Pavla Leitgebova (Author of The Deadliest Wish)

Pavla Leitgebova rated a book liked it An Arcane Study of Stars by Sydney J. Shields (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I' m not sure where to start, so I'm going to start at the beginning - which I think was the stronger part of the book. I quite enjoyed the setting of a magical college, the events that lead to the MC's admittance, the philosophical musings and the m ...more
Apr 06, 2026 02:54AM · like · see review
Pavla Leitgebova rated a book really liked it She Haunts Me Still by De Elizabeth (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I fear that people who expect an actual love triangle will be disappointed, but alas... She Haunts Me Still is a beautiful atmospheric piece with adoringly-troubled characters trying to solve a complex mystery that keeps you guessing even as you start ...more
Mar 23, 2026 04:24AM · like · see review
Pavla Leitgebova rated a book really liked it Bone of My Bone by Johanna van Veen (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3,5 stars rounded up, because I really didn't know what I was getting into with this one. I have not read the authors previous work and came across the book in Netgalley in the fantasy section, so... I'm not sure what my expectations were, but they w ...more
Mar 13, 2026 02:57AM · like · see review
Pavla Leitgebova rated a book it was amazing The Winged Game by Sophie Kim (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4,5 stars rounded up, because I admittedly had a harder time getting into this than God and the Gumiho, but once I did, I couldn't put the book down. I fell in love with Taissa and by like third chapter I was ready to throw hands for her. Her fake-da ...more
Mar 01, 2026 12:51AM · like · see review
Pavla Leitgebova rated a book it was amazing This Blade of Ours (This Monster of Mine, #2) by Shalini Abeysekara (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This book is a proof that a book doesn't need to end on a cliffhanger to make readers read a sequel. Do I think that This Monster of Mine worked perfectly as a standalone? Yes. Did I rush to read this aswel because I absolutely loved the characters, ...more
Jan 29, 2026 06:39AM · like · see review
Pavla Leitgebova rated a book liked it Weavingshaw (Weavingshaw, #1) by Heba Al-Wasity	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I have rounded up my rating in order to be more objective and in the same vein I'll also start with positives. This book is beautifully written, the author sure knows how to set up an atmosphere. The characters are engaging, multi-dimensional (even t ...more
Jan 19, 2026 01:33AM · 1 like · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Weavingshaw by Heba Al-Wasity. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Weavingshaw by Heba Al-Wasity <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Pavla Leitgebova and 2 other people liked Snowy's review of Play Nice: This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Dec 23, 2025 12:29PM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Play Nice by Rachel Harrison. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Play Nice by Rachel Harrison <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Pavla Leitgebova rated a book liked it Burn the Kingdom Down by Addie Thorley (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I'll admit that I'm probably a little too old for this one, and I have rounded up my rating accordingly. I really liked the premise, thought that the worldbuilding had so much charm and I have to give kudos for setting the mystery in such a way that ...more
Dec 13, 2025 06:22AM · 2 likes · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Burn the Kingdom Down by Addie Thorley. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Burn the Kingdom Down by Addie Thorley <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Pavla Leitgebova rated a book it was ok Moon Witch (Moon Witch, #1) by Grace Zhu (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I want to start by saying, I only wish the author the best. She has a beautiful prose that draws you in, delights in descriptions and setting up an atmosphere. I definetely see a potential of a great writer in making. Unfortunately, it's painstakingl ...more
Aug 28, 2025 08:35AM · 2 likes · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Moon Witch by Grace Zhu. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Moon Witch by Grace Zhu <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Pavla Leitgebova rated a book liked it Mistress of Bones (Mistress of Bones, #1) by Maria Z. Medina (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2,5 stars rounded up I was really looking forward to this one — and I feel my expectations might have slightly ruined this book for me. It is also important to note that I read the synopsis back on Eldeweiss, where it didn’t yet mention it’s a multi- ...more
Aug 06, 2025 07:02AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Mistress of Bones by Maria Z. Medina. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Mistress of Bones by Maria Z. Medina <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

Pavla Leitgebova rated a book liked it

An Arcane Study of Stars
by Sydney J. Shields (Goodreads Author)

