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serinas's reviews
326 reviews
The Deep by Rivers Solomon
adventurous
reflective
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? Yes
4.5
I've heard a lot about this book on booksta and booktok. As it was only 160 pages I decided to give it a try, especially as I've heard mostly great things about The Deep!
I rated it 4.5 stars. I just wish it was a little longer - to explain some things and exploring the relationships between the characters in more depth. The worldbuilding could also use some work - but I'm more forgiving on this as it was a short book.
The story and premise are something I've never read before, and really sucked me in. I really liked Yetu and the dilemmas she faced, and the philosophical questions that followed. This was definitely more of a 'deep' read, that leaves you thinking about life and the choices we make.
The story was also good, and the origin story of the wajinru was very interesting and sad.It's unfortunatly true that slaves were often thrown into the sea , even though the wajinru isn't a thing. The Deep has a cool mix of true and fictional history - which makes an interesting story for the wajinru.
I'll also add that the start was very confusing - but if you're able to push through it, try! It gets a lot better. If you're still not into it 30 pages in, this might not be for you.
I rated it 4.5 stars. I just wish it was a little longer - to explain some things and exploring the relationships between the characters in more depth. The worldbuilding could also use some work - but I'm more forgiving on this as it was a short book.
The story and premise are something I've never read before, and really sucked me in. I really liked Yetu and the dilemmas she faced, and the philosophical questions that followed. This was definitely more of a 'deep' read, that leaves you thinking about life and the choices we make.
The story was also good, and the origin story of the wajinru was very interesting and sad.
I'll also add that the start was very confusing - but if you're able to push through it, try! It gets a lot better. If you're still not into it 30 pages in, this might not be for you.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
Justice: A tale of the Nepali Civil War by Ram Chandra Khatri
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I'm not sure what to rate this.
I was recommended this graphic novel - and I love graphic novels and manga. Historical fiction or historical non-fiction interests me, so I thought I would love Justice. I'm not very familiar with Nepal and it's politics, but I do know of the Maoists.
The story was interesting, sad and tense. I don't know if this is based on someones own experience, but it could be. Someone has definitely lived through this exact scenario, which makes the conflicts tense and depressing. It's short as well, so it's a novel you can read in one sitting.
The drawings and graphic style was not for me. The proportions being off annoyed me, and the folds and shadows being wrong made it hard to focus on the story. This is obviously a very subjective opinion.
If there was a bigger focus on building relations between the characters, the novel would have been better. Deaths and tragedies don't hit your feelings when you don't care about the characters. A bigger focus on the familiy in that way would've improved the novel and make a greater impact on the reader. The ending was rather abrupt as well, so the novel would've benefited on being longer.
I was recommended this graphic novel - and I love graphic novels and manga. Historical fiction or historical non-fiction interests me, so I thought I would love Justice. I'm not very familiar with Nepal and it's politics, but I do know of the Maoists.
The story was interesting, sad and tense. I don't know if this is based on someones own experience, but it could be. Someone has definitely lived through this exact scenario, which makes the conflicts tense and depressing. It's short as well, so it's a novel you can read in one sitting.
The drawings and graphic style was not for me. The proportions being off annoyed me, and the folds and shadows being wrong made it hard to focus on the story. This is obviously a very subjective opinion.
If there was a bigger focus on building relations between the characters, the novel would have been better. Deaths and tragedies don't hit your feelings when you don't care about the characters. A bigger focus on the familiy in that way would've improved the novel and make a greater impact on the reader. The ending was rather abrupt as well, so the novel would've benefited on being longer.
Metal from Heaven by August Clarke
Did not finish book. Stopped at 52%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 52%.
Got 30% in and was still not invested in the story. I could not, for the life of me, like the writing style - I absolutely hate it.
I was so excited about the lesbian pirates and bandits, but I can't read more.
Update: I decided to try again and came to about 50%, still dislike it. Definitely a DNF.
I've decided to give a more thorough explanation as well.
The prose is great - but sometimes it gets so dense that I lose track of the plot. It was also very difficult to read, as a non-native English speaker, because of this.
The time skips was confusing, and the big cast that were all dumped on the reader at once was even more confusing. The lack of action, while being filled with action, was also confusing. I know I read abouta train being robbed twice and a massacre , but I did not 'feel' any action or rush of adrenaline while reading it. I think the prose ruined it for me.
Definitely a miss for me, and I think this is a book that you will love or hate - no inbetween.
I was so excited about the lesbian pirates and bandits, but I can't read more.
Update: I decided to try again and came to about 50%, still dislike it. Definitely a DNF.
I've decided to give a more thorough explanation as well.
The prose is great - but sometimes it gets so dense that I lose track of the plot. It was also very difficult to read, as a non-native English speaker, because of this.
