Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality
Anya is LIVE right now
FREE
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
Ren is a spirited acrobat with a hidden magic - when her family is attacked by a humanlike demon, she releases a blast of silver light to kill the monster. Suffering a devastating loss, she now must save her beloved uncle from succumbing to a poisoned wound. Ex-soldier Sunho lives in the Under World, with no recollection of his previous life. He does odd jobs to scrape by, until he comes across the chance of a lifetime: capture the girl who wields the light.
Following the creature's trail, Ren's path collides with Sunho's; but he doesn't realise that she is the girl he is hunting. As the two grow closer, they soon realise that their pasts - and destinies - are more entwined than they could possibly have imagined.
Overall Rating: 3/5 💫
Idea: 4/5
Plot: 2/5
Characters: 3/5
Worldbuilding: 2.5/5
Narration: 2.5/5
Entertainment: 2.5/5
Full Review
This book was okay. Not great, not terrible, not boring enough for a DNF, but just very average. The best thing about it is the idea, and honestly, executing a good idea into a very average book is probably a skill too. Let's get into it, shall we?
Let's start with the protagonists Ren and Sunho, who both feel a bit tropey and generic, but likeable enough. Ren is, of course, the lost princess of the Floating World and the only one whose magic can keep it, well, afloat. Of course she wants nothing to do with that and wants to keep traveling with her adoptive family, an acting crew - which is why her initial goal is to find medicine for her injured uncle. She forgeta about until the last chapter though, so uuuh.
Sunho has amnesia and wants to find his brother by being a sword for hire, which I respect kinda. I could connect with him a lot more than with Ren, but overall his story was also a bit tropey and generic. Their love story was cute enough, but mostly because I like these "opposite/complimenting" couples, so a goddess and demon couple is an absolute win for me lol.
The plot barely exists, which was annoying. There are four acts, of which we only needed two tbh. If we had gotten some worldbuilding I'd have been fine with it, but sadly that was sparse too. We learn that the Floating World floats because of the Sky Fairy's magic and/or mithril, because yeah. Mithril turns humans into demons, because yeah. Oh, and there's a bad guy who wants war, because yeah. Amazing.
I will read the second novel as well because it's just a duology and I do have some hope it might get better! I like some of Axie Oh's YA books, so I'm not discounting her fantasy yet. Also, I will say that the "Korean folklore meets Final Fantasy" marketing angle isn't just marketing. You can definitely tell the Final Fantasy inspo - and not just because of the mithril and amnesia lol. It genuinely feels like a *fantasy* story.
This Book May Be For You If...
... you like Korean folklore, Final Fantasy games, triple POV, amnesia plotlines, hidden identity, lost heir, shadow/light couple
... you don't mind a slow plot and occasionally wonky worldbuilding
Für ein Wiedersehen laden Jonathan und seine Verlobte Lotta die alte Freundesgruppe in ein abgelegenes Restaurant in der Eifel ein. Nur ein Platz bleibt leer: Vor fünf Jahren ist ihre Freundin Maria spurlos in der Nacht verschwunden. Um der alten Zeiten willen beginnen die Freunde ein Krimi-Dinner. Doch das Spiel verschmilzt rasch mit der Realität. Verstörende Erinnerungen kommen hoch und werfen Fragen auf: Wer lügt für seine Rolle, wer für sich selbst? Während draußen ein Sturm aufzieht, eskaliert das Spiel. Ist Maria noch am Leben? Oder sitzt ein Mörder mit am Tisch?
Alte Freunde. Neue Lügen. Mörderische Wahrheit.
Overall Rating: 1.5/5 🍷
Idea: 4/5
Plot: 1/5
Characters: 1/5
Worldbuilding: 1/5
Narration: 1/5
Entertainment: 1/5
Full Review
Y'all I did not like this book. Literally the only good thing about it is the idea, because having a murder mystery dinner that becomes too real is so good! But Emily Rudolf did nothing with it! Let's get into it okay?
