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bisexualwentworth's reviews
753 reviews
Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa
What I didn't like, random changes to Pride and Prejudice edition:
What I didn't like, other:
Overall, I think that the concept was strong and the book was fun, but the short length and a lot of unnecessary changes meant that it didn't quite do the job of being a compelling remix/reimagining of Pride and Prejudice. I've read better queer P&P fanfic on AO3, and it's a shame because I think this concept had SO MUCH potential. Truly if Novoa had just made the main characters and Charlotte explicitly queer, changed nothing else about the setting and characters, and then followed the plot through its logical changes throughout, and then tweaked accordingly, this book would have been absolutely stunning. Maybe I'll go write that on AO3 now. That seems like the thing to do.
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This was fun. I didn't love it, but I did enjoy it.
What I liked:
What I liked:
- The base premise—making Elizabeth a gay trans man living a double life and Mr. Darcy a gay cis man who's really awkward around women because he's not attracted to them and doesn't know how to interact with them—was fun and compelling and there was a lot of potential there.
- The writing style was fun and fast-paced.
- I loved the choice to make Charlotte a lesbian and to have her make similar choices to the original book but for different reasons. She very much feels like the same character, just an explicitly queer version of her, and I really liked that.
- Molly houses!
- Darcy was fun. Overall I think his characterization worked.
- Trans allies Aunt and Uncle Gardiner!
- The romance went waaaaaaay too fast but I did enjoy Oliver and Darcy's dynamic and chemistry a lot.
- The ending was a bit far-fetched but I don't care because it felt good and possible.
What I didn't like, random changes to Pride and Prejudice edition:
- Why are the characters aged down SO MUCH? I get that this is YA, but you can make it a coming-of-age story that is appropriate for and relatable to teen audiences without randomly making parents pressure SEVENTEEN YEAR OLDS into marriage??? And it made Georgiana and Lydia impossible to adapt properly, which in turn made the Wickham plot fall apart. Just generally a bad move.
- Why are they in London? I get that that's where more queer community would be, but Oliver only went to those queer spaces about twice, and having him travel somewhere larger and more queer later would have actually been much more impactful.
- Charlotte's last name was randomly changed, as was her family situation, and that was frustrating, mostly because it was so unnecessary.
What I didn't like, other:
- I liked what we got of Jane but her characterization was inconsistent and there wasn't enough of her (or of Bingley for that matter).
- The whole book was far too short. It's trying to tell about twice the story of the original novel in far fewer pages, so no wonder it doesn't quite pull it off. It needed at least another fifty pages.
- At first the dialogue was decently period-accurate and the narrative voice was more modern, which I liked, but it eventually devolved into so many anachronisms that I wondered why it was set in the Regency period at all. This was especially annoying because the author clearly did quite a lot of historical research for this book and then just ignored most of it.
- I hated the characterization of the Bennet parents. Yes Mr. Bennet would be more immediately accepting, but he definitely wouldn't actually do anything useful. And the Mrs. Bennet of the books is not an evil enforcer of gender roles. She's a silly person who is rightfully anxious about her children's futures and trying (not always well) to do what is best for them while her husband lazes around and makes sarcastic and often misogynistic comments about his family. This book did a disservice to that much more complex and interesting dynamic.
Overall, I think that the concept was strong and the book was fun, but the short length and a lot of unnecessary changes meant that it didn't quite do the job of being a compelling remix/reimagining of Pride and Prejudice. I've read better queer P&P fanfic on AO3, and it's a shame because I think this concept had SO MUCH potential. Truly if Novoa had just made the main characters and Charlotte explicitly queer, changed nothing else about the setting and characters, and then followed the plot through its logical changes throughout, and then tweaked accordingly, this book would have been absolutely stunning. Maybe I'll go write that on AO3 now. That seems like the thing to do.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Misogyny, and Transphobia
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by S.A. Chakraborty
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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
4.75
This book was so much fun. I loved Amina and the supporting cast. I loved the themes of motherhood and faith and finding direction in life. The narrative voice was fun and engaging. I was delighted by the surprise trans character. I felt fully immersed in the world.
