ghostreviewer

[ghostreviewer]

A Strange and Stubborn Endurance by Foz Meadows

5/5 ⭐️

CW: Spoilers, SA, Suicidal Ideation, Family Death

Okay so I started this back in June and just finished (was busy) and omg it was so good. Like, it thew you right into the deep end with Vel being SA’d by Killic and like, I know it was gonna happen and I was still like, wtf? But also I was about ready to dispose of Killic myself. And Cae? Omg he’s so fucking sweet and cares so much about Vel and it’s so cute! Vel has some issues, very clear trauma from Killic and he doesn’t want to live and has some pretty bad problems with self deprivation but Cae stays with him and helps him and doesn’t pressure him and it’s amazing!

The main plot is amazing too, trying to figure out who’s trying to kill them and stuff it’s amazing. There’s romance (obviously) but it’s done so well and it meshes amazingly with the plot and there’s so much representation. Ok the topic of that, Liran is so amazing and I love that they included a trans character and he’s so fucking hot. Also, still friends with an ex but share no jealous traits or try and cause problems? We love that here. There’s also multiple nonbinary people and it’s amazing.

It was a little spicy, not fade to black but also not super in depth if that makes sense? Mostly emotions and omg it was amazing because Vel trusted Cae so much even after Killic (it was also after Vel killed Killic so you know, there’s that too). My favourite part though had to be the fact end. Laecia being the person against them, and then Vel and Cae using sign language to create a plan was so cool and then Vel just lighting her on fire? So badass. And Markel, who was out injured for most of the book, got a super badass action moment shooting Laecia. It was amazing.

I also really liked the world building and depth even in side characters who weren’t mentioned much. They had connections to people and it was so cool. There was also the social aspect where it was built so well, with the nobles and politics and how those influenced decisions and impacted what the characters had to do was so cool. Honestly another one of my favourite parts.

I’d definitely recommend this book, as long as the people i recommend it to get somewhat comfortable with a lot of stuff real quick (aka the CW). It’s such a good book and I got so attached to the character so fast it was insane. I absolutely loved it, 5/5 ⭐️ would read again after I read the second book

[ghostreviewer]

Maxton Hall Series by Mona Kasten

5/5 ⭐️

CW: spoilers, mentions of stroke leading to parental death, near drowning, and abusive parents

OMG I LOVE THIS SHOW!! I know I haven’t reviewed any shows yet (welcome to the first) but I just finished this last night and at was so good? Like, I got attached after 2 episodes! It’s a German TV show based of a book series (also in German) so I watched it in German with English subtitles. Whole reason I even found this show is because I’m doing an exchange right now and am in Germany and my friends host family introduced it to me and then me and my person watched it. Anyway, should probably actually start the review and not just ramble about how I found it. (It’s on Prime Video btw and season 2 is already in the making)

Anyway, haha, I seriously loved this show. It’s rivals to lovers and James (MMC) was a dick at the beginning to Ruby (FMC) but than they fell in love and it was so cute. It’s rich boy poor girl and it’s just, aaaaah I love it. Ruby‘s family is so cute and they have such a great relationship with each other and it’s just amazing. James‘ family, on the other hand, isn’t that great. He has his sister Lydia and they and so close it’s amazing. Ruby accidentally catches Lydia with one of their teachers (Graham [the first same of the teacher] and Lydia started dating before he got the job at the school and than once they realized it they broke up and the scene Ruby walked in on was as Lydia says “a relapse”) and James is ready to pay so much money to keep Ruby from telling anybody but Ruby was like, no thanks, and turned down I think 5 million Euros. It was insane I love Ruby. And she doesn’t even tell anybody at all. James thought she told somebody and ruined the welcome party Ruby planned (dick move right there) and then they’re forced to work together on a different one.

And they learn so much about each other it’s insane. And they learn to care for each other and just aaaaah it’s so cute. Ruby’s dad is paralyzed from an accident with a boat trying to save Ruby from drowning and then at a party some kids push Ruby into a pool and she obviously starts freaking out and James saves her (!) and Carey’s her bridal style out of the party and she cry’s and explains everything in the car and it’s so cute. That scene was by far one of my favourites. And then they have the gala where James is supposed to be at a press conference but him and Lydia try a twin swap but it fails and holy hell their dad is pissed and he literally smacks James across the face. I hate their dad so much like, I can’t even put it into words.

