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queer_bookwyrm's reviews
504 reviews
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Uprooted by Naomi Novik is a fantasy reminiscent of Grimm fairytales and turns the idea of a dragon coming to take a maiden on its head. Although I did enjoy the story, the pacing wasn't great and made for a slow read, so I knocked it down half a Star.
We follow Agnieszka, a peasant girl who always manages to get herself dirty and untidy. Every ten years the Dragon, a wizard lord, would come to their village and take an exceptional girl. At the end of ten years, she would come back changed and leave the valley for good. No one expected the Dragon to choose Agnieszka. Eventually, she realizes she was chosen because she possessed magic, and was to be trained as a witch.
The Dragon is the grumpiest of wizards that believes magic is very formulaic, and is frustrated when Agnieszka seems hopeless at learning magic the way he thinks she should. Instead, Agnieszka leaned toward the style of magic of Baba Jaga, a more intuitive magic. The Dragon's task in his tower was to hold back the force of the Wood, a sentient evil trying to take over the entire valley. When Agnieszka's friend Kasia is taken into the Wood by monsters, she does the impossible and gets her out of the tree she is trapped inside and cleanses her of the Wood's corruption. Because of this, the Prince of the kingdom demands she free his mother the Queen, even though she has been trapped for 20 years.
This was an interesting story, and I liked the concept of the magic and the Wood. Agnieszka was a nice departure for a female MC in this kind of story. She wasn't beautiful, and though she had a little romance with the Dragon, it wasn't an important plot point. I really loved the lore of the Wood. I do wish the story had been a bit quicker about getting to the point. Everything just took so long. I think this is a pattern for this author. I've read another of her books that I liked, but it took me a while to get into it.
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Blood and Death of parent
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
When Wishes Bleed by Casey L. Bond is a YA fantasy romance that is The Bachelor meets any book about witches. I got a bundle of books by this author second hand, but this was a huge disappointment to the point that I'm not sure I'll read any of her other books. Prepare yourself as I eviscerate this book.
We follow Sable, Daughter of Fate in the Gallows where the witches live in Sector 13. Sable is an outcast among her people, and Fate lives inside her, talks to her, and directs her actions. She can also Divine the fate of others. During a festival where non-witches from the lower sectors are in 13, Sable reads the fate of a handsome stranger using a wishbone. The wishbone bleeds when it is broken, meaning the stranger is fated to die by murder. Soon she realizes that the handsome stranger is Prince Tauren, and is invited to the palace to participate in a Bachelor style competition to become Tauren's wife. But Sable will be going to protect him and figure out who will be trying to murder him.
This story was super predictable. Of course they fall in love. Of course they can't be together, because of different customs, but of course they actually do end up together. The Bachelor thing was really contrived and didn't really add much. The magic system of the witches had potential, but we didn't get much out of it. It was a very slow moving story, and the side characters weren't fleshed out enough. I did not like the way the author wrote Sable's male friend. He was a supportive friend for a hot second, until she rejected him, and then he was jealous, combative and annoying. The author then added a new, more serious villain 60% of the way in, and then the conflict was over in a few short chapters. It was very anticlimactic.
My biggest rant is about the Black characters. She described these Black women using food (a big nope) and used the word 'exotic' for them. The side character Mira was added as an "escort" (read servant) to Sable and made all her clothes and did her hair. I wanted way more from her. And then at the end when she has arguably more power and status than Sable she continues to serve her by dressing her and doing her hair! What kind of bullshit is that? The last 10% of the book was totally unnecessary, and felt like a really long epilogue.
This just wasn't well done in my opinion. If anyone has read other books by this author, let me know if they are worth it, because right now, I might just donate them.
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Violence
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
A Complicated Love Story Set in Space by Shaun David Hutchinson is a YA scifi romance that was recommended to me by an irl friend. This was a wild read, but I felt there were some things left unresolved. This may be because I tend to be more invested in the plot and world-building than on romance.
