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ogokoo's reviews
366 reviews
Echo Park by Michael Connelly
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Sexual violence, and Violence
Minor: Homophobia
The Clifftop Murders by Rachel McLean
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
3.75
Started off so well! Much better than book 1. And then came the questionable character decisions, pretty out of line with the solid judgement we'd seen from them so far. I'm also honestly not enjoying the non stop reminders about the tension between team members. It's not pleasant.
Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This novel had very impressive worldbuilding and mysteries. I was pretty taken with the narration for the first half. Then, in the second half, while the plot continued to be interesting, the pace changed very quickly and it felt like a lot of character arcs were abandoned. The characters kind of started acting the same. In the first half, personalities and actions felt meticulously chosen and crafted, but then it all kind of led...nowhere. For example, we kept being told how dangerous Sajaki is, how capable, but we didn't see it in action at all. It was jarring and it took me out of the plot, this switch up. It undermined the respect that had built up in me. I'm going to keep reading the series, but with a big chip on my shoulder.
The Way of the Bear by Anne Hillerman
mysterious
reflective
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? No
4.5
Mystery at the Masquerade by Josh Lanyon
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Well, this is it. After 3 books, I'm officially giving up on this series. The chemistry between Jack and Ellery is non-existent - especially because of how flat, monotone and rude Jack is written. He's honestly just an ass. The mysteries have not been compelling, nor cozy. Ellery's knack for getting into trouble is not charming at all.
Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
While it was very interesting to glimpse the lives of the Exodan Fleet and the issues that have come up all this time after GC incorporation, there's something about this book that makes it feel superficial. The character choices and the dialogue, especially the dialogue, feel pretty canned. It's like in a bid to be genuine and wholesome, they became trite. I was irritated by the soap opera vibe of some of the conversations. And disappointed that a Wayfarers book would be like that.
Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I was really excited about this book for a while and it did not live up to my excitement. Far from Tchaikovsky's best. The first person narration was a disservice in mutliple ways, especially because Daghdev is a pretty unremarkable and annoying character. I also have an issue with the message (?) of the ending: Arton's words, albeit we understand he is an unreliable narrator now, but they're all we have to go on about the book's messages, seem to suggest that dispersing the Kiln microbiome onto the incoming prisoners and also Earth is the right thing, the good thing to do. I undrstand thst there are in fact many things about the unity achieved thru Kiln's microbiome that are a cherished improvement for the infected. But what about consent? The marchers had no choice. But anyone else unaffected should have a choice.
One other thing that was not explained -how come Clem and the other guy in the isolation tank seemed so intensely affected by Kiln, in a painful way, but no one else had filaments growing from their mouth and causing them pain?
One other thing that was not explained -
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, and Physical abuse
Next in Line by Marion Todd
So they went up to that cottage where they were expecting to find David and Gabby, not knowing whether David was the killer for sure yet but knowing he may be and if he is, he may still have the sniper rifle...and they just went in blindly, Clare ON THE PHONE...Sometimes these books are really not well thought out. I was glad the romance stuff was dialed back in this book. It's ridiculous to have Clare's man troubles in every book. I am trying hard to overlook the fact that she's now with Al Gibson who was so wildly disrespectful to her in book 1.
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Ancestral Night by Elizabeth Bear
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
tense
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
3.25
If I read the words "atavistic" and "sophipath" one more time I'm going to lose my mind....
This read continuously confused me. The first person narration hurt it, in my opinion. Haimey was kind of an annoying narrator and also, the fact that it's an unreliable narrator created a sense of anticipation and anxiety which never paid off and which, in my opinion, hurt the vibe the book was going for. I was constantly doubting things and expecting a big reveal that Haimey was totally being brainwashed or whatever, but I don't think that's what the book wanted readers to feel at all... Also, every single action-y scene was destroyed by the super slow-pace narration, including the big finale. It became insufferable towards the end. Overall, I'm disappointed because this book has some terrific ideas that I want to know more about. I'll keep reading in the series. Maybe the next will be better.
This read continuously confused me. The first person narration hurt it, in my opinion. Haimey was kind of an annoying narrator and also, the fact that it's an unreliable narrator created a sense of anticipation and anxiety which never paid off and which, in my opinion, hurt the vibe the book was going for. I was constantly doubting things and expecting a big reveal that Haimey was totally being brainwashed or whatever, but I don't think that's what the book wanted readers to feel at all... Also, every single action-y scene was destroyed by the super slow-pace narration, including the big finale. It became insufferable towards the end. Overall, I'm disappointed because this book has some terrific ideas that I want to know more about. I'll keep reading in the series. Maybe the next will be better.