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magicalghoul's reviews
79 reviews
The Spire in the Woods by Tony Lunedi
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This story was the best of the best that r/nosleep had to offer. It's miles ahead from any other noteworthy story from that corner of the internet.
The quality of the writing really shines despite some blunders here and there but most importantly, this story has had a special place in my brain ever since I read it.
It's /insidious/ and I love the social commentary about horror narratives. I can't recommend it enough.
The quality of the writing really shines despite some blunders here and there but most importantly, this story has had a special place in my brain ever since I read it.
It's /insidious/ and I love the social commentary about horror narratives. I can't recommend it enough.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Moderate: Body horror, Misogyny, and Rape
Vuelven los fantasmas by Mercedes Franco
funny
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Libro favorito de la infancia y que despertó mi interés por lo sobrenatural y las leyendas venezolanas. La estética de esta edición se va más por lo moderno a diferencia de la estética más clásica de la edición de Monte Ávila, pero las ilustraciones de esta edición son igual de hermosas. En general es una buena actualización de un libro conocido.
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
Did not finish book.
Did not finish book.
I liked what I read but I'm putting it back on the shelf for now, since I keep seeing reviews saying how grim it is and honestly I'm not in the mood for any of that at the moment.
La mala hora by Gabriel García Márquez
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Gun violence
Moderate: Torture and Police brutality
Minor: Animal cruelty and Sexual content
Autobiografía de mi Madre by Jamaica Kincaid
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
Yo, Tituba, bruja negra de Salem by Maryse Condé
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Hay pasajes que me he encontrado releyendo sólo para maravillarse con ellos de nuevo.
En este momento lo que realmente se queda conmigo y que me encantó es lo fuertemente meta e intertextual es su narrativa, lo que la convierte en una novela de ficción histórica con ojos en el futuro (o el presente, pues Tituba está hablando con nosotras). Esto es hecho aún más evidente por el propio conocimiento de Tituba de que su nombre sólo es una nota al pie de los registros históricos de los juicios de Salem además del cameo de feminista blanca de Hester Prynne.
Notable como Condé se basó y jugó tanto con los cuentos orales antillanos como con la historia del Caribe para tejer un trasfondo para la historia de Tituba, y luego la transformación de la propia Tituba en una historia oral.
Toca releer una vez haya digerido propiamente la experiencia.
En este momento lo que realmente se queda conmigo y que me encantó es lo fuertemente meta e intertextual es su narrativa, lo que la convierte en una novela de ficción histórica con ojos en el futuro (o el presente, pues Tituba está hablando con nosotras). Esto es hecho aún más evidente por el propio conocimiento de Tituba de que su nombre sólo es una nota al pie de los registros históricos de los juicios de Salem además del cameo de feminista blanca de Hester Prynne.
Notable como Condé se basó y jugó tanto con los cuentos orales antillanos como con la historia del Caribe para tejer un trasfondo para la historia de Tituba, y luego la transformación de la propia Tituba en una historia oral.
Toca releer una vez haya digerido propiamente la experiencia.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Trafficking, and Religious bigotry
Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender
I just finished it and I'm a Disaster but wow. Kacen Callender's writing is so good— not only in its descriptions and vivid imagery or its characters but also in its plotting, the parallels it draws within the same narrative, the way it barrels into its themes, the level of emotionality in it.
It was gripping, reading it was a joy, i was intrigued, hooked, and i was pretty happy with the payoff and resolution (something that happens very rarely to me, so I'm glad it didn't fall flat in that aspect).
Definitely recommend, it left me bawling and feeling very tender.
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
“Once I start screaming, I can’t stop. I scream so hard my throat feels raw and my heart pounds. I’m screaming with joy. I’m screaming with pain. I’m screaming with the awe that I’m here, that we’re all here, and that we’re here because of the people before us, the people who couldn’t be here, and I’m screaming for myself, too.”
I just finished it and I'm a Disaster but wow. Kacen Callender's writing is so good— not only in its descriptions and vivid imagery or its characters but also in its plotting, the parallels it draws within the same narrative, the way it barrels into its themes, the level of emotionality in it.
It was gripping, reading it was a joy, i was intrigued, hooked, and i was pretty happy with the payoff and resolution (something that happens very rarely to me, so I'm glad it didn't fall flat in that aspect).
Definitely recommend, it left me bawling and feeling very tender.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Deadnaming, Homophobia, and Transphobia
Battle of Brothers: William and Harry–The Inside Story of a Family in Tumult by Robert Lacey
informative
slow-paced
3.0
I don't usually read this type of royal-watcher books but this one really eased me into it. I liked the historical tidbits.
Kill the Boy Band by Goldy Moldavsky
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
First off: Mind the discussion of slut-shaming tw. I'm not putting it in spoiler tags because it's somehow central to the plot and could be highly upsetting. Please take care.
Now, about the book: Enjoyed the concept and the writing style but the rampant fatphobia and the smidge of racism really ruined it for me— just because it's satire or dark humor doesn't mean you get a free pass to punch down.
The outdated (even for 2016) teen slang sometimes took me out as well, but on a second thought I'm glad it went for a known evil (tumblr fandom slang) over a recent one (stolen aave in stan circles).
It was entertaining at least, even if I found myself wishing it had pushed for more at times. Solid three star book.
Now, about the book: Enjoyed the concept and the writing style but the rampant fatphobia and the smidge of racism really ruined it for me— just because it's satire or dark humor doesn't mean you get a free pass to punch down.
The outdated (even for 2016) teen slang sometimes took me out as well, but on a second thought I'm glad it went for a known evil (tumblr fandom slang) over a recent one (stolen aave in stan circles).
It was entertaining at least, even if I found myself wishing it had pushed for more at times. Solid three star book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Death, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Racism, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Grief
A character tells another about a situation where she was humiliated and slut shamed.
Ship It by Britta Lundin
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.5
I spent an entire day reading it and I'll concede that although there's something deep deep down in here about how fandom spaces can be of such help in the search of identity for lgbt folks… it gets trampled down in the entire mess that is the book in its entirety.
I'm not going through everything wrong with Ship It in detail though (fetishization of mlm disguised as fandom activism, discussion of rpf and incest fic as Casual Fandom Things, glorification of toxic fandom behavior, "pan lesbian", brushing off of fandom racism…) because then I'd be here All Day so just suffice to say:
This one should have stayed in wattpad, love ❤️
I'm not going through everything wrong with Ship It in detail though (fetishization of mlm disguised as fandom activism, discussion of rpf and incest fic as Casual Fandom Things, glorification of toxic fandom behavior, "pan lesbian", brushing off of fandom racism…) because then I'd be here All Day so just suffice to say:
This one should have stayed in wattpad, love ❤️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Misogyny and Sexism
Minor: Eating disorder and Incest
The main character is forcedly outed