We follow Noa North, who wakes up in space outside of a ship. He doesn't remember how he got there, but suddenly he has to figure out how to repair a spaceship with the help of a voice that belongs to a boy named DJ. Noa and DJ have no idea what is happening or how they got aboard the ship Qriosity, and they find a girl Jenny who is also inexplicably trapped there. The three of them must keep the ship from blowing up all while figuring out what is going on and how to get back home.
The relationship between Noa and DJ is definitely the focal point of the story. I love a good gays in space story, but I felt I needed a little bit more from it. I found Noa incredibly annoying, and I wanted way more development from Jenny who was actually a bisexual badass. I truly didn't expect the twist that came, but it mostly felt incomplete when we don't get an explanation or follow up on the universe that was created. I don't want to spoil anything, so I won't say much more about it, but I thought the ending was unsatisfactory.
We do get some interesting themes on exploitation of child actors, bury your gays and fridging tropes. It almost feels like this book needs a sequel to flesh out what has been teased to give the story more depth. If you enjoy a good gays in space romp that isn't too heavy hitting, this is good for that. Minus the discussions of sexual assault, I would be wary of that if that's something you are sensitive about.
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Death
- 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
A Ruinous Fate by Kaylie Smith is book one in the Heartless Fates series. I went in knowing pretty much nothing about this book, and I wasn't sure about it at first, but it really grew on me.
We follow Calliope Rosewood, a witch with a bad streak of luck and a power she fears. The Fates control her future through witches dice, and Call is only three rolls away from that control. When her ex, Ezra betrays her she's one roll closer to that fate and sends her on a journey to the Neverending Forest with him and a band of chaotic bisexuals. Destiny is a fickle thing.
I loved that all of these characters were complete disaster bisexuals. We have Ezra, Calla's ex who can't seem to get out of his own way, but has a great poker face. Gideon, Ezra's handsome brother who always seems to have a plan. Delphine, the blue skinned beautiful siren with a traumatic past. Hannah, the quiet witch who pines for Delphine. Caspian, the handsome and flirtatious Onyx witch who is our charmer. And Kestrel, the uptight one who is jealous and salty that Gideon broke his heart. So much pining. So much drama. The magic of the Neverending Forest was great with all the dangerous flora and fauna, and the terrifying Witch Eater.
I also really enjoyed watching Calla figure out her abilities that she's been pushing down her whole life. I do wish we had gotten more from Hannah, she just kind of disappeared into the background and didn't do much other than be demure and pine for Delphine. I'm hoping we get more out of her in the next book. That cliffhanger! I definitely want to read book 2!
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Trafficking
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
The Galaxy and the Ground Within by Becky Chambers is the last book in the Wayfarers series. This was an excellent conclusion to this world. To be honest I could just keep reading stories based on this forever, always learning more and expanding on worldbuilding. This one was the coziest yet of the four books.
We follow three aliens that are thrown together by circumstances out of their control, and must navigate five days together. We have Pei, the Aeluon who is dating Ashby from book 1; Roveg, an exiled Quelin sim creator; and Speaker, an Akarak separated from her twin. They are all under the care of their chipper host, a Laru named Ouloo and her child Tupo. They all learn about each other and their species, and form unlikely friendships.
One of the things I love about this series is that the stories are not high stakes. These are just people stranded on a plant due to a technology hiccup and just have to hang out with each other for five days. Chambers does an excellent job with expanding the world-building (universe building?) with each successive book. I love that all the characters were different aliens we have seen mentioned or had cameos in previous books, and none of them were human focused stories. We learn so much about Aeluon, Quelin, Laru, and Akaraks.
While it is quite a cozy read, Chambers also manages to give us some deeper themes around colonization and its lasting impact along with the arrogance of imperialism. She also talks about reproductive choice, and choosing to not become a parent. She explores political themes without making that the point of the story. In the end, it's about the character moments. I absolutely loved Roveg and Speaker as friends. Adorable. Tupo is an adorable long limbed fluff noodle I just want to squeeze.
If I haven't said it once, I'll say it a thousand times: go read this series! Becky Chambers is now one of my favorite authors.
