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anna_curlyquotesediting's reviews
189 reviews
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
dark
sad
medium-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? Yes
4.0
It was weird to have Collins try and make Snow relatable or pitiable; thankfully she didn't try too hard after the first quarter or so of the book or I may have DNF'd it. But it was fun to see all the little connections between the original trilogy and this book, even if those details were added for the sake of that connection. It was fun to imagine the future President Snow being annoyed and bothered by so many small things. Dude probably thinks all problems start in District 12.
As a story, it was difficult to get into. Lucy Gray was interesting enough, but she had no character growth at all. Literally none. And the end was . . . well, strange. Not necessarily unsatisfying--it was foreshadowed--but some of Snow's though processes were weird and couldn't be confirmed. Then again, Snow definitely has some kind of personality disorder, so I'm not too surprised at his maladaptive logic.
As a story, it was difficult to get into. Lucy Gray was interesting enough, but she had no character growth at all. Literally none. And the end was . . . well, strange. Not necessarily unsatisfying--it was foreshadowed--but some of Snow's though processes were weird and couldn't be confirmed. Then again, Snow definitely has some kind of personality disorder, so I'm not too surprised at his maladaptive logic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Drug abuse, and Violence
Minor: Cannibalism and Alcohol
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Better than I remember it being, and definitely better than Catching Fire. My main issue with the book is how slow some of it was. I also wish there just hadn't been an epilogue, to be honest. I would've preferred to see the FMC heal than jump ahead to the "after." I would've liked to see the same from the MMC.
Overall, of course the book is very sad; it's war, after all, and the author doesn't shy from it.
Overall, of course the book is very sad; it's war, after all, and the author doesn't shy from it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Violence, Blood, and War
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Really the Quarter Quell section of the book was just too long, and I get the feeling it was shortened during editing already. It dragged the pacing down.
The FMC being in the dark about basically everything, without even an inkling of intuition, also bothered me. The FMC has shown herself to be smart--very smart--so where'd that go here?
The FMC being in the dark about basically everything, without even an inkling of intuition, also bothered me. The FMC has shown herself to be smart--very smart--so where'd that go here?
Content Warnings
Moderate: Torture, Violence, and Blood
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-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
5.0
I forgot how fast-paced this book was, going along like a speeding train. Still good though. I enjoyed this a lot the first time around (when I was, oh, 12 or so) and still enjoyed it now, at 30. I'm a whole lot less into the Team Peeta/Team Gale schtick now, but hey, teenagers.
Honestly, the "romance" isn't even the good part of these books; I'm glad I read them again, because I'm pretty sure the "romance" is the only thing a much younger me got out of them. This book is about the MC and her fear and fight to survive in a world meant to tear her down. She's practical and funny, and I found myself asking the same questions she was. "What's it matter when it won't put food on the table?"
Honestly, the "romance" isn't even the good part of these books; I'm glad I read them again, because I'm pretty sure the "romance" is the only thing a much younger me got out of them. This book is about the MC and her fear and fight to survive in a world meant to tear her down. She's practical and funny, and I found myself asking the same questions she was. "What's it matter when it won't put food on the table?"
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Death
Moderate: Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism
Uprooted by Naomi Novik
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
This is genuinely my new favorite book; no exaggeration. If I did things like give more than five stars, I would. I loved literally everything about Uprooted. The way magic worked (and didn't), the characters and how they grew, the spice (subjective, but I'd say just mild), and tension. Not a word was wasted. Nothing was left undone or dragged on too long. Immaculate pacing. I aspire to write a book this good.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Sexual content, Violence, and Blood
Minor: War
The Singing by Alison Croggon
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
The first three-quarters of the book were good. I didn't enjoy it as much as the third book, The Crow, but The Singing was still more interesting overall than the first two books. For some reason, Croggon writes male characters with more depth than her female characters, and that's . . . frustrating. The one conversation between two women with no men present in this book epically failed the Bechdel Test, if anyone was wondering.
Anyway, the last quarter of the book dragged on with no real sense of urgency. I wish Croggon had let us into the madness the FMC was spiraling into, because it would've been much more interesting. Instead we got yet another travel-for-days-to-reach-a-place-before-bad-happens. As for the FMC's relationship with her love interest, that felt, well, forced. Slapped on at the end with no real building or crossing from friendship to lovers. Not a fan of that.
I like my FMC's with more agency and personality than "I don't know what I'm doing and it scares me."