The time skips was confusing, and the big cast that were all dumped on the reader at once was even more confusing. The lack of action, while being filled with action, was also confusing. I know I read about
Definitely a miss for me, and I think this is a book that you will love or hate - no inbetween.
Heaven by Mieko Kawakami
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I saw great praise and reviews about Mieko Kawakami's other books, and wanted to read a book of her because of that. I settled on Heaven because of the plot, and it seemed like a short read I could read in one sitting.
Heaven definitely tackles heavy themes that are important to write about, and it was part of the reason why I chose Heaven. I'd recommend to check the TW if you are sensitive to some topics regarding bullying, violence and suicide.
The review
I rated it 3 stars. This was honestly a hard book to rate, as I didn't enjoy it. I don't know if the meaning got lost in the translation, or if I just missed the memo.
I couldn't connect with the characters at all, and I didn't really connect with the way the story was told. I didn't find Heaven that meaningful and deep? Many of the observations and things the MC did was surface level, even when he confronted the bullies. There are definitely allegories, metaphors, and a poetic touch to the writing style, but I still found it very basic. That might just be me, as I had high expectations - and that might be why this was a miss for me.
I always expected the tide to turn, but it never did. Nothing changed throughout the book, not until the end. I'm just left disappointed, which is a shame, as I was super excited about reading Heaven.
The tension that was in the beginning supsided pretty quickly, but I still held on to hope that it might get good again. It didn't, in my opinion. At some point it got weird, theconversation with Momose is a great example. The MC is 14, and the whole conversation seems very unrealistic - the content of the conversation, the way they speak, and the philosophy they share.
The trauma bond was something I thought would be explored in more depth as well, as there was much potential there. This bond had an abrupt ending, and it made sense story-wise, but much of the plot and character development was lost whenthe MC had the conversation about the eye surgery with Kojima (in my opinion).
The ending was fitting, as I interpreted it asa new beginning for the MC where he finally can see the beauty in the world . Still, I wasn't really a huge fan of Heaven unfortunatly.
Heaven definitely tackles heavy themes that are important to write about, and it was part of the reason why I chose Heaven. I'd recommend to check the TW if you are sensitive to some topics regarding bullying, violence and suicide.
The review
I rated it 3 stars. This was honestly a hard book to rate, as I didn't enjoy it. I don't know if the meaning got lost in the translation, or if I just missed the memo.
I couldn't connect with the characters at all, and I didn't really connect with the way the story was told. I didn't find Heaven that meaningful and deep? Many of the observations and things the MC did was surface level, even when he confronted the bullies. There are definitely allegories, metaphors, and a poetic touch to the writing style, but I still found it very basic. That might just be me, as I had high expectations - and that might be why this was a miss for me.
I always expected the tide to turn, but it never did. Nothing changed throughout the book, not until the end. I'm just left disappointed, which is a shame, as I was super excited about reading Heaven.
The tension that was in the beginning supsided pretty quickly, but I still held on to hope that it might get good again. It didn't, in my opinion. At some point it got weird, the
The trauma bond was something I thought would be explored in more depth as well, as there was much potential there. This bond had an abrupt ending, and it made sense story-wise, but much of the plot and character development was lost when
The ending was fitting, as I interpreted it as
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Sexual harassment
Our Share of Night by Mariana Enríquez
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? It's complicated
5.0
Our Share of Night is a horror book, and I haven't read many horror books in my life. I'm a huge horror movie fan, and I decided to give a horror book a shot! I've heard great things about Our Share of Night, which made me choose this one.
Our Share of Night is about Gaspar, a six year old boy in Argentina. The Order, a cult that worships darkness and the demonic, is after his abilities to commune with the dead. They want Gaspar to be the Orders succesor after his dad, but his dad is strongly against this, and flees with Gaspar to try and live a normal life outside the cult.
The Order is on the hunt, and nothing can stop them from getting Gaspar. Will Gaspar be free, or will the Order get him?
I rated it 5 stars. I honestly can't stand chapters this long (150 pages!!!), which affects my enjoyment when reading unfortunatly. But I made it, and finished it in two sittings!
This was sooo good, and is definitely one of the few horror books I've actually enjoyed.
You know the feeling when a storm is coming - the sky darkens, it starts to rain, the air becomes humid, and you just KNOW lightning and thunder are right around the corner? And you wait for the thunder. And you wait. This tension, while waiting for the thunder, was constant throughout this book. This is the kind of horror I want more of. I could not put it down once I started.
The story was so interesting and unique, and the characters had so much depth to them. Nothing in this book is a coincidence, not even a door that gets mentioned is a coincidence.
I loved this, I definitely want to read more horror from here on. It is long, but it never dragged out. If you have the patience for 750 pages, definitely give Our Share of Night a go. You won't regret it.
