Books I've read in 2020, a thread:
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern. 2/5 stars. Too many unanswered questions. Her writing improved but there's very little character development
Mad About Castle by M. A. Lopez. 3/5 stars. It's good - and I love a great friendship story! - but I felt like it ends abruptly as if it's a draft instead of the final copy
The Demon in the Wood by Leigh Bardugo. 5 stars. I'd actually give this a 4.5/5 but I'm being generous since the story is excellent! I wish it were longer & delved more into The Darklings backstory but Bardugo wrote enough into it for me to understand
Oligarchy by Scarlett Thomas. 2/5 stars. First DNF of this year. I just couldn't get into it. There's some LOL moments but the narrator is all over the place as if she can't hold her attention for a moment
Shadow and Bone (Grisha Trilogy #1) by Leigh Bardugo. 3/5 stars. Pace is too fast, plot is basic but I appreciate Bardugo's lesson for girls to be wary of older men who seek them out for romantic intentions; they aren't truthful
Ruin and Rising (Grisha Trilogy #3) by Leigh Bardugo. 3.5/5 stars. I appreciate that plot twist! But I wanted to see Alina's angst over The Darkling's betrayal. She loved him but doesn't go through any emotional withdrawals! How!?!
The Poppy War by R.F. kuang. DNF'd but I'll give it 3/5 stars just for the writing. I don't see why Shamans need to get high for them to speak w/gods. It just doesn't make any sense

Loveboat, Taipei by Abigail Hing Wen. 4/5 stars. Great Asian #ownvoices work!
Days of Distraction: A Novel by Alexandra Chang. 4/5 stars. Another great #ownvoices work about interracial dating, being Asian-American inthe 21st Century, misogyny, & racism between Whites & Asians and Asians & POC
The Alienist by Caleb Carr. 4 to 5/5 stars. Contains trigger warnings but didn't deter me from listening. Planning to watch the TV show soon
#thealienist
#thealienist

House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig. 4 stars. A gothic horror retelling of 12 Dancing Princesses. There is a plot hole that messed up the story & made me drop a star but overall its non-gory
This Is My America by Kim Johnson. 5 stars. ARC. Timely own voices contemp fic YA mystery/thriller focusing on White Supremacy, racism, and police brutality
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. 4 stars. Boring until 80-something% through