Book Reviews
My reading log, imported from my Goodreads profile every time the site is built.
Currently Reading
- - Promise of Blood (Powder Mage, #1) by Brian McClellan
Read
- A Trade of Blood (Ana and Din Mysteries, #3) by Robert Jackson Bennett★★★★★
review WIP- The Inheritance (Breach Wars, #1) by Ilona Andrews
- The Empire of Gold (The Daevabad Trilogy, #3) by S.A. Chakraborty
- The Kingdom of Copper (The Daevabad Trilogy, #2) by S.A. Chakraborty
- The City of Brass (The Daevabad Trilogy, #1) by S.A. Chakraborty
- The Pilot (The Last Horizon #4) by Will Wight
- The Knight (The Last Horizon, #3) by Will Wight
- The Engineer (The Last Horizon, #2) by Will Wight
- The Captain (The Last Horizon, #1) by Will Wight
- The Hero of Ages (Mistborn, #3) by Brandon Sanderson★★★★★
- The Well of Ascension (Mistborn, #2) by Brandon Sanderson★★★★★
- Mistborn: The Final Empire (Mistborn, #1) by Brandon Sanderson★★★★★
4.75/5. I haven't read a lot of Sanderson's work, but I definitely understand the appeal. This book has a great progression, both in terms of the plot and the main characters. The Vin and Kelsier dynamic were a great pairing. The parts… Read more- A Parade of Horribles (Dungeon Crawler Carl, #8) by Matt Dinniman★★★★★
5/5. This serious continues to be fantastic. Dinniman has managed to expand this story in such a intriguing and fascinating way that I am always excited to read the next one. In each book he slowly escalates the scope of 'containment' for… Read more- Red Seas Under Red Skies (Gentleman Bastard, #2) by Scott Lynch★★★★★
4/5. While this book is definitely a good read, it unfortunately doesn't hit the same peak that the first one does. The things that Scott Lynch maintained were his diverse vocabulary, vivid and detailed descriptions of the environment and… Read more- The Lies of Locke Lamora (Gentleman Bastard, #1) by Scott Lynch★★★★★
5/5. If you like scheming thievery and pure guile, then this book might be perfect for you. Scott Lynch has created anengrossing world, and boy does he describe it wonderfully. The character dynamics, the group dynamics, the social… Read more- Recitatif by Toni Morrison★★★★★
5/5. A short story, but an VERY powerful one. Toni Morrison did an unreal job with this work. The only thing I had heard prior to reading it was that it makes the reader confront different biases and attachments in regards to race, and the… Read more- Downfall (Above the Black, #3) by Marc J. Gregson★★★★★
5/5. For the intended audience, I think this series is an easy recommendation. Continuing from where the previous left off, MJG excels at situational placement of Conrad. Each chapter in this book you retrieve a little more essence of his… Read more- The Ether Witch: Confronting the Crafty Concubine (The Ether Witch, #2) by Delemhach★★★★★
4.25/5. Some expansion on characters in this one, and some wonderful new characters as well. Harris is definitely one of my favorites, but there are plenty of characters in this book that make it really so full of whimsy. The main duo is… Read more- The Ether Witch: The Casting Call (The Ether Witch, #1) by Delemhach★★★★★
4.25/5. I didn't really know what to expect from this series, I have never heard of this author before. That being said, I was pleasantly surprised at how cohesive it was. Only took me a few days to read this one, and I enjoyed it from… Read more- The Half-Hearted Queen (The Shattered King #2) by Charlie N. Holmberg★★★★★
3.75/5. I don't feel this was stronger than the first, but it was still fairly enjoyable and easy to read. This being the conclusion of the story naturally made it feel more complete, but I believe the first was more well-rounded. Either… Read more- Of Empires and Dust (The Bound and The Broken, #4) by Ryan Cahill★★★★★
5/5. This book was easily my favorite and most impactful of the series so far. So much character development, crazy twists, more insights and views into the inner workings of the various factions, and everything building up for a VERY… Read more- Of War and Ruin (The Bound and the Broken, #3) by Ryan Cahill★★★★★
4.75/5. Continuing right where the last when left off, and Cahill is definitely on form. The writing and world-building steadily improves as he is writing this series, and I am definitely loving it. The length of this book is assuredly… Read more- The Exile (The Bound and the Broken, #2.5) by Ryan Cahill★★★★★
