book reviews

[thespilledquotes]

“Breathe. You’re going to be okay. Breathe and remember that you’ve been in this place before. You’ve been this uncomfortable and anxious and scared, and you’ve survived. Breathe and know that you can survive this too. These feelings can’t break you. They’re painful and debilitating, but you can sit with them and eventually, they will pass. Maybe not immediately, but sometime soon, they are going to fade and when they do, you’ll look back at this moment and laugh for having doubted your resilience. I know it feels unbearable right now, but keep breathing, again and again. This will pass. I promise it will pass.”

— Daniell Koepke (via perfectquote)

[deviika]

"I disappeared into books when I was very young, disappeared into them like someone running into the woods."

—Rebecca Solnit

[nosyreader]

omg my professor just handed out some chocolate to this one kid and said “here eat this it will help” when he said he was tired what in the remus lupin.........

[nosyreader]

update

hi so i know i have been off the grid for quite some time now and i’m hoping to start doing some more reviews. honestly, life happens sometimes and you just have to take it one day at a time and that’s what i’m trying to do

if anyone has any study tips or recommendations for uni, please please please send me them! i’m starting soon and i would love any help i can get

love y’all and i’ll see you soon

[quotemadness]

“I choose you over everyone.”

— Rainbow Rowell

[nosyreader]

hello loves i recently found a bunch of audiobooks on spotify!!! they have Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater, and so many more! enjoy☺️

[nosyreader]

what’s your toxic trait?

mine is buying the first book of 5 different series in ONE DAY and being afraid to read all of them because then i’m going to have to buy the rest of the series and i’m poor :(

and if i’m reading one series then i want to finish it before starting another one but that first book is RIGHT THERE ON MY SHELF TAUNTING ME and why am i like this

[nosyreader]

Rule of Wolves publishing page by Leigh Bardugo

[aaronstveit]

love those mutuals i don’t talk to but have super warm energy. i see your lil icons and just feel comforted. love y’all <3

[nosyreader]

Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, Romance

Summary: Alosa is not just any pirate, she’s the Daughter of the Pirate King, the most feared pirate lord across the seas. Sent by her father, Alosa is purposely captured by the enemy in order to search their ship for a treasure her father has been hunting for years: a map that will lead to a legendary treasure stash. But her mission becomes much more complicated when she is forced to face the clever and fairly good-looking first-mate Riden.

Review:

I’m a sap for a number of tropes, and this book has a handful of them. For starters, enemies to lovers (kinda). Another, the beloved “there’s only one bed” catch. Anything pirate-related will do it for me, as well. Also, the “I don’t understand why I keep fighting for/saving you but I’m going to keep doing it anyways.” So points for that.

This book is advertised as a quick read. It’s pretty obvious when you compare its size to some others. I love short reads like that, especially when you’re in a reading slump. But I think this book was too fast at times. Like the plot moved quick and there was sometimes no time to process what had happened before you were moving on to the next action.

Not my favorite read ever, but it was enjoyable and I want to read the sequel to find out what happens next because Alosa is a badass and I want to see her kill some more people :)

[nosyreader]

the amount of self-control i exercised in barnes and noble today... i’m awestruck

[nosyreader]

House of Thieves by Charles Belfoure

Genre: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Mystery

Rating: ★★★★☆

WARNINGS: Gambling, torture, sex, and death.

Summary: John Cross and his family are members of 1886 New York high society. But everyone in society has their own secrets. For the architect Cross, it's his eldest son’s obscenely high gambling debt to Mr. Kent, the most famous crime boss in the city. Cross’s options are this: let his son be killed by Kent and his men or join their team. Cross soon becomes a valuable asset to the team and he finds himself in a whole new world he never would have imagined.

Review:

The concept of this book is so unique and captivating and it made for a really good read. Personally, it has all of the “tropes” that I love, including heists, crime, and high society. I’m really a sucker for danger.

I was first drawn to this book because it vaguely reminded me of Six of Crows, which is obviously one of my favorite books. However, after finishing the book I realized just how much the two resembled each other. This book also gives me major Peaky Blinders vibes if you’ve ever watched that (highly recommend). There are so many parallels that I’ve noticed between the two.