Backtracking a little bit, one of the goals of the party was to get the principal of the school to write Ruby a letter of recommendation to Oxford because a letter of rec from him would be insanely valuable. So a lot of what’s going on in this show is working their way to Oxford. And when she gets accepted and goes to the school for the interview process it’s so cute but also heartbreaking because while Ruby and James were dating, James’ dad threatened to ruin Ruby’s family if James continued to talk with her so they broke up. Have I mentioned I hate his dad? Anyway, so then they see each other again because their dorms are right across from each other and it’s so cute. And Ruby does so well in her interviews and the two make up and it’s amazing. We also found out that Lydia is pregnant with Grahams kid and omg was that unexpected but also she loves Graham so much and already loves the baby’s and she’s grown so much from the start of the series and I’m so happy for her. But then it’s back at the houses. Ruby is celebrating with her family and it’s so cute and I love them all so much. But James and Lydia are not having that great of a time.

The ride back was quiet, probably expected but we got the like, forwarning music and knew something was up. Especially because Lydia had just tried to call her mom to tell her about the pregnancy and it went straight to voicemail. So they get home and their dad tells them to sit down, Lydia does but James doesn’t. Then he tells them their mom had a stroke and died and it’s was so heart breaking because while she had her major expectations she was still better than the dad and just I’m so mad that they killed her. And then James just shoots up and starts hitting his dad and I’m sitting here like, oh yeah this is so deserved I wish it was him that died and not the mom. And then he goes and sees Ruby and her family being all happy and it just hits you in the feels and then the season ENDS. It’s like, excuse me I was still watching this give me my baby’s back.

It was such a great show and I loved it so much. 100% would recommend to anybody who loves romance shows and rivals to lovers and just, literally anybody honestly I loved it. 5/5 best thing I’ve seen in a hot minute.

[ghostreviewer]

Okay so, quick update, I’ve been on vacation for a hot minute so I haven’t had much chance to read but I still have books on a list to at I have read and would like to. I’m also currently reading three books (1 online, 1 physical book I brought with me, and 1 that I bought while here). Would y’all want me to continue to review the ones on my list or wait until I finish the others? If no responses (honestly not expecting any) I’ll just do whatever I have to motivation for whether that be read or review idk yet. Thanks!

[ghostreviewer]

The Sun and the Star by Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro

4.5/5⭐️

CW: spoilers

I literally got out of school the day this book came out and went to the store to buy it. That’s how excited for this book I was. I was like, no, this has got to be the hard cover and I need it now. So that’s the backstory of how excited I was for this now let’s get into the review.

In all, it was a good book. I really liked the story line of Nico and Will going to go save Bob and them growing as people along the way. So you know what, for plot, I really liked it. There were a few things though that I wasn’t that big of a fan of. The first being it didn’t feel like I fit the target audience, now I now all of the Percy Jackson books are YA or middle grade, they’re targeted to that younger audience but this book felt like more of the older fanbase was interested in it. Which is good and well, but because it is still in the lower YA age range is felt off. There were so many things that could’ve happened, the main thing I really wanted was more of Nico’s trauma of his first time in Tartarus brought up. Mainly because so much of the fanbase forgets that he was the first to go into Tartarus, alone mind you, and now he’s back again. And it was just, there were so many times I felt like Rick/Oshiro could’ve added something, maybe having Nico’s internal monologue speeding up, showing he’s freaking the hell out because it’s just just his life on the line, Wills’ is too. How if Will is off somewhere Nico is freaking out because he’s about to go back to his worst nightmare. The first time he was in Tartarus it was a suicide mission but it was only him down there, now a suicide mission with his boyfriend? I feel like he should have been freaking out more.

I did like how Nico and Will worked through their relationship a bit and grew, but Will never really had the spotlight. It was more of the Nico show with Will on the sidelines. A lot of people tend to just see Will as Nico’s boyfriend, and honestly I was hoping that this book would give Will his chance to shine and ya know, be fucking badass. And I know he wasn’t doing to hot because he’s a son of Apollo and they’re in the deepest part of hell, but I wish he had more times being shows as competent and cool and his own person.

