A brilliant ending to a brilliant trilogy. I didn't know how I was going to feel switching from Signa's to Blythe's POV for the final book but I lovedA brilliant ending to a brilliant trilogy. I didn't know how I was going to feel switching from Signa's to Blythe's POV for the final book but I loved it. Blythe was such a strong, sarcastic and endearing voice to follow and I loved her back and forth quips and slow building relationship with Aris.
The ending felt a little rushed and in all honestly, I would have happily read a fourth book to have it developed a little more (maybe a duology for Sigma and one for Blythe?) but other than that, I had a great time with this.
This definitely left room for a spin off or additions to this world and story and if that happens, I'm sure I'll be picking it up because Adalyn's writing is a joy to read....more
This was truly the perfect sequel. Just as action packed, fun and exciting as book one, the only issue I have is that I want to read book three right This was truly the perfect sequel. Just as action packed, fun and exciting as book one, the only issue I have is that I want to read book three right this second! ...more
3.5* Although I admittedly didn’t love this quite as much as Ali’s contemporary novels (it was always going to be hard to beat those) I still had a lo3.5* Although I admittedly didn’t love this quite as much as Ali’s contemporary novels (it was always going to be hard to beat those) I still had a lot of fun with this book. It was engaging, witty, bizarre and incredibly entertaining. Ali has just a comfortable writing style that even if I didn’t totally adore this, I still struggle to fault her ability to fully capture my attention....more
The moment I heard heist novel with vampires, I was all in and I'm happy to be able to say this didn't disappoint. It's rich with tension, high stakesThe moment I heard heist novel with vampires, I was all in and I'm happy to be able to say this didn't disappoint. It's rich with tension, high stakes and intrigue. The characters were well developed and compelling and the world building equally so. As fun as this story was, it also brilliantly interwove conversations surrounding the brutality of colonialism and its repercussions. The dialogue was quick witted and endearing and Hafsah's writing style overall was a joy to read. It was fast paced, beautifully flowing and made reading each page feel effortless.
All in all, this was a fabulous example of an action-packed heist novel with substance and I had a huge amount of fun with it. I’m already excited for book two. ...more
An unapologetically queer, grisly and dark paranormal thriller mystery fuelled by female rage and an all consuming desire for truth and retribution. TAn unapologetically queer, grisly and dark paranormal thriller mystery fuelled by female rage and an all consuming desire for truth and retribution. This book doesn’t shy away from its messages of toxic masculinity and misogyny, and manages to do with without becoming discriminatory in its definition of feminism or gender. All in all, this was fast moving, stressful, horrifying, somewhat predictable but highly entertaining read....more
A super fun, eerie, exciting and atmospheric haunted house mystery, with a lovely focus on friendship, history and the relationships with siblings andA super fun, eerie, exciting and atmospheric haunted house mystery, with a lovely focus on friendship, history and the relationships with siblings and grandparents. Highly recommend for readers of all ages looking for a creepy, yet heartwarming adventure....more
4.5* The moment I heard Kalynn Bayron was writing a middle grade novel about vampire hunters, I knew I was in for a treat and The Vanquishers did not 4.5* The moment I heard Kalynn Bayron was writing a middle grade novel about vampire hunters, I knew I was in for a treat and The Vanquishers did not remotely disappoint.
This was such a fun adventure, with just the right amount of spook and action for its intended audience, whilst still being a thoroughly enjoyable read as an adult (especially for those sneaky Twilight quips). The Vanquishers features a beautifully diverse cast of characters who are all fully developed and will instantly steal your heart. As a story, it’s got everything you could ask for; loving family dynamics, rebellious kids, 10/10 friendships, action sequences, humour and plenty of secrets just waiting to be uncovered.
I had so much fun with this and am beyond thrilled to discover it’s going to be getting a sequel. I’m already pumped to see what’s in store for these kids....more
3.5* A fast paced, paranormal fantasy that’s one part quest adventure, one part rivals-to-lovers romance and one part exploration into intergeneration3.5* A fast paced, paranormal fantasy that’s one part quest adventure, one part rivals-to-lovers romance and one part exploration into intergenerational family dynamics between mothers and daughters.
This was an incredibly visual book and I felt as though Miranda Sun did a fantastic job in that side of the world building (I could vividly picture each scene and setting). However, I wish their had been a little more explanation and/or development surrounding the magic systems, as there was a lot going on, all of which was really fun, but became a little lost at times. The banter between Clara and Zach was a lot of fun but again, I’d have liked a little more depth to their characters and relationships between both them and their families.
Overall, this was a fun and incredibly readable story and one that I found myself easily swept into. ...more
Atmospheric, easy to read and ridiculously entertaining with just enough mystery and intrigue to keep me guessing. It's not anything mind blowing but Atmospheric, easy to read and ridiculously entertaining with just enough mystery and intrigue to keep me guessing. It's not anything mind blowing but it is heaps of fun and after loving Belladonna for all the same reasons, that's all I was asking for from this book. It was simply a good time....more
A compelling and intense read with a mystery that had me powering through this book, desperate to know what was going on.