The pacing was very silly. The main plot/the thing that’s going to be the driving force of the planned series did not come into play until over halfway through.
There were also definitely some times when I was unsure how the characters had gotten from one scene to another. This is a problem I often have, so it may just be connected to my brain’s way of processing things, or it may be to do with the audiobook narration (which was very engaging and creative and which I recommend for sure). Regardless, I found aspects of the book slightly hard to follow at times, but never for very long.
There is some extremely intense content in this book, but the tone is much lighter than other fantasy books with similar content (The Poppy War comes to mind).
The pacing was very silly. The main plot/the thing that’s going to be the driving force of the planned series did not come into play until over halfway through.
There were also definitely some times when I was unsure how the characters had gotten from one scene to another. This is a problem I often have, so it may just be connected to my brain’s way of processing things, or it may be to do with the audiobook narration (which was very engaging and creative and which I recommend for sure). Regardless, I found aspects of the book slightly hard to follow at times, but never for very long.
There is some extremely intense content in this book, but the tone is much lighter than other fantasy books with similar content (The Poppy War comes to mind).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, and Xenophobia
Minor: Transphobia and Religious bigotry
To Shape a Dragon's Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose
- 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
This is my new favorite book. it delivered on every possible level. I adored the characters and the worldbuilding and the writing style. I will come back and write a longer review when I can express my love for this book more coherently, but wow.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Genocide, Homophobia, Slavery, Death of parent, Murder, and War
Minor: Animal death
Scott Pilgrim (of 6) Vol. 3: Scott Pilgrim and the Infinite Sadness - Color Edition by Nathan Fairbairn, Bryan Lee O’Malley
Probably my favorite volume so far. I like how complicated the social dynamics have gotten. I like Kim. I'm starting to get invested. But Scott is really reminding me of my worst ex. Loser man who dates cooler, usually younger women? Yup.
Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is a cute lesbian coming-of-age novel that is absolutely the blueprint for so many of the queer high school books that have come after. The Henna Wars especially is a recent sapphic book that has a very similar plot. And it's a super effective formula!
This book is really historically significant, and I appreciate it so much for being one of the first YA books to portray queer characters, especially lesbians, in a positive light and with a happy ending.
The story didn't make a particular impact on me, but the historical context did. I would definitely recommend it.
This book is really historically significant, and I appreciate it so much for being one of the first YA books to portray queer characters, especially lesbians, in a positive light and with a happy ending.
The story didn't make a particular impact on me, but the historical context did. I would definitely recommend it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Classism
Xeni: A Marriage of Inconvenience by Rebekah Weatherspoon
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
What a fun silly book. I loved the characters. Just a couple of thicc sexy sweet bisexuals having SO MUCH sex. This is right up there with most sex I’ve read in a traditional romance novel. And it was varied and fun! Would absolutely recommend. My only critiques are 1) how easy everything was despite the seemingly high stakes for Mason’s family stuff 2) they had maybe three actual conversations? I was definitely rooting for them but I think the book could have been a tiny bit longer to add a bit more dialogue in between some of the sex scenes 3) it was kinda soulmatey, which isn’t my jam but was still cute because I really enjoyed the couple.
I made the mistake of pausing the audiobook in the middle of the pegging scene, and it took a few weeks to find a good moment to just straight into that, but once I did I finished the rest of the book very quickly.
I made the mistake of pausing the audiobook in the middle of the pegging scene, and it took a few weeks to find a good moment to just straight into that, but once I did I finished the rest of the book very quickly.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Biphobia, Emotional abuse, and Homophobia
Additional content warning for I guess financial abuse?
