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sweekune's reviews
342 reviews
The Battle Drum by Saara El-Arifi
challenging
dark
mysterious
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
⭐ 5/5 ⭐
Audiobook narrated by Nicole Lewis.
And this is how you write a middle book. following on from the events of The Final Strife, Sylah searches for aid in foreign lands, Anoor is accused of murder and has to find out who really committed the crime and a strange and terrible power gains influence in the Warden's Empire.
- The character progression in this book is extremely well done. El-Arifi builds on previous events and writes people in such an authentic way, acknowledging their trauma and how events have affected the characters. I also love the interactions and relationships that develop through this.
- This is a book of adventure and discovery. There's so much that is new and exciting. I described the book to a friend as like an open world video game with an amazing plotline. I enjoyed the main story but equally I wanted to roam around and learn more about this vibrant and nuanced world. This just attests to the author's amazing world building.
- The magic system was developed a lot through this book, both in complexity and how horrifying it became. I think the concept of sacrifice is excellent as it provides terrible, terrible balance to what would otherwise be horrendously overpowered magic.
I need the third book yesterday and am not sure how I will wait until August. I most definitely recommend this series to any fantasy lover.
Audiobook narrated by Nicole Lewis.
And this is how you write a middle book. following on from the events of The Final Strife, Sylah searches for aid in foreign lands, Anoor is accused of murder and has to find out who really committed the crime and a strange and terrible power gains influence in the Warden's Empire.
- The character progression in this book is extremely well done. El-Arifi builds on previous events and writes people in such an authentic way, acknowledging their trauma and how events have affected the characters. I also love the interactions and relationships that develop through this.
- This is a book of adventure and discovery. There's so much that is new and exciting. I described the book to a friend as like an open world video game with an amazing plotline. I enjoyed the main story but equally I wanted to roam around and learn more about this vibrant and nuanced world. This just attests to the author's amazing world building.
- The magic system was developed a lot through this book, both in complexity and how horrifying it became. I think the concept of sacrifice is excellent as it provides terrible, terrible balance to what would otherwise be horrendously overpowered magic.
I need the third book yesterday and am not sure how I will wait until August. I most definitely recommend this series to any fantasy lover.
The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson
challenging
mysterious
tense
slow-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
3.5
⭐ 3.5/5 ⭐
The second book of Mistborn era one. The Lord Ruler is dead and Vin, Elend and Kelsier's crew are desperately attempting to hold things together in Luthadel when three armies appear on their doorstep.
- This book has an awful lot of politicking. Honestly, I don't enjoy court politics so it did put things of a downer for me. There was enough magic and action to keep me going but there were lots of sections I found hard.
- This may be a sign that I'm no longer young (30s are tough, man) but I find myself caring less about the plight of younger protagonists. I still enjoyed Vin and Elend but found myself drawn to the older, adult characters. My particular favourites were Sazed, Breeze and the kandra, all of whom got.some excellent character development in this book.
- I enjoyed how allomancy and feruchemy were further explored in this book and how it focused more on new elements and elements not explored in depth in The Final Empire. The attention to detail Sanderson has put into this magic system is very satisfying and appeals to me greatly.
The Well of Ascension definitely suffers from middle book syndrome, mostly bridging events from the first book and setting up for the grand finale. It has it's own highlights though and has made me excited for the next book.
The second book of Mistborn era one. The Lord Ruler is dead and Vin, Elend and Kelsier's crew are desperately attempting to hold things together in Luthadel when three armies appear on their doorstep.
- This book has an awful lot of politicking. Honestly, I don't enjoy court politics so it did put things of a downer for me. There was enough magic and action to keep me going but there were lots of sections I found hard.
- This may be a sign that I'm no longer young (30s are tough, man) but I find myself caring less about the plight of younger protagonists. I still enjoyed Vin and Elend but found myself drawn to the older, adult characters. My particular favourites were Sazed, Breeze and the kandra, all of whom got.some excellent character development in this book.
- I enjoyed how allomancy and feruchemy were further explored in this book and how it focused more on new elements and elements not explored in depth in The Final Empire. The attention to detail Sanderson has put into this magic system is very satisfying and appeals to me greatly.
The Well of Ascension definitely suffers from middle book syndrome, mostly bridging events from the first book and setting up for the grand finale. It has it's own highlights though and has made me excited for the next book.
