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hforsythe26's reviews
186 reviews
Never by Ken Follett
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
The Dead Take the A Train by Cassandra Khaw, Richard Kadrey
Did not finish book. Stopped at 34%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 34%.
What Happened to the Bennetts by Lisa Scottoline
Did not finish book. Stopped at 90%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 90%.
What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher
Did not finish book. Stopped at 23%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 23%.
I expected this to be a modern story so the Victorian setting was jarring. The pronouns were also strange and distracting.
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
Did not finish book. Stopped at 62%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 62%.
This felt too much like "cozy sci-fi". Is that even a thing?? I'm not sure but if it is, this book is the team leader. Very slice of life. Somewhat interesting characters but not enough plot to keep me interested. Would recommend as an intro to sci-fi for anyone who enjoys cozy, calm, character driven stories.
Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko
adventurous
emotional
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? Yes
4.0
The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I was surprised by The Blacktongue Thief. The description led me to expect a fantasy action story, perhaps a bit of a quest, maybe some witty puns here and there. And I did find all of those things inside the pages of this odd book but I also found something unexpected... heart. Nothing prepared me for the emotional punch packed into this story. It's weird and it's violent and sometimes the humor is more roll-your-eyes funny than laugh-out-loud funny but I absolutely loved it all. There's a depth to the characters and relationships that fosters a level of emotional investment that is often missing in books twice as long. The main problem is that the second installment in the series isn't out yet and I desperately need to know what happens to everybody next. Hurry up, Mr. Buehlman!
Content Warnings
There are some very icky mentions of goblins eating people. Not in battle or during a war but actually butchering captive humans and eating them salted with a side of potatoes (ok, I'm kidding about the potatoes). It's not necessarily graphic in description but the way it's written made me very uncomfortable and somehow seemed even worse than if it had been a straightforward graphic description.
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
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
Not much to say beyond the fact that I'll never forget sweet Rocky <3 Five star read with a delightful mix of scientific theory, space exploration, and one of the most developed friendships that I've read in a long time... maybe ever.
Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
If you like books about bad people doing bad things then this is the book for you. The main character is not a good person and I did have a hard time connecting to him in the beginning, however, as we learn about his past we find out more about why he is how he is. I do think he ended with some hints of a redemption arc which makes me want to read more and I enjoyed the writing style - complex but direct. Overall, I do want to keep going with the series but this first one was a slow start and I wasn't really invested until the last third or so.
Over the Woodward Wall by A. Deborah Baker
adventurous
dark
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? It's complicated
3.0
I picked this book up in the adult SFF section at the library so I went in with a little misconception (this is most definitely middle grade, not adult) which left me waiting for the other shoe to drop but it never did and I feel like that is why I didn't like this one more. It was a quirky story with cute characters and a fun little adventure. The overall tone is not fun though, it's more... somber. I listened to the audiobook and quite enjoyed it. I think it's a good choice for audio because it's an easy story to follow without too many different character voices and the narrator did an excellent job. Overall, this was one of the most successful reads that I've tried from Seanan McGuire but her tone still isn't a great fit for me.