Tag: book review

Reviews

Carl’s Doomsday Scenario Review

by amyleighreadsLeave a Comment on Carl’s Doomsday Scenario Review

Carl’s Doomsday Scenario takes the wild energy of the first book and somehow makes it even more outrageous, emotional and fun. Just when I thought the series might get repetitive, this sequel shakes things up with new settings, game mechanics and world-building that feel completely fresh. The dungeon evolves into something closer to a twisted fantasy world, quests are introduced, and we learn a lot more about the galaxy beyond. Not all the side quests grabbed me, but the scale and ambition kept me hooked.

The heart of the story is still Carl and Donut and their bond is stronger than ever. Carl really steps up in this one and not just as a funny lead, but as someone with real depth and a growing sense of purpose. Donut continues to shine with her sass and unexpected growth and even Mongo the dinosaur gets some great moments. The supporting cast is richer this time too, with Mordecai becoming much more than just a tutorial NPC.

What surprised me most again was how the story manages to balance humour with some genuinely heavy themes (trauma, abuse, neglect) all handled thoughtfully without undercutting the comedy. And as with book one, the audiobook absolutely nails the tone. The narrator’s performance is hilarious and spot-on across the board.

It’s chaotic, clever and unexpectedly touching. I gave characters a solid five, emotional impact a four, and the rest sits around a three and a half. Not perfect, but still one of the most fun and unique series I’ve come across.

⭐️4/5 stars I immediately want to jump into the next one!

Reviews

Rebel Witch Review

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I enjoyed Rebel Witch, even though it didn’t quite live up to Heartless Hunter for me. It was still a fun read overall, especially getting to see more of Rune and Gideon.

Rune came across a lot less confident in this one, though she’s still quite brave and fiercely loyal. I appreciated how determined she was even when things got tough. That said, she did spend a lot of time in her own head, overthinking everything. There were definitely moments where I wished she’d just speak up instead of thinking in circles.

Gideon had his moments too. He’s still the closed-off, broody type, but you can see how much he cares about Rune. I didn’t feel quite as drawn to him this time though, some of his choices were a bit confusing and it didn’t always feel consistent. Still, I liked seeing more of his softer side.

The romance was a bit rocky early on, there was a LOT of miscommunication and going back and forth but it settled more towards the end and felt a lot stronger. When they finally let their guards down, it was nice to see their connection come through.

The first half of the book felt quite slow and a bit scattered. I found myself waiting for things to really click into place. But the second half was much more engaging when the pacing picked up, the stakes felt higher and I was more invested in what was happening. I just wish we’d seen more of Cressida and felt a bit more immersed in the wider conflict, especially considering the setup from book one.

Even with its flaws, I’m glad I finished it. It wrapped things up in a mostly satisfying way, and I did enjoy being back in this world.

⭐️ 3/5 not perfect, but still an entertaining follow-up with characters I enjoyed spending time with.

Reviews

The Crimson Moth Review

by amyleighreadsLeave a Comment on The Crimson Moth Review

*SPOILERERY SCENES AHEAD*

This book had me hooked right from the first page. The world was easy to fall into and the tension just kept building. Rune is a witch in hiding, living in a brutal society where people like her are killed without mercy. She’s already seen what happens when witches are exposed and she’s not about to let that happen again. But standing in her way is Gideon, the captain of the Blood Guard and one of the most dangerous witch hunters around. It’s a classic enemies-to-lovers setup, but one that actually feels real. They genuinely hate each other at the start and both have strong reasons to.

The slow burn between Rune and Gideon had me absolutely stressed in the best way. They’re constantly outsmarting each other and trying to stay one step ahead. The stakes are high, the danger is real and the tension is delicious. Every time they were on the page together, I was holding my breath. There’s a real push and pull between them that kept me guessing. And when things take a turn… yeah, I wasn’t okay. That betrayal scene ruined me.