House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne Jones
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
⭐ 4/5 ⭐
Audiobook narrated by Kristin Atherton.
The third book in the Howl's Moving Castle universe. Charmain, a bookish and somewhat lazy young lady, is sent to look after her Uncle William's house whilst he is ill. There she is thrown into a world of magic, a missing royal treasury, an incomprehensible house and some malevolent and not so malevolent creatures.
- I love how the author crafts characters that are real and flawed but also that you can empathise with. Charmain has a temper, is sometimes rude and often selfish but she is also determined and learns that she is built for more than she's been lead to expect.
- As always, the vivid descriptions are amazing. You feel part of the story, landscape, scenes, everything. It's all brought to life with such detail and character.
- As with Castle in the Air, there are cameos from previous books though this time some are more overt. I loved spending more time seeing these characters and how they've changed over time.
Whimsical, magical and thoroughly enjoyable. I have enjoyed his series so much and will be sad to leave. Highly recommended as a cosy fantasy to enjoy with younger readers.
Audiobook narrated by Kristin Atherton.
The third book in the Howl's Moving Castle universe. Charmain, a bookish and somewhat lazy young lady, is sent to look after her Uncle William's house whilst he is ill. There she is thrown into a world of magic, a missing royal treasury, an incomprehensible house and some malevolent and not so malevolent creatures.
- I love how the author crafts characters that are real and flawed but also that you can empathise with. Charmain has a temper, is sometimes rude and often selfish but she is also determined and learns that she is built for more than she's been lead to expect.
- As always, the vivid descriptions are amazing. You feel part of the story, landscape, scenes, everything. It's all brought to life with such detail and character.
- As with Castle in the Air, there are cameos from previous books though this time some are more overt. I loved spending more time seeing these characters and how they've changed over time.
Whimsical, magical and thoroughly enjoyable. I have enjoyed his series so much and will be sad to leave. Highly recommended as a cosy fantasy to enjoy with younger readers.
Castle in the Air by Diana Wynne Jones
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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
4.5/5
A whimsical and magical tale set in the Howl's Moving Castle universe. Abdullah has spent most of his life in a day dream. One day, a mysterious individual sells him a magic carpet which transports him to a beautiful princess. Then hi princess is kidnapped by a djinn and Abdullah has to travel far and brave many dangers to try and get her back.
- The whimsy and wandering nature of Howl's Moving Castle carries on in this book. I love the fairy tale and Arabian Nights vibes and how the book felt like a bedtime story.
- Abdullah is the type of protagonist who finds himself as the story progresses. He starts off meek, beaten down and bored with life. His adventure is the making of him and his journey was as much one of self discovery as it was a quest to find his princess.
- I really loved the cameos within the story. Yes, Howl, Sophie and Calcifer are there, and no you won't guess who they are before time.
A truly enjoyable and magical story. Perfect for a cosy, lighter fantasy read or for sharing with children at bedtime.
A whimsical and magical tale set in the Howl's Moving Castle universe. Abdullah has spent most of his life in a day dream. One day, a mysterious individual sells him a magic carpet which transports him to a beautiful princess. Then hi princess is kidnapped by a djinn and Abdullah has to travel far and brave many dangers to try and get her back.
- The whimsy and wandering nature of Howl's Moving Castle carries on in this book. I love the fairy tale and Arabian Nights vibes and how the book felt like a bedtime story.
- Abdullah is the type of protagonist who finds himself as the story progresses. He starts off meek, beaten down and bored with life. His adventure is the making of him and his journey was as much one of self discovery as it was a quest to find his princess.
- I really loved the cameos within the story. Yes, Howl, Sophie and Calcifer are there, and no you won't guess who they are before time.
A truly enjoyable and magical story. Perfect for a cosy, lighter fantasy read or for sharing with children at bedtime.
Heartstopper Volume 5 by Alice Oseman
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
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
3.75
⭐ 3.75/5 ⭐
Book 5 in the Heartstopper series. Nick is looking at universities, Charlie is building his confidence and things between them are getting serious. Are they ready for the next step in their relationship.
- As always, the queer rep is spot on. I really wish these books had been around when I was a teenager and I'm glad the young people of today have such wonderful, accurate and informative representation available to them.
