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sphynxreads's reviews
764 reviews
Lyra's Oxford by Philip Pullman
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
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
4.0
A solid short read that's a lot better than the other short stories I've read from this world. I was reminded of why I love the magic in this series so much.
Special Delivery by Arnold Miles
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
tense
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? No
3.5
I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is my first real foray into gay erotica and I suppose I got pretty much what I expected. At its heart it's quite a sweet wholesome story about a man learning more about himself and a main character that a lot of gay people can only dream of encountering in that he is incredibly understanding, kind, and compassionate towards the love interest. I appreciate that this was a pretty straightforward light read that didn't have an annoying third act conflict, but I feel like I would have liked there to be more of an emotional punch because otherwise it wouldn't be that memorable of a story.
But alas, one doesn't really read erotica for the harrowing stuff. I really enjoyed the spice in this bkok. The sex scenes were pretty hot, but at times the descriptions felt rather repetitive, some of them didn't land quite well, and I was a bit annoyed whenever the narrator would break the fourth wall.
Overall a solid read but I wouldn't be rushing into anyone's DMs to recommend it.
This is my first real foray into gay erotica and I suppose I got pretty much what I expected. At its heart it's quite a sweet wholesome story about a man learning more about himself and a main character that a lot of gay people can only dream of encountering in that he is incredibly understanding, kind, and compassionate towards the love interest. I appreciate that this was a pretty straightforward light read that didn't have an annoying third act conflict, but I feel like I would have liked there to be more of an emotional punch because otherwise it wouldn't be that memorable of a story.
But alas, one doesn't really read erotica for the harrowing stuff. I really enjoyed the spice in this bkok. The sex scenes were pretty hot, but at times the descriptions felt rather repetitive, some of them didn't land quite well, and I was a bit annoyed whenever the narrator would break the fourth wall.
Overall a solid read but I wouldn't be rushing into anyone's DMs to recommend it.
A Hero for Wondla by Tony DiTerlizzi
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
relaxing
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
4.0
Absolutely captivating! I need more people to read this series because there's so much creativity put into it, from the world-building to the art itself. The story itself is not only engaging but thoughtful in its messaging. Can't wait to read the finale!
Baby Reindeer by Richard Gadd
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
fast-paced
4.0
With such a short page count, I thought this would have significantly less impact on me than the show did. But it's almost just as brilliant and stunning.
Brokeback Mountain by Annie Proulx
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-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? Yes
4.5
Maybe it's because I've already seen the film, but I thought this short story packs a real punch. Beautifully written.
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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
4.5
This was such a charming book that very slowly won me over, and by that I mean if you find it mildly boring even by the midway point you just have to stick it out to the end because the story just might delight you. I quite liked the almost academic style of writing which, though at times grew to be a bit tiresome, was often remedied by a healthy dose of humor. Emily Wilde is such a wonderful character to follow that the more I got into her mind, the more I fell in love with her. (Honestly, Wendell, I get it.) She's just so in love with her work that I was in turn inspired to seek out whatever thing sparks a similar passion in me.
The romance in this feels very grounded and I think what I loved about it most is that the two love interests feel like true equals, with neither really dependent on the other to hold their own in terms of scholarship but both equally enamored and affectionate towards the other. Truly a rare and beautiful thing in literature and in real life. Definitely continuing the series!
The romance in this feels very grounded and I think what I loved about it most is that the two love interests feel like true equals, with neither really dependent on the other to hold their own in terms of scholarship but both equally enamored and affectionate towards the other. Truly a rare and beautiful thing in literature and in real life. Definitely continuing the series!
Invisible Ghosts by Robyn Schneider
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
A relaxing light read that often feels like it doesn't know what to do with itself. There's a certain appeal to this story, even though it is arguably bland and boring. It can be the kind of book you read to soothe your nerves and let your guard down. But there are so many scenes here that feel unnecessary and didn't really contribute to the plot.
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Exquisitely written and heartfelt, and yet it failed to have any real impact on me. There were a lot of beautiful thought-provoking quotes that are worth revisiting but everything else felt rather dull and lacking any real substance. I admire Vuong's sheer honesty here and there's a lot to respect about the vulnerability he displays, but at times I couldn't help but feel like it was only honesty for honesty's sake and not to drive home any real point. I felt as if I was being let into a stranger's life, a gesture that is appreciated but ultimately feels almost awkward. I reckon I'd find Vuong's poetry more compelling than what this book had to offer me.
Everything We Never Had by Randy Ribay
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
4.5
I received an eARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Well what do you know, Randy Ribay does it again! I truly believe he is a master of writing beautifully yet accessibly while tackling issues that are often difficult to grapple with through characters who feel larger than life because they are inspired by real people and well-researched events. Despite making me cry multiple times (again), this book healed something in me. But fair warning, don't go in expecting a heavy focus on the plot. More than anything, it's an excellent collection of character studies across four generations, unpacking something that I am aware of but haven't really read much on previously: generational trauma, how it develops, and how it manifests in different forms in different people. This story drips with so much empathy that despite presenting hard truths about identity, manhood, mental health, and social responsibility, it refuses to be prescriptive in its narrative. Rather, it helps one to understand where these individuals are coming from. I learned so much about myself and even my own family members in the process of reading this book, which is impressive in itself considering how short this is. I'm defending revisiting and annotating this once I get my hands on a physical copy. Rush to the bookstore on release date because this is not a book you want to miss!
Well what do you know, Randy Ribay does it again! I truly believe he is a master of writing beautifully yet accessibly while tackling issues that are often difficult to grapple with through characters who feel larger than life because they are inspired by real people and well-researched events. Despite making me cry multiple times (again), this book healed something in me. But fair warning, don't go in expecting a heavy focus on the plot. More than anything, it's an excellent collection of character studies across four generations, unpacking something that I am aware of but haven't really read much on previously: generational trauma, how it develops, and how it manifests in different forms in different people. This story drips with so much empathy that despite presenting hard truths about identity, manhood, mental health, and social responsibility, it refuses to be prescriptive in its narrative. Rather, it helps one to understand where these individuals are coming from. I learned so much about myself and even my own family members in the process of reading this book, which is impressive in itself considering how short this is. I'm defending revisiting and annotating this once I get my hands on a physical copy. Rush to the bookstore on release date because this is not a book you want to miss!
Locke & Key: Master Edition, Volume Two by Joe Hill
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is just as enthralling and dark as the first volume if not more so and I really enjoyed both the fantastical and the horror elements here. My only problem is that this book proves to me the importance of sensitivity readers, because how do you make an attempt at racial commentary, well-intentioned though it may be, and use Blackface as the medium of that discussion? It was really off-putting and frankly disappointing because I really love this series but can't really recommend it strongly to everyone anymore.