Anyway, the last quarter of the book dragged on with no real sense of urgency. I wish Croggon had let us into the madness the FMC was spiraling into, because it would've been much more interesting. Instead we got yet another travel-for-days-to-reach-a-place-before-bad-happens. As for the FMC's relationship with her love interest, that felt, well, forced. Slapped on at the end with no real building or crossing from friendship to lovers. Not a fan of that.
I like my FMC's with more agency and personality than "I don't know what I'm doing and it scares me."
The Crow by Alison Croggon
dark
sad
tense
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
4.75
Honestly better than the last two books by far.
There was real character growth and every person felt different and more alive. They clashed, they befriended, they grieved, they celebrated.
Some happenings felt . . . too easy though. A few major major things were just handed to the MC in the "right place right time" vein. It's really the only reason I rated the book down a little.
There was real character growth and every person felt different and more alive. They clashed, they befriended, they grieved, they celebrated.
Some happenings felt . . . too easy though. A few major major things were just handed to the MC in the "right place right time" vein. It's really the only reason I rated the book down a little.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, and Slavery
Moderate: Child death, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Self harm, Torture, Vomit, and War
The Riddle by Alison Croggon
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Much better than the first book. The author seems to be stepping out more on her own rather than rearranging Tolkien's work and words. (Though there are still some direct references.)
The MC finally gets some autonomy in this one, which I was glad of; she's much less annoying now. Gandalf did a Gandalf. Found Sauron lite.
I think the worst part of the book was the MC's very weird sexual awakening for the entity that kidnaps her. I'll say no more because spoilers, but really. The next book better have a good explanation for that, because right now I see no point for it other than to direct the MC's desire away from a not-dead character for drama's sake.
The MC finally gets some autonomy in this one, which I was glad of; she's much less annoying now. Gandalf did a Gandalf. Found Sauron lite.
I think the worst part of the book was the MC's very weird sexual awakening for the entity that kidnaps her. I'll say no more because spoilers, but really. The next book better have a good explanation for that, because right now I see no point for it other than to direct the MC's desire away from a not-dead character for drama's sake.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Confinement and Kidnapping
The Naming by Alison Croggon
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
It's LotR lite. All the way down to things like ring wraiths and Minas Tirith but Frodo is a girl and also the ring and I think Gandalf is the love interest. Saruman is here too. On the lookout for Gollum next.
Anyway, I'm not too impressed, which is sad because I was looking forward to this one. There's something to be said for taking inspiration from the Father of Fantasy but...well, The Naming takes too much. I shouldn't read a book and think, "Hey, it's the Dead Marshes" or "Oh look, it's literally Minas Tirith" or "Wow, this is exactly like Frodo's escape from the Shire." If something reminds me of LotR, fine, but this straight up takes the setting and sometimes story, shakes it a little, and then puts it back.
The MC doesn't really have an objective. I don't really know what she wants after the first few chapters (because she gets what she wants) or what she's willing to do to get what she wants. MC is just dragged along with the mentor figure, who feels more like the MC sometimes.
The writing was fine. I liked the characters well enough. But I wish so much coincidence and tied-up-with-a-bow explanations didn't occur in just one book.
I'll give the next one a go, I guess. Let's see if the story and settings evolve into themselves rather than imitating.
Anyway, I'm not too impressed, which is sad because I was looking forward to this one. There's something to be said for taking inspiration from the Father of Fantasy but...well, The Naming takes too much. I shouldn't read a book and think, "Hey, it's the Dead Marshes" or "Oh look, it's literally Minas Tirith" or "Wow, this is exactly like Frodo's escape from the Shire." If something reminds me of LotR, fine, but this straight up takes the setting and sometimes story, shakes it a little, and then puts it back.
The MC doesn't really have an objective. I don't really know what she wants after the first few chapters (because she gets what she wants) or what she's willing to do to get what she wants. MC is just dragged along with the mentor figure, who feels more like the MC sometimes.
The writing was fine. I liked the characters well enough. But I wish so much coincidence and tied-up-with-a-bow explanations didn't occur in just one book.
I'll give the next one a go, I guess. Let's see if the story and settings evolve into themselves rather than imitating.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Slavery
Minor: Body horror, Child abuse, Racism, and Sexism
Children of Memory by Adrian Tchaikovsky
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
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? No
5.0
Absolutely fantastic book! I wish there was a fourth, but I'm also happy with the end of Children of Memory. Tchaikovsky builds on each of his books through thousands of years and keeping with beloved characters and new ones. I loved the exploration of identity and self and the frequently asked "what makes you more sentient than something else?" question. This book was sad; it was full of hope. I have zero complaints.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror and Dysphoria
Minor: Child death, Death, and Misogyny