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meliemelo's reviews
2261 reviews
Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A book as gentle as some of its main characters, in spite of the difficult subject matter. Absolutely lovely, one of Klune's best works.
My Hero Academia, Vol. 37 by Kōhei Horikoshi, Kōhei Horikoshi
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I liked the heteromorph stuff, although I feel it could have come up more clearly earlier.
Among the Trolls by Marianna Spring
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
A fascinating read, very well written and very accessible, that deals with several key aspects of the conspiracy world and what fuels it. I really appreciated how clear the author was, especially on her intentions, and the great empathy she demonstrates. I highly recommend this book.
Reeling in the Queers: Tales of Ireland’s LGBTQ Past by Páraic Kerrigan
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
Describing itself as a patchwork of stories, Reeling in the Queers is indeed exactly that, and although I do have some qualms as to the organisation of said patchwork (why not a chronological structure?), it was a very good, informative and, yes, necessary read overall.
Queen B by Juno Dawson
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
A short prequel that doesn't offer much to the world it is set in, even though it relates key events of its history.
Under the Mistletoe with You by Lizzie Huxley-Jones
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
I guess I now have a favourite Christmas romcom novel.
This simply has everything:
- (kinda) Enemies to Lovers
- Hurt/Comfort
- Only One Bed
- Bakery
- Community Feelgoods
- Amazing Friends and Side Characters
- and so much more, including some GREAT trans and disability rep
There is one last development towards the end that feels superfluous, like it was added only because it's an expected beat in this kind of story, but otherwise everything fits really well together. Soft, ridiculous and delightfully heartwarming.
This simply has everything:
- (kinda) Enemies to Lovers
- Hurt/Comfort
- Only One Bed
- Bakery
- Community Feelgoods
- Amazing Friends and Side Characters
- and so much more, including some GREAT trans and disability rep
There is one last development towards the end that feels superfluous, like it was added only because it's an expected beat in this kind of story, but otherwise everything fits really well together. Soft, ridiculous and delightfully heartwarming.
Heartsong by TJ Klune
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
Definitely my favourite of the series so far. Some bold choices were made earlier on, and I loved figuring it out.
Kelly appeared a bit more distinct than the previous two love interests - it helps that we had two other books to get to know him. I loved the evolution of other characters as well, especially Rico.
And as usual, I really appreciate how the romance isn't really the focus and the primordial role played by other bounds.
Kelly appeared a bit more distinct than the previous two love interests - it helps that we had two other books to get to know him. I loved the evolution of other characters as well, especially Rico.
And as usual, I really appreciate how the romance isn't really the focus and the primordial role played by other bounds.
The Yellow Wallpaper & Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I enjoyed both stories, thanks in no small part to the author's elegant writing and clever ideas.
The Yellow Wallpaper is a great horror short story that doubles as a brilliant feminist insight. It's a very quick read I'll probably come back to in the future.
It took me a little longer to get into Herland, but it is equally brilliant and feminist. It is the perfect example of a utopia, existing to highligh the flaws of "our" society rather than praising the qualities of the fictional one.
The Yellow Wallpaper is a great horror short story that doubles as a brilliant feminist insight. It's a very quick read I'll probably come back to in the future.
It took me a little longer to get into Herland, but it is equally brilliant and feminist. It is the perfect example of a utopia, existing to highligh the flaws of "our" society rather than praising the qualities of the fictional one.
Ravensong by TJ Klune
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I enjoyed it more than the first one, as I knew I would. I srill think TJ Klune has grown as a writer since, but the issues were still lesser than in Wolfsong.
I lived Gordo as a character and really felt his plight. It was also refreshin to focus on an "older" (read: not teenager or young adult) queer man, and to do so early on in the series!
I couldn't really get much of who Mark was however - the limitations of the 1st-person point of view. That was more or less sorted towards the end, but once again I was slightly less interested in their romance than in the wider plot. The antagonist (not the one I expected!) was pretty terrifying and the conflict well crafted.
I do like that unlike most romance series, each volume continues the overarching story instead of being its own individual plot affecting only the main couple!
I lived Gordo as a character and really felt his plight. It was also refreshin to focus on an "older" (read: not teenager or young adult) queer man, and to do so early on in the series!
I couldn't really get much of who Mark was however - the limitations of the 1st-person point of view. That was more or less sorted towards the end, but once again I was slightly less interested in their romance than in the wider plot. The antagonist (not the one I expected!) was pretty terrifying and the conflict well crafted.
I do like that unlike most romance series, each volume continues the overarching story instead of being its own individual plot affecting only the main couple!
Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Very sweet and cozy. It's quite the challenge to try and write the love before the known romance, and I will admit I didn't take to Maylee as much as I could have,but I still applaud the effort, and I liked how real and plausible the relationship felt. Of course, there was much more than that to the story, including many other great characters.