4/5. This book is a novella about Dayne Ateres who we learned a bit more about in Of Darkness and Light, and he is just a fantastic character. Cahill really nailed the emotional beats of his backstory. His character is centered upon… Read more- Of Darkness and Light (The Bound and the Broken, #2) by Ryan Cahill★★★★★
4.5/5. The expansiveness of the world keeps expanding. This book took you into a whole different realm of politics, and had a lot of growth moments. Cahill really let Calen get his fair share of bumps and bruises in this one. After they… Read more- Of Blood and Fire (The Bound and the Broken, #1) by Ryan Cahill★★★★★
4.25/5. I have never read a book from Ryan Cahill, but I can easily say that I am impressed. The story starts out following Calen in the village called The Glade, but you quickly learn this place is just a spec of sand in this vast world.… Read more- Reckoning (Songs of Chaos, #4) by Michael R. Miller★★★★★
4.75/5. This book was fantastic! Michael R. Miller has truly crafted a wonderful world with a whole host of interesting characters and factions. There are many things to cover throughout this series, from the more primordial creatures that… Read more- Defiant (Songs of Chaos, #3) by Michael R. Miller★★★★★
4.75/5. I felt like the separate POVs worked better in this one than the previous. Holt and Ash continue to develop their bond and come to understand their true feelings more and more. Previously, I didn't really care much for Osric's… Read more- Unbound (Songs of Chaos, #2) by Michael R. Miller★★★★★
4.25/5. A nice continuation of the previous book. Michael Miller does a great job at laying out the world and the environment in this tale, and he did a fantastic job in this one specifically. The book shares in a lot of the great… Read more- Ascendant (Songs of Chaos, #1) by Michael R. Miller★★★★★
4.5/5. I've never read a book from this author, but I am definitely captivated by the world and this story overall. Michael Miller (MM) does a wonderful job at displaying the emotions of the characters on the page. Additionally, he is… Read more- Mother of Learning: ARC 4 by Domagoj Kurmaić★★★★★
5/5. "Good morning, brother! Morning, morning, MORNING!!!" A fantastic close to a fantastic series. I was wondering how Domagoj Kurmaić (DK) would stick the landing with this world and story, and I will say they did it amazingly well. I… Read more- Mother of Learning: ARC 3 by Domagoj Kurmaić★★★★★
4.5/5. Another great edition of this series. Domagoj Kurmaić has truly crafted a great progression fantasy story here. An expansive world with a whole host of characters to learn about. I will save more of my review for Arc 4. The… Read more- Mother of Learning: ARC 2 by Domagoj Kurmaić★★★★★
4.5/5. A great next arc in this captivating story by Domagoj Kurmaić (DK). Going to keep this review shorter simply due to how easily the story flows into the next arc. The last arc (ARC 4) review will probably be the longest one. I really… Read more- Mother of Learning: ARC 1 by Domagoj Kurmaić★★★★★
4.5/5. I went into this mostly blind, only hearing that this series was highly regarded on social media, and I definitely enjoyed it. I've never read anything from nothing103 aka Domagoj Kurmaić (DK) before, and I was surprised at how… Read more- Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker★★★★★
4.5/5. A breezy and gripping read for a horror thriller. 304 pages with a quite disturbing story with a potent message. This is the first book I have read from Kylie Lee Baker (KLB), and I was definitely impressed. KLB writes absurdly well… Read more- The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab★★★★★
3.5/5. This book was solid. Very interesting premise, I like the framing and the terms of her Faustian bargain early on. That aspect of it was quite enjoyable, as was the moral and emotional dilemmas. Having everyone forget you, or… Read more- The Shattered King (The Shattered King, #1) by Charlie N. Holmberg★★★★★
4.5/5. I have never read a Charlie Holmberg (C.H.) book before this; I went in essentially blind, and came out pleasantly surprised. This book was quite a nice page-turner, with likeable main character and some powerful themes being… Read more- Say You'll Remember Me (Say You'll Remember Me #1) by Abby Jimenez★★★★★
