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thaliareads's reviews
143 reviews
The Realms of the Gods by Tamora Pierce
In this book Daine and Numier finally become a couple. While I didn't think much of it as a kid, re-reading it as an adult, I'm very aware of the probably at least 10 year age gap between the 15/16 year old Daine and Numier
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-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
5.0
This is a re-read. I've always found this a nice conclusion to the series. Everything finally comes together and Daine really comes into her power.
My favorite part of this book is Daine and Numier getting to meet Kitten's family.
My favorite part of this book is Daine and Numier getting to meet Kitten's family.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Animal death, Death, Grief, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Emperor Mage by Tamora Pierce
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-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
5.0
This was a re-read for me. I really enjoy this book in the series because it is where Daine really starts to realize that the world and its people aren't so black and white. The Stormwings have their reasons for their actions, the Carthaki emperor may be a bad man but he cares deeply for his birds, and the Young Prince may have been raised with ideals that Daine doesn't understand but he cares deeply for his people.
This book is the one in the series where Daine's actual age begins to bother me. As she starts to contemplate romance, those around her are noticeably her elder.
This book is the one in the series where Daine's actual age begins to bother me. As she starts to contemplate romance, those around her are noticeably her elder.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Slavery, Violence, and War
Moderate: Death, Grief, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
The Carthaki do still have slavery, but it has been outlawed in most other places.
Daine starts to become jealous of Numair's attachments to old flames, and he begins to behave similarly. While there is no clear romance between the two occurring in this book it is the start. At this point Daine is probably around 15 and Numair is somewhere in his mid 20s early 30s I'd guess. While the feelings are returned it's still weird that she's so young.
Circe by Madeline Miller
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
While this was an incredibly interesting read, I didn't enjoy it as much as The Song of Achilles. I think the issue I had was that it was more winding. It wove a much deeper and more complex story spanning a much wider history. Despite the equally high stakes, due to Circe's immortality, it somehow felt less high stakes than the mortality Achilles was working with.
All that aside, especially for those who like Greek mythology, this was a really fun read and was a really interesting compilation of the life of and myths surrounding Circe.
All that aside, especially for those who like Greek mythology, this was a really fun read and was a really interesting compilation of the life of and myths surrounding Circe.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Bullying, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
This book was pretty dark, I'm a little behind on reviews, so it's very possible that I've missed some content warnings.
Wolf-Speaker by Tamora Pierce
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-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
5.0
This was yet another re-read of a book I've always loved.
What I really appreciate about this book is Daine begins to think about the repercussions of how her powers affect the world and the creatures around her. While this may have benefits it also has some pretty sizable moral and ethical considerations.
I also appreciate finding out more about Daine first coming into her powers with the wolves and about her history shortly before the series begins.
What I really appreciate about this book is Daine begins to think about the repercussions of how her powers affect the world and the creatures around her. While this may have benefits it also has some pretty sizable moral and ethical considerations.
I also appreciate finding out more about Daine first coming into her powers with the wolves and about her history shortly before the series begins.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: War
Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce
adventurous
mysterious
medium-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
5.0
I've always loved this series, I've read it over and over again since I was in grade school. Every time I get a little more out of it, and this time was no different. This was my first time listening to the audiobook and it was so much fun. I got to say that my favorite part to this day is still Daine's sassy relationship with her pony Cloud, which is especially prevalent in this first book.
My one complaint, although technically not unreasonable in the book's environment, is how young Daine is. She is 13 at the beginning of this book. It isn't a problem here per se, but it becomes problematic as the rest of the series develops.
My one complaint, although technically not unreasonable in the book's environment, is how young Daine is. She is 13 at the beginning of this book. It isn't a problem here per se, but it becomes problematic as the rest of the series develops.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Sexism, War, and Classism
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
5.0
As a Percy Jackson kid, I had a feeling I would really enjoy this book and I was correct. It was an interesting retelling of Achilles life as experienced by Patroclus. It was a brilliant reimagining of the Iliad and had my attention throughout the entirety of the novel. It was heart wrenching and heart breaking but ultimately worth every ounce of pain.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, and War
Moderate: Sexual violence and Slavery
I'm behind on reviews and it's been a few weeks since I read the book so I likely missed a couple of content warnings.
Barbarian's Mate by Ruby Dixon
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-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
5.0
I love this series, so I always expect these to be a hit in my book. This book was especially fun because I loved seeing Josie try and beat fate and I appreciated how Haeden didn't push her to do something she wasn't ready for. It was a nice look at owning your own destiny and finding the people who really care about you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
I'm behind on reviews and it's been a bit since I actually read this so it is likely that I missed some content warnings.
Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail by Ashley Herring Blake
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
This was a re-read for me, and the book was just as good the second time around. I love Astrid's journey of trying to figure out her identity and how that fits into her views of herself and how others have viewed her. I also love Jordan's journey of learning what love can look like again and learning to trust herself and her feelings. Also you can't go wrong with a renovation as the backdrop of the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship
Witches Steeped in Gold by Ciannon Smart
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was a really interesting book and I did grow more invested as the book progressed. However, I think this read would have been much more suited to a physical book. I have a copy from Owlcrate that I do plan to re-read eventually. The problem was the names of the characters and their voices sounded too similar in the audiobook and I didn't realize that I was getting two different character perspectives until I was about a quarter of the way through the book. This would have been easy to remedy in the physical book and I think I would have enjoyed the book more having had the background more clear in my head.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
I'll admit that I'm behind on reviews, so I may have missed some of the content warnings.
Secretly Yours by Tessa Bailey
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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
This was I think my third read through of this book. I enjoy it every time. I love a good secret letter situation. I also love Hallie as a main character. She rebels in the most ridiculous and petty ways, and I really admire that. I think it's also interesting to see the other side of her that is an anxious mess trying to work through her grief. It's the opposite of the firecracker she seems to be the rest of the time.
Julian is also interesting because he is working through his own form of anxiety. Sticking to his strict regimen, keeping things in order, and generally avoiding doing things outside of the way he planned to.
Overall a fun story and a great re-read!
Julian is also interesting because he is working through his own form of anxiety. Sticking to his strict regimen, keeping things in order, and generally avoiding doing things outside of the way he planned to.
Overall a fun story and a great re-read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury