brooklyn by Angie Thomas: 2.0 Stars- Child! Angie needs to stay writing stories about Social Justice and Racism and never drip her toes fully into romance again. Her writing a love triangle.. actually love square on a bus was a hot mess. Just leave it alone Angie! lol I am giving it a 2.5 because my love for Angie is deeper than my disdain for this story. I still love THUG and On the Come Up and still need to read Concrete Rose.
Seymour and Grace by Nicola Yoon:3.5 Stars- This was just ok but nothing really special about it but just an ok way to end the book. It didn't really tie up anything to me by not involving everyone else who was going to the block party. We just saw a small peak of the Block Party itself.
Here's my final ranking of Stories from best to worst.
Mask Off by Nic Stone:4.5 Stars
Made to Fit by Ashley Woodfolk: 4.5 Stars
The Long Walk Home by Tiffany D. Jackson :4.0 Stars
Seymour and Grace by Nicola Yoon:3.5 Stars
All the Great Love Stories and Dust By Dhonielle Clayton: 2.5 Stars
No Sleep Till Brooklyn by Angie Thomas: 2.0 Stars
Final Rating 3.5 Stars
It honestly should have been another story dealing with the person who was throwing the Block Party( who was mentioned several times throughout the different stories) and the Block Party in general. Just to really tie all the stories together by seeing the people in the past stories actually there and having a good time. Since the Block party besides the Blackout itself was a thread that was woven into the story. The Black Out was the event that started these stories and the Block Party should have been the event to end and tie it together.
So if you need something quick to read for this month this is lighthearted about Black Young Adult Love, I would recommend this.
Stars: 3.5 Stars
Start Date : 02/11/24
Ending Date: 02/16/24
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Form: Hardback Book/ Audiobook
Page Count: 256
Publishing Date: 06/22/21
Point of View: 1st Person ,Dual POV's
Setting: New York City and Brooklyn
My Blog: https://tanyasreading.wordpress.com/2024/02/16/blackout-by-various-authors/
StoryGraph:https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/8cebab75-b6f1-4181-91f8-34a679506cee
BlackOut is a set of short stories set in New York City in the middle of a Blackout where an upcoming Block party in Brooklyn interconnects them.
The Long Walk Home by Tiffany D. Jackson :4.0 Stars- This one starts the book off and is told in five acts which kind of acts like an intermission between the other short stories. I have read Grown by Tiffany Jackson before so I already knew and loved her work. I enjoyed this one for the most part but I just got tired of the Main Character acting towards her ex boyfriend that she still was in love with but for some reason couldn't trust.
Mask Off by Nic Stone:4.5 Stars- This honestly was one of the strongest stories in the book by a mile. It's all about self identity and finding out who you are behind the mask.
Made to Fit by Ashley Woodfolk: 4.5- The second strongest story in the book because the main character's grandfather and her grandparents' love story is interconnecting with hers. I will be reading Ashley Woolfolk books in the future because I loved her writing.
After these three, it seems like everything went downhill quickly with the last three.
All the Great Love Stories and Dust By Dhonielle Clayton: 2.5 Stars I did not like the love interest at all and felt like the main character could do better. The Love interest didn't take anything serious so it was unbelievable to me that he would take the MC love confession at the end seriously and actually be in love with her. I have read Dhonielle Clayton's The Belles Series before which I like the first one and DNFed the second so I knew her writing already. This one was boring as hell and it was in a library after closing hours.
No Sleep Till Brooklyn by Angie Thomas: 2.0 Stars- Child! Angie needs to stay writing stories about Social Justice and Racism and never drip her toes fully into romance again. Her writing a love triangle.. actually love square on a bus was a hot mess. Just leave it alone Angie! lol I am giving it a 2.5 because my love for Angie is deeper than my disdain for this story. I still love THUG and On the Come Up and still need to read Concrete Rose.
Seymour and Grace by Nicola Yoon:3.5 Stars- This was just ok but nothing really special about it but just an ok way to end the book. It didn't really tie up anything to me by not involving everyone else who was going to the block party. We just saw a small peak of the Block Party itself.
Here's my final ranking of Stories from best to worst.
Mask Off by Nic Stone:4.5 Stars
Made to Fit by Ashley Woodfolk: 4.5 Stars
The Long Walk Home by Tiffany D. Jackson :4.0 Stars
Seymour and Grace by Nicola Yoon:3.5 Stars
All the Great Love Stories and Dust By Dhonielle Clayton: 2.5 Stars
No Sleep Till Brooklyn by Angie Thomas: 2.0 Stars
Final Rating 3.5 Stars
It honestly should have been another story dealing with the person who was throwing the Block Party( who was mentioned several times throughout the different stories) and the Block Party in general. Just to really tie all the stories together by seeing the people in the past stories actually there and having a good time. Since the Block party besides the Blackout itself was a thread that was woven into the story. The Black Out was the event that started these stories and the Block Party should have been the event to end and tie it together.
So if you need something quick to read for this month this is lighthearted about Black Young Adult Love, I would recommend this.
Persephone by Kaitlin Bevis
3.0
3.5 stars.. It was good enough to keep me interested to finished listening to it. Got the audio book for free by signing up for the author page.
Heartless by Marissa Meyer
1.0
.5 stars
Let me say that regardless on how I feel about this book ,I still love Marissa Meyer and her writing. I still think that the Lunar Chronicles is a wonderful series.
HOWEVER.
I tried so hard to connect with this book and the characters but I couldn't at all. One strike is had against it before I started it was the fact I'm not a big fan of Alice in Wonderland. I tried so hard to like it through the years but it never interest me.I had some moments that I did but then it went back to disconnect. I supposed to felt sorry for Cath and relate to her but I couldn't because honestly it was her fault at what happened. I understand that she had dreams that she wanted to obtained but during the book she became insufferable with them. I just wanted to put tape over her mouth everytime she whined about not wanting to become queen.It was like " Look we get it. You want a bakery and Jest! Stop whining about it!" I was so waiting for her to tell her parents and the king out but she never did. I'm a sucker for romance but Jest and Cath didn't do nothing for me because it felt too quick. It felt that it didn't get enough development at all so I kind of figured that it wouldn't end well. Jest didn't wow me as a romantic love interest. The king was obvious as hell. Her parents was the typical " trying to climb the social ladder and really don't listen to their kids wishes" parents that been seen in other books. The hatter came off as being a bitter and salty ex lover. I should feel bad for the maid but I can't at all since she part of the reason why Cath descended into madness. The only two characters I felt sorry for is the turtle and the wife since their endings were sad. In all honestly,Marissa did a better job with telling Leavna backstory before she becoming the evil queen of luna than Cath becoming the evil queen of hearts.
I tried but failed to like it.
Let me say that regardless on how I feel about this book ,I still love Marissa Meyer and her writing. I still think that the Lunar Chronicles is a wonderful series.
HOWEVER.
I tried so hard to connect with this book and the characters but I couldn't at all. One strike is had against it before I started it was the fact I'm not a big fan of Alice in Wonderland. I tried so hard to like it through the years but it never interest me.I had some moments that I did but then it went back to disconnect. I supposed to felt sorry for Cath and relate to her but I couldn't because honestly it was her fault at what happened. I understand that she had dreams that she wanted to obtained but during the book she became insufferable with them. I just wanted to put tape over her mouth everytime she whined about not wanting to become queen.It was like " Look we get it. You want a bakery and Jest! Stop whining about it!" I was so waiting for her to tell her parents and the king out but she never did. I'm a sucker for romance but Jest and Cath didn't do nothing for me because it felt too quick. It felt that it didn't get enough development at all so I kind of figured that it wouldn't end well. Jest didn't wow me as a romantic love interest. The king was obvious as hell. Her parents was the typical " trying to climb the social ladder and really don't listen to their kids wishes" parents that been seen in other books. The hatter came off as being a bitter and salty ex lover. I should feel bad for the maid but I can't at all since she part of the reason why Cath descended into madness. The only two characters I felt sorry for is the turtle and the wife since their endings were sad. In all honestly,Marissa did a better job with telling Leavna backstory before she becoming the evil queen of luna than Cath becoming the evil queen of hearts.
I tried but failed to like it.
The Tailor by Leigh Bardugo
5.0
Now tell me why those 18 pages with Genya was way better than Shadow and Bone? I would love to have a whole book dealing with her!