Some of the characters were more bland than others, which is why I rated it 4 stars. I wouldn’t say there was bad writing, just some characters got more representation than others. I would have loved to see more in-depth looks into some lives.

[beckisbookshelf-deactivated2023]

Read unapologetically.

Read publicly. Read privately. Read anthologies. Read short stories. Read constantly. Read occasionally. Read quickly. Read slowly. Read history. Read erotica. Read middle grade. Read psychological. Read classics. Read fantasy. Read queer. Read straight. Read the good. Read the bad.

And never apologize for what and how you read.

[nosyreader]

the way i screamed when i watched the trailer... perfection

[nosyreader]

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, Romance

Rating: ★★☆☆☆

Summary:  A mysterious circus comes and goes as it pleases, always without a warning. It holds magic and mystery and many deep secrets. The circus is home to an intense competition undergone by two very talented magicians, Celia and Marco. Neither understands just how complex and intertwined their lives are, and they begin to fall for one another. But no matter the love they feel, the show must go on. The competition must be one. And the loser will face the consequences.

Review:

The concept of a mystery competition in a circus seemed really intriguing until I actually started to read the book and I realized how insignificant? or poorly written? the actual competition is. I feel like the mystery behind it is good, but eventually that secrecy becomes a front for not actually knowing what to write about. Also the “Romance” tag threw me off, as well. I feel that there was hardly any romance at all, and what little there was, it was too quick, too late in the book, and not emotional enough. Their relationship seemed incredibly forced and boring.

I also have a very strong opinion about fantasy that I will share with you all even if you don’t really care: You can have a book with a mediocre plot/setting and it still be successful if the characters are good. You cannot have a book with a solid setting without the characters to go with the world. I just felt like I couldn’t really connect to the characters (or at least the main characters) because they didn’t really have much of a personality.

This book gave off similar vibes to The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin (review here) which I really loved, but in the end it just can’t compare. Sorry but booktok did me dirty with this pick.

[hiddenhistoria]

Catch up tag

Rules: tag 9 people you’d like to know better/catch up with.

Thank you @regan-wickworre for the tag.

Last Song: Guren no Yumiya - Linked Horizon

Last Movie: Howl’s Moving Castle

Currently Reading: Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman

Currently Watching: Attack on Titan season 4

Currently Craving: A hot chocolate and some good company (anyone up for raving about their WIPs?)

@chazzawrites, @writingonesdreams, @tae-mv, @perditism, @starryeve88, @writingbyjillian, @seven-days-was-all-she-wrote, @sleepyowlwrites, @peepos-prose, passing this on to you, hope you’re all doing well :)

[inkysky]

Oh, thanks @hiddenhistoria! I’m doing alright at the moment, and I hope you are as well.

Last Song: 輪舞 (rinbu) by Orange Pekoe

Last Movie: When Marnie Was There - Ghibli as well!

Currently Reading: Oof, I’ve been meaning to start something new this month but haven’t had the time yet. The most recent book I’ve started was The Jazz of Physics by Stephon Alexander, though that was a couple months ago.

Currently Watching: Song Exploder on Netflix

Currently Craving: I’m happy with the food and company I had today, but I’d like a night that I can go to bed early without having to worry about work :(

@peabraininavat, @sonus-aurum, @redheadgleek, @blwshin, @pepperdee, @ladyandthebooks, @justaleafinthewind, @affectionatemeconopsis, @a-daily-existential-crisis, and anyone else feel free to join! I enjoy seeing what people have to say :)

[affectionatemeconopsis]

Thank you @seven-days-was-all-she-wrote !! This is so exciting!

Last Song: Aftermath by Caravan Palace

Last Movie: Whisper of the Heart

Currently Reading: A Winter’s Promise by Christelle Dabos, I love the atmosphere so far!

