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poisonenvy's reviews
842 reviews
Kiss Her Once for Me by Alison Cochrun
emotional
lighthearted
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? Yes
3.25
And there it is, my final holiday romance of the year.
I enjoyed this a lot. Loud, chaotic ADHD lesbians and anxiety written demi-bis are a great combination. Flaws of the characters were very believable. I enjoyed the dysfunctional family relationships, and especially how the ended (nothingw annoys me quite as much as books that have shitty avsuive parents who just do a face-turn for absolutely no reason at the end of the story).
Overall, this was very sweet.
I enjoyed this a lot. Loud, chaotic ADHD lesbians and anxiety written demi-bis are a great combination. Flaws of the characters were very believable. I enjoyed the dysfunctional family relationships, and especially how the ended (nothingw annoys me quite as much as books that have shitty avsuive parents who just do a face-turn for absolutely no reason at the end of the story).
Overall, this was very sweet.
Make the Season Bright by Ashley Herring Blake
emotional
lighthearted
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? Yes
3.5
Childhood friends to lovers, Charlotte and Brighton, broke up five years ago, and then, unexpectedly, end up staying at the same house for a Cheery Queery Christmas.
This was cute and spicy. There are plenty of flashbacks which are sometimes disorienting, but only for a moment, and but generally fit quite well and help flesh out the book's romance. Overall, I thought this was sweet.
This was cute and spicy. There are plenty of flashbacks which are sometimes disorienting, but only for a moment, and but generally fit quite well and help flesh out the book's romance. Overall, I thought this was sweet.
The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch
funny
hopeful
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? Yes
5.0
When I started this book, I figured that I was picking up a cute holiday romance where the Christmas Prince and the Halloween Prince fell in love with one another, and that's definitely what I got.
What I was not expecting was a critique about commodification, consumerism, and global hegemonic power. But I got that too, and man, I am here for it.
Someday I swear I'm going to stop being surprised when my holiday romances turn smutty. Someday for sure.
What I was not expecting was a critique about commodification, consumerism, and global hegemonic power. But I got that too, and man, I am here for it.
Someday I swear I'm going to stop being surprised when my holiday romances turn smutty. Someday for sure.
Stalking Darkness by Lynn Flewelling
adventurous
dark
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? Yes
4.0
The second book in the Nightrunner series is just as good, if not better, than the first book was. While I predicted many of the twists (even as early as the last book), their reveals were still enjoyable and there was enough stuff that I hadn't predicted at all that it kept me on my toes.
This book is a good deal darker than the first, though not in a way that felt over-the-top, and overall I liked it very much.
This book is a good deal darker than the first, though not in a way that felt over-the-top, and overall I liked it very much.
Celtic Fairy Tales and Legends by Rosalind Kerven
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- 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
A beautifully illustrated and delightful collection of folklore and mythology from the British Isles, spread more or less equally between Welsh, Irish, and Scottish tales. Very easy to read, and entertaining, with a delightful lack of especially misogynistic tales, and then some extra notes and comments from Kerven at the end of the collection.
Overall a delight to read, and again, the illustrations were absolutely lovely.
Overall a delight to read, and again, the illustrations were absolutely lovely.
As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Well, this was a struggle that I probably would have given up if it wasn't for book club (especially since I had to read this book at the end of a five-class semester and it was somehow more if a challenge to read this than anything I was reading in any of my classes).
Language was difficult to parse and sort out, there are about a billion POV characters (none of whom seemed to have distinctive voices), tense was all over the place with apparently no rhyme or reason. Apparently this book was written in six weeks and then not edited at all before it was published and it shows (or maybe that's just how Faulkner writes. Who knows; this is the only book of his I've read). Overall, not a fan.
Language was difficult to parse and sort out, there are about a billion POV characters (none of whom seemed to have distinctive voices), tense was all over the place with apparently no rhyme or reason. Apparently this book was written in six weeks and then not edited at all before it was published and it shows (or maybe that's just how Faulkner writes. Who knows; this is the only book of his I've read). Overall, not a fan.
Thomas Aquinas: Basic Philosophical Writing: From the Summa Theologiae and the Principles of Nature by St. Thomas Aquinas
reflective
3.0
I don't read a lot of philosophy and what philosophy I read tends to be political philosophy. This is the first theological philosophy that I can recall reading, and this I did for a paper -- thus I did not give it an especially close reading, except the sections that were pertinent to what I needed it for (but I read the whole thing because I'm a completionist). I therefore have very little to say on the philosophy itself, and so this review is probably useless to a lot of people sorry!
Baldner's translation is very easy to read and follow. Aquinas' thoughts are laid out very clearly and consicely.
Baldner's translation is very easy to read and follow. Aquinas' thoughts are laid out very clearly and consicely.
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
1.5
I had to read this book for class and wasn't planning on reviewing it at all due to the allegations against Neil Gaiman. But you know what? I'm going to review it.
I'm glad that I did read it if only to confirm to myself that I really don't like Neil Gaiman's writing style (which I had initially suspected after reading American Gods years ago).
And also, real fucked up that the dad in this book has an affair with the Evil Nanny. I know this was written more than nine years before the incident actually occured, but wow, does that ever cast a certain light onto things.
I'm glad that I did read it if only to confirm to myself that I really don't like Neil Gaiman's writing style (which I had initially suspected after reading American Gods years ago).
And also, real fucked up that the dad in this book has an affair with the Evil Nanny. I know this was written more than nine years before the incident actually occured, but wow, does that ever cast a certain light onto things.
Luck in the Shadows by Lynn Flewelling
adventurous
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
4.0
This book was given to me for either my birthday or for Christmas approximately one million years ago and has sat on my shelf for over a decade waiting for me to finally pick it up. And I'm glad I finally did! It's a little heavy on exposition and world building early on, especially in conversations which are just clumsy ways to info dump, and the prose didn't always work for me, but the characters were great and the story was interesting and I'm really enjoying the slow-burn romance between our leads.
Cannot wait to continue on with this series!
Cannot wait to continue on with this series!
Writing Fiction, Tenth Edition: A Guide to Narrative Craft by Ned Stuckey-French, Janet Burroway
informative
4.0
A fairly good how-to guide on the craft of writing. Lots of helpful tips, what to look out for, all the rest. There's a variety of writing prompts at the end of each chapter which are nice if you enjoy prompts. Overall, a decent read.