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magicalghoul's reviews
79 reviews
The Emperor's Soul by Brandon Sanderson
adventurous
emotional
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Terminal illness
Moderate: Xenophobia
Minor: Blood
Fist of the Spider Woman: Tales of Fear and Queer Desire by Amber Dawn
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I didn't expect the stories in this anthology to be so dependent on sexual violence for their horror, so that was a letdown. Moreover, I feel they suffer for it.
There were some stories I enjoyed though, but the rest of them were more miss than hit for me.
Noteworthy stories (♢ liked; ❥ loved)
♢ Slug by Megan Milks
♢ Conspiracy of Fuckers by Nomy Lamm
❥ Homeland by Kristyn Dunnion
♢ Crabby by Michelle Tea
❥ Shark by Kestrel Barnes
♢ Fear of Dying to the Wrong Song by Amanda Lamarche
I'd be all over Here Lies the Last Lesbian Rental in East Vancouver by Amber Dawn if it weren't for the sexual assault. A shame, because the concept is really good and the execution was doing well up until that point.
Please mind the warnings if you intend to read this anthology, I wouldn't recommend it to someone who's had trauma related to any of the things listed.
There were some stories I enjoyed though, but the rest of them were more miss than hit for me.
Noteworthy stories (♢ liked; ❥ loved)
♢ Slug by Megan Milks
♢ Conspiracy of Fuckers by Nomy Lamm
❥ Homeland by Kristyn Dunnion
♢ Crabby by Michelle Tea
❥ Shark by Kestrel Barnes
♢ Fear of Dying to the Wrong Song by Amanda Lamarche
I'd be all over Here Lies the Last Lesbian Rental in East Vancouver by Amber Dawn if it weren't for the sexual assault. A shame, because the concept is really good and the execution was doing well up until that point.
Please mind the warnings if you intend to read this anthology, I wouldn't recommend it to someone who's had trauma related to any of the things listed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, and Sexual violence
Mind the sexual violence warning, as well as dubious consent. The pedophilia and incest present in form of sexual play. Also warning for cissexism and dysphoria.
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Las cosas que perdimos en el fuego by Mariana Enríquez
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Sin palabras, la verdad. Es la primera vez que leo algo de Mariana Enríquez y quedé con ganas de más. Me encanta cuán distintivas y marcadas son las voces de sus protagonistas, lo cotidiano del horror y el ritmo de la prosa.
All Out: The No-Longer-Secret Stories of Queer Teens throughout the Ages by Saundra Mitchell
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
I was really looking forward to allotting some time to read this since it's been on my to-read list for Ages. Overall it's an enjoyable anthology and I'll definitely look up some of the authors here so I can read more of them.
I will say though, I was expecting and would've liked a little more variety in terms of BIPOC (out of 17 stories only 7 feature non-white characters) as well as more trans/nb (3 out of 17 stories) and disabled narratives (1 out of 17) since this anthology was supposed to have visibility front and center.
And At Least a warning for the pedophilia in one of the stories.
Noteworthy stories (♢ liked; ❥ loved)
❥ Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore
♢ The Dresser & The Chambermaid by Robin Talley
❥ Burnt Umber by Mackenzi Lee
❥ New Year by Malinda Lo
♢ Molly's Lips by Dahlia Adler
❥ Willows by Scott Tracey
♢ The Girl With The Blue Lantern by Tess Sharpe
♢ Walking After Midnight by Kody Keplinger
♢ The End of the World As We Know It by Sara Farizan
❥ Three Witches by Tessa Gratton
❥ The Inferno & the Butterfly by Shaun David Hutchinson
❥ Healing Rosa by Tehlor Kay Mejia
Every Shade of Red by Elliot Wake was written beautifully and I Adored the concept to bits but the descriptions and the way some of the characters of color were portrayed left me... With a weird taste.
Also, pedophilia warning for The Secret Life of a Teenage Boy by Alex Sanchez because it, sure is about a 16 year old mc planning to run away with a college aged guy he just met... And the adult reciprocating said advances. I know it's a coming of age story but it being framed so fondly and longingly made me the more anxious.
That being said, I'm excited for the follow up and I hope they did better to improve the pitfalls of this one.
I will say though, I was expecting and would've liked a little more variety in terms of BIPOC (out of 17 stories only 7 feature non-white characters) as well as more trans/nb (3 out of 17 stories) and disabled narratives (1 out of 17) since this anthology was supposed to have visibility front and center.
And At Least a warning for the pedophilia in one of the stories.
Noteworthy stories (♢ liked; ❥ loved)
❥ Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore
♢ The Dresser & The Chambermaid by Robin Talley
❥ Burnt Umber by Mackenzi Lee
❥ New Year by Malinda Lo
♢ Molly's Lips by Dahlia Adler
❥ Willows by Scott Tracey
♢ The Girl With The Blue Lantern by Tess Sharpe
♢ Walking After Midnight by Kody Keplinger
♢ The End of the World As We Know It by Sara Farizan
❥ Three Witches by Tessa Gratton
❥ The Inferno & the Butterfly by Shaun David Hutchinson
❥ Healing Rosa by Tehlor Kay Mejia
Every Shade of Red by Elliot Wake was written beautifully and I Adored the concept to bits but the descriptions and the way some of the characters of color were portrayed left me... With a weird taste.
Also, pedophilia warning for The Secret Life of a Teenage Boy by Alex Sanchez because it, sure is about a 16 year old mc planning to run away with a college aged guy he just met... And the adult reciprocating said advances. I know it's a coming of age story but it being framed so fondly and longingly made me the more anxious.
That being said, I'm excited for the follow up and I hope they did better to improve the pitfalls of this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Pedophilia
Crier's War by Nina Varela
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
It stumbled at the beginning with how it couldn't seamlessly integrate exposition and instead dumped it, but once the scenario and all the characters were set it was a fun read sprinkled with rich prose.
We do love a good enemies to lover slow burn with revolutionary themes and I'm looking forward to the next installment!
We do love a good enemies to lover slow burn with revolutionary themes and I'm looking forward to the next installment!
Teatro Grottesco by Thomas Ligotti
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Spent so long chipping away at this one that the constant repetition in the stories actually helped me remember what the hell was going on when I started reading again.
The corporate horror stories were really good though.
The corporate horror stories were really good though.
Good Omens by Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Bonds of Brass by Emily Skrutskie
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Liked the writing well enough, loved the main characters, will most probably read book 2... But I'm torn on the idea of a white woman writing a mlm story featuring characters of color. I'm not in a position to judge if she pulls it off, but please don't forget to support own voices sci-fi authors.