thecanadianbookworm's reviews
592 reviews

Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

4.0

Red Rising (2 of 2) [Dramatized Adaptation] by Pierce Brown

adventurous dark emotional tense 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

The graphic audio edition is great! Really liked this book, it's very dark and action packed.

Devourer of Men by Nikki St. Crowe

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense 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

4.0

I love the world Nikki has built in these books! Every new book we get opens the world up further, and makes me excited to see what we learn next.

This is a much slower burn than the other installments, with only 2 spicy scenes in the book. But I've said it before, and I'll say it again, you start The Never King for the spice.. but then you're hooked on the world. 🤣 Which is truly the mark of a good book.

I also felt if things had moved quicker it wouldn't make a very believable "enemies to lovers". So this was great.

Tons of action, lots of court scheming. And 😮 that ending!!! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Death, Physical abuse, Blood, Kidnapping, and Murder

Minor: Gore, Torture, Kidnapping, and Pregnancy

Mouse Guard: Fall 1152 by David Petersen

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious tense 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

5.0

This was so beautifully illustrated, and the story was wonderful! I'll definitely read more of these.

Witchlight by Jessi Zabarsky

adventurous emotional hopeful 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

3.5

Red Rising (Part 1 of 2) (Dramatized Adaptation) by Pierce Brown

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-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

4.25

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful slow-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

4.25

Very different from the show, but still similar in many ways. It's a very slow paced book, but I enjoyed every minute of it. I feel like this series is really about getting to know the characters, and spending time with them. It's lovely.

How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing by KC Davis

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

One of the most beneficial books I've ever read. So many beautiful and kind words, with truly helpful advice.

The Endless War by Danielle L. Jensen

adventurous slow-paced

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

2.0

Oh wow, the pacing of this book is sooooo slow. Which is wild, considering the content. I've dragged myself through 9 hours of audiobook and I don't want to do anymore.

When the only people in danger are the main couples, you know they'll be fine in the end.. so there's no worry or stakes. 🤷 This book desperately needed some likeable secondary characters. But on an island of cannibals and child murderers.. the pickings are slim.

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

dark slow-paced

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

3.0

It took me a month to finish this book, Ugh. That's ages for me, and usually I would DNF something taking that long.. but I already own book 2 so I wanted to try.

The story itself is unique and the magic system is cool.. but the writing was odd. I always felt like I was reading, I never found myself so lost in the world that I forgot I was reading words on a page.

Every paragraph felt like effort. Nothing was smooth.

I know it's a debut book, so I will try book two.