Moderate: Medical trauma
Minor: Colonisation and War
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Bravely by Maggie Steifvater is a historical fantasy based on the Disney movie Brave, following Merida. This was a fun, light read, which was a perfect palette cleanser for all the horror I've been reading.
We follow Merida after her travels around Scotland a few years after the events of the movie. She is alerted by a knocking that makes her catch someone in the courtyard about to remove their gloves. She gives chase into the woods and discovers he is the god Feradoch, the god of ruin. DunBroch has become stagnant, and stagnation requires change and destruction, so something new may take its place. When the goddess Cailleach appears, an ancient entity of creation, Merida makes a bargain with the two of them. Get DunBroch to sufficiently change within the year, and spare them ruin. It's up to Merida to get her parents and siblings to change enough to shift the balance.
This was a great human versus nature story. Here we are that ruin isn't always a bad thing. Sometimes it is necessary in order to let other things grow or to spur someone to do a thing they wouldn't otherwise have done. Feradoch makes it clear that change happens from within, not just superficially. I loved the push and pull between Merida and Feradoch. Merida is still fiery and impossible and unable to sit still. We get to learn so much more about her mother and the triplets. They each get their own distinct personalities and arcs.
I love the concept of a god of ruin and a god of creation working in tandem to keep the necessary balance, no matter how difficult it is to bring about ruin. I loved Feradoch 's character. He was both mysterious and sympathetic. We get kind of a bittersweet ending that makes me wish for a second book.
If you enjoyed the movie Brave and enjoy Celtic fairy tales, this is a great story for you. Plus we get Maggie Stiefvater's classic writing style.
Minor: Death
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Memoriam by Jeremy Ray is a horror set in the 1950s. I received a free e-book copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I've been really into horror lately, but this wasn't it for me.
We follow Johnny, a 19 year old, vain greaser who fancies himself a rebel. Every full moon he and his friends go up to Flattop Mountain to drink stolen booze, but this particular night, things get weird. Johnny is also plagued by nightmares and visions that seem to get worse as the night goes on. Before they only ended with his death, now his visions show his friends' deaths. When they get to Flattop Mountain, they discover a circus they have never heard of is happening. Things are lurking in the woods, what's in the tent isn't what they expect. It's more than just creepy clowns.
This book was just way too long. Honestly, it should been 200 pages shorter. It just felt like the author kept adding things and gave it a "and then this happened and this happened--oh and another thing!" Vibe. The story lacked direction and purpose. I like my horror to have some sort of allegory, but this just seemed to be some wild, gorey shit. The pacing was really off in the middle as well. It got really slow and had more tell than show elements. So many of the chapters were just dialogue.
There was an attempt at some interesting world-building aspects with the trolls and their creation story, but I just felt like it didn't pay off for the story. If that hadn't been there at all it wouldn't have affected the story. The author did say at the beginning of the book that the story was born out of a dream he had, and that he wanted to keep all the elements from it in there, but he probably should have edited it down a bit more.
It was a bit disappointing considering I absolutely loved his story The Houseplant. If you're looking for a very weird and gorey read with lots of clown imagery, I guess this might work for you. This book is out now, but only until December 31st.
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Gore, Violence, Blood, and Cannibalism
Moderate: Child abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Homophobia, Misogyny, Self harm, Kidnapping, and Alcohol
Minor: Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Racism, Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson is a standalone fantasy that is a sweeping romance between a mortal and a Fair One (faerie). This is the third book by this author I've read, although enjoyable, it wasn't my favorite of her work. This one was heavier on the romance side of things.
We follow Isobel, a master in the Craft of painting portraits for Fair Folk in the village of Whimsy, a town permanently experiencing summer. In this world, only mortals have the ability to create things (art, writing, clothing, food, etc.). If a human is good enough at their Craft, sometimes the Fair Folk will offer immortality to them by inviting them to drink from the Green Well. Isobel is so good at her Craft that Fair Ones seek her out to do their portraits. When the Autumn Prince, Rook, is referred to her by one of her most loyal patrons, she is struck by him right away. When he finally sees the portrait of himself, he is infuriated, and snatches her away in the hopes of putting her on trial at his court in order to regain his reputation. Things do not go as planned.