Our Share of Night is about Gaspar, a six year old boy in Argentina. The Order, a cult that worships darkness and the demonic, is after his abilities to commune with the dead. They want Gaspar to be the Orders succesor after his dad, but his dad is strongly against this, and flees with Gaspar to try and live a normal life outside the cult.
The Order is on the hunt, and nothing can stop them from getting Gaspar. Will Gaspar be free, or will the Order get him?
I rated it 5 stars. I honestly can't stand chapters this long (150 pages!!!), which affects my enjoyment when reading unfortunatly. But I made it, and finished it in two sittings!
This was sooo good, and is definitely one of the few horror books I've actually enjoyed.
You know the feeling when a storm is coming - the sky darkens, it starts to rain, the air becomes humid, and you just KNOW lightning and thunder are right around the corner? And you wait for the thunder. And you wait. This tension, while waiting for the thunder, was constant throughout this book. This is the kind of horror I want more of. I could not put it down once I started.
The story was so interesting and unique, and the characters had so much depth to them. Nothing in this book is a coincidence, not even a door that gets mentioned is a coincidence.
I loved this, I definitely want to read more horror from here on. It is long, but it never dragged out. If you have the patience for 750 pages, definitely give Our Share of Night a go. You won't regret it.
Nova Terra: The Secret of Galeeza by Garland Redvine
Did not finish book. Stopped at 9%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 9%.
The beginning was boring and the writing was bad, I honestly couldn't push through it. The dialogue was awkward asf, and I wasn't hooked on the story.
I might try again at a later time, but I doubt it.
I might try again at a later time, but I doubt it.
Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White
dark
mysterious
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? It's complicated
3.5
This was an ARC provided by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. Compound Fracture will be released September 3rd 2024.
I rated it 3.5 stars. This was hard to rate. There were lots of great stuff, but also some 'points' and plots that missed.
First off, the good stuff. The story took turns that I did not expect, but it was still somewhat realistic. The story was good and solid, and had me intrigued and hooked pretty early on. I was not sure where the story was headed, but I was not disappointed with the result!
The queer representation and disability representation are a big plus, and was handled really well. I'm bisexual myself, and could definitely relate to many of the queer struggles that were mentioned in Compound Fracture.
On to the 'bad' stuff. I feel like many parts of the book were dragged out, to the point that I forgot where I was in the story. The inner monologue was important, but at some points it went on for pages when it shouldn't have.
I also think the relationship between the characters had much more potential that wasn't used. The only relationship I found 'deeper' was Miles' relationship with his parents and Connor. There was so much more to explore with Dallas and the other characters, and this was honestly a missed opportunity. The sub-plot with Dallas had so much potential, but fell flat, in my opinion.
Overall, I enjoyed Compound Fracture and would definitely recommend it. I haven't read anything by Andrew Joseph White (yet, I haven't finished The Spirit Bares Its Teeth), so I can't compare it to earlier books.
I might also be harsher than most, as none of the reviews by others mention what I considered 'bad'😅
I rated it 3.5 stars. This was hard to rate. There were lots of great stuff, but also some 'points' and plots that missed.
First off, the good stuff. The story took turns that I did not expect, but it was still somewhat realistic. The story was good and solid, and had me intrigued and hooked pretty early on. I was not sure where the story was headed, but I was not disappointed with the result!
The queer representation and disability representation are a big plus, and was handled really well. I'm bisexual myself, and could definitely relate to many of the queer struggles that were mentioned in Compound Fracture.
On to the 'bad' stuff. I feel like many parts of the book were dragged out, to the point that I forgot where I was in the story. The inner monologue was important, but at some points it went on for pages when it shouldn't have.
I also think the relationship between the characters had much more potential that wasn't used. The only relationship I found 'deeper' was Miles' relationship with his parents and Connor. There was so much more to explore with Dallas and the other characters, and this was honestly a missed opportunity. The sub-plot with Dallas had so much potential, but fell flat, in my opinion.
Overall, I enjoyed Compound Fracture and would definitely recommend it. I haven't read anything by Andrew Joseph White (yet, I haven't finished The Spirit Bares Its Teeth), so I can't compare it to earlier books.
I might also be harsher than most, as none of the reviews by others mention what I considered 'bad'😅
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Homophobia, Transphobia, and Vomit
The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
tense
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? Yes
5.0
I rated it 5 stars. The prose is complicated and intricate, and everything could be a quote. The writing itself is an art, with a style that I haven't seen before. This book is telling the story in a pretty unique way, that I loved. We get several POVs from different time periods, and it was woven so well. I can't explain how much I loved this writing style and prose, it felt like I was reading poetry.
I was worried that I would get lost early on, but I had no problem reading this. The book also has no chapters in the first 100 pages, so beware of that. I truly can't explain the writing style, but it feels like a play? You'll have to read it yourself to understand, 'cause I can't explain it.