First of all: The great idea is dropped really soon into the novel, which??? Is a choice???? Literally one quarter into the book, the characters decide to ditch the game. So. Okay. I feel bamboozled and lied to in a very bad way.
Secondly, the characters were all horrible people. Everyone of them was addicted to hard drugs (EVERYONE DID COCAINE, LIKE???) and violent, or misogynists, or enablers. Or everything at once. The narration style also made it incredibly difficult to distinguish between them, because they all spoke and sounded the same. Furthermore, there were five characters, but two of them could have been axed with no issue. And they never seemed like friends - not during the dinner, but also not during the flashbacks. The book was advertised as "the group fell apart after a core member died" but they all hated each other long before that, so there was no personal investment in any of them.
The timeskips were annoying and derailed the actual plot too much. Again, the book was supposed to be about a crime and dine, but a good 60% of it is filled with flashbacks, and 30% of the present, they aren't playing the game, they are just yelling at each other before breaking into another explanation, which leads to a flashback scene. It got frustrating and annoying after a while. Speaking of frustrating, there were sooo many gross sex scenes that did nothing, it was plain torture.
The "twist" ending wasn't a twist, it just wasn't. It was so obvious how it would be resolved it actually made me angry. Miss Rudolf apparently thinks her readers are stupid.
So yeah. This is a "Thriller made in Germany" so y'all non-Germans can let out a breath of relief now! Seriously this "thriller" was so bad it makes Freida McFadden look like a good thriller author, yikes!
Sophie Chi is in her first year of college and has long accepted her aroace identity. She knows she'll never fall in love, but she enjoys running an Instagram account that offers relationship advice to students at her school. No one except her roommate can know that she's behind the incredibly popular "Dear Wendy" account.
When Joanna "Jo" Ephron (also a first-year student and aroace) created their "Sincerely Wanda" account, it wasn't at all meant to be taken seriously. But now they might have a rivalry of sorts with Wendy's account? Oops. As if Jo's not busy enough having existential crises over gender identity, whether she'll ever truly be loved, and the possibility of her few friends finding The One then forgetting about her!
While tensions are rising online, Sophie and Jo grow closer in real life, especially once they realize their shared aroace identity. Will their friendship survive if they learn just who's behind the Wendy and Wanda accounts?
Overall Rating: 3.5/5 ♠️
Idea: 4/5
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Worldbuilding: 3/5
Narration: 3/5
Entertainment: 3/5
Full Review
As an aroace person I was super hyped for this book even though I've long graduated college lol. I commend Ann Zhao for writing about an identity that is still not recognized enough, and I loved the intersectional approach! I definitely recommend it to every ace person out here! Still, there were some aspects about this book that prevented me a little from marking it as a 2026 favorite. Let's get into it, shall we?
First of all, I really did love the approach of implementing social media and the love advice column - however, Sophie's motivation for running the account wasn't much elaborated on aside from "I think it's interesting." I would have wished for more focus here, but oh well.
Jo and Sophie were good foils for each other, and I loved Sophie. Honestly I could relate to her a lot (except I was never a cross country runner nor a Swiftie). Jo on the other hand was just super irritating and selfish. I get what the author was trying to do with her, being insecure and all, but it felt really icky to me. Her friend Lianne was equally annoying with permanently ghosting Sophie's friend Alicia.
The plot dragged on a lot and at some point I was really ready for it to be over. The last few chapters were just not necessary.
THAT BEING SAID if you're a young ace person and you can't decide between Dear Wendy by Ann Zhao or Loveless by Alice Oseman, please choose the first book. It's a much more positive book in tone and treatment of the identity, while still being very relatable.
This Book May Be For You If...
... you like aces (and you should, we are amazing!), identify as ace, hidden identities, strong friendships
Clara Roussel, une enquêtrice brillante mais en marge des réseaux sociaux, enquête sur l'enlèvement en pleine rue de Kimmy Diore, une fillette de 6 ans. Kimmy et son frère Sammy sont les stars d'une chaîne YouTube à succès gérée par leur mère, Mélanie. Le roman explore les dérives de la surexposition.
