amelialures's reviews
77 reviews

Band Sinister by KJ Charles

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funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Creve Coeur by Robert Fitterman

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funny informative reflective sad fast-paced

4.5

If you grew up in St. Louis suburbs,   this is definitely for you.  But even if you didn’t, despite not getting  all the inside jokes, its a tale of
power-walkers/mall walkers juxtaposed with untold histories of westward expansion and urban “development” and suburbanization.

Sadly illuminating. I learned a lot more about the horrors of my hometown that was never taught.
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A Power Unbound by Freya Marske

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

i’m obsessed.  I just want to lounge in an oversized armchair in the corner of the library these characters.  happy to have the whole crew together in this one. 

While the 2nd book didn’t wow me, this one did, while we’re more or less back in a similar setting as Book 1, the relationship certainly has its own distinct tone. And it’s completely infectious.  Richest as a whole series. 

The Dawning of the Apocalypse: The Roots of Slavery, White Supremacy, Settler Colonialism, and Capitalism in the Long Sixteenth Century by Gerald Horne

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 52%.
difficult to focus on narration,  date heavy.  may try to read physical book again sometime for history 
Paladin's Hope by T. Kingfisher

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adventurous funny mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

No matter how bloody and intense the settings are in this series, particularly this book,  it somehow doesn’t become the focus or a deterrent for me. I  consider this a comfort read because my mood wasn’t overtaken by the seriousness of their mission. Kingfisher’s tact is that she lets the characters carry the story. I’m 90% focused on the romance 🔥 and the gnoles, of
course!  🦡 The sweetness of the characters set against a muddy and cold world become all the more endearing.  She smoothly weaves in societal commentary making it very relatable to our world.

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

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funny hopeful reflective relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

this is a mood- created to envelop oneself as an act of self-care.  Made for times in life where one is in a rut, unclear next direction, or why to even bother.

I am not in one of those times in my life right now so it didn’t wrap me up as much as it could have, I suspect.  This was created during the earlier pandemic days and would have likely been a very comforting to read a few  years ago and definitely in early 20’s too. I think it should be added to the canon of important NA /coming-of-age books - like a  utopian SF Siddartha-lite . (?)  

I continue to love the worlds Becky Chambers continued to create and to me that was most inspiring and inventive aspects.  Has me dreaming about small greywater systems and universal compost toilets. 
Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn

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adventurous medium-paced
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Loved the audiobook for this sequel-  helped with pronunciation of celtic words.  Once I made it through the beginning- which was a lot of poltical dynamics, introducing new characters of the Order, I was completely hooked and immersed in the world-fighting alongside Brie, Alice, and Sel. 
Rooting for Sel 🔥😭
Great to have more of Brie’s background explored and voices of her ancestors were rich.
Open Throat by Henry Hoke

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adventurous dark funny fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley

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challenging emotional informative sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Baddawi by Leila Abdelrazaq

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dark emotional informative sad fast-paced

4.5

I loved the style of the art. Clear summary of main historical events and players in Lebanon & Palestine in from crucial perspective. Must read for anyone who wants more background. 
 Helped me situate timeline while reading the more in depth history. Heartbreaking.  now  happening in real time all over again - indeed, it never stopped 😣🍉
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