raquelreads_'s reviews
119 reviews

Icarus by K. Ancrum

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad tense fast-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

Princess Princess Ever After by K. O'Neill

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen

funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan

adventurous dark inspiring tense 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? No

4.0

Finna by Nino Cipri

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring fast-paced

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

4.0

Heavenbreaker by Sara Wolf

adventurous dark inspiring mysterious slow-paced

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

3.5

Giant robots, a dystopian society, and a young girl looking for revenge. I liked this book well enough, but I wish more would have happened.  I thought the world-building was dragged out and the plot moved very slowly. I liked the main character decently enough, even if she felt a little "I'm not like other girls", especially at the beginning. The set up of the romantic interest was not rushed, which I applaud the author for because many books I read nowadays feel very rushed in their romances. Some of the plotlines felt....limp and barely touched, but I hope it'll be figured out in the sequel. More robot fighting needed! 

Flamefall by Rosaria Munda

adventurous challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Another excellent installment in the series. Flamefall is that rare success of a second book in a trilogy, expanding on the world and character building of the first book while simultaneously setting up the third book and holding its own plotline. A prefect mix that had me speeding easily through this book.

 In the first book we saw our young riders struggling to find their way among adults and the politicking of a young government. In this our riders realize their own power and strengths, although they still have their own flaws to work through. I was begging for these kids to figure it out, even as their painful story built their development. 

This series is setting itself up to be amongst my favorite dragon books, I only wish the dragons had more of their own voices!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, and Classism

Minor: Confinement, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and War

Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-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

ARC Review:

Julie Soto has firmly cemented herself as one of my favorite Romance authors. Before her, I was firmly a Sci-fi/ Fantasy reader. My last purely romance read was....over a decade ago. Now? If Julie's name is on it, I'm reading it.

Not Another Love Song is a lovely balance of humor, romance and steamy scenes. As we follow our rising star Gwen, we are swept right into New York and all its bits. I've never been, but it feels like I have after this book! 

Gwen is a character who didn't quite appeal to me at first, but her growth from shyness to confidence finally endeared her to me. Musicians will likely have more to connect to than I, but that's true for much of the book. Most of the characters are musicians after all! 

I loved Gwen and Xander's growth throughout the book. Watching them learn to accept love and use their voices to speak up for themselves  was lovely, even as I kept wishing for them to hurry up about it already! For those wondering about the spice, fear not, Julie delivers and then some. 

My biggest criticism of the book is that Mabel and Ava should have been a cannon pair and no one can change my mind. They felt so perfect for one another that I am dying for Julie to give us a bonus chapter of them finally realizing this too. 

Anyone who is a fan of Julie Soto will find themselves loving Not another Love Song. I've already pre-ordered this one for myself and can't wait to see what Julie puts out next!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Minor: Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Death of parent

Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire

adventurous challenging dark mysterious fast-paced

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

4.0

Thistlefoot by GennaRose Nethercott

adventurous challenging funny hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0