While I admittedly figured ouA compelling and intense read with a mystery that had me powering through this book, desperate to know what was going on.
While I admittedly figured out the ‘whodunnit’ early on, the ‘why did they do it?’ kept me guessing right up until the reveal in the best way. With discussions of generation trauma, racism, sisterhood and faith, The Shadow Sister was an addictive and provocative read that allowed left no room for anything but my full attention. Lily Meade is such an exciting new voice in YA and I can’t wait to see what she does next.
I didn't know I needed gothic paranormal murder mystery in my life but clearly I was wrong. This book somehow managed to keep me guessing until the fiI didn't know I needed gothic paranormal murder mystery in my life but clearly I was wrong. This book somehow managed to keep me guessing until the final page. Admittedly, for me, the romance itself fell a little flat and I'm not sure how I feel about the whole "I've watched you from a baby and am more than a little obsessed with you" but everything else? Loved it. With its fast paced, unpredictable twists and turns, an intriguing cast of characters and Jane Eyre meets The Secret Garden meets Ghosts vibes, this ghostly murder mystery proved to be an incredibly entertaining read and one whose sequel I'm very much looking forward to.
Merged review:
I didn't know I needed gothic paranormal murder mystery in my life but clearly I was wrong. This book somehow managed to keep me guessing until the final page. Admittedly, for me, the romance itself fell a little flat and I'm not sure how I feel about the whole "I've watched you from a baby and am more than a little obsessed with you" but everything else? Loved it. With its fast paced, unpredictable twists and turns, an intriguing cast of characters and Jane Eyre meets The Secret Garden meets Ghosts vibes, this ghostly murder mystery proved to be an incredibly entertaining read and one whose sequel I'm very much looking forward to....more
Cosy, adorable, macabre, romantic and funny, this was such a gorgeously fun read and so pleasantly unexpected. Between this and The Dead Romantics, clCosy, adorable, macabre, romantic and funny, this was such a gorgeously fun read and so pleasantly unexpected. Between this and The Dead Romantics, clearly undertaker/funeral director rom-coms is a sub-genre I’m totally here for. Loved it! ...more
An eerie, fast paced and compelling read with major Coraline vibes. I picked this up on a whim and I’m so glad I did because I was pleasantly surpriseAn eerie, fast paced and compelling read with major Coraline vibes. I picked this up on a whim and I’m so glad I did because I was pleasantly surprised by how enjoyable it was. It’s vivid imagery and brilliantly atmospheric, yet punchy and never overly descriptive, writing had me flying through this in a few sittings. A great one if you’re looking for a eerie, gothic read sans any hardcore horror.
A brilliantly suspenseful and creepy read full of heart, thrills and action from start to finish.
With a gentle sapphic childhood-friends-to-lovers roA brilliantly suspenseful and creepy read full of heart, thrills and action from start to finish.
With a gentle sapphic childhood-friends-to-lovers romance, zombies and explorations of gentrification, racism, racial profiling, collective trauma, this was a multilayered, zombie hunting action/horror and I had so much fun with it. I can't wait to see what's next from Vincent Tirado because I'm already hooked on their stories.
Dark and fast past with brilliant discussions surrounding trauma, specifically that experienced by gay Black men and the microagressions and racism thDark and fast past with brilliant discussions surrounding trauma, specifically that experienced by gay Black men and the microagressions and racism that come with being one of the few Black students at a predominantly white school.
However, unfortunately I didn’t love this book as much as I’d hoped. To be totally honest, I found the supernatural aspect of it pretty confusing and hard to follow. I also really struggled with the way Sawyer’s character was represented. It felt very much like yet another example of the whole (entirely inaccurate) ‘people with mental illnesses are scary and murderers’ trope, which only helps to stigmatise mental illness when there isn’t further nuance or depth to the plot point, which I didn’t feel there was enough of in this case.
To be honest, I almost wish it had focused more on Jake as a character, as I loved the chapters which focused on his relationships with Allister, Fiona and his family. They were interesting and intriguing and I just wanted more.
Overall, I think this book features some really important conversations and very much appreciate that aspect of it but the supernatural side wasn’t for me unfortunately.
a dark, twisted, ominous and brilliantly atmospheric queer ghostly mystery, this was superb.
I’m so excited about Courtney Gould as an author, her wria dark, twisted, ominous and brilliantly atmospheric queer ghostly mystery, this was superb.
I’m so excited about Courtney Gould as an author, her writing is atmospheric, easy to read and wonderfully addictive. The characters, the story and the relationships were superbly fleshed and the supernatural elements perfectly eerie. I loved it.
TW: homophobia, homophobic language, hate crime ...more
Heartbreaking, heartfelt, wonderfully written and incredibly unique, I couldn't put it down.Heartbreaking, heartfelt, wonderfully written and incredibly unique, I couldn't put it down....more
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