betweentheshelves's reviews
2606 reviews

Escape from Lucien by Kazu Kibuishi

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adventurous mysterious 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

4.0

And the stakes are risen yet again! Not sure what else to add about this that I haven't said before, but it's just paced so well. There's a bit that needs to get resolved in the next volume, so I'm interested in seeing how that happens!
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Prince of the Elves by Kazu Kibuishi

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adventurous mysterious 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

4.0

This book definitely feels like a turning point in the series, setting up what's going happen in the second half. There are quite a few flashbacks that help to set the stage, which isn't a bad thing! It just feels like more of a transitional volume. Can't wait to see where it goes next, though!
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The Last Council by Kazu Kibuishi

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adventurous mysterious 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

This deserves five starts just for the plot twist included in this one! Kibuishi just keeps raising the stakes in each volume, and we're only halfway there. It feels like the stakes can't get any higher, but there are still five volumes to go! Can't wait to see where it goes next.
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The Champions by Kara Thomas

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

4.0

Thanks to Delacorte and NetGalley for an advanced copy of The Champions by Kara Thomas to review! It has honestly been a while since I read The Cheerleaders, but I didn’t have too much trouble jumping into this sequel. Though I wouldn’t recommend reading this one first, as there are definitely spoilers for the first book in this one. And you might miss the importance of some of the side characters without the background context.

While I don’t think this book was as well executed as the first book, it’s still got a great mystery at the core. In true Kara Thomas style, there are twists and turns thrown in throughout, making you guess what you know. This one does get a bit dark, so be warned if rape/sexual assault is a trigger for you because there is a pretty in-depth description of it in this book.

The cast of characters, while maybe not the most likable at times, are interesting to read about and really help drive the overall mystery forward. This book isn’t as tense as The Cheerleaders, but there are still moments of panic. As usual, Thomas utlizes cliffhangers to keep up the pace and keep you reading. Especially in the second half of the book.

Though this isn’t Thomas’s best book, if you enjoy mystery/thrillers in general, you’ll still enjoy this one! Especially if you loved the first book. 
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Review to come!
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Mismatched by Anne Camlin, Isadora Zeferino

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hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Review to come!
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Don't Let It Break Your Heart by Maggie Horne

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emotional hopeful reflective slow-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

4.5

Thanks to Feiwel and Friends and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Don’t Let It Break Your Heart by Maggie Horne to review! The moment I saw this cover on NetGalley, I knew that I had to read it. This is Horne’s YA debut, and she honestly knocks it out of the park. From great characters to complex relationships, there’s so many great things going on this book.

I loved the way that Alana and Gray’s relationship changed throughout the book. You can tell they’re trying to navigate their new situation, but neither of them really wants to disappoint the other. And neither of them really wants things to change; at least at the beginning. Part of Alana’s journey in the book is figuring out what she actually wants in her future; and not basing where she goes on what other people want. Definitely something that will be relatable to teen readers.

Though Alana and Gray are kind of the stars of the show, the side characters get a chance to shine as well, especially Tal. Tal partly helps Alana to learn to accept her queerness and to become a part of a queer community. She helps Alana to learn how to have confidence in herself, which is a great storyline for those that might also be struggling with their sexuality. At the end, Alana has to learn how to have confidence in herself and to put herself first; something that Tal helps her learn along the way.

All in all, if you enjoy character-driven novels with complext relationships, definitely check this out when it comes out at the end of August! 
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Review to come!
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How to Speak Dragonese by Cressida Cowell

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adventurous funny lighthearted fast-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

We get some new characters in this one, further expanding the world. I definitely liked those additions! It expands the world in a fun way. Hiccup and Toothless are great fun as always, and Hiccup learned to stand up to his dad in this one. As always, the narration is spot on.
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The Poisons We Drink by Bethany Baptiste

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dark emotional mysterious tense 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

Let me start by saying if you read this, I highly recommend the audiobook because the narrator is phenomenal. The way she does different voices throughout the book really pulls you into the story and the world that Baptiste has created. Great job all around!

The story itself is dark and twisty, with an interesting magic system set up in a modern society. There is a bit of a political intrigue, though I was more interested in the family dynamics and how those relationships played out in the book. I do think it is a little on the long side, but that might have been more of an editing choice.

If you like darker, urban fantasy with family drama and complicated politics, this is definitely the book for you! The plot twists will definitely keep you guessing up until the end.
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The Cloud Searchers by Kazu Kibuishi

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adventurous mysterious 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

4.5

The stakes are upped yet again in this one! We also get more character development from some of the other characters, specifically the elves. It's making Emily's situation more complicated, which I think we will delve into more in the volumes to come. It is such an interesting world and magic system, and I love learning more about it in each volume.

As I've said before, the art is also spectacular. We get new creatures in this one, plus airships! Fantasy adventure fans, this one is definitely for you.
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The Stonekeeper's Curse by Kazu Kibuishi

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adventurous mysterious 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

4.5

This builds on the foundation laid in the first book, and it works so well! The world Kibuishi created is so interesting, filled with a cast of characters who are just as interesting. There's lot of adventure in this one, setting up what's to come in future volumes. 

The art is also just as well done, with some really amazing landscapes included throughout. This definitely doesn't suffer from second book syndrome, but I also find that graphic novel series rarely do. Definitely try this series out if you like fantasy graphic novel series!
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