notsamwilson's reviews
71 reviews

She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan

emotional reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I honestly thought I would struggle with this book considering its slow pace. It quickly became a favorite. I found myself relating to Ma Xiuying in that I want more for myself than what society expects. I found myself understanding the decisions Zhu made, as painful as some were to read. This book highlights the belief people have in themselves and the faith they inspire in others. Though I find myself wondering if Ma is following the fate she sought to escape.

Masters of Death by Olivie Blake

adventurous funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I had been in a slump before picking up this book. It was exactly what I needed. Having death as a narrator was unique and I greatly enjoyed his sense of humor. I enjoyed how all the characters interacted and the banter between them. The concept of immortals gambling was something different for me but it was done well. I enjoyed this book enough to look into Olivie’s others. The one negative I have is that the romantic subplot between Vi and Tom was not necessary. The ending would have been good without it.

The Sirens by Emilia Hart

adventurous emotional informative reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

The second of Emilia Hart’s books has cemented her as an auto but author for me. I was happy to see her writing style stayed the same. The multiple povs made the story more immersive and the switch between time lines was a really interesting way to connect two generations of the same family. The bit of mythology and history included was a nice touch as well. I learned something about history I hadn’t already known and got to read a little bit about how it affected one of the groups of people involved. I did get this book as an arc and will be buying a physical copy when it comes out.

Jade War by Fonda Lee

challenging emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

It took me so long to finish this book. There are so many intricate and moving parts in this story. There are so many characters, with their own desires, that play roles in this world. It’s like a soap opera, so taking it slow is absolutely how it should be read. Otherwise, some details might be missed. It’s easy to get invested in the characters. A little more difficult to understand why they make decisions they do, but I feel more understanding will come with the next book. This series, and book, will become classics.

Thorn by Candace Ayers

lighthearted fast-paced

2.0

The Cursed by Harper L. Woods

adventurous mysterious tense 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

3.0

I’m going to be honest, I hit a big reading slump after finishing this book so it’s taken a while to do a review. I do remember being excited to jump into this book. I enjoyed seeing Willow stand up for her beliefs and doing what she knew was right for the coven even if it was hard. Other than that, I have a hard time remembering the book because I waited so long to do the review. But, I do want to read the next installment because I am enjoying the series.

The Coven by Harper L. Woods

challenging mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

I was a little unsure how this book would go for me. It’s short and in an academy setting, which I typically don’t like. However, the length of it helped pull me out of a reading slump. I liked the determination of Willow to write wrongs for her family, and I could feel her strength in doing so. The ending did surprise me and I wasn’t sure who to trust until the end, but I’m starting to have ideas of what the bigger picture might be. I’m going right into the second book to see if anything gets confirmed.

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

adventurous funny lighthearted 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

4.0

A bit of a slow start but still a good book. The main character had a lot of bravery and every right to be as cautious as she was. She did learn to trust with the help of patient and open friends. It was good to see how caring Kiela was all living things on her island. I liked all of the characters, even grumpy old Fenerer, but my favorites were Caz and Meep.

Weyward by Emilia Hart

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

I went into this not knowing what it was about because I picked it up based on the cover. This is one of those books that have slightly altered my brain chemistry. It’s a story that shows such incredible strength shared across generations in a single family. It’s a story of holding onto and rediscovering a legacy that is part of these women’s strength. I need a copy for my own shelf.

Fake Dating a Witch by Brigid Hunt

adventurous lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.0

My second foray back into romance novels. I enjoyed the characters; they all had their own personalities and desires. It was good to see them grow and really go for what they wanted. However, the relationship between the main characters did happen quickly. I’m more interested in what’s going on with the sisters and mother though I did somewhat connect with Grant because I’ve had a recent wrist injury.