allbookedupblogstuff

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Ashita No Joe: Fighting for Tomorrow by Tetsuya Chiba & Ikki Kajiwara

TL;DR: You can clearly see how this is such a classic in it’s genre, and while not perfect for me it’s very engaging. Source: NetGalley, thank you to the publisher! Plot: Joe is a wandering orphan who moves to a new neighborhood. He finds friends, fans, and enemies alike. Characters: Some of these characters I did like a lot, but Joe himself I found so frustrating to read about. Setting: This I…

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Level: Unknown by David Dalglish

TL;DR: A fantastic intro to LitRPG or fun for a regular readersSource: NetGalley, thank so much to Orbit!! Plot: A mysterious Artifact is found by a study station on a far away planet. Nick ends up bound to the artifact that sends him into another world. Is it real? The past? Somewhere else? Characters: I really liked Nick and the AI he was able to converse with. I wish the side characters had a…

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The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

TL;DR: If you want to make yourself terrified read this! I was affected for days. Source: NetGalley, thank so much to Saga Press! Plot: Ultimately this one is just about survival. Gloria is attempting to help her brother, and fighting against racism while her brother is just trying to survive the Reformatory and it’s ghosts. Characters: I both loved and hated these characters in equal measure.…

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Forbidden Games by Katee Robert

TL;DR: Quick and easy, mostly smut with little story. Source: NetGalley, thank so much to the publisher! Plot: The plots on both of these are basically people just finding the time and self worth for love, filled with a ton of smut. Characters: I can’t give you many details on these guys, they felt very similar. Setting: One of these was set on a vacation island and the other just around town –…

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Breath of the Dragon by Shannon Lee & Fonda Lee

TL;DR: I think my expectations were too high and this was just… not for me. Source: NetGalley, thank so much to the publisher! Plot: Jun runs away to compete and become the Guardian, a government appointed super warrior. But learns some hard truths on the way. Characters: This might have been one of the breaking parts for me. They felt very… predictable? Setting: I didn’t have the clearest…

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But Not Too Bold by Hache Pueyo

TL;DR: If you don’t like spiders, don’t read this. But if you do it’s awesome. Source: Netgalley, Thank you SO much to the publisher! Plot: A young woman is elevated to Keeper of the Keys after her predecessor is eaten for allowing a thief in. So deliciously weird. Characters: I quite enjoyed these creepy folks. I would have read a whole book about them. Setting: This setting is etiher gonna…

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Dogs and Punching Bags by Kaori Ozaki

TL;DR: An engaging story about finding your place and community, even in the darkest parts of your life. Source: NetGalley, thank so much to the publisher! Plot: Nichiko returns to her home island, a tiny place, to find herself. There she meets Chimaki and their stories blends. Characters: I really enjoyed these characters, especially Nichiko. She was refreshing in her pushback against societal…

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Hauntress by Minetaro Mochizuki

TL;DR: Oh my god, this scared the pants off of me. Genuinely, I was vibrating I was so unsettled. Source: Netgalley – Thank you so much to Kodansha! Plot: Hiroshi Mori helps a woman out, against his better judgement, and things go very badly. Characters: No one here is particularly lovable but you still REALLY don’t want bad things to happen because wow it feels bad. Setting: So. Creepy.…

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A Dark and Drowning Tide by Allison Saft

TL;DR: This is one of those books I have to recommend if you love vibes – but also a twisty mystery. Source: Netgalley – Thanks you to the publisher! Plot: Lorelei and Sylvia set out on an academic quest which quickly turns into a murder mystery. Characters: I both loved and hated these characters in the best, well written way. Setting: This whole book felt like an Edward Robert Hughes painting…

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Barbarian's Heart by Ruby Dixon

TL;DR: Another installment in the ICP series – this is the one that’ll probably make you cry. Source: NetGalley and I have pre-ordered my own copy! Plot: This takes place almost immediately after the end of the last book follow Stacy and her mate who has amnesia. It’s very melancholy for a good portion of the book. Characters: As usual we focus on the love pairing, but a few side characters did…

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Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan

TL;DR: A completely unpredictable fantasy with a complex and lovely world. Source: Netgalley – Thanks you to the publisher! Plot: This one, like the setting, went all over the place. We started out with one task and ended up with another and it was a ride. Characters: At times infuriating, and other times fantastic. The author really convinced me on these characters and their personalities.…

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The Relationship Mechanic by Karmen Lee

TL;DR: Very cute, and an improvement on the first book for sure! Source: Netgalley, many thanks to the publisher! Plot: Jessica breaks down outside Peach Blossom and ends up at Vini’s shop. She’s visiting friends in town and the two strike up a relationship. Characters: My biggest gripe with this is with the characters Setting: Peach Blossom sounds lovely in what we get but unfortunately that’s…

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Confession by Kaiji Kawaguchi, Nobuyuki Fukumoto

TL;DR: A dark and twisty story, very atmospheric and dark. Source: NetGalley, thank you to the publisher! Plot: Two men are stranded together after a mountain climbing accident. One confesses a dark secret to the other, but circumstances change… Characters: You aren’t in this for these characters, both of them are horrible, but a well done horrible. Setting: Cold and snowy, it’s well drawn and…

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The Starlight Heir by Amalie Howard

TL;DR: Quite a disappointment. Source: Netgalley – Thanks you to the publisher! Plot: Randomly chosen women are made to compete for a prince’s hand in marriage, and it gets spicy. Characters: Honestly, no thank you. I didn’t enjoy them at all. Setting: We got the flavor of our inspiration here, but it was lost entirely to the modern slang and plot that hurtled forward with little to no…

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The Last Hour Between Worlds by Melissa Caruso

TL;DR: This one caught me by surprise but it’s SO creative! Source: Netgalley – Thanks you to the publisher! Plot: Kembral comes to a party to relax and that’s not at all what happens. Characters: The characters were fun, sometimes over the top but not the strongest for me. Setting: This was where this book shined. The different settings and where the party ended up? 10/10, I couldn’t wait to…

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Home Office Romance by Kintetsu Yamada

TL;DR: What a fantastic single volume romance – I loved this. Source: Netgalley – Thanks so much to the publisher! Plot: Two neighbors meet during the covid lockdowns and slowly fall in love. Characters: The characters felt very grounded, and considering the length I knew and cared about them a lot. Setting: Most of the story stays within the two apartments and they’re a very important part to…

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Miss Amelia's List by Mercedes Lackey

TL;DR: A bit slow, but a truly cozy Regency fantasy. Source: Netgalley, thank you so much to the publisher! Plot: Amelia and her cousin head to England from America for business and to possibly find a match! Characters: I genuinely came to love all of our primary characters, especially Amelia and her cousin. By the end I was sad to see it end and went looking hoping the next book would follow…