Tag: review

Reviews

Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear Review

by amyleighreadsLeave a Comment on Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear Review

Nadya never considered herself less than whole, not until her adoptive parents fitted her with a prosthetic arm against her will, seeking to replace the one she’d been missing from birth. It was cumbersome; it was uncomfortable; it was wrong. It wasn’t her. Frustrated and unable to express why, Nadya began to wander, until the day she fell through a door into Belyyreka, the Land Beneath the Lake–and found herself in a world of water, filled with child-eating amphibians, majestic giant turtles, and impossible ships that sailed as happily beneath the surface as on top. In Belyyreka, she found herself understood for who she was: a Drowned Girl, who had made her way to her real home, accepted by the river and its people.

Like most of the backstories for the Wayward Children’s series we are shown just how horrible these kids were treated by those around them who should love and care about them the most which is why these doors open for them. Nadya’s story wasn’t as harrowing as some of the other kids but I still can’t even imagine growing up the way she did. The abandonment from birth and then even though she is comfortable and happy with the body she was given having to try and please these ‘white saviors’.

I love when we get the chance to enter the worlds and experience them figuring out the rules and finding their place. Nadya’s experience out of everyone else I think was the most positive. Even though she has that scare right at the start with the frog, every else she encounted was very understanding of her situation and helped her out every step of the way. Her transition into Belyyreka was the least adventurous out of the rest. There wasn’t really any obstacles for her to overcome or mysteries to solve, she kind of just showed up and integrated herself into life there and lived happily until she fell back out.

So because there wasn’t really any real plots or mysteries to keep me in suspense I wasn’t all that invested in the storyline. I loved how we got to explore this new world but some of the descriptions made it hard to visualise in my head so it took me out of the story quite a bit as well.

⭐️3/5 could’ve packed more of a punch I feel!

Reviews

Funny Story Review

by amyleighreadsLeave a Comment on Funny Story Review

Daphne always loved the way her fiancé, Peter, told their story. How they met (on a blustery day), fell in love (over an errant hat), and moved back to his lakeside hometown to begin their life together. He really was good at telling it… right up until the moment he realized he was actually in love with his childhood best friend Petra. Which is how Daphne begins her new story: stranded in beautiful Waning Bay, Michigan, without friends or family but with a dream job as a children’s librarian (that barely pays the bills), and proposing to be roommates with the only person who could possibly understand her predicament: Petra’s ex, Miles Nowak.

Daphne’s character definitely went on an emotional journey throughout the course of this book . There were many times where I wish she would of stood up for herself more, especially where Peter and her father were concerned. I however, have never been in her shoes so I can imagine how difficult of a situation being dumped a week before your wedding would be. I love how she comes to realise that she needs to cultivate her friendships more than the possibility of throwing herself into a new relationship and takes that more slowly.

I absolutely loves Miles. The fact that he is living his life despite the rumours around his character that was completely made up by Peter and Petra’s family. He didn’t need to prove himself to anyone but I love how above and beyond he goes with Daphne to show what kind of person he actually is. I love when male characters can anticipate the needs of their love interests and he did so many cute little things in this book that just is so endearing and adorable.

Overall I thought this book was very messy (in a fun way) and the drama just kept piling on. I didn’t quite enjoy that third act conflict between Daphne and Miles, especially when all they had to do was communicate with each other and it would of been resolved.

⭐️4/5 stars not my favourite Emily Henry but it’s up there!

Reviews

Bloom Review

by amyleighreadsLeave a Comment on Bloom Review

*BEWARE OF SPOILERS AHEAD*

I didn’t know what to expect going into this book, but I was pleasantly surprised!