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I' m not sure where to start, so I'm going to start at the beginning - which I think was the stronger part of the book. I quite enjoyed the setting of a magical college, the events that lead to the MC's admittance, the philosophical musings and the m I' m not sure where to start, so I'm going to start at the beginning - which I think was the stronger part of the book. I quite enjoyed the setting of a magical college, the events that lead to the MC's admittance, the philosophical musings and the magic system. I really liked how Claudia struggled with her inner image following the events and was intrigued by Dorian - I could even understand Cassian's and Claudia's rivalry, which is unfortunately not a standard despite how common this trope is in dark academia settings.

But then the book went on a completely random tangent about kinks, BDSM, and it kinda went downhill from there. The rivalry turned into insta-love, with the other characters being one-dimensional caricatures at best and... I don't think I have ever witnessed such a hands-off villain. Like he's not involved in the events of the book at all until like 80%, at which he pops up, mustache twirling. The only person more passive is the main heroine who despite making a deal with a devil like entity, has no sense of urgency to fulfill it - and completely ignores its threats and then is surprised when they are not happy with her???

This book also has that very popular, but lazy device of the main character encountering a diary that of course explains everything that she needs to know (because everyone is writing a diary in fiction). And it was especially poorly done in this case - the author didn't even bother to try to make it read like an actual diary, it's just very telly first-pov, which also has action tags and setting descriptions, and the MC doesn't even have to hunt for it either, her pet snake randomly eats pieces of it and coughs it out.

As for the worldbuilding... as much as I found the magic system interesting and original, I was confused about the rest. Like how normalized is magic in this society? Like the MC doesn't seem too surprised by the idea of magical collage, but she has also never encountered a magician before either? She's forced into a marriage by her father, a lord, which hints at a certain historical period, yet the the Cygnus collage is very 'woke' for the lack of better term. The base for the celestial magic are constelations created by Greek gods, myths which are often referenced, yet those are not the gods we see? I thought they were lower gods at first, but finishing that doesn't seem to be the case... and I'm very confused about the relation.

And then there is the ending... which I didn't hate and would have been content with, if not for the final reveal. (view spoiler) ...more

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She Haunts Me Still
by De Elizabeth (Goodreads Author)

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I fear that people who expect an actual love triangle will be disappointed, but alas...

She Haunts Me Still is a beautiful atmospheric piece with adoringly-troubled characters trying to solve a complex mystery that keeps you guessing even as you start ...more

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Bone of My Bone
by Johanna van Veen (Goodreads Author)

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3,5 stars rounded up, because I really didn't know what I was getting into with this one. I have not read the authors previous work and came across the book in Netgalley in the fantasy section, so... I'm not sure what my expectations were, but they w 3,5 stars rounded up, because I really didn't know what I was getting into with this one. I have not read the authors previous work and came across the book in Netgalley in the fantasy section, so... I'm not sure what my expectations were, but they were certainly skewed.

That's not to say I didn't enjoy the book. I did. The author is a master at crafting a tense atmosphere that has you feeling anxious for the characters' future and what will happen next, even if this book is more vibes than plot and I would appreciate bigger sense of direction for the characters. A great deal of it is of course due to the historical background, which was very well researched and little more accurate than I (once again) expected.

I only wish that the author offered little more context into the background of the conflict in the narrative itself, as I can't imagine reading this book without having studied this period in school -- which I sincerely doubt an average anglo-american reader has.

I also share the sentiment of some of the other reviewers that the romance felt little forced, little insta-lovy. They fell for each other before they even knew each other, honestly they were both pretty horny from the get go for women who were depicted as sheltered (at least Ursula) and honestly it would be better if the author allowed herself to reign in the angle of how shared trauma builds connection between people and the importance of having to lean on someone, when you feel alone in the world as awful as this one - that would make the romance more believable.

But the real reason I can not give this book five star ending, despite masterfully depicting the period, the addition of folk creatures and having me glued to my seat from the first page, is because of the ending. It is a pet peeve of mine, I know, but I found the ending both anticlimacting and unsatisfying. Some may call it fitting, but I don't like when the endings make me wonder "what was it all for".