Currently Watching: Jujutsu Kaisen, the manga is amazing and so far the anime has survived my expectations

Currently Craving: noodles, and continuing to annoy anyone in a meter radius about my WIP (feral drafting has been going well)

@literally-just-kirby, @watwrites, @unnamedwriter2003, @littlerothridinghood, @lunarmoment, @blindthewind, @vivian-is-writing, @nightfighter-of-cimmerian, @ellatholmes, I’d love to hear how you’re doing! No pressure, of course

[literally-just-kirby-deactivate]

oh aw hi!!

.

last song: maybe money machine by 100gecs? or verbatim by mother mother?? or something by cavetown. can’t remember.

last movie: i rewatched your name for like the 20th time. this time in french.

currently reading: we are the ants by shaun david hutchinson

currently watching: im not really into series, sorry

currently craving: therapy

.

i have to tag NINE WHOLE people??

@written-to-death @amethystpath @amethyst-writer @poisoned-by-royalty @emerqlds @trappedgoose-in-a-writblr-room @xenahurricane @whump-a-la-mode @creweemmaeec11

[amethyst-writer]

Last Song: Perfect Illusion by Lady Gaga (idk why cuz i rarely listen to this song lol)

Last Movie: not including the Sound of Music (which we are watching in school even tho i’ve seen it a lot lol): Les Misérables

Currently Reading: Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen (in school)

Currently Watching: Legacies, Supernatural

i nominate @asexual-juliet and @sunshineuponashelf

[sunshineonashelf]

last song: since i saw vienna by wilbur soot

last movie: i haven’t watched a movie in so long omg i think soul which i watched in like december

currently reading: pride and prejudice by jane austen for school

currently watching: does the dream smp count

currently craving: peanut butter ice cream and a great comet revival

i nominate @simp4bwayladies and @cometsandghosts

[simp4bwayladies]

last song: the rule from in the green

last movie: harriet (it’s literally so good and cynthia erivo is spectacular you guys should watch it)

currently reading: i’m literally also reading pride and prejudice for my literature elective class and paradise lost by john milton for my other literature class

currently watching: avatar the last airbender (and i’m obsessed)

currently craving: sleep and a break from school

i nominate: @msmaryadmitrievna @eevaughnricotta @raccooninthedaytime @thepeggyofthegroup123 @gingerbread-castle @flowers-inthepieshop @deniem-supreme and anyone else who wants to share a little bit about themselves!

[raccooninthedaytime]

Last song: Bellbottoms by The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion

Last Movie: Knives Out (for the third time lmao)

Currently Reading: Frankenstein for school and The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue for fun

Currently Watching: Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Boys, and also Blown Away (that glass blowing game show on netflix?? Idk lmao)

Currently Craving: oreos and tea.

Im not gonna force anyone to do it but if you want to absolutely do!! @sushi-salsa-squirrel @yourrandom-ish-blog @i-quite-like-musicals @genz-bisexual

Also anyone who wasn’t tagged who wants to do it!! Pls do i wanna know about yaaaalll

[season-of-the-squirrels]

last song: cough syrup by young the giant

last movie: the boys in the band

currently reading: it’s kind of a funny story by ned vizzini

currently watching: the good place, the queen’s gambit, parks and rec

currently craving: bubble tea

i tag (no obligation to follow through ofc): @ifluffysquirrel @theselfhatingangelofthursday @dailydestieldose @probablyprocrastinatingrightnow @berrybrainwreck @humanbeingtriestowrite @futuristicduckpizzaspy and anyone who sees this! tell me what’s been going on with you lately!

[humanbeingtriestowrite]

Last song: I hate you so much - Alexander 23

Last movie: I don’t remember the last time I watched a movie, but maybe it was Seven Days

Currently reading: I’m not currently reading books, but I’m reading some webtoons. R.U Screwed, Apathetic Boyfriends, Kids Being Kids

Currently watching: My hero Academia and L.U.C.A

Currently craving: going out, traveling (I hope this pandemic stops, it’s more then 7 month that I’m at home and I really hope everyone is doing their best to let this virus stop. I wish we could all be healthy and happy and go out again. I hope all the people who are working hard in hospitals will be able to finally rest and be safe)