4/5. For what it is, this was a pretty smooth read with an actually strong and realistic set of conundrums that the main pair is dealing with. I am more of a fantasy fiction reader generally, but I dabble in the romance section from time… Read more- The King in Yellow by Robert W. Chambers★★★★★
2.5/5. I was considering giving this like a 3 on a contemporary-based rating scale and the historical importance of these stories for the horror genre, but the romantic stories which make up the second half are pretty lackluster. The first… Read more- The Strength of the Few (Hierarchy, #2) by James Islington★★★★★
4.5/5. I really enjoyed this book. When I was nearing the 500-page mark, I started getting a little sad, because I really didn't want to stop reading this book, but I knew the end was ever-approaching. Before reading, I will say I am more… Read more- The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow★★★★★
4.75/5. A nice, but definitely temporally complex story about a harrowing duo. This one was a quick and breezy read for me, I enjoyed this one a lot! The way Alix E. Harrow writes is just so easy to read. Even with such a complex… Read more- The Blacktongue Thief (Blacktongue, #1) by Christopher Buehlman★★★★★
3.5/5. Solid story overall, with some interesting character relationships and world-building. I didn't get much from it that entirely wowed me, but I enjoyed my time reading it. It was a pretty smooth read overall, with an easy to follow… Read more- The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang★★★★★
5/5. One of the absolute best books I’ve read to date. Simply fantastic front to back. I loved Blood Over Brighthaven, but I have to say this book was even better. M.L Wang has quickly become one of the authors I am most excited for,… Read more- The Curse of Chalion (World of the Five Gods, #1) by Lois McMaster Bujold★★★★★
4/5. This is a strong book, and was quite the interesting world with some enthralling characters. This is the first book I have read from Lois McMaster Bujold, and I get definitely see why she is so highly regarded. The Curse of Chalion… Read more- The Raven Scholar (Eternal Path Trilogy, #1) by Antonia Hodgson★★★★★
5/5. This is easily one of the best books I have read this year, and definitely one of the best of this theme/genre I have read so far. I can quickly tell this trilogy is going to be a good one. It is rare for a book to make you feel this… Read more- The Perfect Run by Maxime J. Durand★★★★★
5/5. This book was quite an amazing ride. The characters were all so intriguing, combined with the primary element of time travel, it just led to a wonderful reading experience. Each member of the crew had detailed and interesting… Read more- Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah★★★★★
4.5/5. If you like modern political commentary told through a grim, but gripping story that is based (sadly) in a possible reality, then this book is for you. I have never read a book from NKAB before, but he is absolutely fantastic at… Read more- Babel by R.F. Kuang★★★★★
5/5. This book gets a high rating due to so many well written elements. There are plenty of observations and allegorical situations about colonialism, imperialism, racism, xenophobia, sexism, and abuse. Kuang did a great job at pacing the… Read more- The Handmaid’s Tale (The Handmaid's Tale, #1) by Margaret Atwood★★★★★
5/5. I see why this book is regarded so highly. Margaret Atwood did an unbelievable job at writing so that it feels like the reader is stepping into the shoes of Offred. Obviously, the story is rooted in sexism, oppression, and… Read more- Jade City (The Green Bone Saga, #1) by Fonda Lee★★★★★
3/5. If you like a slow build and burn, then this book might be for you. If you don't (like me), then you may be quite put-off by the pacing and the characters. The world building was solid, the family had a interesting enough history, an… Read more- Rebel Witch (The Crimson Moth, #2) by Kristen Ciccarelli★★★★★
4/5. I liked this more than the first book, especially considering how the relations between the two main character's evolved over the story. Gideon [spoilers removed] Rune [spoilers removed] The ending [spoilers removed] Overall, pacing… Read more- Heartless Hunter (The Crimson Moth, #1) by Kristen Ciccarelli★★★★★
3.5/5. An interesting world with a character that comes from a hefty amount of trauma. Being actively persecuted as a witch in the city and having to [spoilers removed] One of the drawbacks of KC's writing in this one is that a lot of… Read more- Vengeful (Villains, #2) by V.E. Schwab★★★★★
