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madmadmaddymad's reviews
189 reviews
Lore Olympus: Volume Five by Rachel Smythe
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This one has Hades and Persephone’s first kiss!
(FIVE VOLUMES IN)
(THE BURN IS SO SLOW)
The plot thickens. I love this series. This is where I was able to binge read to when I first started reading this comic, and then I started having to pay for issues because I became obsessed. I remember losing interest somewhere around the next issue! So I’m about to be in uncharted territory.
Can’t wait to see what happens next.
(FIVE VOLUMES IN)
(THE BURN IS SO SLOW)
The plot thickens. I love this series. This is where I was able to binge read to when I first started reading this comic, and then I started having to pay for issues because I became obsessed. I remember losing interest somewhere around the next issue! So I’m about to be in uncharted territory.
Can’t wait to see what happens next.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship
Minor: Rape
Lore Olympus: Volume Four by Rachel Smythe
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
I love Ares. He gives me such Cassian from ACoTaR vibes. I especially love the scene where he tricks Persephone to making out with him. It just goes to show, there is such a thing as being a jerk without violating someone’s consent (ahem ahem APOLLO)
I also love the confrontation with Persephone and Apollo! I think it’s so important what this series is doing in terms of displaying a relationship like theirs. Apollo thinks he’s a nice guy, and that he’s done nothing wrong. It is so vital what Rachel Smythe is doing, because rape doesn’t always look like someone holding a threat of violence over you for it to be rape. I love this comic’s take on this difficult subject, and I love the art, I love the way Persephone’s trauma is always drawn with those discordant music notes, striped across the panel.
I’m so proud of her for standing up to her rapist.
This series is such a pleasure to read. I love, love, love the characters, the art, the story, and basically everything there is about it.
I also love the confrontation with Persephone and Apollo! I think it’s so important what this series is doing in terms of displaying a relationship like theirs. Apollo thinks he’s a nice guy, and that he’s done nothing wrong. It is so vital what Rachel Smythe is doing, because rape doesn’t always look like someone holding a threat of violence over you for it to be rape. I love this comic’s take on this difficult subject, and I love the art, I love the way Persephone’s trauma is always drawn with those discordant music notes, striped across the panel.
I’m so proud of her for standing up to her rapist.
This series is such a pleasure to read. I love, love, love the characters, the art, the story, and basically everything there is about it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Rape
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Infertility
And They Lived . . . by Steven Salvatore
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
First of all I would like to mention that I wasn’t totally a fan of the WRITING of this book. It’s probably a four star book if I were going to be honest about how it felt to read it. Emotional books like this should never be written in first person present tense. Because it’s too intense. It feels like an action story. That’s just my opinion.
Second.
I love everything else about this book. Chase is heartbreakingly relatable. I loved how it was a gender discovery story - and that he came to decide it’s okay to both be nonbinary while using he/him pronouns and calling himself gay. The whole question of queerness and gender and sexuality is dealt with beautifully in this book, and felt so naturally depicted.
I also love Jack! He is the epitome of the manic pixie dream girl trope. But I love that about him. And I love that this trope can be used and can thrive in a book like this, with a queer romance story at the heart of it.
The love story was so good. I really enjoyed how quickly they fell. How sweet and tender it was, and how, even in the midst of all of that, there was still so much of a struggle. Sometimes, happily ever after isn’t the most important part of the ending. I had my misgivings when certain events happened in this book, because with the whole thing being told from Chase’s perspective, it is a challenge to go through what Chase is going through while also realizing that other people can be going through shit too. Jack’s struggles were painful to read, and even more painful because it was clear to me that they just needed to talk to each other. I love that this story is an exercise in empathy, queerness, and self acceptance.
And I love that it has a happy ending.
Great book. Excellent.
Second.
I love everything else about this book. Chase is heartbreakingly relatable. I loved how it was a gender discovery story - and that he came to decide it’s okay to both be nonbinary while using he/him pronouns and calling himself gay. The whole question of queerness and gender and sexuality is dealt with beautifully in this book, and felt so naturally depicted.
I also love Jack! He is the epitome of the manic pixie dream girl trope. But I love that about him. And I love that this trope can be used and can thrive in a book like this, with a queer romance story at the heart of it.
The love story was so good. I really enjoyed how quickly they fell. How sweet and tender it was, and how, even in the midst of all of that, there was still so much of a struggle. Sometimes, happily ever after isn’t the most important part of the ending. I had my misgivings when certain events happened in this book, because with the whole thing being told from Chase’s perspective, it is a challenge to go through what Chase is going through while also realizing that other people can be going through shit too. Jack’s struggles were painful to read, and even more painful because it was clear to me that they just needed to talk to each other. I love that this story is an exercise in empathy, queerness, and self acceptance.
And I love that it has a happy ending.
Great book. Excellent.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Homophobia, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Fatphobia
Minor: Bullying and Outing
The Gargoyle's Captive by Katee Robert
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
It has a little too much plot. I think Katee Robert’s strengths are in the sexy, steamy, smutty scenes - I personally really don’t care for her storytelling. It kind of pains me to say it, because I find the universe of these deal-with-a-demon books so fun, but I do come for the smut obviously.
This one earns four stars for having a submissive male love interest. Good boy, Bram.
