jjvaldezbooks's reviews
316 reviews

Parable of the Sower: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Damian Duffy, Octavia E. Butler

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challenging dark reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

slightly less my style of book than kindred. i feel like if I had more biblical knowledge I might have vibed with it more but I'm a long-lapsed Catholic 

devastating story of a young woman trying to survive the end of capitalism/her world. it's not quite hopeful, but god does it make you grit your teeth and want to do something about this shit

intrigued by the real world study of Earthseed as a religion that I've seen online, excited to go back and explore that

(I didn't like the art again. sorry.)

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Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Octavia E. Butler

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challenging dark emotional sad tense
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated

4.5

i read it all in one sitting and I feel so.... woof. tired, I guess. but i know black women are more tired than me 

(didn't like the art unfortunately)

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Lucero by Maya Motayne

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adventurous dark lighthearted medium-paced
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

maya PLEASE I am actively reading the book you do not have to repeat yourself!!!! do you have a word count you need to hit???

also theres a new audiobook narrator and I don't like her 

but I did like the ending tbh
Oculta by Maya Motayne

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adventurous dark tense
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

oh shit that's a good twist 

too much monologuing but I like the story enough to forgive it

girl stop repeating yourself I just read it 

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A Court Bright and Broken by Amy Patrick

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fast-paced
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

3.75

okay so I wasn't sure how to feel about this going in because I am not typically a romantasy girl. there are such pervasive toxic themes in the genre that I usually reach for strict fantasy instead and have to hope a nice romance will sneak in at some point. but I received an eARC from The Nerd Fam and I am nothing if not a woman who likes to review a free book from a small press! 😅 especially when I realize it's got fairy tale retelling vibes-- I am consistently a sucker for that lol

pros: zippy little read! MMC is down bad, worldbuilding is cool, actual consequences for actions!!! bc that feels rare sometimes lol, MMC has shitty beliefs that are challenged and he learns and grows at a realistic pace!! and they actually listen to each other and empathize after honest moments! plot threads that can be followed to a logical point!

cons: FMC is SOOOOO wittle 😑; MMC is immortal fae compared to a young human woman (but honestly she's 20 and while that's.. a low bar. it is better than 17 or 18); tbh mono-normative but "one true mate" systems are just like that I guess 

in the end, I am not above kicking my feetsies in glee when a MMC brings a FMC crates of books and candles so she can read all night in peace. it was quick and light and fun and I had a really good time. and there were a few plot threads left hanging that I am truly curious to see how they turn out! so count me in for the sequel, too!

Thanks again to The Nerd Fam and Amy Patrick for the chance to read this early! 
All opinions are my own. 

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My Kind of Trouble by L.A. Schwartz

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funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

a tad too much explaining with the autistic rep and book banning issues but maybe that's how people need to get that info and not be weird about it 

a really cute book!! I'm not a romance girly but it was very sweet. so fun that it's a music man retelling, I liked the little hints at it 

some good spicy scenes too! i was gonna recommend this to my musical loving in laws but maybe not haha

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Babylonia by Costanza Casati

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challenging dark tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

a little slow but I think that's just kind of how this style of story goes. i went in blind and really enjoyed my time but... at 3x speed 😅

the characters are incredibly realistic and somehow feel down to earth despite being such powerful figures. the longing was INTENSE and I was really hoping we were going to be able to wrap this up with a power throuple, but alas, it wasn't meant to be. shame history didn't work out that way, lol.

another weird history nitpick, but I needed a little more world building despite everything? i just didn't know much about Assyria/the time period going in and constantly felt a little behind the ball on the "who's who" every time an international incident happened 

i am obsessed with this narrator tbh, she was incredible, and I feel like this is a hell of a text to make as immersive as she did. I'll be checking out more of her work for sure

i feel like I've been saying check triggers a lot lately but WOOF you are gonna wanna check triggers on this one babes!!!

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Nocturna by Maya Motayne

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adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious 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

4.5

some cliche moments but I really enjoyed my time. Ignacio was a truly monstrous villain but in a terrifyingly human way and DAMN  did that hit the spot 

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