3.5/5. Solid sequel, I think it added some new dynamics to the characters, especially Victor. Sydney coming to the realization that [spoilers removed] I think the start of the book was paced pretty well, and the June character was very… Read more- Vicious (Villains, #1) by V.E. Schwab★★★★★
4/5. Solid story, very easy to read. This book ended up taking me about 4 hours, and I satisfied. The world-building was sufficient enough, and I think barring some of the logical problems with seemingly how 'simple' it is to [spoilers… Read more- The House in the Cerulean Sea (Cerulean Chronicles, #1) by T.J. Klune★★★★★
4.5/5. A fantastical and wholesome story. If you are really into this type of story, this might be a 5/5 for you, for me though, it was a little out of my wheelhouse. Even then, I thought it was extremely well written, as it focused on a… Read more- A Drop of Corruption (Ana and Din Mysteries, #2) by Robert Jackson Bennett★★★★★
5/5. LOVED IT. RJB has crafted an amazing world with very enjoyable characters. The underlying themes in this one surrounding the king-like fantasy, and the autocracy as a whole was just beautifully executed. Another mystery for the… Read more- Dark Matter by Blake Crouch★★★★★
3.5/5. The writing style was smooth enough, and I think the premise was quite unique compared to many other books I have read. The concept of the [spoilers removed] isn't entirely new, but the way it was executed in this book was enticing… Read more- Queen of Fate (Fae of Woodlands & Wild, #3) by Krista Street★★★★★
4/5. A solid conclusion to the trilogy. I felt like every aspect of the story was nicely wrapped up in this book. It was a smooth read, with a nice pacing. The character development of Elowen over the series was gradually built, and it… Read more- Veil of Shadows (Fae of Woodlands & Wild, #2) by Krista Street★★★★★
4/5. Another smooth read. Read this one back-to-back with the first one, and it picked up literally exactly where it left off. The pacing was nice, and the mystery of [spoilers removed] really brought more character depth to Jax. Elowen… Read more- Kingdom of Faewood (Fae of Woodlands & Wild, #1) by Krista Street★★★★★
4/5. A very interesting world. I think KS did a splendid job of painting a world with some quite harsh realities. The mindset that Elowen has is strongly encapsulated in her thought process of everything that happens to her. She is truly… Read more- Iron & Embers (The Ashes of Thezmarr, #1) by Helen Scheuerer★★★★★
3/5. A solid story, with quite the interesting main character. Having experienced so much trauma and being denied from actually pursuing the only passion she has, she takes matters into her own hands. Torj, the brute that he is, has quite… Read more- Among Serpents (Above the Black, #2) by Marc J. Gregson★★★★★
5/5. MJG continues to impress with the second book in the Above the Black series. The atmosphere of this world remains captivating, and the intensity of the story keeps climbing. The balance of action, character development, and moral… Read more- Sky's End (Above the Black, #1) by Marc J. Gregson★★★★★
4.5/5. The atmosphere MJG built around this world was spectacular. The dueling system combined with a character that went from the highest-of-highs to the lowest-of-lows (sort of). The character development of Conrad through out of story… Read more- This Inevitable Ruin (Dungeon Crawler Carl, #7) by Matt Dinniman★★★★★
5/5. This book had so many different storylines and callbacks in it, character developments, new surprises, deceit, crazy combat scenarios, mysteries. It just had everything. The dynamic duo is still as strong as ever. I am quite excited… Read more- The Eye of the Bedlam Bride (Dungeon Crawler Carl, #6) by Matt Dinniman★★★★★
4.5/5. Such a fun read Another unique floor, another great story. I like how Carl [spoilers removed] The duo is as great as ever, and it is nice to see moments where they both have a stronger understanding of each others feelings, showing… Read more- The Butcher's Masquerade (Dungeon Crawler Carl, #5) by Matt Dinniman★★★★★
4.75/5. The duo is still great. A lot of character development for both Carl and Donut in this one, with a huge expansion into the details of the out-of-dungeon politics. The various storylines in this one made it feel a lot like an actual… Read more- The Gate of the Feral Gods (Dungeon Crawler Carl, #4) by Matt Dinniman★★★★★