We had a lot of Will freaking out and needing to lean on Nico for support, which makes sense and all, but I do still wish there was a spot where Nico just broke and had to lean on Will for support. Show how he had done his best to compartmentalize his first time is Tartarus to the best of his abilities but now being back he just can’t and he needs to lean on Will but is reluctant because Will is going through his own struggles.

I will say though, I did like the fight with Nyx and it wasn’t about them defeating her, but getting Bob back. The Cocoa Puffs being a manifestation of Nico’s struggles are cool, but it feels weird for some reason. Like, oh yeah here’s all of your trauma as little anamorphic animal things and you’re going to take them with you. It’s a little strange. And again, getting on that boat and then leaving would have been just a great time for Nico to just break because holy hell he’s just survived he’s worst nightmare a second time.

Now, I have this rated high because I did like it. It had a few proofreading mistakes and I wish some things were written for a more mature audience but I recognize that this is a younger YA series that isn’t trying to traumatize its readers. For a long time fan of the books that is on the older end I might not recommend this book (although if you really like Nico and Will go for it anyway because it is so much fun to see them have their own thing). For a younger reader though I would definitely recommend reading this book, it’s not super hard to read (none of the Percy books are) and it explores characters that in the past were more side characters.

[ghostreviewer]

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black

4.5/5⭐️

CW: spoilers

Omg this was one of my favourite books in middle school(honestly still really like it). It’s a story about how Tana and Adrian(Adrian ends up being turned into a vampire. Have I mentioned this is a vampire book? Cause it is and I love vampire books) go to a Coldtown, which are places for vampires to live. There was a farmhouse murder where the story starts and Adrian gets bit. And we meet Gavriel and omg he’s hot? Like, we got the messy black hair and the piercing red eyes, I would date him(I’m aroace and would prefer to not be killed by a vampire but if I do, what a way to go). Anyway, they pick up two more kids along the way(Winter and Midnight) and reach Coldtown.

The first bit of the book is a lot of like, car travel and honestly I vibe with that. Gavriel gets Tana a coffee, have I mentioned that Gavriel is really hot? I digress, but it’s seriously so fun to see them all interact with each other.

The Coldtown security system is like, really cool to see also. It’s like, giving military base vibes of entering and then there’s a lot of questions and a way to turn in vampires. You either get a cash reward or a poker chip that can be used to guarantee your freedom from the Coldtown if you’re not a vampire. It’s also where we learn Gavriel possibly has more power than originally left on. I believe it starts off with Gavriel being the spider(I think, it’s been a hot minute lol) and as the story progresses we learn that Gavriel is the Thorn of Istra which is like, kinda the crime boss of vampires lol.

Anyway, the whole reason Gavriel wanted to go to the Coldtown was to kill this other vampire named Lucian. Along the way Winter dies, Midnight and Adrian become full blown vampires. Tana’s little sister Pearl hitchhikes to the Coldtown because she watches all of the videos shared and it looks glamorous and she wants to do all of that with her sister(it’s not actually glamorous lol). Anyway, Tana ends up being the one to kill Lucian(hell yeah girl boss) and saves Pearl.

This book is so much fun, it’s one POV which I really like, and you’re left guessing at points on what the other characters motives are and how they’re all connected. And it’s just so much fun, like, there aren’t many books where I’ve read them multiple times through borrowing them from a library and then going on to buy them for myself. I would really recommend this book, it’s so much fun and yeah.

[ghostreviewer]

Renegades Trilogy by Marissa Meyer

3.5/5⭐️

CW: spoilers

Okay so, the Renegades books. I have some, opinions on the ending haha. Also note I haven’t read them in a hot minute so, proceed with a grain of salt. The main story line I think was really cool, having these two different sides going against each other and then Nova being a spie on the anarchist side. There was romance between Nova and Adrian although I do not like the fact that in the end Nova chose Adrian over the anarchists. Like, I was so upset over this I didn’t finish the third book so maybe she in the end didn’t, but I couldn’t handle her choosing the hero’s.

Besides the ending of the third book not being the correct one imho(others will likely disagree), it was a good series. The different characters were well thought out, Adrian had two dad’s so ya know, we got the gays doing their best at parenting. Oscar uses a cane so we got some badass disability rep, so if you’re looking for some more subtle gayness or some cane user rep we got that.