This was a beautiful, sweeping story, full of opulent descriptions of nature and the seasons. With Isobel 's perspective as a painter we get some wonderful ways of seeing emotion and color described. Isobel's Craft seems to have a profound and unexpected effect on the Fair Folk that could turn out to be a blessing or a curse. Rook and Isobel are forced to rely on each other for survival, and they develop a bond that could potentially break the Good Law.
I really enjoyed the magic of the Fair Folk with their glamours and illusions. They are terrifyingly beautiful. I also loved the juxtaposition of all the verdant imagery with the putrid and rotting imagery. Both are essential parts of nature. I absolutely loved March and May, Isobel's twin sisters. I wish we had gotten to see more of them. Lark was also a wonderful side character. To be honest, I wasn't 100% sold on the romance between Rook and Isobel, it just felt like it was there to be convenient to the plot.
You should read this if you love lush descriptions, fairies, and doomed romances.
Moderate: Violence
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Long Live the Pumpkin Queen by Shea Ernshaw is the sequel to Tim Burton's A Nightmare Before Christmas. This was a fun, light read, perfect for Halloween. I love that Sally has gotten her own story!
We follow Sally after the events of the movie when she has married Jack Skellington, and becomes the Pumpkin Queen. Sally wanted nothing but her freedom when she was confined by Dr. Finkelstein, and is elated that she now gets to spend her life with her one true love. However, being married to Jack isn't as easy as she thought it would be. The demands of being a queen are a heavy burden to bear, with expectations that chafe at her free will.
We get to learn more about the other holiday realms from the movie. Sally and Jack visit Valentine's Town for their honeymoon. I'm glad we got more worldbuilding, even though it was a pretty brief foray into each realm. We finally get to learn more about Sally's backstory! When Sally escapes to the grove with the holiday trees to escape the pressures of being the Pumpkin Queen, she and Zero stumble upon another tree, forgotten and blocked with weeds. She accidentally leaves it open unleashing a monster into Halloween Town that puts everyone (including Jack) into a death like sleep they cannot wake from. Sally must find a way to wake everyone up and come to terms with her role as Queen.
Honestly, I didn't think this was terribly deep, but we get to revisit a beloved world and characters, and get the holiday realms expanded upon. Sally's lesson in the story is about creating your own expectations and rules for being in her role as Queen. She doesn't need to be like other queens or be what everyone in Halloween Town expects. She discovers her own strengths and belonging. Definitely a good read if you ever wanted to learn more about Sally in a story that gives her more agency.
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee is a YA thriller about a girl's boarding school with a history of witchcraft and gruesome murders. This was a good book, but a slow read for a thriller.
We follow Felicity Morrow at Dalloway School upon her return from her leave of absence the previous year. Felicity had been admitted to a mental healthcare facility after the death of her ex-girlfriend. She had become obsessed with the Dalloway Five, a group of students from the 1700s that were accused of witchcraft and all died in gruesome, inexplicable ways. Felicity's fixation of witchcraft and ghosts, makes her a bit of an unreliable narrator. She is drawn back into old patterns when writing prodigy Ellis Haley shows up asking Felicity to help her research the Dalloway Five.
This was a great atmospheric read for fall. It's perfect dark academia down to the aesthetics of tweed, elbow patches, and wealthy girls with a disdain for technology who think themselves superior for reading classic works for fiction. Felicity's thesis project is pretty meta in this story. She is doing on how the depictions of mental illness are used to build suspense and a sense of mistrust, and conflation of magic and madness in female characteristics. That's definitely what is going on in this book. You constantly question Felicity's stability, and whether magic is real or if she is just losing it.
There are a lot of themes about mental illness and how women in fiction are depicted with it. Ellis Haley makes for a compelling character as well. I do wish it had moved along a little quicker with less focus on Felicity's apparent haunting, but it was clearly meant to make the reader question things. All in all, it was pretty messed up what happened.
Minor: Animal death, Death, Sexual content, and Alcohol