- I really enjoyed how Nick and Charlie's relationship was portrayed and the exploration into them wanting to have sex for the first time. I like that safety was brought up and the characters checked in emotionally with each other. Nothing graphic is shown and whilst not "fade to black" it done well.
- The artwork was really great and I loved how Oseman uses her art to show certain things like a character's inner turmoil or to imply things rather than outright draw them. This speaks to her amazing skill as an artist.
I really enjoyed this volume and I eagerly await volume 6.
Book 5 in the Heartstopper series. Nick is looking at universities, Charlie is building his confidence and things between them are getting serious. Are they ready for the next step in their relationship.
- As always, the queer rep is spot on. I really wish these books had been around when I was a teenager and I'm glad the young people of today have such wonderful, accurate and informative representation available to them.
- I really enjoyed how Nick and Charlie's relationship was portrayed and the exploration into them wanting to have sex for the first time. I like that safety was brought up and the characters checked in emotionally with each other. Nothing graphic is shown and whilst not "fade to black" it done well.
- The artwork was really great and I loved how Oseman uses her art to show certain things like a character's inner turmoil or to imply things rather than outright draw them. This speaks to her amazing skill as an artist.
I really enjoyed this volume and I eagerly await volume 6.
Count Your Lucky Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur
emotional
funny
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
3.75
Count Your Lucky Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur
⭐ 3.75/5 ⭐
Audiobook narrated by Lauren Sweet.
A soppy sapphic romance. Margot and Olivia were highschool bestfriends. After a short fling and a lot of miscommunication, they went their separate ways. Eleven years later, Olivia shows up as the wedding planner for Margot's friend's wedding and old feelings bubble to the surface.
- Although part of a trilogy currently, I've only read the first book before (Written in the Stars). It was fun to meet the recurring characters again and some of the inside references were super cute. I'm glad we got more focus on the new couple though. I didn't feel like I was missing any plot points from missing out the second book.
- Miscommunication is a super common theme in romance books. It's not my favourite and it did put a bit of a downer on the book for me but was actually handled very well by the author.
- This book is spicy. I remember there being some sexy bits in Written in the Stars but probably a solid third of this book is dedicated to sex. Perfect for those wanting some steam but if you're more of a "fade to black" type, this isn't for you.
Hot, fun and ultimately quite sweet. Perfect for those wanting a spicy but enjoyable sapphic romance.
⭐ 3.75/5 ⭐
Audiobook narrated by Lauren Sweet.
A soppy sapphic romance. Margot and Olivia were highschool bestfriends. After a short fling and a lot of miscommunication, they went their separate ways. Eleven years later, Olivia shows up as the wedding planner for Margot's friend's wedding and old feelings bubble to the surface.
- Although part of a trilogy currently, I've only read the first book before (Written in the Stars). It was fun to meet the recurring characters again and some of the inside references were super cute. I'm glad we got more focus on the new couple though. I didn't feel like I was missing any plot points from missing out the second book.
- Miscommunication is a super common theme in romance books. It's not my favourite and it did put a bit of a downer on the book for me but was actually handled very well by the author.
- This book is spicy. I remember there being some sexy bits in Written in the Stars but probably a solid third of this book is dedicated to sex. Perfect for those wanting some steam but if you're more of a "fade to black" type, this isn't for you.
Hot, fun and ultimately quite sweet. Perfect for those wanting a spicy but enjoyable sapphic romance.
The Christmas Murder Game by Alexandra Benedict
dark
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
3.5
3.5/5
Audiobook narrated by Laura Costello.
Lily Armitage returns to her childhood home, Endgame House, following the death of her aunt. To everyone else, she's there to play a game of riddles to win the rights to the house, but secretly she's also there to find out what happened to her mother.
- Originally I thought this was a cosy Christmas murder mystery, sort of a modern Agatha Christie-esque story. However, it was definitely more of a thriller. Yes it had the trappings and decoration of a lighter story but actually things ended up being pretty dark by the end.
- I liked the fun of the riddles and clues both to The Christmas Game and to the mysteries within Endgame itself. they were lyrical and fun but did always make sense. I think it would have been better to read them in the physical version as in the audiobook, you couldn't literally see the clues hidden in them.
- The setting was both festive and creepy. An old manor house with a maze, ice house and chapel really was an amazing place to weave a mystery.
- This book was actually amazingly queer with multiple characters being queer in some way, shape or form. I also liked how this wasn't forced, it was just there and who the people were, not necessarily their entire personality. And as a bisexual, I'll always appreciate a bi main character.