Overall Rating: 4.5/5 📸
Idea: 5/5
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Worldbuilding: 5/5
Narration: 5/5
Entertainment: 5/5
Full Review
Delphine de Vigan is a former social woker and clearly passionate about social issues! I highly recommend you read this book yourselves because I adored it!
Her book is essentially a critique piece on "family youtubers" (think Eight Passengers) and the harm they do to their children. The narrative is split into two parts: The main plot takes place in 2019, where child star Kimmy Diore is kidnapped. The second part jumps to the near future, the year 2031. The focal characters are Detective Clara and the child's mother Mélanie. The latter grew up obsessed with reality TV and jumped at the chance to market her family to be the next big Youtube hit. Clara, on the other hand, is a social media sceptic and had to slowly learn about internet culture to get into the case.
The point of the narrative isn't really a "Whodunit", or even a suspense in the sense that the kid is an actual danger, as it becomes clear soon that it was probably someone looking out for Kimmy's poor mental health. Instead, the main "problem" of the narrative is how Mélanie handles everything - and honestly her conduct was so out of touch with reality, it was scary (but sadly, realistic).
The time jump in the second arc takes us to the year 2031, and the aftermath of both the kidnapping and general Youtube-life have taken their toll on the family. Instead of Kimmy, the narrative shifts towards her older brother Sammy and his psychological struggles after leaving Youtube for good. Kimmy, now 18, is suing her parents for the harm they've done to Sammy and Kimmy, and Mélanie is falling apart because of it. Deservedly so, might I add. The psychological issues that are described are incredibly harrowing, and also realistic. The book, while dealing with fictional people, definitely takes into consideration how actual events play out - the author even predicted the downfall of Ruby Franke two years before it happened! The parallels were honestly crazy.
So yeah, I adored this book! Mainly because it's beautifully written and deals with a topic I'm extremely interested in, but honestly I think anyone who is into contemporary fiction can get something out of it! There are translations into multiple languages if you don't want to suffer through French lol.
This Book May Be For You If...
... you like social commentary, different takes on the classic thriller, opposite protagonists, the downfall of shitty and toxic Youtuber families
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality
Anya is LIVE right now
FREE
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
Auf dem Kontinent Brillant lebt der Adel dank der magischen Kraft von Edelsteinen in Wohlstand. Elodie hingegen hat ihre ganze Familie in den Minen verloren und schlägt sich, getrieben von dem Wunsch nach Rache, als Diebin durch. Auf einem Turnier des Königshofes gibt sie sich mit ihren Rebellenfreunden als Adelige aus, aber dann entfaltet sich in ihr ungeahnte Magie. Ihre Tarnung fliegt auf und sie wird von der grausamen Königin gezwungen, ihre neuen Kräfte als die des magielosen Prinzen Rafe auszugeben. Während die Rebellen auf das geplante Attentat auf den Prinzen drängen, kommt Elodie Rafe näher, als ihr lieb ist. Doch sie ahnt nicht, dass Gefühle in diesem Königreich ihr Untergang sein könnten, denn sie steckt längst mitten in einem Netz aus Ränken und Intrigen …
Overall Rating: 3/5 💎
Idea: 3/5
Plot: 2/5
Characters: 2.5 /5
Worldbuilding: 2/5
Narration: 2/5
Entertainment: 3/5
Full Review
To be honest, I only bought this book because the prince was advertised as being mute and I wanted to know how this is gonna be handled lol.
This book is German romantasy, but it's heavily inspired by global bestsellers. The main inspo was probably Victoria Aveyard's Red Queen series (it's not a blatant ripoff like Powerless, though!) because a lot of things are really similar, mainly the protagonist Elodie being from a poor family, her childhood friend/love interest being big on war and revenge, and her having special powers that are basically forbidden. And. Yeah.
