musubi_mama's reviews
777 reviews

Lake of Souls: The Collected Short Fiction by Ann Leckie

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adventurous funny fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.5

The Exorcism Files: True Stories of Demonic Possession by Adam Blai

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dark informative mysterious reflective fast-paced

3.0

French Windows by Antoine Laurain

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

3.75

Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay

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dark funny mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga

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dark reflective sad slow-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

5.0

Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre by Max Brooks

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adventurous dark funny mysterious sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

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funny informative lighthearted reflective sad slow-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

What an AMAZING novel! I don't usually go for "buzzy" books, but so many friends recommended this one to me, I had to give it a go. I am so glad I listened to them! 

I love historical fiction, but do not usually go for science fiction or romance (though recent selections have proven me wrong for ignoring this genre!) so I was unsure if I would like it. But Ministry of Time is the perfect blend of speculative fiction, sci-fi, history, thriller, and romance. 

The story revolves around a minion in the eponymous ministry, an employee tasked with being the guardian/bodyguard/caretaker/guide of an individual who has crossed into our timeline. The experiment goes awry, as these things seem likely to do, and a thrilling spy-espionage thriller-esque chase ensues. 

Bradley makes the characters really come to life; it's clear an incredible amount of research and observation has gone into this work. But it's not only that; Bradley's prose is deeply reflective, creating fleshy characters that we can commiserate with and recognize. Readers will find themselves falling in love with them, laughing with them, feeling their loneliness and suffering, hoping for a happy ending for them. 
King Leopold's Ghost by Adam Hochschild

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dark informative sad medium-paced

5.0

Verge: Stories by Lidia Yuknavitch

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dark funny mysterious reflective fast-paced

3.0