4.25/5. Another great time with this dynamic duo, and another unique level for the them to conquer. As always, the interplay between the outside world, the game dynamics, and the AI is all very intriguing. I loved how [spoilers removed] I… Read more- The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook (Dungeon Crawler Carl, #3) by Matt Dinniman★★★★★
4.5/5. I love how each level has been unique so far, but has vague elements that carry over. This one had a much more complex navigational system, but I think it played out well. The routing of the different trains and the portals led to… Read more- Carl's Doomsday Scenario (Dungeon Crawler Carl, #2) by Matt Dinniman★★★★★
4.5/5. This book was a great successor to the first one, and I felt matched the pacing, energy, and flair that it had. MD hits the nail on the head with the humor and various challenges, and I really like the whole out-of-game political… Read more- Dungeon Crawler Carl (Dungeon Crawler Carl, #1) by Matt Dinniman★★★★★
4.5/5. Fun read if you have played RPG-type games before. A lot of meta references to things that would be commonly found within these type of games. I think the humor in this book and the craftiness of the abilities / battles is it's… Read more- Yumi and the Nightmare Painter (Hoid's Travails, #2) by Brandon Sanderson★★★★★
5/5. First Sanderson book since I started reading again, and man do I understand why he is rated so highly. At the beginning of the story I was a little confused on the perspective, but once it was explained like 5-10% in, it became clear.… Read more- The Will of the Many (Hierarchy, #1) by James Islington★★★★★
5/5. I will 100% be reading the next book when it releases. JI did a fantastic job at drawing me into this world. He starts off the first chapter with some innocuous, but peculiar situations, and boy does it ramp. The pacing is a gradual… Read more- Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang★★★★★
5/5. Amazing book, first one I have read from M. L. Wang, and she did not disappoint. I was originally intending to give this book a 4.5 due to some minor drawbacks, but I gave it a little more debate and I am more content with it. The way… Read more- The Edge (The 6:20 Man, #2) by David Baldacci★★★★★
4/5. A smooth and enjoyable read through-and-through. Devine is a fun character to follow, with his various tactics and intuitions, and it stays the same in this book. The small-town crime scenario in this one led for a concise story, one… Read more- Onyx Storm (The Empyrean, #3) by Rebecca Yarros★★★★★
3.5/5. Might change rating later after more deliberation and space from time-of-read. I did enjoy this book, but compared to the other two, I think this may be the weakest of the three. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy the characters and… Read more- The 6:20 Man (The 6:20 Man, #1) by David Baldacci★★★★★
4/5. Another good read. DB did a nice job at creating a likeable main character who is dealing with his trauma from his past actions. There are a few separate plot lines and twists in this book, and it kept me guessing to each characters… Read more- Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan★★★★★
4.5/5. I really enjoyed this book! It was a fun read, with the hook starting immediately. SLT did a great job at getting me invested from the beginning, and had intricate points on complex issues (i.e during war). Liyen constantly getting… Read more- Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt★★★★★
5/5. Great book! Quite a wholesome and touching story. Very easy to read- I enjoyed the different perspectives. SVP did a great job with each character having their own traumatic experience in one way or another, and having it all tie… Read more- Kaput: The End of the German Miracle by Wolfgang Münchau★★★★★
5/5. This book goes into great detail about everything economics in Germany. From immigration, to technology, to bad trade deals, to even worse trade deals. The amount of obviously bad decisions by the German powers-that-be is actually… Read more- Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera★★★★★
3.5/5. The humor in this book was funny, as childish as it may be at certain points. The sarcasm in the first half of the book landed well for me. The second half got a lot more 'investigative' and serious, which was interesting, but the… Read more- The Only One Left by Riley Sager★★★★★