The worldbuilding honestly doesn't make sense - there's this thing about each kingdom having magical powers because of gemstones. Rubies gife fire powers, sapphires grant waterpowers, amber gives you earth powers and diamonds give you light/illusion powers. You can only command one gemstone, for reasons, but obviously Elodie can use every stone, because yeah.
Elodie in general is a character that... lacks character. We don't know anything about her aside from her desire ti avenge her family. Granted, there's probably not much time to develop actual hobbies when you're oppressed, but she doesn't even have any interests! The best character by far was Prince Rafe, because he at least had some character. His disablity tho? Basically boils down to selective mutism and him using Sign Language to communicate - which most characters just understand flawlessly because yeah. Of course they fall in love and. Yeah.
The plot itself is basically nonexistent if I'm honest. Elodie fights in a tournament and then travels with the queen (who's evil and likes to starve and murder her subjects) and the prince with the intention to assassinate them. They travel for a bit, then they practice some ritual for Rafe's crowning ceremony. There's a battle. Yeah.
So, the three stars I gave a probably really generous. I only gave them because I finished the book relatively quickly and didn't absolutely hate it lol. It's genuinely probably the best fantasy book I've read this year! (I haven't read much in the genre though)
More than a million readers have discovered the terrible truth behind these strange houses.
Now it's your turn.
Overall Rating: 3.5/5 🏠
Idea: 4/5
Plot: 2.5/5
Characters: 3/5
Worldbuilding: 3/5
Narration: 4/5
Entertainment: 3/5
Full Review
This is probably a case of misplaced expectations. After devouring Strange Pictures, this one left me a little disappointed. The idea and actual puzzles were great, but the story base wasn't quite up my alley. Let's get into it, yes?
So the main gist of this book is that we're looking at weird house sketches. The idea that the houses are murder dungeons is raised quite early, and also the fact that this leads all to one central cast was laid out from the get-go, minimizing the surprise in the end. In order to provide some shock value, the background of the murders was very wack - including a quasi-religious cult, body horror, incest and child exploitation. Yay.
Instead of being able to deduct the facts from the house blueprints, the reader gets every info spoonfed by Kuhirara (whom I was very happy to meet again!), which dampened the fun for me, to be honest.
So yeah, it was a fun read, but much less engaging than its predecessor. I will definitely read the next book, Strange Buildings, soon as well because I like this style of novel!
Fern has weathered the stillness and storms of a bookseller’s life for decades, but now, in the face of crippling ennui, transplants herself to the city of Thune to hang out her shingle beside a long-absent friend’s coffee shop. What could be a better pairing? Surely a charming renovation montage will cure what ails her!
If only things were so simple . . .
It turns out that fixing your life isn’t a one-time prospect, nor as easy as a change of scenery and a lick of paint. A drunken and desperate night sees the rattkin waking far from home in the company of a legendary warrior surviving on inertia, an imprisoned chaos-goblin with a fondness for silverware, and an absolutely thumping hangover. As together they fend off a rogue’s gallery of ne’er-do-wells trying to claim the bounty the goblin represents, Fern may finally reconnect with the person she actually is when nothing seems inevitable . . .
Overall Rating: DNF
Full Review
I think this is the first DNF on this blog - not because it's the worst book ever. I just decided that I mo longer want to waste my time slogging through books I don't enjoy. I'm a bit miffed that it has to be this book, because Legends & Lattes is one of my favorites, but here we are. Also, I'm not saying this book is bad. It might just not be for me, or maybe it's not the right time. Let's get into it, shall we?