This one earns four stars for having a submissive male love interest. Good boy, Bram.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
Lore Olympus: Volume Three by Rachel Smythe
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
Love this series. This volume came together really well, it has beautiful, vibrant art and a nice pace to the story with lots of emotional moments.
I love Artemis and I have a pet theory that she’s suffering from a crush on Persephone. That whole sequence where Persephone was needling her about “never having a crush on anyone ever in the whole history of time” and Artemis’s expression…. I ship it!
(I mean. Obviously I ship Hades and Persephone, as why would I be reading this if I didn’t. But. Ya know. Artemis having an unrequited crush would be cute and make a lot of sense for her character - especially with her hatred of Hades.)
I love Artemis and I have a pet theory that she’s suffering from a crush on Persephone. That whole sequence where Persephone was needling her about “never having a crush on anyone ever in the whole history of time” and Artemis’s expression…. I ship it!
(I mean. Obviously I ship Hades and Persephone, as why would I be reading this if I didn’t. But. Ya know. Artemis having an unrequited crush would be cute and make a lot of sense for her character - especially with her hatred of Hades.)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship
Minor: Mental illness and Rape
The Demon's Bargain by Katee Robert
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
I think this one is my favorite of the “Deal with a Demon” series.
I really liked the sexy bargain and the three day trail run. I didn’t care about the plot so much - with trying to get back her Amulet…. It felt very arbitrary, and with that steamy final sex scene I couldn’t help but feel like they were wasting their last day with all of the nonsensical violence. However. I’m a sucker for that insta love trope - and the trans love interest, chef’s kiss! So glad the adventure concluded happily, and that Ramanu and Lenora got to fall in love.
(Also this book has so much kinky sex, I LOVED the play of dominance and submissiveness. And the pegging scene! Very few romance novels go there!!! I’m so glad this one did. Holy shit. It was perfect! So sexy!)
I really liked the sexy bargain and the three day trail run. I didn’t care about the plot so much - with trying to get back her Amulet…. It felt very arbitrary, and with that steamy final sex scene I couldn’t help but feel like they were wasting their last day with all of the nonsensical violence. However. I’m a sucker for that insta love trope - and the trans love interest, chef’s kiss! So glad the adventure concluded happily, and that Ramanu and Lenora got to fall in love.
(Also this book has so much kinky sex, I LOVED the play of dominance and submissiveness. And the pegging scene! Very few romance novels go there!!! I’m so glad this one did. Holy shit. It was perfect! So sexy!)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Please Come Off-Book by Kevin Kantor
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Loved it.
Non-binary excellence.
Ugly in its honesty.
Sensational.
I don’t read a lot of poetry - but maybe I should. I loved everything about this.
Non-binary excellence.
Ugly in its honesty.
Sensational.
I don’t read a lot of poetry - but maybe I should. I loved everything about this.
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
A fairytale for adults. It gave me Hobbit vibes, and although it had less of a journey, it had more magic.
I saw the film before reading the book, but it’s been years and years. I just remember liking it. This book was an echo of the movie - reading it made me remember visuals and sometimes exact moments. It made me remember the feeling of being young, and of the friend I had been sitting next to in the movie theater. She’s trans, and when the young boy sold the goat to the witch, and was changed randomly into a girl, I remember her saying “I wish I could go to this place and meet a witch like her.” It’s a silly moment but I remembered it so vividly.
I do wish the ending was different, but I like how bittersweet the story is.
I saw the film before reading the book, but it’s been years and years. I just remember liking it. This book was an echo of the movie - reading it made me remember visuals and sometimes exact moments. It made me remember the feeling of being young, and of the friend I had been sitting next to in the movie theater. She’s trans, and when the young boy sold the goat to the witch, and was changed randomly into a girl, I remember her saying “I wish I could go to this place and meet a witch like her.” It’s a silly moment but I remembered it so vividly.
I do wish the ending was different, but I like how bittersweet the story is.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Minor: Sexual content
Voices in the Snow by Darcy Coates
dark
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
3.0
The first half was chilling and atmospheric, mysterious in a “What’s-Up-With-Dorran” kind of way. I thought I was reading Misery by Stephen King.
The second half was completely off the rails. Bonkers. Very fun and unexpected horror. Resident Evil Village vibes. I wish that villain had been around for more of it, she was great!
Definitely not what I was expecting, but definitely a worthwhile read.
The second half was completely off the rails. Bonkers. Very fun and unexpected horror. Resident Evil Village vibes. I wish that villain had been around for more of it, she was great!
Definitely not what I was expecting, but definitely a worthwhile read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, and Classism
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Mmmm. It was alright, but fairly tedious compared to the first one. I suffered for the first 200 pages, and then managed to get slightly more invested once Andarna woke up and Xaden and Violet made up.
The break up felt arbitrary and forced. There were lots of emotions, and not as much action, and it’s written in first person present tense, a style that DEMANDS action, it just felt like a chore to read.
However I will say that the final 100 pages or so are pretty exciting and worth reading. I’m not out on this series yet, but this one might be the one I skip if I ever do end up rereading these novels
The break up felt arbitrary and forced. There were lots of emotions, and not as much action, and it’s written in first person present tense, a style that DEMANDS action, it just felt like a chore to read.
However I will say that the final 100 pages or so are pretty exciting and worth reading. I’m not out on this series yet, but this one might be the one I skip if I ever do end up rereading these novels
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Violence, Blood, and War