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vaguely_pink's reviews
221 reviews
Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery by Brom
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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
5.0
GOOD. FOR. HER.
Priest by Sierra Simone
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I can’t decide if this was worse or better than I thought it’d be honestly.
Did I like this? Debatable. Will I eventually read the rest of the series because a good defrocking feeds something weird deep down in my ex-Catholic soul? Probably.
Did I like this? Debatable. Will I eventually read the rest of the series because a good defrocking feeds something weird deep down in my ex-Catholic soul? Probably.
An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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
5.0
Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
As a kid who began refusing school around the same age as Kokoro, I found myself reflected in her story very often. Tsujimura’s writing had me feeling spots of my soul I didn’t realize were still tender.
Lonely Castle in the Mirror is a masterful portrayal of many different kinds of childhood and adolescent mental illness and the many ways adults can both further harm and alternately support their children through them. I loved everything about this book. Easily a new top favorite of all time for me.
And also if you ever wanted to know exactly what it was like to live in my head specifically in 2006, this is it.
Lonely Castle in the Mirror is a masterful portrayal of many different kinds of childhood and adolescent mental illness and the many ways adults can both further harm and alternately support their children through them. I loved everything about this book. Easily a new top favorite of all time for me.
And also if you ever wanted to know exactly what it was like to live in my head specifically in 2006, this is it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Child death, Death, Medical content, Grief, and Abandonment
The Future Is Disabled: Prophecies, Love Notes and Mourning Songs by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
The Agony House by Cherie Priest
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
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
2.75
Really interesting concept, format, and story. Ultimately hindered by awkward writing and poorly handled themes of gentrification and race. I absolutely LOVED the comic bits though. This mixed media novel/comic (distinct from a graphic novel, make no mistake) format is one I’d love to read more of!
The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
5.0
Life Ceremony by Sayaka Murata
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Earthlings by Sayaka Murata
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Cannibalism, and Murder
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Bullying, Eating disorder, Vomit, Stalking, Death of parent, Acephobia/Arophobia, Gaslighting, and Alcohol