This book doesn't center Viv, but her bookseller friend Fern. I was okay with that because I really liked Fern in Bookshops & Bonedust, but I couldn't connect with her in this one. She's going through a midlife crisis, and I get it. Not being sure about who you are is a horrible feeling. Still, she makes a lot of stupid decisions so I ended up being completely done with her. Her swearing also felt irritating after a few pages because it was ramped up to a 1000 from the previous book, and it felt kinda juvenile to be honest - it reminded me of those kids who aren't allowed to swear at home so they feel really cool and grown-up when they say "fuck" in every sentence at school, lol. Fern's party members feel really bland to me and nothing about them was explained. Like okay, Astryx is a famous elf warrior who... does bounty hunting. Or something. And she may be a recluse because yeah. The goblin whose name I forgot was so irritating to me that I wished that "evil" orc woman would have caught them tbh. Then there was a bard whose name I also forgot, who was hinted at to be somehow problematic, because yeah. Also, while I liked the talking Elder Blade Nigel, adding a second talking weapon felt overkill to me.
The quest made zero sense - they are stumbling from place to place for no good reason, experience zero character development anywhere, and the line of events just feels disjointed and random. I don't know, I could have accepted a classic quest plot in this "cozy" universe, but this one just isn't engaging at all.
I'd recommend reading Legends & Lattes if you want cozy fantasy, and like. Brandon Sanderson if you want classic fantasy.
Phia Quantius leidet seit ihrer Kindheit unter einer besonders starken Form von Migräne. Die neurologische Erkrankung attackiert die junge Frau drei bis sechs Mal pro Monat und reißt sie mit Schmerzen, Übelkeit, Lähmungen und Halluzinationen aus ihrem Alltag. Trotz der enormen Auswirkungen gilt Migräne oft als Bagatelle, dabei leiden rund zwanzig Prozent der Bevölkerung daran und die Forschung hat noch kein wirksames Mittel dagegen gefunden. Phia Quantius erzählt darum ihre Geschichte, spricht mit Expert:innen über Behandlungsmöglichkeiten und über alles, was noch mit der Krankheit zusammenhängt: Medikamentenkonsum, Depressionen, Suizidalität - und allem zum Trotz ihre unbändige Lebenslust.
Overall Rating: 4.5/5 💥
Full Review
Phia is a young woman who suffers from horrible migraines - and when I say "suffer", I mean that. If you don't have migraines, I officially hate and envy you, because it's a dogshit illness. Phia thinks so, too, but she decided to share her life story because that's what German influencers are all currently doing. Sound too snarky? Well, it's true lol. However, unlike most influencers, Phia actually as something to say. She's trying to destigmatize the illness and shed awareness, and I honestly think she did a great job.
Sprinkled in are some takes by the German Neurology Association, the German Psychiatrists Association, which aren't new for anyone affected, but may offer some valuable info for people who want to learn. My mother is reading the book at the moment and she said it's helpful for her - and reassuring that she's not the only mother who thought her migraine-affected child is dying, lol.
So yeah despite my aversion towards the German influencer scene, I definitely recommend this book! It's informative, very relatable, and also really funny. Humor is the best medicine after all!
This Book May Be For You If...
... you want to learn more about migraines, are affected and want to relate, and know German
A series of drawings made by a young woman before her death. A child's disturbing picture of his home. A desperate sketch made by a murder victim in his final moments. Each contains a chilling warning. Each reveals a terrible secret, hidden in plain sight.
Can you find the clues in these strange pictures and uncover the sinister truth that connects them all?
Overall Rating: 4.5/5 🍙
Idea: 5/5
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Worldbuilding: 5/5
Narration: 4/5
Entertainment: 5/5
Full Review
I've read this book in one sitting because it really hooked me! Honestly I was super intrigued when I bought this, because the idea sounded amazing! Then I discovered that the author is a Youtuber and I was like... meh, so I shelved it for a while. But really, it's good! I do make a good detective, so I guessed the twist quickly, but the setup and resolution are still incredibly smart. The whole book was just so fun to read!
I think one character would have made for a better twist in the end, but yeah. The focus on the pictures themselves was really well executed, and reading this book really feels like you're part of the investigation. My favorite chapter is the one about the art teacher, but they are all great, and the beginning and ending passages making a full circle was just *chef's kiss* and elevated the experience a lot.
