the_castle_library's reviews
72 reviews

The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan

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hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

This is a cute story about a woman, Carmen, who has found herself jobless just before the holidays and goes to live with her estranged sister, Sophia, after their Mother asked for Sophia to help Carmen find another job and give her a place to live.

Sophia is the successful older sister who is married with 3 children and another on the way. According to Carmen, everything works out for Sophia and comes to her so easily while Carmen has worked her butt off and has nothing and no one. 

Sophia gets Carmen a job at a local bookshop that's about to go belly up, but Sophia thinks Carmen can help the elderly owner turn it around before the end of the year. Carmen finds out that she quite enjoys her job there and does in fact turn it around and into a quaint Christmas bookshop, as the title describes! 

There's a little romance, but I wouldn't call it a romance novel. It took me on an emotional rollercoaster of feeling good and feeling not so good. My rating for romance is 💖💖
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Heartless by Marissa Meyer

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adventurous dark emotional funny sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

I am obsessed!! I had originally skipped over checking it out from the library because I thought it was a retelling of Snow White and I had just finished "Mirror, Mirror: A Twisted Tale", so I was looking for something different, which led me to "Gilded". It wasn't until I was in love with "Gilded" and started researching Marissa Meyer that I found out this is the Queen of Hearts backstory and needed to get my hand on it as soon as possible! ♥️🃏👑🐦‍⬛🎩
My rating for romance is 💖💖💖
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Batman: Curse of the White Knight by Sean Murphy

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adventurous fast-paced

5.0

Series 2 in Batman: The White Knight. I liked it just as much a the first. Very action packed, I give it 👊👊👊 for action.
Fallen by Lauren Kate

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slow-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes

4.0

Luce is in love with a fallen Angel, who she finds every time she incarnates, but this time is different and it threatens her from coming back again. She is caught in between an age old war between Angels and Demons.

I think it could have been a standalone book, but I do intend to follow it to the end.
Gilded by Marissa Meyer

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

This is book 1 of the Rumpelstiltskin retelling. It is one of my favorite duologies that I have read and listened to multiple times! Even the bad guys have their loveable moments, which is infuriating 😅 It is dark and twisty, but keeps a stream of light to keep you hoping the good guys will come out on top.
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Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring fast-paced

5.0

I love it as much as "Cinder" and "Fairest"! If you haven't read this series yet, I suggest getting your hands on "Stars Above" before starting this one so you can read "The Queen's Army" and "Carswal's Guide to Being Lucky" for some background information on some of the characters 😊 I decided to read them in chronological order, so I had the advantage 😅 My rating for romance is 💖💖
Cress by Marissa Meyer

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

The Lunar Chronicles book 3. It did not disappoint and it was such a whirlwind!! My rating for romance is 💖💖
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Batman: Beyond the White Knight by Sean Murphy

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adventurous slow-paced

2.0

I didn't like this one as much as the others from this series, which was disappointing. It wasn't the strong ending I was hoping for.
Winter by Marissa Meyer

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

The ending makes me want more adventures from the Rampion crew and see a better outcome for Winter! I cannot wait for the four-part series to come out! The Lunar Chronicles is definitely a MUST OWN for me!! I could read it again and again! @marissameyerauthor hasn't disappointed me yet!! My ratings for action and romance are 👊👊👊👊/💖💖💖
Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney

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mysterious tense slow-paced

5.0

It is a multi perspective style book. It was super easy to read until the HUGE plot twist that makes you question the perspective you take on the characters and everything you THINK you know about them!!

I don't want to give anything away because it is just so well written and a MUST READ, in my opinion, but it's about a husband and wife who aren't quite happy in their marriage, but not 100% sure they're ready to walk away either, so they go on a weekend getaway to try to save their relationship. The getaway location is an abandoned, secluded chapel that was converted into a home. My rating for overall spookiness is 👻👻
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