readingonthehorizon

[readingonthehorizon]

Enemies With Benefits - Roxie Noir

Honestly not my vibe. So much sex, so little plot.

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Nick and Charlie - Alice Oseman

Very sweet addition to the Heartstopper storyline. A good book for a train ride.

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Batman: Year One - Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli

Batman is just mwah

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Batman: The Killing Joke Deluxe - Alan Moore

The one time Batman is in love with Joker, while Joker isn't in love with Batman.

Plus the end scene??? They should kiss.

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The Prince's Loving Guards - Beau Van Dalen The Prince's Dearest Guards #2

For me, it would've made more sense to combine the first and second books into one considering they a short in length and are set within a very short timeframe. 

Besides that, this book wasn't bad, it just wasn't for me. The plot felt underdeveloped and, in my mind, only served to break up the smut scenes that felt far too frequent in the second half of the book and oddly repetitive.

[readingonthehorizon]

Twilight - Stephanie Meyer The Twilight Saga #1

More tolerable than the movies (surprisingly) but tell me why they were obsessed with smelling each other's breaths.

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Teen Titans: Beast Boy Loves Raven (FCBD) - Gabriel Picolo and Kami Garcia

I read the free version, so it's just a little snippet, and it is very cute! I might buy the full thing one day.

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Key & Zan: Stolen Introductions - D.T. Henderson

As a pre service teacher, I think this is a very sweet graphic novel that I may introduce into my classroom in later years. It's easily digestible and has some cute extra scenes and designs at the end.

But overall, not suited to my age group.

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Wolves and Daggers - Melanie Karsak The Red Cape Society #1

Repetitive and frustrating.

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The Lamplighter - Crystal J. Bell

In the gloomy whaling village of Warbler, an eerie fog haunts the night and is blamed for the disappearances of townspeople and visiting whalers. Temperance Byrne, the town's lamplighter, gets caught in the middle of accusations and daring acts following the disappearance of a local girl, sending her life into a spiral as she strives to uncover the mysterious disappearances.

Crystal Bell's "The Lamplighter" was an absolute joy to read. It was my first dip into the gothic genre and I couldn't have asked for a better introduction. The world building gave way to thrilling twists and betrayals that left me saying "just one more chapter".

Despite its beauty in storytelling and the world it built, I would have loved to see more of the relationship between Josiah and Temperance as well as Tempe's mother and her character. For me, the fleshing out of these relationships and characters would have allowed me to connect more with them and produce a bigger reaction to the novel's climax.

Thank you so much to North Star Editions and NetGalley for the advanced reading copy!

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Conversations with Friends - Sally Rooney

Conversations with Friends was a challenge for me to read. I took a 2 week break from reading it around halfway through and even then, I had to put the book down at the end of each chapter.

I'm not sure what about it made me do this. The language itself is not challenging but it's possibly the themes. I felt so far detached from the characters but at the same time related in a way I never have before. It made me feel such odd emotions that I know I'll never be able to identify.

But I would like to say that I loved how Sally Rooney didn't use quotation marks.

[readingonthehorizon]

The Merciless King of Moore High - Lily Sparks

Lily Sparks' The Merciless King of Moore High is an adventurous and emotional delve into the post apocalyptic world where all adults have turned into mounds of flesh that ooze with death. Stuck with just their peers, the students of Jefferson High and Moore High take on differing political systems that both delve into chaos as their worlds collide. Forbidden romances bloom and hearts are broken as Kay fights to bring justice and peace to both schools, the twists and turns sure to bring you to the edge of your seat and rip your heart out.

The amount of love I feel for this novel is overwhelming. It was full of action from start to finish, tugging at my heartstrings and crushing my soul with wild forms of betrayal. I can confidently say that the epilogue has me pulling at my hair, desperate for more.

Thank you to Flux (North Star Editions) and NetGalley for the eARC!

[readingonthehorizon]

Molten Death - Leslie Karst

Molten Death by Leslie Karst is an incredibly detailed and carefully thought through novel based on the volcanic activity that occurred on the Big Island in 2018. It follows Valerie and Kristen, a married couple on a holiday to Hawai'i in order to rebuild their relationship, that soon turns into an exciting yet cosy mystery with lots of lava and a few stolen avocados.

This novel is unique and surprisingly educational, with a few fun recipes and a list of glossary terms in the back.

Thank you to Severn House and NetGalley for the eARC!

[readingonthehorizon]

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - J. K. Rowling Harry Potter #2

Omg itty bitty baby spiders!!!

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Empire of Shadows - Jacquelyn Benson The Raiders of the Arcana #1

Eleanora “Ellie” Mallory is a suffragette in 1898, breaking the feminine traditions of her time and working towards a world of equality. When her protesting gets her fired from her hard earned job at the Public Record Office, her world turns upside down and plunges into a fast-paced journey full of lost cities, torn maps, danger, and just a sprinkle of romance.

Whilst I’m typically a slow reader, this novel had me hooked from the prologue. Each character had depth and purpose, creating a rich plotline that flowed and kept me wanting more. I can’t wait to see how Ellie and Adam take on their next adventure.

Thank you to Crimson Fox Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC!

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Bound by Curses - Nicole Zoltack Starry Kingdoms of the Fae #6

For me, the ending (and the lovers part of enemies to lovers) came out of nowhere. It really didn't feel like Karalyn and Harald had much of a romantic connection.

But! I loved how this book was able to carry a cohesive story in such a short page count.

[readingonthehorizon]

Bound by Treason - Eliza Tilton Starry Kingdoms of the Fae #1

I was so confused going into this novella and honestly I'm glad that's all it is; a novella. It felt too predictable and more often than not it explained events and feelings rather than showing.