All in all besides the ending I don’t really have that many strong opinions about this series. It was really good and entertaining. If you like a sort of dystopian world going towards recovering from dystopia stuff this works. It’s got super powers that are interesting and complex and not what is used over and over again. The villains don’t only have stereotypical villain powers and the heroes don’t have the stereotypical hero powers (at least from what I remember haha).

So in the end I’d say I recommend it. It’s well thought out, not just a standalone if you’re looking for a series, and the characters are pretty fun.

[ghostreviewer]

The Murder Game by Carrie Doyle

4/5⭐️

CW: spoilers, mentions of kidnappings

Okay so, this was another book I read a while ago but thought it was really cool! It’s a mystery book following a boy named Luke Chase. He was kidnapped as a child and then escaped, and now he’s at a boarding school and somebody died the night him and his friends went into the woods. It’s pretty fast paced (didn’t take me long at all to read it) and the twist in the end was awesome!

Now I really like mystery books, I like trying to figure out what’s happening and it’s fun to go along with the characters and as you learn things they learn things. And just, the suspense this book gives as time goes on is great. The ending was a bit rushed, but I think there were supposed to be other books(?) but they weren’t published sadly.

Despite the ending, it was a really well written book with really good pacing. Some of the ending made a bunch of sense to be fast paced, somebody was nabbed and Luke was trying to save her. Perfect time to pick up the pace and feel that adrenaline.

In the end, I would recommend this book. It has an interesting mystery (somebody dies, hence the title) and the clues aren’t revealed too quickly. If you like murder mystery books I’d recommend this one, or if you’re just looking for a bit easier read (I found it a bit easier at least, obviously not the case for everyone)

[ghostreviewer]

Cruel Prince Trilogy by Holly Black

5/5⭐️

CW: spoilers, mentions of fantasy violence

Okay so, I have read this series in about 6 months(I read it December 2023) so I’m a little rusty about specifics but hot damn did I really like this series once I got into it. Jude? One of my favourite heroines. Cardan? Definitely got there in the end. The series didn’t start very fast(the first chapter had like, one sentence) but once you hit where Prince Dain showed up and the scheming started? That’s when it started speeding up.

The world itself was so cool and you didn’t know everybody or everybody’s plans after the first book. You knew some alliances but not all of them, and some turned out to be fake later and it was such a fun twist. The iconic poisoning both cups because Jude didn’t know which one Madoc would choose, to then at the end of The Wicked King when Cardan banishes her with the stipulation that only a ruler could bring her back (and then not realizing she’s a fucking queen and can get herself out of banishment!) to the ending of The Queen of Nothing where she gets Cardan back is so cool.

Honestly, the only things I didn’t like about this book was how much of a dick Cardan was at the beginning. Plus his friend group (so glad Locke died) were not super great. Honestly if he was less of a dick I would’ve liked him better at the start but that wouldn’t have given him his main character arc. In the end it worked out a really great rivals/enemy’s to lovers book I just didn’t really like Cardan at the start which was proboly intentional by Holly Black haha.

I would give this 5/5, but again I haven’t read it in a hot minute so I’m probably forgetting a bunch of stuff. But I would definitely recommend this book. Badass female lead, really cool supporting characters, characters who change throughout the book, and lots of scheming. Jude is constantly scheming and I love that. So yeah, definitely would recommend. Plus, fairy politics. Fairy politics are so cool and it was so much more fun than irl politics

(note, rating has been upped because I’ve realized I fucking love Jude and she’s my favourite. Jude for president 2024)

[ghostreviewer]

There’s gonna be a good chunk of books I’m gonna do these next few days that I haven’t read for a little bit but really liked! I want to get them all down before I get to a bunch of new books I have! So if you’re worried, no I’m not magically reading 10+ books in one day, I’ve read them in the past!

[ghostreviewer]

Persephone Station by Stina Leicht

5/5⭐️

CW: Fantasy violence mention, character death, spoilers

Omg this book was awesome! I’ve been on a sci-fi kick for a while(as of posting, which I actually read this book before Gothikana but my ability to do things in order seems to not be very high, anyway) and this was so much fun! The world was so cool, and on each chapter there were dates/times/locations and that was so cool? Like, I could tell how much time passed and where in the world the characters were if I hadn’t read in a while. Definitely something I wish more books did.