Rosemary meets Ash at the farmers’ market. Ash—precise, pretty, and practically perfect—sells bars of soap in delicate pastel colours, sprinkle-spackled cupcakes stacked on scalloped stands, beeswax candles, jelly jars of honey, and glossy green plants. Ro has never felt this way about another woman; with Ash, she wants to be her and have her in equal measure. But as her obsession with Ash consumes her, she may find she’s not the one doing the devouring…

Being in Ro’s head for the majority of this book was tiring and frustrating. They way she latches on to Ash and how her thoughts about her just consume her every waking moment got to be a bit annoying. I literally just wanted to shake her and tell her to get a grip, you coming on a bit strong there love. Though I can see why she would be second guessing herself at every turn and pushing a bit on Ash’s boundaries after the nasty breakup she just had with her ex.

Right from the start I knew there was something up with Ash. I could tell from her demeanour at the market stall, changing basically her whole personality depending on who walked in told me she was a calculative and potentially manipulative. Especially after she reprimanded Ro so many times for pushing her boundaries, I knew something was up but I couldn’t predict what, which was entertaining for sure.

I like the fact that this book elicited so many emotions from me. It starts off so unassuming and quite cute so I was a unprepared for the wild ride that was about to ensue. I definitely had my theories on what was happening but I was surprised at every turn which was why I think I enjoyed this as much as I did.

⭐️4/5 stars Wow.. this was good!!!

Updates

Quicksilver Review

by amyleighreads2 Comments on Quicksilver Review

*MILD SPOILERS AHEAD*

I had to see what all the hype was about with this book and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised.

Twenty-four-year-old Saeris Fane is good at keeping secrets. No one knows about the strange powers she possesses, or the fact that she has been picking pockets and stealing from the Undying Queen’s reservoirs for as long as she can remember. When Saeris comes face-to-face with Death himself, she inadvertently reopens a gateway between realms and is transported to a land of ice and snow. The Fae have always been the stuff of myth, of legend, of nightmares…but it turns out they’re real, and Saeris has landed herself right in the middle of a centuries-long conflict that might just get her killed.

Saeris came across a little juvenile at times. For the amount of hardship she’s had to face I thought she would act a little more mature rather than a petulant teenager but that’s how she came across the majority of the time. If I was in her shoes sure I would be frustrated with the amount of information everyone wasn’t telling me but she got on my little with all her tantrums.

Kingfisher was so much fun! A tad convenient how he couldn’t reveal any information due to his oath but his overall attitude and charisma made up for it for sure. The witty banter he has with not only Saeris but everyone was very entertaining and I was definitely waiting to see what he was going to do next. Also, he has a filthy mouth and I was here for it!

I really liked the contrast of the two settings and the plot was evenly paced which kept me engaged the whole time. Overall I think there was just enough spice sprinkled onto this pretty typical fae storyline with some fun twists and turns along the way!

⭐️4/5 stars the quotes were quoting with this one!!!

Reviews

Mislaid in Parts Half-Known Review

by amyleighreadsLeave a Comment on Mislaid in Parts Half-Known Review

I was so excited to dive into this novella because it continues Ansty’s story, which is one of my absolute favorites in the series. At the same time, I was a little hesitant—odd-numbered installments, which focus on the school and quests, usually don’t hook me the way the even-numbered prequels in other worlds do. But this one turned out to be such a pleasant surprise. Ansty’s journey to find her place at the school after everything she’s been through was so moving, it honestly got me emotional. Some of her scenes left me with a lump in my throat—they hit hard in the best way.

One of my favorite things about Mislaid in Parts Half-Known was the deep, heartfelt conversations between the characters as they questioned whether they truly wanted to return to their worlds. It was great to see more of Kade and Emily (I really need a spin-off about Emily in Harvest!), but I also found myself warming up to characters like Cora and Sumi. Sumi, in particular, stood out—I loved how the most nonsensical character somehow delivered the most logical lines. And getting to revisit the Shop Where the Lost Things Go, one of my favorite settings, was such a treat. That said, I was a little let down by the visits to two new worlds, especially the dinosaur one, which didn’t quite live up to my expectations.

Overall, this novella left me feeling inspired to revisit earlier installments—I think I’d appreciate them even more now. There are still so many incredible worlds waiting to be explored, and I’m so curious to see where the next story will take us!

⭐️3/5 stars Middle of the road for me!