I really really suggest you read this and find out for yourselves how fun this is! I'm really excited for the next book!
This Book May Be For You If...
... you like murder mysteries, multimedia entertainment, art, psychology
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality
Anya is LIVE right now
FREE
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
Jessica Chen is so smart she gets the top score on every test. Jessica Chen is so beautiful people stop in the hallway to stare at her. Jessica Chen is so perfect she got into Harvard.
And Jenna Chen will only ever be a disappointment. So when Jenna makes a desperate wish to become her cousin, the last thing she expects is for it to come true–literally. All of a sudden she gets to live the life she’s always dreamed of . . . but being the model student at cutthroat Havenwood Private Academy isn’t quite what she’d imagined.
Overall Rating: 4/5 💫
Idea: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Worldbuilding: 3/5
Narration: 5/5
Entertainment: 4/5
Full Review
Be careful what you wish for! Jenna wishes she could be her cousin Jessica - smart, beautiful, athletic, and just overall flawless. When her wish comes true, she is stoked at first, but eventually has to question whether being Jessica is the better option.
This is my second book by Ann Liang, and I absolutely loved it! My favorite thing about it is the writing itself: the style switches between sarcastic humor and beautiful, heartfelt prose. I read it within a day because I was so hooked. Let's talk about it, shall we?
Ann Liang's books are for all of us gifted kids with self-esteem issues lol, and this book is no different. Jenna is trying really hard, but never quite gets there, which builds up resentment towards her cousin Jessica. Jessica, apparently, does everything with ease, but Jenna soon realizes how awful it is to be "perfect" all the time. There's one particular scene where Jenna (as Jessica) is stoked to have gotten a 91% on a test, but is then crushed by a teacher who asks 'Jessica' what went wrong. This is the first time when Jenna is confronted with the fact that Jessica faces pressure as well, just a different kind.
Jenna herself is a great character with clear strengths and weaknesses, and I liked her development a lot. I sorta wish Jessica would have been more present (maybe in Jenna's body), but then again this story wasn't supposed to be about her. I also feel like the side characters, who have great foundations, were a little under-utilized - especially Aaron and one other character.
The worldbuilding is a bit wonky in my opinion. I liked the setting in a competitive, prestigious school, but the social commentary fell a bit flat to me. Most characters are rich, but some have scholarships? But how does Jenna attend that school if her family is poor, but she's also just average? Like hm. It's nothing major, but it did bug me a little.
All in all, this was a great read and definitely not my last Ann Liang novel! I definitely recommend it for every (former) gifted kid with burnout lol.
This Book May Be For You If...
... you like body swap stories, themes of academic pressure, social commentary, Chinese-American cultural themes, strong character development
... you don't mind occasionally wonky worldbuilding
Schizophrenie - Die Krankheit verstehen, behandeln, bewältigen by Asmus Finzen
Finished on May 15th 2026
Genre: Nonfiction, Psychiatry
Synopsis
Der Klassiker Asmus Finzens Buch zur Schizophrenie ist die Essenz seiner Erfahrungen aus fünf Jahrzehnten der Arbeit und des Lebens mit psychosekranken Menschen. Es richtet sich an die Erkrankten, ihre Angehörigen und Freunde sowie an all jene, die beruflich mit psychisch kranken Menschen zu tun haben. Seine größten Stärken sind die klare Sprache und die Verständlichkeit. Von den ersten Symptomen bis zu den Behandlungs- und Bewältigungsmöglichkeiten – Finzen vermittelt die wichtigsten Informationen zur Schizophrenie unter Berücksichtigung sozialer, psychologischer und biologischer Aspekte. Wie Betroffene und Angehörige eine Schizophrenie erleben, wird in vielen Beispielen deutlich.
