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claragweny's reviews
172 reviews
The Return of the Sorceress by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Morally ambiguous female main character? Oh, I love to see it.
Despite its short length, the Return of the Sorceress packed a powerful punch. It’s a story about a girl who realizes one day “oh, maybe I am a bad person” and decides to do something about it. It’s a story about self-discovery and self-redemption only for the sake of one’s own soul.
Plus, there’s shape shifting talking animals.
Despite its short length, the Return of the Sorceress packed a powerful punch. It’s a story about a girl who realizes one day “oh, maybe I am a bad person” and decides to do something about it. It’s a story about self-discovery and self-redemption only for the sake of one’s own soul.
Plus, there’s shape shifting talking animals.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Body horror
Prime Meridian by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I really thought we’d get to see more space for some reason. Either way, I’m happy Amelia got to achieve her dream despite all the shitty people in her life.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Toxic relationship, Medical content, and Classism
The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez
If this book is what 5/5 is for me then I may need to reevaluate every other rating I’ve given. While it took me several months to get back and finish this book, I can’t even remember why I paused reading in the first place. The Spear Cuts Through Water is such a vivid and lush story. We follow Jun and Keema along in this tragically violent, beautiful, mysterious, and magical world. But it’s also a moving picture of repressed desire, queerness, and disability. Truly, truly gorgeous. That ending had silent tears running down my cheeks. I think Jimenez may have written what will one day be known as a fantasy classic.
Note: This is likely a difficult read if you are inexperienced with a second person narrative or frequent narrative switching. The audiobook is GREAT and I highly recommend it. But I think having an ebook or physical copy to follow along with is a good idea.
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
slow-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
“This is a love story to its blade-dented bone.”
If this book is what 5/5 is for me then I may need to reevaluate every other rating I’ve given. While it took me several months to get back and finish this book, I can’t even remember why I paused reading in the first place. The Spear Cuts Through Water is such a vivid and lush story. We follow Jun and Keema along in this tragically violent, beautiful, mysterious, and magical world. But it’s also a moving picture of repressed desire, queerness, and disability. Truly, truly gorgeous. That ending had silent tears running down my cheeks. I think Jimenez may have written what will one day be known as a fantasy classic.
Note: This is likely a difficult read if you are inexperienced with a second person narrative or frequent narrative switching. The audiobook is GREAT and I highly recommend it. But I think having an ebook or physical copy to follow along with is a good idea.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
The Husbands by Holly Gramazio
So, I have mixed feelings about this book. I love the premise. Magical realism is always cool. The beginning of the book is really enjoyable and the audiobook narrator is pretty great! But Lauren’s actions get more bizarre, violent, and drastic as the story continues. That would be fine if we also got some real growth for her but we don’t.She just decides to stop and stick with whatever husband comes next. That’s so ridiculous, I absolutely hated it.
I’m genuinely a bit upset about how the Bohai storyline ended as well.It really feels like a huge waste of time to include him when, really, it goes no where. What was even the point? There could have been a really, really good story there with Lauren and Bohai. But nope - instead we get Lauren flying off the handle and Bohai settling down with a random lady because “oops baby!” 😒
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
“She doesn't always like the new versions of herself, but they help her understand the edges of who she might be.”
So, I have mixed feelings about this book. I love the premise. Magical realism is always cool. The beginning of the book is really enjoyable and the audiobook narrator is pretty great! But Lauren’s actions get more bizarre, violent, and drastic as the story continues. That would be fine if we also got some real growth for her but we don’t.
I’m genuinely a bit upset about how the Bohai storyline ended as well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Gun violence, Blood, Medical content, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Stalking
The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King by Carissa Broadbent
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Hot take: this book is bad.
This is a really great example of an extremely simplistic novel meant for romance readers who want a really easy fantasy book to read. There is essentially no depth to this story whatsoever. If you have ever read a genuinely great fantasy novel, it is so hard to get through this drivel. There is real genuine potential in the magic system, but it is not explained at all. The focus is entirely on these two characters which I don’t really care about because through the entire book they’re fighting their feelings for each other, not being honest, and saying “there she is” or “there he is”, which is so unbearably annoying. I’m almost tempted to go through this book and count how many times the phrases “there she is” or “there he is” are written. I mean, could Broadbent not come up for another way to say “I see you beneath this façade you’re hiding behind”?
This entire book just felt like the level of reading that I was doing in middle school and early high school. No shame to anyone who is still at that level! I still enjoy reading Percy Jackson and books of that caliber. I love Holly Black novels! However, my issue is with authors who do not try to make a story more complex on purpose and that seems like what Broadbent has been trying to do. To assume your audience cannot keep up with more complex language or storytelling does a disservice to them and to the story. I think with more work these stories could have been really great. But as they are now they are not for me, and I will not be continuing with the series.
This is a really great example of an extremely simplistic novel meant for romance readers who want a really easy fantasy book to read. There is essentially no depth to this story whatsoever. If you have ever read a genuinely great fantasy novel, it is so hard to get through this drivel. There is real genuine potential in the magic system, but it is not explained at all. The focus is entirely on these two characters which I don’t really care about because through the entire book they’re fighting their feelings for each other, not being honest, and saying “there she is” or “there he is”, which is so unbearably annoying. I’m almost tempted to go through this book and count how many times the phrases “there she is” or “there he is” are written. I mean, could Broadbent not come up for another way to say “I see you beneath this façade you’re hiding behind”?