Palestine by Joe Sacco
Palestine is an incredibly effective piece of graphic journalism. It paints a vivid, dark portrait of the state of things in occupied Palestine when Joe Sacco was there in the 90s. Sacco uses a variety of anecdotes, conversations, violent scenes, and quotes from other sources to create a compelling and overall sympathetic portrait of Palestine and Palestinians. He uses a dramatized portrayal of himself to show his own journey of understanding the occupation.
Unfortunately, I did not personally enjoy Sacco's art style or method of storytelling very much, despite how effective I found it. I struggled with the dramatized version of the author. I struggled with the general bigotry and the misogyny. I think some of that is just the 90s. Most of it is the author's desire to give the book a narrative arc.
Overall, I think that this particular book was not for me, but I would highly recommend it to anyone at the beginning of their journey with understanding the history of Palestine as it gives a solid grounding if you don't know where to start and takes the reader on a journey from distaste to understanding and empathy.
Unfortunately, I did not personally enjoy Sacco's art style or method of storytelling very much, despite how effective I found it. I struggled with the dramatized version of the author. I struggled with the general bigotry and the misogyny. I think some of that is just the 90s. Most of it is the author's desire to give the book a narrative arc.
Overall, I think that this particular book was not for me, but I would highly recommend it to anyone at the beginning of their journey with understanding the history of Palestine as it gives a solid grounding if you don't know where to start and takes the reader on a journey from distaste to understanding and empathy.
A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I loved this book. It says so much about language and imperialism and memory, and it does all of that amidst fabulous worldbuilding and compelling characters. I loved Mahit and Three Seagrass and I had so many feelings and thoughts about everyone and everything else. I wanted a bit more from some of the political aspects, but that may well come in the sequel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, and Colonisation
This Is Why They Hate Us by Aaron H. Aceves
Did not finish book. Stopped at 8%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 8%.
This book is really good so far but I just can't handle contemporary YA right now. I thought I could do it but I can't. Maybe another time.
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Rereading this book for the first time since middle school and it sure isn’t very good, huh?
I definitely couldn’t have written a better book as a teen, to be clear, and I still find this story very entertaining and fun and generally engaging. Saphira is one of my favorite dragon characters ever. Murtagh is wonderfully compelling. Christopher Paolini’s descriptions are very lush (sometimes overly so). And if I continue rereading more of the series I know I’ll enjoy Nasuada and Roran’s sections.
The gender of it all is just as messy and sloppy as I remembered, and the handling of disability is definitely abysmal and I don’t recall it getting better.
The worldbuilding and plot are generally unoriginal, but I really don’t care because 1) I enjoy it and 2) again, the author was SO YOUNG when he wrote it. There are some very silly aspects of the worldbuilding, though. I definitely assumed that the Ancient Language was much more of a conlang as a kid than it actually is. So much of it is just kinda sloppy Latin with some Japanese thrown in I feel like? Goofy.
Anyway I think that we need more overly long silly fun dragon books.
I definitely couldn’t have written a better book as a teen, to be clear, and I still find this story very entertaining and fun and generally engaging. Saphira is one of my favorite dragon characters ever. Murtagh is wonderfully compelling. Christopher Paolini’s descriptions are very lush (sometimes overly so). And if I continue rereading more of the series I know I’ll enjoy Nasuada and Roran’s sections.
The gender of it all is just as messy and sloppy as I remembered, and the handling of disability is definitely abysmal and I don’t recall it getting better.
The worldbuilding and plot are generally unoriginal, but I really don’t care because 1) I enjoy it and 2) again, the author was SO YOUNG when he wrote it. There are some very silly aspects of the worldbuilding, though. I definitely assumed that the Ancient Language was much more of a conlang as a kid than it actually is. So much of it is just kinda sloppy Latin with some Japanese thrown in I feel like? Goofy.
Anyway I think that we need more overly long silly fun dragon books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Ableism, Misogyny, and Xenophobia
Minor: Sexual assault