Overall Rating: 4/5 🧠
Full Review
This is the standard textbook for psychology students who want to treat schizophrenia later on. As such, it can be a little dry for laypeople, but Finzen does treat the illness with the utmost empathy - I actually found this very reassuring because German doctors tend to be rather cold in ly experience, especially psychiatrists. Finzen explains everything in a concise way that everyone can understand and he doesn't fall into the fearmongering or stigma associated with psychosis-related illnesses.
The Mortal Instruments 1: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
Finished on May 6th 2026
Genre: YA Fantasy
Synopsis
A simple night out with her best friend Simon transforms into a nightmare when fifteen-year-old Clary Fray witnesses a murder at the Pandemonium Club. The culprits are three teenagers covered in strange tattoos and brandishing weapons no one else seems to notice. In fact, Clary is the only one to see the violent display. The next day, more impossible sights make Clary wonder if she’s going crazy.
When a desperate phone call from her mom brings Clary home to a scene of destruction and a grotesque monster that almost kills her, Clary finally gets some answers. One of the teens from the club—Jace, who looks like an angel but acts like a jerk—rescues her and introduces himself as a Shadowhunter, part of a secret cadre of warriors dedicated to driving demons out of the mundane world and back to their own. Could this also be where she’s belonged all along?
Overall Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
Idea: 4/5
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 4/5
Worldbuilding: 5/5
Narration: 4/5
Entertainment: 4/5
Full Review
The Mortal Instruments books are dear to my heart, even though they are problematic. City of Bones was my first ever book club read, with my first ever "book friend", so yeah. Don't worry, I've re-read my already existing copy, and it was actually for an academic paper about plagiarism and bullying in the publishing world lol.
That being said, I still think the book is actually good, which is unfortunate because shitty people should be shitty authors too! Why are you good at a creative craft if your personality is ass???
So anyway, the worst thing about the first book is the plot, because nothing much happens. There's a lot of lore dumping and introduction of characters instead of a cohesive story unfolding; instead, we go on goose-chase after goose-chase. First we hunt clues about the whereabouts of Clary's mom, then we chase after Simon, then we chase after Raziel's Cup, then we chase after Jace. Ooof. The writing itself is fast-paced and fun, with some witty quips and lots of banter, so that salvages a lot.
The best thing about Clare's books (in general) are her characters. My least favorite is Clary (who is obviously a self-insert version of Cassandra Clare herself lol), and even she is okay. My favorite character will have a proper role in the next book so I'm already looking forward to that lol.
This Book May Be For You If...
... you like a diverse cast, creative worldbuilding
... you don't mind religious imagery, incest-bait romance plots, love triangles
Wie aus dem »Dummbart« ein »Schlauberger«, aus dem Sprachlosen ein Dichter wird, wie ein »Gefühlstauber« den Autismus durchbricht: Axel Brauns' Erinnerungen geben einen erstaunlichen Einblick in eine andersartige Welt.
Overall Rating: 4.5/5 🦜
Full Review
This autobiography describes the entire youth of its author, Axel Brauns, in incredible detail and thus offers incredible insight. Brauns is autistic, which reflects in his thoughts, actions and feelings, and the way he relays his inner world to the audience is impactful and touching. I'm not autistic, but also ND and 2e, so his descriptions of not fitting in but being unable to understand why hit close to home. This book left me thinking for a long while. I'm glad I read it.
This Book May Be For You If...
... you like discussions of autism, autobiographies, language
Joe Navarro, a former FBI counterintelligence officer and a recognized expert on nonverbal behavior, explains how to "speed-read" people and master the science of understanding human behavior: decode sentiments and behaviors, avoid hidden pitfalls, and look for deceptive behaviors. You'll also learn how your body language can influence what your boss, family, friends, and strangers think of you.