Dark, eerie but festive. For those who want a Christmas read with a bit of a puzzle and a side of murder.
Audiobook narrated by Laura Costello.
Lily Armitage returns to her childhood home, Endgame House, following the death of her aunt. To everyone else, she's there to play a game of riddles to win the rights to the house, but secretly she's also there to find out what happened to her mother.
- Originally I thought this was a cosy Christmas murder mystery, sort of a modern Agatha Christie-esque story. However, it was definitely more of a thriller. Yes it had the trappings and decoration of a lighter story but actually things ended up being pretty dark by the end.
- I liked the fun of the riddles and clues both to The Christmas Game and to the mysteries within Endgame itself. they were lyrical and fun but did always make sense. I think it would have been better to read them in the physical version as in the audiobook, you couldn't literally see the clues hidden in them.
- The setting was both festive and creepy. An old manor house with a maze, ice house and chapel really was an amazing place to weave a mystery.
- This book was actually amazingly queer with multiple characters being queer in some way, shape or form. I also liked how this wasn't forced, it was just there and who the people were, not necessarily their entire personality. And as a bisexual, I'll always appreciate a bi main character.
Dark, eerie but festive. For those who want a Christmas read with a bit of a puzzle and a side of murder.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Biphobia, Cursing, Homophobia, Incest, Car accident, and Alcohol
Bearfaced Lie by Ryann Fletcher
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
3.75
3.75/5
My new festive tradition is reading the annual Midwest Weres book. Leah and Jasmine strike a deal to pretend they're dating over Christmas. However, things are less than smooth when both Leah and Jazz have pasts, family and secrets to contend with.
- Sapphic Hallmark vibes again. Mostly cosy with a. Little bit of spice thrown in for good measure. My favourite bits were the winter festival and movie night.
- I like the little cameos from previous protagonists. They didn't affect the story but it was nice to have little catch ups with them.
- This one was not as shifter focused as the others but it worked well. I enjoyed the focus on the story and the deepening relationships.
Fun, cosy and festive. A series perfect for those who like shifter romance, sapphic relationships and a Christmas theme.
My new festive tradition is reading the annual Midwest Weres book. Leah and Jasmine strike a deal to pretend they're dating over Christmas. However, things are less than smooth when both Leah and Jazz have pasts, family and secrets to contend with.
- Sapphic Hallmark vibes again. Mostly cosy with a. Little bit of spice thrown in for good measure. My favourite bits were the winter festival and movie night.
- I like the little cameos from previous protagonists. They didn't affect the story but it was nice to have little catch ups with them.
- This one was not as shifter focused as the others but it worked well. I enjoyed the focus on the story and the deepening relationships.
Fun, cosy and festive. A series perfect for those who like shifter romance, sapphic relationships and a Christmas theme.
The Holly King by Mark Stay
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
4/5
Yuletide comes to Woodville and an ancient entity is freed from its binding. The Holly King comes and causes havoc in his wake for the witches of Woodville as secrets are revealed.
- This fourth book has a different vibe to the others
The other were very wartime, "keep calm and carry on" vibes whereas this one is more mysterious and looks into the effects of war of an individual.
- Faye grows up quite a bit in this book and you see her struggle with that and the revelations that are brought to light. I think this was very well done and also acknowledges the uncomfortable fact that everyone has secrets they choose to keep hidden for the greater good.
- Bertie is probably my favourite character now. He's just the sweetest and I adore him.
A mysterious festive entry into the Witches of Woodville series. I look forward to seeing how Stay takes the series forward.
Yuletide comes to Woodville and an ancient entity is freed from its binding. The Holly King comes and causes havoc in his wake for the witches of Woodville as secrets are revealed.
- This fourth book has a different vibe to the others
The other were very wartime, "keep calm and carry on" vibes whereas this one is more mysterious and looks into the effects of war of an individual.
- Faye grows up quite a bit in this book and you see her struggle with that and the revelations that are brought to light. I think this was very well done and also acknowledges the uncomfortable fact that everyone has secrets they choose to keep hidden for the greater good.
- Bertie is probably my favourite character now. He's just the sweetest and I adore him.
A mysterious festive entry into the Witches of Woodville series. I look forward to seeing how Stay takes the series forward.