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crusoe's reviews
178 reviews
Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-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
4.5
There's a lot of things I like about certain dark things; the worldbuilding with the vampire subspecies, the characters and how their personalities are portrayed (generally speaking, except for Ana), etc. This book reallh makes me want to read more dark fantasy realism.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Vomit, and Murder
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
funny
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Who was going to tell me Austen's work is so funny?? Pride and prejudice is a classic I would've never picked up if not for my quest to listen to a lot of classics in audio form.
I'm really glad I did, while all interactions are steeped in period formality, the way relationships unfold and the character of different people is described is wonderfully charming.
I'm really glad I did, while all interactions are steeped in period formality, the way relationships unfold and the character of different people is described is wonderfully charming.
Fallen Thorns by Harvey Oliver Baxter
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Fallen thorns was not what I expected at all which is okay because it's a fun read anyway. Only in the last 'act' does the story get truly dark and the tonal shift is quite a twist.
I think the characters and their relationships with each other are very fun as well though Lucy especially suffers from some one-dimensionality, mostly because we aren't given an indepth backstory on most of the characters. (You could read the novellas Baxter is working on but really it should be a vital part of the story.)
Unfortunately, you can also easily tell Baxter is a first time author. The writing suffers from some growing pains in terms of its pacing, some cliche dialogue and a slight lack of personal style. Nevertheless, these are all things that can only get better over time and I'm excited to see what they'll write next.
So, in short, the story didn't blow me away as much as I'd hoped but I had a good time reading it!
I think the characters and their relationships with each other are very fun as well though Lucy especially suffers from some one-dimensionality, mostly because we aren't given an indepth backstory on most of the characters. (You could read the novellas Baxter is working on but really it should be a vital part of the story.)
Unfortunately, you can also easily tell Baxter is a first time author. The writing suffers from some growing pains in terms of its pacing, some cliche dialogue and a slight lack of personal style. Nevertheless, these are all things that can only get better over time and I'm excited to see what they'll write next.
So, in short, the story didn't blow me away as much as I'd hoped but I had a good time reading it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Body horror
Minor: Torture
I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
For me, this was a case of right book wrong time. It took me 200 pages to get into the story but once it gripped me it was really neat and the way everything comes together at the end was very satisfying.
I'll give you the sun is a tragic story about loss and rectifying your wrong decisions. It got really bleak at points but once the ball starts rolling with Jude running into Oscar, things get better. I love the throughline of how every little quirk and detail has a connection to some predetermined destiny in which Jude was meant to meet Oscar, Noah was meant to meet Brian and Guillermo was meant to meet the twins.
I do think, especially in the beginning, that the book could've benefited from shorter chapters.
I'll give you the sun is a tragic story about loss and rectifying your wrong decisions. It got really bleak at points but once the ball starts rolling with Jude running into Oscar, things get better. I love the throughline of how every little quirk and detail has a connection to some predetermined destiny in which Jude was meant to meet Oscar, Noah was meant to meet Brian and Guillermo was meant to meet the twins.
I do think, especially in the beginning, that the book could've benefited from shorter chapters.
The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book was everything I imagined it to be: a nuanced exploration of what it means to be trans, a mystical historical fantasy with a fascinating (and horrific) structure of power, and a hell of a lot of gore with very little comfort to be found. White has shed the first-time-author things that were less appealing in Hell Followed with us and -in my opinion- presented a story with a stronger plot and characters while keeping the things that make his work unique.
All I'm saying is: if compound fracture is better than this book, Andrew Joseph White has officially broken my bookrating scale.
All I'm saying is: if compound fracture is better than this book, Andrew Joseph White has officially broken my bookrating scale.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Miscarriage and Classism
Minor: Animal death and Infertility
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This story is very pleasant to listen to even if little happens. While the moral of the story is quite on the nose and parts are repetitive, there is something wonderful about exploring the mystical moors, the house and its grounds through the eyes of a child.
Through a modern day lense, the story can be interpreted as slightly ableist and more than a little racist. For that reason I don't think it should count as a 'children's classic' anymore.
Through a modern day lense, the story can be interpreted as slightly ableist and more than a little racist. For that reason I don't think it should count as a 'children's classic' anymore.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Racism, and Death of parent
Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli
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? Yes
3.5
Not as good as Simon vs the homosapiens agenda, but leagues better than Leah on the offbeat.
I really enjoyed this book because -as someone a little older than its intended audience- I know a lot of couples like Reid and Molly. Nerdy boys who are unapologetically themselves and girls with great style who make the most amazing things... They're some of the most loving couples I know.
When you're young and not necessarily conventionally attractive, it can be hard to imagine that you will one day find someone who looks at you like you're their whole world. But you will. And so it's great that so many young readers can relate to how this story represents these issues in a fun and wholesome way.
I really enjoyed this book because -as someone a little older than its intended audience- I know a lot of couples like Reid and Molly. Nerdy boys who are unapologetically themselves and girls with great style who make the most amazing things... They're some of the most loving couples I know.
When you're young and not necessarily conventionally attractive, it can be hard to imagine that you will one day find someone who looks at you like you're their whole world. But you will. And so it's great that so many young readers can relate to how this story represents these issues in a fun and wholesome way.
The Umbrella Academy, Vol. 3: Hotel Oblivion by Gerard Way
adventurous
dark
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Hotel Oblivion is the most super-hero-y out of all of the umbrella academy series but it's also (in my opinion) the best. Unlike Dallas, the story feels more thought-out with a set-up and pay-off to multiple plotpoints. Yes, it is more cheesy than the previous two volumes, but it's nice to actually see the characters evolve and change, and it was a welcome change to Dallas, which had a very bleak end. This makes me excited for any follow up volumes!!
The Umbrella Academy, Vol. 2: Dallas by Gerard Way, Gabriel Bá
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Dallas is not as coherent in terms of its story as Apocalypse suite was which made it feel messy. A lot is going on and little time is spent further developing the characters. The art is still great with some truly phenomenal panels, so overall I would say it was a fun but chaotic read.