Overall Rating: 4/5 🕵🏻♀️
Full Review
I went into this book with low expectations, to be honest, because these kinds of books generally perpetuate stereotypes and contribute to the marginalization of ND people. In that regard, Joe Navarro thankfully persists the status quo because he is very aware that typical "telltale" signs are rooted in specific norms and expectations. I greatly appreciated his awareness, and I absolutely commend him for explicitly stating that (despite its advertisement) this book is NOT a reliable instruction of reading people, and that even experts are generally just not that great at reading human behavior.
So, why should you read this book then? Well, because Joe Navarro is very funny, for one. Furthermore, the things he explains in this book are mostly interesting because we already know them! His professional lens just expands on that knowledge, which made the book very refreshing. And if you happen to struggle with emoting, or with reading people's emotions, this book might be very helpful!
This Book May Be For You If...
... you want to read people's nonverbal cues better, if you want to emote more, if you're interested in human behavior
... you don't mind the fact that this is written by an FBI agent
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality
Anya is LIVE right now
FREE
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
Nebelschwaden ziehen über den Friedhof. Im fahlen Abendlicht ragen die dunklen Umrisse der Steinkreuze auf. Conny und Yannik sind eigentlich nur hierhergekommen, um Fledermäuse für das Bio-Projekt an der Schule zu beobachten. Plötzlich entdeckt Conny einen feinen Nebelschleier, der sich aus dem Gras erhebt. Sie glaubt, darin die Gestalt eines verschleierten Mädchens zu erkennen. Und da greifen schon bleiche, eiskalte Finger nach ihr ...
Overall Rating:. 3/5 👻
Idea: 3/5
Plot: 2/5
Characters: 3/5
Worldbuilding: 3/5
Narration: 3/5
Entertainment: 3/5
This Book May Be For You If...
... you like a bit of detective work, love triangles, sailing, family secrets
Mel isn't your average angel. She certainly never expected to wind up at posh Angel Academy. Why would she want to learn about halos, when "shopping" is much more divine? And yet there she is, killed by a car accident just a day after her thirteenth birthday. Dying certainly isn't trendy, but Mel soon gets the hang of it.
Overall Rating: 4.5/5 😇
Idea: 5/5
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 4/5
Worldbuilding: 5/5
Narration: 4/5
Entertainment: 4/5
Full Review
These books were my life as a young teen - I used them to learn German, so they hold a special place in my heart. Nostalgia aside, this book is good! It has likeable characters, super cool and detailed worldbuilding and a good chunk of humor. It's an empowering read for young girls for sure - let's talk about it, shall we?
I want to focus specifically on the characters and (after-)worldbuilding for this book because, as the first in a long series, the plot is less prominent in favor of "setting the stage" and I think that’s a good thing!
So, Mel Beeby is dead. That's a bummer. She's also lazy, boy-crazy, superficial and very thirteen. Also a bummer - but she grows up quite a lot and that's great! She's amazing as a character and I love her. Then she has two best friends - Lola and Ruben, who are just as great. Lola is Mel's twinflame, and they are very similar personality-wise, yet she has distinct interests (music) that set her apart. She's also more confident and experienced. Ruben is a Black guy-angel with a knack for karate and being chill and a pure bean. He's the smartest and calmest of the trio and my personal favorite.
The worldbuilding is fantastic and absolutely creative. Heaven is very modern - there's cafés and shopping malls and everything is cool. The school is run by Arch Angels; their principal is literally Michael which I found hilarious! Time is very different as well - it's not linear. Mel, for example, died at 13 in the 21st century, whereas Lola died at 13 in the 22nd century - yet she has been at Angel Academy longer than Mel! Some angels, like Ruben, have never lived on earth because they haven't incarnated yet. There's also a bad side because of course - and it's NOT simply "Satan and demons" which I greatly appreciate!
So yeah there is a lot of great stuff being set up here, which makes me eager to read the next book! The casual diversity and humor also makes this book very much suitable for today's kids as its very timeless. So go, read it!
This Book May Be For You If...
... you like interesting worldbuilding, character development, time travel
... you don't mind the protagonist being indeed thirteen years old