This entire book just felt like the level of reading that I was doing in middle school and early high school. No shame to anyone who is still at that level! I still enjoy reading Percy Jackson and books of that caliber. I love Holly Black novels! However, my issue is with authors who do not try to make a story more complex on purpose and that seems like what Broadbent has been trying to do. To assume your audience cannot keep up with more complex language or storytelling does a disservice to them and to the story. I think with more work these stories could have been really great. But as they are now they are not for me, and I will not be continuing with the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Blood, Vomit, and War
Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson
Tress of the Emerald Sea was my first Brandon Sanderson book. It did not disappoint. It had similar vibes to the Princess Bride and Stardust (an absolute fav). It was funny while also being a little grotesque and twisted at times. I found my heart aching for some of the characters and rooting for their happy endings in a way I haven’t in quite a while.
This book could have gone the route of the typical “chosen girl” trope but I’m really glad we got a story about self discovery and empowerment instead. Really, I think this entire story is about finding your strengths, inner powers, accepting and accommodating your disabilities, and finding a community (a found family) to call your own.
Oh, and Huck. I love you, you little scoundrel. 🐀🏴☠️
adventurous
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? No
5.0
“Do you know how many grand romances would have avoided tragedy if the hero had thought, "You know, maybe I should ask her if she likes me first"?”
Tress of the Emerald Sea was my first Brandon Sanderson book. It did not disappoint. It had similar vibes to the Princess Bride and Stardust (an absolute fav). It was funny while also being a little grotesque and twisted at times. I found my heart aching for some of the characters and rooting for their happy endings in a way I haven’t in quite a while.
This book could have gone the route of the typical “chosen girl” trope but I’m really glad we got a story about self discovery and empowerment instead. Really, I think this entire story is about finding your strengths, inner powers, accepting and accommodating your disabilities, and finding a community (a found family) to call your own.
Oh, and Huck. I love you, you little scoundrel. 🐀🏴☠️
“Truth is, people are as fluid as time is. We adapt to our situation like water in a strangely shaped jug, though it might take us a little while to ooze into all the little nooks. Because we adapt, we sometimes don’t recognize how twisted, uncomfortable, or downright wrong the container is that we’ve been told to inhabit.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Body horror and Medical content
The Lover by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Favorite quotes:
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Beautiful, poetic, dark, sexy, and vengeful. 5/5 would absolutely recommend. 🐺🌲🩸
Picked this up without knowing what it was about and only off of a recommendation from someone online. Now I want more of this story! Ugh!
Picked this up without knowing what it was about and only off of a recommendation from someone online. Now I want more of this story! Ugh!
Favorite quotes:
“Love! What a simple word that could not encompass her feelings, so deep and turbulent she feared she drowned just by looking at him.”
“I have no silks or gold, but I’d promise to eat your enemies heart and tear their lungs out with my claws and exchange for your kiss, dear Judith, which is more than a prince could say.”
“Go, chase the moon, tell it your lies.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Blood
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Resting Scrooge Face by Meghan Quinn
This is my favorite holiday story I’ve read this year. I love epistolaries so this was directly up my alley. Resting Scrooge Face was funny, sweet, and heartwarming. It was everything a Christmas romance novella ought to be. 🥰🎄☕️🍪💕
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
“I think these letters are having a reverse effect. They’re making me feel all ooey gooey inside. This might have been a bad idea...”
This is my favorite holiday story I’ve read this year. I love epistolaries so this was directly up my alley. Resting Scrooge Face was funny, sweet, and heartwarming. It was everything a Christmas romance novella ought to be. 🥰🎄☕️🍪💕
The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Badass, violent chosen one FMC who has unknown powers. Secretive, powerful, and ~handsome~ MMC who’s ALSO a chosen one - oh and he has wings. 😐
Pretty much as formulaic as you can get with fantasy but not written well enough to be compelling. You could splice this story together with bits and pieces from the Sarah J Mass universe, From Blood and Ash, Twlight, and basically any other fae or vampire romantasy.
Everything I predicted about this book came true which isn’t something I want out of fantasy stories. I want to be surprised, challenged, or proven wrong. Obviously, that is not true for everyone given how much this book is raved about online. To each their own. When I want my trope-y, predictable, easygoing stories I will read a romance or contemporary fic novel instead.
That being said, it’s not bad enough that I didn’t enjoy reading it. It’s not guilty pleasure level enjoyment, not good enough that I’d genuinely recommend it. If someone asked me “hey should I read this?” I’d shrug and respond “eh, if you’ve got nothing else on your TBR right now.” 🤷♀️
Pretty much as formulaic as you can get with fantasy but not written well enough to be compelling. You could splice this story together with bits and pieces from the Sarah J Mass universe, From Blood and Ash, Twlight, and basically any other fae or vampire romantasy.
Everything I predicted about this book came true which isn’t something I want out of fantasy stories. I want to be surprised, challenged, or proven wrong. Obviously, that is not true for everyone given how much this book is raved about online. To each their own. When I want my trope-y, predictable, easygoing stories I will read a romance or contemporary fic novel instead.
That being said, it’s not bad enough that I didn’t enjoy reading it. It’s not guilty pleasure level enjoyment, not good enough that I’d genuinely recommend it. If someone asked me “hey should I read this?” I’d shrug and respond “eh, if you’ve got nothing else on your TBR right now.” 🤷♀️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Sexual content, Blood, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Grief and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Rape, Self harm, and Torture