I also really loved the way the magic system worked. It wasn’t just there for convenience. There were rules, limits and consequences, which made it all feel more believable. It’s rare to see a hard magic system in fantasy romance, especially in YA, but it was done really well here. The whole story had this tight structure and clear boundaries that just made the plot and characters shine even more.

Rune herself was such a standout. She’s strong, clever and has so much heart. Even when things were falling apart, she never gave up. And Gideon, as frustrating as he was, had so much depth. I couldn’t decide whether to trust him or scream at him and that made him so interesting to read. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting to love this book as much as I did, but it delivered on every front.

⭐️4/5 stars I need to pick up the sequel ASAP!

Reviews

Dungeon Crawler Carl Review

by amyleighreads1 Comment on Dungeon Crawler Carl Review

LitRPG isn’t something I’ve ever really been into but this book completely surprised me.

A man. His ex-girlfriend’s cat. A sadistic game show unlike anything in the universe: a dungeon crawl where survival depends on killing your prey in the most entertaining way possible. In a flash, every human-erected construction on Earth—from Buckingham Palace to the tiniest of sheds—collapses in a heap, sinking into the ground. The buildings and all the people inside have all been atomized and transformed into the dungeon: an 18-level labyrinth filled with traps, monsters, and loot. A dungeon so enormous, it circles the entire globe. Only a few dare venture inside. But once you’re in, you can’t get out. And what’s worse, each level has a time limit. You have but days to find a staircase to the next level down, or it’s game over. In this game, it’s not about your strength or your dexterity. It’s about your followers, your views. Your clout. It’s about building an audience and killing those goblins with style.

I listened to the audiobook and I’m so glad I did. The narrator is hilarious, he reminded me of Kronk from The Emperor’s New Groove. It totally elevated the experience. The banter between Carl and Princess Donut had me cackling way more than I expected. Their back and forth honestly made the whole book for me.

What I didn’t care as much for was the repetitiveness of the leveling up, stats, crawler “gifts”, all that stuff. That part kind of lost me and brought down the story a bit, but the characters and comedy more than made up for it. It’s not just funny either. There’s this one scene where they go out of their way to help some elderly residents, even though it puts them at risk, and that’s when I realised this book actually has a lot of heart too.

So even if LitRPG isn’t your thing, this book still might be. It’s wild, weird, unexpectedly touching, and genuinely funny. I gave the characters a solid five stars, emotional impact a four, and the rest sits around a three for me. But overall? Way better than I ever expected.

⭐️4/5 stars the audiobook for this was TOP TIER.. I highly recommend!!!

Reviews

Harriet Tubman Live in Concert Review

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In an age of miracles where our greatest heroes from history have magically, unexplainably returned to shake us out of our confusion and hate, Harriet Tubman is back, and she has a lot to say. Harriet Tubman and four of the enslaved persons she led to freedom want to tell their story in a unique way—by following in the footsteps of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton. Harriet wants to put on a show about her life, and she needs a songwriter to help her.

I have been a fan of Bob the Drag Queen for ages, so when I heard he’d written a book I knew I had to pick it up straight away. I’ll admit, historical fiction generally doesn’t excite me but Harriet Tubman back from the dead making a hip hop album kind of did it for me and honestly, it worked way better than I expected.

The story follows Darnell, a queer music producer who’s trying to figure himself out, and somehow ends up working with Harriet and her crew of Freemen to help tell the story of the Underground Railroad through music. It’s set in the present day, but there’s a lot of history packed in, some of it I knew, but a lot of it I didn’t. It never feels like a history lesson though. The way it’s written makes it easy to take in without it feeling heavy.

I liked that Darnell’s character actually had some depth. You really see him grow over the course of the story, especially around how he sees himself and where he fits. There’s a lot in here about identity, race and queerness that really makes you stop and think, but it’s still a fun read too.

The audiobook was definitely something special, with Bob narrating it themself. If you’re into Black queer stories, or even just want to read something original with a solid message, this one’s worth checking out!

⭐️5/5 stars a stunning debut by Bob the Drag Queen!