I tag @laymedowninsheetsoflinen @lokisarmyforevr @hareepotter @loony-loopy-lupinn @arohaboards @arohabyeol @lifeina-bag

9 people are a lot D:

[lokisarmyforevr]

Sorry, I didn’t see this. But thank you @humanbeingtriestowrite ! 💜

Last Song: Figure You Out by VOILÀ

Last Movie: Clue

Currently Reading: The Butchering Art by Lindsey Fitzharris

Currently Watching: Hannibal (show)

Currently Craving: Hugs

Tagged: @alienslikedmyfantasy @alwaysdearie @companionjones @ama–zingg @lickpinkcheese @inheritance21 @four-am-fanfiction @sokkasbae255 @thisbitterbisexual

[grab-a-soda]

thanks for the tag! you tagged my main but imma just do it here shhh

Last Song: Little Dark Age by mgmtmusic

Last Movie: Wolfwalkers (very epic highly recommend)

Currently Reading: hlvrai fanfics

Currently Watching: does markiplier count

Currently Craving: affection

Tagged:

@maggie-tullivers @benrey-benrey-benrey-benrey @uhhbeans @teatonix @inkedintothepaper @slap-him-on-the-ass @sammedup

[photoelectric-effect]

thanks for tagging My Dude!

Last Song: never gonna give you up cause we got RICKROLLED IN MUSIC CLASS YESTERDAY

Last Movie: uh this one’s hard. Spirited Away I think? I watch movies really rarely cause we don’t buy them

Currently Reading: the Resurrection canon on the SCP wiki! Very fun so far

Currently Watching: nothing really!

Currently Craving: the ability to manifest HLVRV Malcolm and Player and give them kisses on the cheek.

Tagged: @starthenarrator @starstruckbookworm @haider-annah @phoenixsoup @bandtrees @blue-tea-green-ink @michael-oof @thegalacticbucket @princessmchi 

only if you feel like it! 9 people IS a lot

[agentlove]

WAH thank you aayushi!!! hugs n kisses

Last Song: Artificial Heart - Jonathan Coulton!

Last Movie: Curse of Chucky THANK YOU FIG

Currently Reading: Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni!!! Currently on chapter/arc 3, Tatarigoroshi!! :]

Currently Watching: uh… also higurashi because im watching a playthrough XD

Currently Craving: I WOULD KILL A MAN FOR LIKE A HAMBURGER OR SOMETHING we can’t have cooked food bc of the power being out >:T ALSO HOT CHOCOLATE

Tagged: @kkamikazed @ev-hansen @dauntless-dragayn @theartisticintrovert @insanelycooljk @nobodynose27 @missionaconplished @planetorigo @garak if you so desire!

[nobodynose27-deactivated2021041]

Thanks for the tag!!

Last song: Tik Tok by Kesha

Last Movie: Soul (its sooo good made me cry)

Currently reading: All Quiet on the Western Front (cuz of school. if we count fanfic tho im reading both heatwaves and when the city sleeps. both dnf things but shhhh)

Currently watching: technically Henry Danger, but its going very slowly and honestly I Do Not Care.

Currently Craving: french friess

@mercerswillie @mountain-dew-tickledpink no pressure tho! (no im not tagging 9 people im not that brave fisncmke)

[nymsonlinecottage]

Thanks for tagging me :))

Last Song: Oops! By Yung Gravy (I was feelin a little hot don’t judge me lol)

Last Movie: Horton Hears a Who

Currently Reading: nothing yet, I have to get a book from the library and I’m pretty sure it’s been closed cuz of icey roads.

