A simple, casual writing style with good prose and details smoothly brings this story to life. I was particularly impressed by the bloodcarving ability of the main character, which was brilliantly presented and explored. However, the worldbuilding felt somewhat thin and underdeveloped, especially since some concepts, like the constabulary, were mentioned but played no role in the story.
Romance
All posts that feature a book from genre romance
- Book reviews
- ...
THE FAMILIAR by Leigh Bardugo
The formal, beautiful writing style smoothly establishes an atmospheric world with historical, religious, and magical aspects. Direct foreshadowing is also neatly used to build intrigue and suspense. Sadly, I was underwhelmed by the world-building and magic system, which could have used more depth. The multiple points of view also added little to the story, and the third-person narrative made me feel distanced from the characters.
May 2024 Monthly Spotlight
Something about the bursts of sunshine between the Spring showers here in the UK has me craving a fun, cosy read! Thankfully, there are several new releases this month that fit the bill. Here are a few that have caught my eye:
- Book reviews
- ...
THE PRISONER’S THRONE by Holly Black
The casual, easy-to-follow writing style contains vivid descriptions that smoothly establish the fascinating world of Elfhame, with its various creatures and landscapes. The narrative is also presented from Oak’s witty point of view, which constantly brought a smile to my face, but I craved Suran’s perspective as well.
- Book reviews
- ...
THE UNBROKEN by C. L. Clark
Though I found the third-person narrative slightly confusing, I loved the vibrant descriptions that brought the desert setting and complex world brimming with culture and brutal politics to life. However, the magic system was underwhelming, as it seemed to be a convenient plot device and was poorly explained.
- Book reviews
- ...
FANGIRL DOWN by Tessa Bailey
The casual writing style is filled with great descriptions, making this an easy and entertaining read. I also loved the dual points of view, as this made the story very satisfying.
April 2024 Monthly Spotlight
Spring has arrived and it’s not just the flowers that are blooming! This month, there are many exciting new releases and here are a few that caught my attention:
- Book reviews
- ...
THE BLOOD GIFT by N. E. Davenport
Rich descriptions and a smooth, casual writing style brought this story to life and made it easy to immerse in. The world-building was also skilfully expanded and delivered without any glaring information dump, making it more engaging than the previous book. My only issue was that the extensive details of Ikenna’s emotions and internal conflicts made the narrative somewhat repetitive.