This was marvellous. I would definitely recommend this book, and it's a standalone as well - so no commitment to a series.
And just so you know - this is a love story.
I was worried that I would get lost early on, but I had no problem reading this. The book also has no chapters in the first 100 pages, so beware of that. I truly can't explain the writing style, but it feels like a play? You'll have to read it yourself to understand, 'cause I can't explain it.
This was marvellous. I would definitely recommend this book, and it's a standalone as well - so no commitment to a series.
And just so you know - this is a love story.
Medusa of the Roses by Navid Sinaki
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was an ARC provided by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. Medusa of the Roses is to be released August 13th 2024.
I rated it 3.5. I feel like this story was not meant for me, and the writing style wasn't something that I'd usually go for. I also finished it in a rush while I was sick before it expired on NetGalley.
The story was interesting and got me hooked at times, but it felt dragged out. I wanted to know more, but was always 'stuck' in a scene that felt irrelevant. Sometimes it became relevant later on, but it still made it hard to read at times. Because of all the stuff that happened throughout, I wasn't sure what the story was anymore. I felt like the plot drowned in all the other sub-plots, and not in a good way. Honestly, I can't even tell if the book was too short or too long. I didn't get what I felt like was promised in the summary, and that disappointed me.
It was easy to read as the language Navid uses isn't too complicated, but the setting of Iran made me search the meaning of a few words here and there. It didn't disturb the flow of the story, as most words were familiar. Navid also used an easier vocabulary, which made it easy to read.
I know the review makes it seem like the book is bad, but it truly wasn't. It just wasn't for me - the writing style and the way the story was told wasn't to my taste. I couldn't put the book down when I hit about 40 percent, so it was obviously good in some regards.
The title of the book is also really clever, but you'll understand more if you read the book.
If you want a unique book about queerness, it's most definitely for you.
I rated it 3.5. I feel like this story was not meant for me, and the writing style wasn't something that I'd usually go for. I also finished it in a rush while I was sick before it expired on NetGalley.
The story was interesting and got me hooked at times, but it felt dragged out. I wanted to know more, but was always 'stuck' in a scene that felt irrelevant. Sometimes it became relevant later on, but it still made it hard to read at times. Because of all the stuff that happened throughout, I wasn't sure what the story was anymore. I felt like the plot drowned in all the other sub-plots, and not in a good way. Honestly, I can't even tell if the book was too short or too long. I didn't get what I felt like was promised in the summary, and that disappointed me.
It was easy to read as the language Navid uses isn't too complicated, but the setting of Iran made me search the meaning of a few words here and there. It didn't disturb the flow of the story, as most words were familiar. Navid also used an easier vocabulary, which made it easy to read.
I know the review makes it seem like the book is bad, but it truly wasn't. It just wasn't for me - the writing style and the way the story was told wasn't to my taste. I couldn't put the book down when I hit about 40 percent, so it was obviously good in some regards.
The title of the book is also really clever, but you'll understand more if you read the book.
If you want a unique book about queerness, it's most definitely for you.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Sexual content
Minor: Suicide and Murder
How We Began by L.M. Juniper
adventurous
dark
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
4.0
I just read How We End and craved more of this universe, so I jumped straight into How We Began. This is a novella with different MCs. It's 75 pages and a prequel to How We End.
We meet Marianne - a patient who has survived being bitten by one of the Infected. Marianne's lack of symptoms suggests that she is immune, which leads to the hope of a vaccine or cure. But soon the lab is breached, and she needs to run away. What will she do to survive, and is she truly immune?
It was a solid read, and a great introduction to the How We Survive series. Some parts felt rushed and could've been written more in depth, and Marianne figured stuff out pretty quick - considering her memory was wiped.
Other than that, I truly have no complaints. The MCs are loveable, the plot thickens, and the world is still ending. I truly hope we get more books soon, as I'd love to see where the story goes. I'd recommend to read How We End first, as this one might spoil what happens there.
I will definitely continue this series when more books are published.
We meet Marianne - a patient who has survived being bitten by one of the Infected. Marianne's lack of symptoms suggests that she is immune, which leads to the hope of a vaccine or cure. But soon the lab is breached, and she needs to run away. What will she do to survive, and is she truly immune?
It was a solid read, and a great introduction to the How We Survive series. Some parts felt rushed and could've been written more in depth, and Marianne figured stuff out pretty quick - considering her memory was wiped.
Other than that, I truly have no complaints. The MCs are loveable, the plot thickens, and the world is still ending. I truly hope we get more books soon, as I'd love to see where the story goes. I'd recommend to read How We End first, as this one might spoil what happens there.
I will definitely continue this series when more books are published.