Alas, I am grateful to both Netgalley and the Publisher for providing me with a reading copy in exchange for a honest review. ...more

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The Winged Game
by Sophie Kim (Goodreads Author)

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4,5 stars rounded up, because I admittedly had a harder time getting into this than God and the Gumiho, but once I did, I couldn't put the book down.

I fell in love with Taissa and by like third chapter I was ready to throw hands for her. Her fake-da ...more

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This Blade of Ours by Shalini Abeysekara

This Blade of Ours (This Monster of Mine, #2)
by Shalini Abeysekara (Goodreads Author)

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This book is a proof that a book doesn't need to end on a cliffhanger to make readers read a sequel.

Do I think that This Monster of Mine worked perfectly as a standalone? Yes. Did I rush to read this aswel because I absolutely loved the characters, ...more

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Weavingshaw (Weavingshaw, #1)
by Heba Al-Wasity

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I have rounded up my rating in order to be more objective and in the same vein I'll also start with positives.

This book is beautifully written, the author sure knows how to set up an atmosphere. The characters are engaging, multi-dimensional (even t I have rounded up my rating in order to be more objective and in the same vein I'll also start with positives.

This book is beautifully written, the author sure knows how to set up an atmosphere. The characters are engaging, multi-dimensional (even the villains) with interesting backstories. The main romance was a slow-burn through and through, though I enjoyed the depiction moments of longing and slowly building desire. I also found the political background of this world to be very interesting, from the discussion of revolution happening in Leena's home country, to the criticism of capitalism through forcing the prisoners to work endlessly to fill the pockets of the greedy prison owners.

The most objective issue of this book is that it tries to do too many things at once. Less is more they say and that is certainly an advice the author should have listened to, because the worldbuilding feels overcrowded. The first few chapters set up the aforementioned themes, along with a little bit of supernatural in form of Leena's ability and the Saint's practice. Then the mystery of The Wake, an aristocratic secret society is introduced - and then a whole new dimension of demons? And then also Weavingshaw is haunted, but by a different kind of demon? Also there is going to be a rebellion against the crown?? And there now they have mafia after them?

With each location we visit, the story feels like a completely different book, including its plot. The main character seems to forget her supposed main about fifty pages after it's introduced and wouldn't remember she's supposed to save her father if it wasn't mentioned by the villain himself like 30 pages before the end.

It doesn't help that the pacing is abysmal. It takes us about 220 pages of a 370 (of the ebook) to actually get to Weavingshaw, those 220 pages filled with more of a side-quests than anything that would move the plot forward - and that is my biggest issue with this book.

After those slow 370 pages, the main characters ACCOMPLISH ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. Nothing. None of the thousand objectives that were introduced along the way are solved. It takes a special kind of audacity to drag your feet for nearly 400 pages and then end on a freaking cliffhanger.

Though I have to say that my reading experience was greatly impacted by the publisher's inability to make the book accessible to Kobo readers and having to read it on my phone, in that awful Netgalley app - which is not a criticism of the book as much of the publisher, but it made the ending even more unsatisfying.

I am however grateful to the author and Netgalley for providing me with this review copy. ...more

Pavla Leitgebova and 2 other people liked Snowy's review of Play Nice:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Burn the Kingdom Down
by Addie Thorley (Goodreads Author)

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I'll admit that I'm probably a little too old for this one, and I have rounded up my rating accordingly.

I really liked the premise, thought that the worldbuilding had so much charm and I have to give kudos for setting the mystery in such a way that ...more

Pavla Leitgebova rated a book it was ok

Moon Witch (Moon Witch, #1)
by Grace Zhu (Goodreads Author)

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I want to start by saying, I only wish the author the best. She has a beautiful prose that draws you in, delights in descriptions and setting up an atmosphere. I definetely see a potential of a great writer in making.

Unfortunately, it's painstakingl I want to start by saying, I only wish the author the best. She has a beautiful prose that draws you in, delights in descriptions and setting up an atmosphere. I definetely see a potential of a great writer in making.