4/5. Fun book with a very intriguing plot. RS did a great job of getting the hook of this book off quickly, and overall just an enjoyable read. Most of the characters got solid conclusions and it felt like a complete story… Read more- Talking to My Daughter About the Economy: or, How Capitalism Works—and How It Fails by Yanis Varoufakis★★★★★
5/5. This book is great for exactly what it's goal is. It was an accessible introduction and general overview of market societies / the economy, and some of their most pertinent quirks. The examples used in this book are all clear and… Read more- The Tainted Cup (Ana and Din Mysteries, #1) by Robert Jackson Bennett★★★★★
5/5. Definitely recommend if you're looking for a nice mystery with quite enjoyable characters. It's always a delight to read a book where both of the main characters are so likeable. The Din and Ana tag-team was refreshing. Din being so… Read more- Two Twisted Crowns (The Shepherd King, #2) by Rachel Gillig★★★★★
4/5. The romance and struggle of [spoilers removed] was enjoyable, but I would have preferred to see much more of Elspeth and Ravyn. The first book really drew those two home as the dynamic pair, and while they were both instrumental to… Read more- One Dark Window (The Shepherd King, #1) by Rachel Gillig★★★★★
4.25/5. I enjoyed this book a lot. The mythos of the cards and what the represented, the internal politics of the world that Gillig constructed, all the various factions vying for their own power, was very nicely done. The pacing was nice,… Read more- There Is No Antimemetics Division by qntm★★★★★
4/5. I really like this concept of the Antimemetics. The black hole informational system, and the measures the Foundation uses to counteract it is a great hook into this book. I think the conclusion of the story was a little too abstract… Read more- Piranesi by Susanna Clarke★★★★★
4/5? Not quite sure where to rate this book. It was an enjoyable read, and I understand (I think) the greater symbolism of it, but maybe this type of book just isn't my style. The writing was good, I like the uncovering of the mystery by… Read more- Iron Flame (The Empyrean, #2) by Rebecca Yarros★★★★★
4/5. While I think this book was a very enjoyable read, it lacked some of the flair that the first book had. This is still a very good book though. The benefits were that a lot of the story had already progressed so there were familiar… Read more- Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, #1) by Rebecca Yarros★★★★★
5/5. An absolutely amazing story, the characters all had their own style and were built very well. The wittyness and humor thrown around in this book, and the timely details were some of the best I have ever read. The struggles between… Read more- Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir★★★★★
4.5/5. Andy Weir hit a home run with this one. The entire concept was great all the way through. Some of the dialogue from the main character was a little cheesy, but he is a school teacher so I'm not really surprised. The arising problems… Read more- First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston★★★★★
4/5. Fun read, would recommend. The hidden identity aspect was definitely enticing and kept me very interested in the premise. The twists Elston put into various key moments were always a fresh surprise; I never got bored reading this… Read more- Five Survive by Holly Jackson★★★★★
3/5. It was an easy read, but it was just okay. The idea seemed silly at first, but as the book progressed I felt it draw me in a little bit more. The switch in tone from confusion, to survival, to betrayal was quite smooth. After the… Read more- The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides★★★★★
3/5. The mysterious aspect of the murder had me captivated for most of the book. I felt the interactions and limit-testing of Theo was quite interesting, but I believe the ending was sort of obvious; about 1/2 of the way into the book it's… Read more- Ward D by Freida McFadden★★★★★
3/5. The main character was somewhat annoying, but I think the premise is quite interesting. The hallucination aspect in the psych ward holds a strong arena for a twistable story. The mystery of wondering who is a trust-able character was… Read more