There were switching POV a little bit, but it was mainly Angel’s POV and it was pretty easy to tell when it switched because the location of things would be different(!! Definitely something cool for books with one or two POV switches here and there that don’t want to title the chapters the characters names)

Also Rosie, I love them! Working a bar as a cover for working in crime? Amazing, 10/10, I need more books like this. Also, nonbinary rep! There was a lot of cool represention in the book, multiple queer characters, POC characters, disability rep(one of the characters towards the end had a prosthetic leg, and he still fought! We love disabled characters still participating in things over here) and probably more I’m missing!

The way I got so attached to all of the main characters (Enid, Lou, Sukyi, and Angel) was insane! Like, they were all so awesome and I loved them all and I was so sad at the end because I new Sukyi wasn’t going to make it but I didn’t know about Lou and than she showed up again! It was so heart wrenching but done so well. When Angel finds out in the middle of the fight on Ogenth that Sukyi has a child? That was a twist I wasn’t suspecting and it made her death hit even harder. Because she knew she was dying and that this would be her last mission, and she made sure her daughter had somebody to take care of her.

Ogenth also brought forth mech fights and back in Brynner there was a really cool fight with Rosie and a bunch of the crime families. On Ogenth there were dogfights between Lou and the pilot sent by Vissa. It was a lot of action in this book and it was awesome!

I really liked this book(if you couldn’t tell) and it pretty much being an all female cast with only random side characters being men was cool. This adventure was on the girls and the really accomplished that! I’d honestly recommend this book to a lot of people, but especially if you’re looking for more women, POC, or LGBT characters in sci-fi.

[ghostreviewer]

Gothikana by RuNyx

3.5/5 ⭐️

CW: 18+ material (smut, suicide), spoilers

So, Gothikana. It was pretty good in my opinion. I really liked how it had the mystery of the disappearing students, the mysterious suicides, and how the world was set up. What I didn’t like was Vad and Corvina’s relationship. Vad being controlling? Okay kinda hot. But also it just felt interjected when it wasn’t the right time. During the sex scenes it made sense, some of the times when they were alone made sense (when he’s protective of her when her, Vad, and Ajax split up to find Roy was amazing), but when she was panicking it just felt weird. Because it felt like he was being overly controlling and trying to flirt(? Honestly don’t know what he was trying to do in those scenes) or something. It just didn’t fit the context.

Another thing I didn’t think was good were the sex scenes. They didn’t evoke much emotion and they were sort of just, talking while having sex. Not what I’m looking for when I have a smut book. Plus as the book went on it was just them having sex over and over again with very little plot until the night of the ball.

The beginning of the book was great, I really enjoyed it and the plot when Vad and Corvina weren’t having sex was great. And I’m fine with all of the sex when it makes sense, or if I’ve been made aware before hand that the book’s plot is the sex, but this book didn’t have either (or very good sex scenes imho).

The ending was weird, too. Going into a medically induced coma because of weird drug? Okay yeah makes sense. Staying in the hospital for a while to make sure she’s okay? Awesome, great, we love being aware of mental health. Vad telling Corvina he had he’s vasectomy undone in the middle of sex? Not okay in my opinion. Because she consented to unprotected sex where there wasn’t a chance of getting pregnant and in that moment it flips. Now, Corvina didn’t react negatively to this but I think it’s weird and no good.

All in all, if you enjoy books with a little mystery, bad sex scenes that just keep showing up, and not super great endings but really good beginnings you might enjoy this book! If the sex scenes weren’t there I’d honestly recommend it more but they bring my opinion down a bit.

[ghostreviewer]

Hi!

I don’t use my real name on this app, but you guys can call me Ghost, Onyx, or really any other name as long as it’s not a slur I’m not very picky haha.

This is a place for me to review books I’ve read or shows I’ve watched(also just random book talk!)! There may be other stuff but it will mostly just be books and shows. One of my friends suggested I do this and I thought it was a cool idea! Posts will probably not be consistent but I’ll definitely try and update whenever I can!

This is something just for fun, nothing serious, and will be my own opinions (obviously). If I say something you don’t agree with that’s okay! Everybody has their opinions and those opinions differ from person to person.

I hope if you do read my reviews you enjoy them and maybe find some new material to enjoy!