raquelreads_'s reviews
119 reviews

Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.5

Song of Silver, Flame Like Night by Amélie Wen Zhao

adventurous funny inspiring mysterious tense slow-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

4.0

Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan

adventurous hopeful inspiring 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? No

3.5

Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes

adventurous challenging dark hopeful sad tense medium-paced

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

2.5

Cress by Marissa Meyer

adventurous funny hopeful medium-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

Sanctuary of the Shadow by Aurora Ascher
Did not finish book.

adventurous slow-paced

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

1.0

In the first 3 pages I knew this book was going to be awful for me. I kept reading because it was a train wreck and I have a morbid curiosity to see things through. 

Reasons I don't recommend this book are below. There's spoilers. 

1. Why is the very first woman of color we explicitly see a Black woman with animal features?  Who also happens to be the female main characters best friend. Does the FMC have animal traits? No. FMC is described as vaguely tan/maybe brown skinned, but not until after 100 pages or so.

2. This book had never even tried to show not tell. Everything was told to you over and over again. Honestly,  all the spice could have been removed and this book written as a middle grade book. It would have made it much better. But then reason 1 would have still been an issue. 

3. The whole romance was so rushed and forced. Even if it's fated mates, it's like middle schoolers who just are so horny that they have no thoughts in their heads beyond let's bone because your nice to me. ALSO, this man has no memories and yet just knows how to lick kitty like a pro??? 

4. The writing style over all wasnt engaging. The dialog falls flat and what little world building occurs is shoved at you between the dialog. 

5. The mix of elementals (AKA fae) and Hybrids(people with animal features) was just unneeded. The fae made sense plot wise at least. The Hybrids literally did nothing to advance the story. 

Backup by Jim Butcher

fast-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

3.0

House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas

adventurous dark funny hopeful tense slow-paced

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

1.0

The Dead Take the A Train by Cassandra Khaw, Richard Kadrey

adventurous dark funny fast-paced

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

4.0

Caraval by Stephanie Garber

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

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

2.0