Currently Watching: The Good Place, 911 fox, KATAOW

Currently Craving: warm tea.. I miss it </3

@almightygrasshopper @tronagon @maple-time-lord @cecespuffs

[almightygrasshopper]

thanks for the tag! :)

Last Song: Achilles Come Down by Gang of Youths

Last Movie: Spider-Man: Homecoming

Currently Reading: The Mystery of the Pantomime Cat, and also Katipo Joe

Currently Watching: Captain Marvel, Parks and Rec

Currently Craving: Hot blackcurrant juice and hot chipa from the hockey centre they have the best chips :)

@notdingalingalingalingrita @antifascistdean (you don’t have to if you don’t want to :))

[noimdingalingalingalingrita]

Thank you for tag letsago

Last song: addict from hazbin hotel *cries*

Last movie: idk i dont watch movies. I have a lot of friends who rave about movies and i say “ok do you want me to watch one” and they say “ill get back to you” and then Dont. Big sad

Reading: unexpected 

Watching: community and waiting for Troy and abed to admit they’re dating

Craving: Dumb Ass meds Surpress Appetite i have a bag of chocolate next to me and I’m not Even Eating it but if i could I’d have instant noodles

@little-boats-on-a-lake @chirpschirps

[little-boats-on-a-lake]

Thanks for the tag @notdingalingalingalingrita

Wait you’re currently reading WHAT?

Last song: the lakes by Taylor Swift, long pond studio version

Last movie: does the Miraculous Ladybug New York special count?

Reading: fanfic! So much fanfic…

Watching: The Good Place. I’m halfway through the final episode and wow it’s honestly amazing

Craving: a tissue because I need to blow my nose but I’m wearing a mask 😞

Tagging @alphamaleputin @aredhel-of-gondolin @jack-the-talking-sword-of-summer @dylkntz @racetrack-kelly @yellowmagicalgirl @cecilsstorycorner @egg-shark @ad-dictionary and anyone else who wants to!

[egg-shark]

Aww thanks boats :)

Last song: does it count if i was singing and not listening Leader of the Band by Dan Fogelberg

Last movie: The Greatest Game Ever Played

Reading: IT by Stephen King :)

Watching: hmm a lot of The Mentalist and some SPN when I can

Craving: hugs I hate quarantine and I miss human interaction

I’ll tag @metanoiamorii @thatwritergirlsblog @innerdemonscry @chocolategate @writingonesdreams-main @nosyreader @featherlight-owl @allywrites22

Can I tag Mr. Gaiman? Might as well try, right? @neil-gaiman thank you for childhood terror and please feel free to ignore this :)

[nosyreader]

thank you!! @egg-shark

last song: Slow Down by Why Don’t We

last movie: ummm pretty sure it was Hidden Figures

currently reading: Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller and Animal Farm by Orwell (for school)

also does atyd count? i’ve been reading that too and i’m obsessed

watching: just finished Schitt’s Creek last night! I’m probably going to rewatch New Girl or start Peaky Blinders

craving: i could really go for some good quality cheesecake right now tbh. also i’m craving motivation for school :)

tagging @godzilla-reads @emilies-book-club @liberaljane @lifeofbookworm & @alwaysbebooks

[nosyreader]

Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Genre: Romance, Contemporary, LGBT

Rating: ★★★★★

WARNINGS: Sexual content.

Summary: Alex is the First Son of the United States with a badass mom as the President. Henry is the Prince of Wales, a member of one of one of the most prevalent monarchies. Both their own country’s version of royalty, the two often cross paths. But it’s not always friendly. When a falling-out between the two threatens his mom’s reelection campaign, Alex is forced to play nice with the prince until the press calms down. But a fake friendship starts to rapidly turn to something more and before he knows it, Alex is stuck with too many secrets with too much potential for things to go bad. He has to decide who he is and if being himself won’t just cause his downfall in the end.

Review:

I. Am. Obsessed.

I literally love this book with my entire soul. I read it in one sitting and I have never laughed this much at a book. It’s sooooo fluffy and cute and sexy and sweet and passionate and I can’t stop thinking about it.

First of all, the humor, as I mentioned, is top tier. Like I literally had to put the book down and wipe tears from my eyes and catch my breath from laughing so hard.

The dialogue. It was beautiful. I love banter and insults and play-fights. They are my weakness. I am especially obsessed with the email and text insights we get throughout the book like Alex and Henry own my heart.

The plot. Wonderful.

The characters were AMAZING. FUCKING REPRESENTATION FOR SO MANY OHMYGOD.

I am in love with every single character and their relationships, which the author wrote so amazingly.

I swoon over this book. I promise you will too.