thisbookishcat's reviews
663 reviews

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny tense 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? It's complicated

4.75

Are you freaking kidding me?!
It's been my honor. Fucking waterworks. 
And the ending. Ahhhhh! Not me starting rhe next one immediately, damnit. 

Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

adventurous challenging dark reflective tense medium-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? It's complicated

4.0

What a way to end the series. I must say, I'd been hoping for it to be a bit more raw given how dramatic the second book was, but I'm glad it had a solid ending. 

Unraveled by Helen Hardt

challenging tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Solid read but I wasn't wowed by the ending given everything that's gone on over the previous books. That said, I have no idea how she has more for this saga but I'll read them all. 

A Dance with Dragons by George R. R. Martin

adventurous challenging tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

This book took me a while to get into because I didn't really love a lot of the development. That said, past the halfway mark, maybe 60% in, and it finally started picking up and getting really interesting. Now I'm also sad the next book isn't out yet so I can continue. 

A Judgement in Stone by Ruth Rendell

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Man, what a good read! Yes, it can come off as a little slow because it is taking you through the events over the months, but this was so thrilling in an eerie sort of way. And, given the stories I've heard from my parents about growing up and living through the 70s, I can definitely believe something like this would have happened in a rural location. If you're looking for something different, I would recommend this for sure. 

Mistletoe Magic by Stacey Joy Netzel

lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.75

I didn't love the how easily the conflict in this one was brushed over, because if it was me it'd be pretty unforgivable, but of course because it's a Christmas romance I couldn't help but grin and be happy by the end if it. Solid read if you want something fluffy for the holidays. 

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

What the heck did I just read...

I went into this book not knowing anything about it, and yes, I must have been living under a rock to manage that, and oh my goodness am I the more glad for it. I will say, I wasn't expecting this book to bring up as many memories and shames of my own past as it did, so it really took me a while to get through it, and my poor husband had to put up with my throwing my phone across the couch and then pacing around the house to process what I'd just read. I definitely don't think this book is for the feint of heart, but what a rush. 

Sea Glass by Maria V. Snyder

adventurous medium-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? It's complicated

3.25

This one was a bit of a miss for me. To be fair, there was a lot of character development which I think will pay off in the next book, but man did I not enjoy a lot of the whining and the self-doubt and berating. I think if I'd read this as a teenager I would have vibed with it more, but after the third chapter of the same personal complaints, it's like, come on, buck up and smarten up. Hopefully the next one pays off more. 

Witchlight by L.J. Smith

adventurous dark fast-paced

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

3.0

I'm so upset that the rest of this series hasn't been published because this book, while not my favourite, set up some really cool stuff to come! For this story in particular though, the characters were just not ones I really enjoyed. 

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

I'll be honest, this first book I found pretty meh by the end of it, and definitely after time has passed I didn't think it was the memorable. But this book? THIS is what I'm talking about. I can do without all the woe-is-me and wishing everything was like in the past parts, but the action, the ENDING. Solid 4.25-stars for that even after all of the whining. If I didn't have a bunch of books already on the go I'd be finishing this series on my flight home tomorrow. Bravo.