Unfortunately, it's painstakingly obvious that this is one of the first - if not the very first - full-lenght novels she has ever written. As beautiful as the text is, it lacks maturity and experience that only comes with practice. This is the kind of book I would expect to read on wattpad or during a high-school creative writing course.

The main character is a textbook Mary Sue. A girl who is "plain and ordinary" and doesn't think herself to beautiful, but still manages to instantly make every single guy fall in love with her, even though she is "clumsy and socially awkward". She is cheeky and uses modern slang in a way that is supposed to be quirky, but comes off as cringe instead. She plays a damsel in distress for the majority of the book, letting everyone do the work for her, only so at the end she can be revealed to be the most powerful witch of all, this world's equivalent of chosen one - because of course she is - and save the day without any prior training!

She of course has a best friend who is missing for the most of the book - and she keeps saying she'll look for her, but never does - but who appears just in time to save her ass. The other characters are equally plain - because even if they do have a potential for depth, it is either never explored, or explicitly told to us, in often very inconvinient time.

Which brings me to the pacing. I had no idea what the plot is going to be for the first 250 pages of this book, it was just one long-winded descriptions of the MC's new lavish life, dates, visits to the city where her boyfriend buys her everything she wants, and occassional ball where she gets screamed at by her cartoonishly evil rival. The ending incredibly drags. "The final battle" is spread over 100 pages, and is often interrupted by exposition dumps and characters revealing their
backstories in unrealistcally long and poetic monologue - that literally spreads over pages.

The thing is, for all her truly beautiful prose, the author has yet to learn how to kill her darlings. She shows obvious signs of overwriting, and hasn't learned how to edit herself just yet. This book could be cut in half in terms of wordcount without missing any of the important descriptions and important elements - and would be more enjoyable for it.

This book is definetely not adult. I didn't even know it was supposed to be until I read some of the rewies. Sure, there are few "spicy" scenes, but everything else makes this middle grade, YA at best - and there is nothing wrong with that, in fact I think the author is doing herself a great disservice by not targeting those audiences instead. ...more

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Mistress of Bones (Mistress of Bones, #1)
by Maria Z. Medina (Goodreads Author)

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2,5 stars rounded up

I was really looking forward to this one — and I feel my expectations might have slightly ruined this book for me. It is also important to note that I read the synopsis back on Eldeweiss, where it didn’t yet mention it’s a multi- 2,5 stars rounded up

I was really looking forward to this one — and I feel my expectations might have slightly ruined this book for me. It is also important to note that I read the synopsis back on Eldeweiss, where it didn’t yet mention it’s a multi-pov, so that did throw me off a loop for bit. Not to mention that the book is not only multi-pov, but they also follow multiple plot lines that entwine very little.
That is I believe the book’s biggest issue - it is too messy. The author loves to jump back in time (from two hours to literal years), but many of those jumps and the contents of the flashbacks were completely unnecessary and only caused confusion. There are little characters here who do not get a pov piece, and about 80% of them have a name that starts with “De” making it hard to keep track of who is who.
But for the sake of organisation, the book follows two main plotlines: Azul and her quest to raise her sister from the dead and of the Count De Anvi, who is trying to navigate the cuthroat politics of the court, while being more of a pawn than a real player. And it is to the real detriment to the book that this was this was not communicated better by the promotion. Unfortunately I enjoyed the latter storyline more than the Azul one, I cared very little for the love interest, the Emissary of Death Enjul. I didn’t find him and his calling the main character abomination and refusing to think of her as human particularly compelling, didn’t feel the supposed forbidden attraction those two were supposed to have. He also spends most of the book sitting on his ass and brooding, and then is like “I knew about everything all along”
And then there is the ending… which makes the entirety of the 336 pages a waste of time as we end up in the exact same spot that we started with only slight improvements I won’t spoil to you, but it looks like to read what this book was supposed to be, you actually have to wait for the sequel.
The author has created a super interesting world with intriguing world building and politics and has even introduced some compelling characters. I only wish she set out to write a book, rather than one long prologue where everything is set up and nothing is resolved.

I am grateful to the author and the publisher for the reading copy provided. ...more

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