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randi_jo's reviews
398 reviews
Twice-Spent Comet by Ziggy Schutz
hopeful
medium-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
3.0
I'm late on this one as it got lost in the holiday shuffle.
This novella was very sweet. Cosmic mermaids? Yes please! I think I would've liked more information about how they came to be, but it's sufficiently mysterious. I thought the idea of magic being simple things like a trail of interconnected coincidences was sweet. Some things I didn't understand, like how Benat and Jones were lovers, but then he/she was also Fer's found family sibling with no mention of Benat. Or how these timelines intersected or did not intersect or how Jones even escaped prison time considering he/she was holding onto Fer before arrest. But that's just me thinking too hard.
This novella was very sweet. Cosmic mermaids? Yes please! I think I would've liked more information about how they came to be, but it's sufficiently mysterious. I thought the idea of magic being simple things like a trail of interconnected coincidences was sweet. Some things I didn't understand, like how Benat and Jones were lovers, but then he/she was also Fer's found family sibling with no mention of Benat. Or how these timelines intersected or did not intersect or how Jones even escaped prison time considering he/she was holding onto Fer before arrest. But that's just me thinking too hard.
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
adventurous
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
3.5
I liked this one! It's not my absolute favorite time travel sci-fi out there, but I think what Kaliane Bradley did here was unique and fun and sometimes scary.
I adored how much I got mad at the main character for her bad (yet extremely believable and relatable) choices, but I loved her anyway for trying to fix them - and that literally everyone else in the book basically felt the same wayincluding her future self, whom I am convinced came to the past specifically to punch her past self in the face. The save the world mission was just a side bonus. .
I think my only complaint was that the romance felt unbelievable and clinical. But hey, it was still cute.
I adored how much I got mad at the main character for her bad (yet extremely believable and relatable) choices, but I loved her anyway for trying to fix them - and that literally everyone else in the book basically felt the same way
I think my only complaint was that the romance felt unbelievable and clinical. But hey, it was still cute.
Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
slow-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
5.0
I loved this so much. The disability representation, the conflicting identities a person can have, the journey to find yourself and self-acceptance -- oh and robots! Basically it had it all. And then there was an anticipation that kept building up the entire novel -- something was going to happen, Zelu was going to do something, and I NEEDED to know what it was. I was NOT expecting that ending but it was just so so good. Man. I loved it.
I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue
funny
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
Honestly I didn't really like this book, but I didn't hate it either. Some parts were really funny and others were just so cringe I had to skip the scene over because it physically hurt. Anyway, Jolene's entire sadgirl reasoning is misleading at the beginning and the revelation is . . . underwhelming. Meh.
Winter's Orbit by Everina Maxwell
adventurous
challenging
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? It's complicated
3.5
Space boys solving a space empire's problems and falling in love while they do it. 💯 I love a slow burn romance, though I will say the slowburn on this one is based in misunderstandings from past trauma. TW: DV.
Pros:
❄️ Great plot progression with a believably solved 'mystery'.
❄️ The romance is cute AF and it's sensitive towards things such as healing from DV and grief.
❄️ Interesting political intrigue plots that make sense.
Cons:
❄️ Reads a bit like fanfiction - polished fanfic, but it has the vibe.
❄️ Kidnapping trope my dudes.
Pros:
❄️ Great plot progression with a believably solved 'mystery'.
❄️ The romance is cute AF and it's sensitive towards things such as healing from DV and grief.
❄️ Interesting political intrigue plots that make sense.
Cons:
❄️ Reads a bit like fanfiction - polished fanfic, but it has the vibe.
❄️ Kidnapping trope my dudes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Death and Kidnapping
Hunt the Stars by Jessie Mihalik
adventurous
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? No
3.75
This one was a fun romance space romp. Definitely genre fiction at heart but it was cute.
Pros
⭐️ Super fun genre fiction that doesn't delve too deep into the harder or gritty side of being ex-military.
⭐️ The romance is cute and there is no 3rd act break up I REPEAT no 3rd act break up!! There are minor miscommunication but it stems from cultural differences and are always solved within 2-3 pages.
Cons
⭐️ The aliens are unabashedly human-esque. In fact, they are basically said to stem from humans or humans came from them blah blah, basically they're humans with mind powers. The native fauna in their planet is more alien than they are LOL. A sad day for the monster fuckers.
Pros
⭐️ Super fun genre fiction that doesn't delve too deep into the harder or gritty side of being ex-military.
⭐️ The romance is cute and there is no 3rd act break up I REPEAT no 3rd act break up!! There are minor miscommunication but it stems from cultural differences and are always solved within 2-3 pages.
Cons
⭐️ The aliens are unabashedly human-esque. In fact, they are basically said to stem from humans or humans came from them blah blah, basically they're humans with mind powers. The native fauna in their planet is more alien than they are LOL. A sad day for the monster fuckers.
Mission: Save the Hunter by Sorim
challenging
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.25
Did I blast through this obsessively? Yes. Did I enjoy the hell of of it? Also yes.
Very slow burn romance, but sweet. It's less of a dungeon break novel than it is a social commentary on the obligation of the strong vs the weak and the creation of a world where kindness begets kindness.
Very slow burn romance, but sweet. It's less of a dungeon break novel than it is a social commentary on the obligation of the strong vs the weak and the creation of a world where kindness begets kindness.
Sorcery and Small Magics by Maiga Doocy
adventurous
lighthearted
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
Hello I loved this book so much I read the near 400 pages in a day and a half. The world building, magic system, characters, and the slow burn romance are all so on point that I just could not put it down at all.
Pros
🪶 I love slow burn romances and this one was so great because none of it relied on miscommunication - they do communicate, just in a very explosive way lol.
🪶 World building and magic system is so thoroughly thought out and presented so well that I had zero issues with immersion.
Cons
🪶 Book 2 isn't out yet and that is a TRAGEDY.
Pros
🪶 I love slow burn romances and this one was so great because none of it relied on miscommunication - they do communicate, just in a very explosive way lol.
🪶 World building and magic system is so thoroughly thought out and presented so well that I had zero issues with immersion.
Cons
🪶 Book 2 isn't out yet and that is a TRAGEDY.
Dead Silence by S.A. Barnes
dark
mysterious
tense
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
4.5
Haunted Space Titanic? Yes please. I was absolutely invested in this story from beginning to end.
Pros
🪐 Great horror use. Ghosts, hallucinations, madness - all portrayed concisely and emotionally.
🪐 So atmospheric, it's easy to imagine yourself in the vastness of space, the derelict ship, I loved it.
🪐 MC is both strong and flawed. She feels like a real person.
Cons
🪐 Not the cosmic horror I was expecting, but it was still great.
🪐 I only wished for a bit more in the epilogue but that's just because I'm nosey and like more than simple bowtie endings.
Pros
🪐 Great horror use. Ghosts, hallucinations, madness - all portrayed concisely and emotionally.
🪐 So atmospheric, it's easy to imagine yourself in the vastness of space, the derelict ship, I loved it.
🪐 MC is both strong and flawed. She feels like a real person.
Cons
🪐 Not the cosmic horror I was expecting, but it was still great.
🪐 I only wished for a bit more in the epilogue but that's just because I'm nosey and like more than simple bowtie endings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Vomit, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Shakespeare's Kitchen: Renaissance Recipes for the Contemporary Cook by Tim Turner, Francine Segan, Patrick O'Connell
informative
medium-paced
4.0
I did not expect to find myself amused by tidbits about Elizabethian food culture in a cookbook. I also now have more context to some lines and general information on Shakespeare's plays that are basically food culture related. Still, found some interesting recipes that I plan to try soon.