saoreads's reviews
135 reviews

Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin

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adventurous challenging dark funny mysterious reflective 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

5.0

It has been stuck on my TBR for so long that I finally got to read it, and with my love for magic and fantasy, this was a real treat. The first book, Serpent and Dove, piqued my interest with its hint at unrevealed backstories and plenty of possibility for more investigation in possible sequels. The characters' deep family relationships with their convoluted secrets gave a level of complexity that really tricked the mind. The idea of a parent sacrificing their child and the contradictory emotions associated with parental love departed from the norm, revealing deceit and the disheartening knowledge that one is living a lie-based life. 
The story explores the dissolution of values that have been imprinted since childhood, only to expose their falsity. It skillfully captured the possibility of love blossoming in the middle of disaster and presented endearing individuals in the midst of all of this upheaval. Together with highlighting the animosity between witches and chasseurs, which developed into an unexpected and intricate love tale, the story also touched on the themes of affection and teamwork among the characters.
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Alone With You in the Ether by Olivie Blake

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad tense 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

5.0

This book takes you on some mind-f*ck emotional experience—the phases of falling in love that are not exactly defined in the usual ways—it speaks in another language, differing from the means of poetry or typical romance. There's truth and nonsense and ecstatic to an escalation that relentlessly pulls you forward to the center stage, not being a part of ridicule but being a part of one's imaginary world (2 worlds with the main characters)—absorbing to curating images of personas—is that really the person? or a made-up one? The concepts of change and obsessions with it, the repertoire of control and not having it at the same time. This book is posed with humor and sarcasm, making you psychologically challenged, and it was absolutely delivered with as much perfection as possible.
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The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller

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adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

It's amusing how the journey went from initially disliking the main character to gradually rooting for her, but not really (picky on some parts). There are reasons behind every action and the subsequent consequences, regardless of how positive or dire they may be. If it's not you fulfilling something in that life, something is bound to happen. The subtleties throughout the book, along with metaphors leading up to the years portrayed, shed light on generational patterns. Ultimately, it's her choice, and the outcome remains uncertain. The ending brings about new beginnings—whether good or bad, it could be either or even both.
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The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter - And How to Make the Most of Them Now by Meg Jay

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challenging funny hopeful informative reflective tense medium-paced

5.0

It left impressionable anecdotes and brought me vices of knowledge, which for this case detailed and specific scenarios played out that oft times we struggled to identify and be aware of. The "twentysomethings" are indeed very crucial. It bore something and made me grounded in my resolve. "Mountains don't care," this quote especially gave me a hard reflection to look at. "Will I ever make it?" is not the right question; rather, "I will make it". The book taught me to be intentional.
Ms Ice Sandwich by Mieko Kawakami

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adventurous emotional 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? It's complicated

3.5

I have mixed feelings about this book. At times, it delves into emotions, but sometimes it remains vague and elusive. It's a quick read, and I found comfort in its child-like tone while navigating the complexities of adulthood. However, I'm not entirely sure about its intended message.
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The Long Walk by Stephen King, Richard Bachman

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 30%.
The reason I couldn't finish the book "The Long Walk" by Stephen King is that I got bored halfway through. I found myself trying to convince myself numerous times to continue, but ultimately, I had to admit that it wasn't my cup of tea. The constant scenarios in the story seemed useless and didn't capture my attention. Additionally, I felt that the pacing of the narrative wasn't to my liking, making it challenging to maintain my interest in the book.
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Talk Like Ted: The 9 Public-Speaking Secrets of the World's Top Minds by Carmine Gallo

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challenging funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

5.0

It is an understatement to say how much this book has made a huge difference in my life in the sense that action was sought out after reading and understanding the things learned from here. It ignites something in you, and even in whatever shape or form of life you might find yourself in, it's our responsibility to hone our devices to an impassioned point and make our hearts sing both wild and calm.
The Memory Police by Yōko Ogawa

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emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

It is so odd and strange; there were those warm moments, but it felt like something in you was depriving you with the way disappearances had occurred. It's as if they were living in a twisted social experiment setting. The things you could control were no longer there because the feeling was no longer there and the memory of how it worked was no longer there. It's distorting to think of a world like this one. Nevertheless, it was interesting to read.
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Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan

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adventurous challenging emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

5.0

Reading this was a delightful experience, akin to being intoxicated by poetry. The cascade of words was bathed in the warm sunlight of emotion. In reality, it didn't thrust you immediately into the realm of a powerful heroine, but instead, it showcased her gradual growth into one, and even more. The narrative unveiled the intricate dynamics of surrendering control to life and its offerings, capturing the fleeting fragments that one could grasp. The story intertwined grit, grief, and madness, often unveiling the poignancy of first experiences. The narrative's twists and turns were masterfully crafted, prompting contemplation within the romantic facets, both paths feeling valid. It not only left room for a potential sequel but also stood strongly as a complete tale in its own right. In the latter sections, I found myself drawn to the evocative emotions it evoked and the eventual embrace of closure. Sacrifices were made and the notion of sacrifice was far from concluding easily. Truly, I adored it!
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Brutal Prince by Sophie Lark

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adventurous challenging tense fast-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

Miscommunication tropes, enemies-to-lovers literal dramatics, and the rough tone of language, considering the age, were quite immature. There's this immediacy that was toxic to a relationship to start off, but it was easily consumed for the most part due to the short chapters. I'm not a big fan of the violence, and the storyline was a bit lackluster; the scenes were short, and if it was fast-paced, it was just that it was detailed on parts I don't like that much. Overall, there were areas that could have been improved and some side characters to be given spotlight. 
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