turrean's reviews
2266 reviews

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow

Go to review page

emotional mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

A very enjoyable audio recording 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Payback's a Witch by Lana Harper

Go to review page

funny lighthearted 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? No

3.5

Entertaining and better written than many other witchy rom-coms I’ve read, and I’m a fan of the genre. I have my usual questions about the way the world’s magical framework holds together (what do Chicago witches use for power, and why can’t Emmy tap into it?
Why did every single Harlow Arbiter make the decision to keep their skills secret, if it was a royal pain, upheld an unfair caste system, and was not required by the rules of magic?
) but on the whole, the author was consistent.
Gareth was a loathsome overindulged peacock, but not a villain. I would have liked to see a more substantial threat to overcome than just some financial opportunism and sexist behavior.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Little Homo Sapiens Scientist by S.L. Huang

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Bittersweet and strange. 
The Road to Roswell by Connie Willis

Go to review page

lighthearted slow-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
Kind of like having to read the script of a madcap adventure flick instead of watching the movie. Funny dialog,  but repetitive. I started to skim at the halfway point.
Personally, started to lose interest after the main character goes about a day without peeing, eating, or drinking.
The Wonder Engine by T. Kingfisher

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Excellent characters in a fascinating universe. Strongly reminiscent of Bujold’s Chalion books.
The presence of a character weak enough to bargain with a demon but yet noble enough to offer his own death as a battle tactic was extremely annoying.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Swordheart by T. Kingfisher

Go to review page

adventurous funny slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

Excellent characters, clever banter, sweet romance, and a jaw-droppingly, absurdly, unbelievably stupid move on the part of the protagonist that leads to the denouement. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Clockwork Boys by T. Kingfisher

Go to review page

adventurous funny medium-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? Yes

4.0

On to the sequel! 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente

Go to review page

Did not finish book. Stopped at 31%.
Currently holding at about 30% of the audio. Great delivery but need to take a break from the breakneck speed of the pop culture references and jokes. I might need to read this one in print; I kept missing things. 
Paladin's Grace by T. Kingfisher

Go to review page

funny 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? No

4.0

This was a lot of fun. Some romance, some banter, a villain or two, as well as several solid friendships among genders. 

The audiobook was not a winner. Wooden delivery from an apathetic narrator. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Cassandra in Reverse by Holly Smale

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Even readers who read only the first three chapters and the last two chapters will be unsurprised by the “reveal” at the end.
I spent most of the book PISSED at every medical practitioner, parent, therapist, teacher, or family member who spent any time with Cassandra and didn’t draw the glaringly obvious conclusion.


The book felt overlong to me, though the protagonist clearly needed LOTS of time to process her abilities and her situation. The audio narration was very well done. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings