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randi_jo's reviews
397 reviews
The Many Deaths of Laila Starr by Ram V
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.5
I enjoyed this a LOT. While the story itself is boiled down to a pretty basic foible, it's the art - the action dynamics in the poses, the colors, the juxtaposition of highly detailed and blurred lines - and the narrative angles (one chapter is told from the POV of a cigarette?!) that make it so arresting. Definitely worth the hype.
Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle
dark
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
4.25
This was such a good read. And while it does have some very anxiety inducing scenes, in typical Chuck Tingle form, there are some very poignant themes and thoughts sprinkled throughout the narrative, like: life's balance between knowledge and faith, identity and how mutable it is, real evil is done with intention (sometimes even best intentions), sometimes your family won't choose you but you can always choose your found family, and as always: love and acceptance.
Pros:
πͺ° Some of that horror really did make me squeamish, but not because it was "in-your-face" offensive. Just tense and sometimes gross.
πͺ° MC is gay and autistic - she displays hyperfocus tendencies and has her own soothing rituals, which honestly sometimes made ME feel better, too lol. Anyway, she is portrayed really well as she struggles with faith, the loss of faith, and coming to terms with her identity.
πͺ° A very thoughtful approach to the insidiousness of hatred in institutions (the church in this case). That there is no black and white message that "all religion is evil or good" makes it more compelling to examine your own thoughts and values.
Cons:
πͺ° Minor pacing issues, but most of them I think occur in places that don't affect tension buildup for the thriller/spooky stuff.
πͺ° Marina was forgotten maybe a bit too soon.
πͺ° Had alcohol instead of chocolate milk.this is a joke and not a real con unless you are very rigid on your tingleverse canon, which would be understandable
Pros:
πͺ° Some of that horror really did make me squeamish, but not because it was "in-your-face" offensive. Just tense and sometimes gross.
πͺ° MC is gay and autistic - she displays hyperfocus tendencies and has her own soothing rituals, which honestly sometimes made ME feel better, too lol. Anyway, she is portrayed really well as she struggles with faith, the loss of faith, and coming to terms with her identity.
πͺ° A very thoughtful approach to the insidiousness of hatred in institutions (the church in this case). That there is no black and white message that "all religion is evil or good" makes it more compelling to examine your own thoughts and values.
Cons:
πͺ° Minor pacing issues, but most of them I think occur in places that don't affect tension buildup for the thriller/spooky stuff.
πͺ° Marina was forgotten maybe a bit too soon.
πͺ° Had alcohol instead of chocolate milk.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Torture, Violence, Religious bigotry, and Murder
Moderate: Forced institutionalization and Vomit
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
Goblin Mode: How to Get Cozy, Embrace Imperfection, and Thrive in the Muck by McKayla Coyle
informative
slow-paced
1.75
So, basically the author's goblincore aesthetic/lifestyle is just mindfulness and anti-capitalism but sprinkle in frogs and mushrooms. π This book was just. . . strange and somehow didn't actually manage to showcase goblincore? Idk it felt more like a self-help book that just suggested to shower less, dress comfy, and find somewhere to source free edible plants. Also it tried so hard to be inclusivity-sensitive that it really felt like I was a child being talked down to.
Anyway, it had a dandelion oil recipe. π
Anyway, it had a dandelion oil recipe. π
Under the Oak Tree: Volume 1 (The Novel) by Suji Kim
adventurous
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.0
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for the eARC of this novel.
I've been a fan of the webcomic of this series on Manta for a while now, so I was super excited to read this. And I am glad to see the translation feels more fluid than some of the translations online, making it an enjoyable experience (not that it wasn't before, it just feels more refined). In all I really like this story: rising from uncertain circumstances, just enough miscommunication to be realistic but not to the point of frustration, emotional MMC - it's nice. The novel ends during the start of a more relationship contentious plotline, which is meh, but I'll live. I haven't finished this story online and will hold off I think because I'm not sure I like where the story is headed, but I'm sure I'll get over it once I decide to binge the finished comic or the rest of this novel series publishes lol.
Pros:
π³Super cute romance with uh, an undeniably sexual chemistry haha
π³MC has a speech impairment and quite a bit of trauma, but the storyline never goes into "get her fixed" montage. She goes on with life working on herself in bits and tiny pieces as she slowly learns to trust the world.
π³Great fantasy world that's not too complex. Old faithfull Swords & Sorcery concepts.
Cons:
π³The use of euphemistic language in the sex scenes. I know this can't really be helped considering the author/audience/translation. But it still made me chuckle a couple times.
π³ When will they ~communicate~!!
I've been a fan of the webcomic of this series on Manta for a while now, so I was super excited to read this. And I am glad to see the translation feels more fluid than some of the translations online, making it an enjoyable experience (not that it wasn't before, it just feels more refined). In all I really like this story: rising from uncertain circumstances, just enough miscommunication to be realistic but not to the point of frustration, emotional MMC - it's nice. The novel ends during the start of a more relationship contentious plotline, which is meh, but I'll live. I haven't finished this story online and will hold off I think because I'm not sure I like where the story is headed, but I'm sure I'll get over it once I decide to binge the finished comic or the rest of this novel series publishes lol.
Pros:
π³Super cute romance with uh, an undeniably sexual chemistry haha
π³MC has a speech impairment and quite a bit of trauma, but the storyline never goes into "get her fixed" montage. She goes on with life working on herself in bits and tiny pieces as she slowly learns to trust the world.
π³Great fantasy world that's not too complex. Old faithfull Swords & Sorcery concepts.
Cons:
π³The use of euphemistic language in the sex scenes. I know this can't really be helped considering the author/audience/translation. But it still made me chuckle a couple times.
π³ When will they ~communicate~!!
The Municipalists by Seth Fried
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
What a fun noir-type jaunt. The MCs are fun with dynamic personalities that play well off each other. I also liked that the villain was a city planner/civil engineer, which lent an interesting view on ideas of cultural progress and stagnation. Sadly MC did not kiss his so very obviously hologram boyfriend. Haha. My only real complaint is that I wasn't actually sure what era this book was in and was assuming 40's 50's only to be stunned when towards the end it mentioned 2011 had been recent. Oops.
Pros:
π΄οΈ Great character dynamics. An opposites become best friends.
π΄οΈ Believable villain motivations and schemes.
π΄οΈ Good humor and comedic timing. Got some really good chuckles out of me.
Cons:
π΄οΈ Not the best world building, but more due to a lack of some finer details.
π΄οΈ Missed out on a fun character reunion scene that would've clinched the ending. But it's ok without it.
Pros:
π΄οΈ Great character dynamics. An opposites become best friends.
π΄οΈ Believable villain motivations and schemes.
π΄οΈ Good humor and comedic timing. Got some really good chuckles out of me.
Cons:
π΄οΈ Not the best world building, but more due to a lack of some finer details.
π΄οΈ Missed out on a fun character reunion scene that would've clinched the ending. But it's ok without it.
The Last Dragon of the East by Katrina Kwan
Did not finish book. Stopped at 25%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 25%.
It's okay. I set it down and am finding it extremely impossible to pick back up.
Madwoman by Chelsea Bieker
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I feel like this is a book that's just "if you know, you know" type of material. From traumatic childhoods, anxiety-ridden motherhood (and not the normal kind), to faking it until you make it lifestyles, if something of it touches onto your life it's so easy to get lost into the characters and their struggles because, well, they're yours too. And it's done so well, so true to the world, ugh. I wasn't sure if I wanted to cry for Clove or strangle her. There were a couple times I had to put my book down because the "death-goggles" episodes she'd go into were so precise, so freakishly like my own inner voice, that I would shake and need to take a step back or remember I hadn't medicated myself yet haha.
Plot-wise I did guess some things half-correctly and to be honest I didn't even mind. I needed it to happen because I wasn't really there for the suspense, I was there for the conclusion - needed it absolve Clove (and myself). So, in a way, the suspense was real for me, but not in the typical thriller-type ways lol.
Plus, I cried. So points.
Pros:
π Extremely relatable MC - and if not, a glimpse into the mind that lives in daily terror.
π Real conversation about domestic violence, the trauma it causes and sustains in a person throughout their entire lives.
π Gorgeous prose and massive emotional payoff.
Cons:
π Not the typical thriller formula that is usually expected with the genre.
π Somewhat predictable plot if you're one to theorize early in a story.
Plot-wise I did guess some things half-correctly and to be honest I didn't even mind. I needed it to happen because I wasn't really there for the suspense, I was there for the conclusion - needed it absolve Clove (and myself). So, in a way, the suspense was real for me, but not in the typical thriller-type ways lol.
Plus, I cried. So points.
Pros:
π Extremely relatable MC - and if not, a glimpse into the mind that lives in daily terror.
π Real conversation about domestic violence, the trauma it causes and sustains in a person throughout their entire lives.
π Gorgeous prose and massive emotional payoff.
Cons:
π Not the typical thriller formula that is usually expected with the genre.
π Somewhat predictable plot if you're one to theorize early in a story.
Mooncakes and Milk Bread: Sweet and Savory Recipes Inspired by Chinese Bakeries by Kristina Cho
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.0
Love that this was a blend of traditional and modern flavors/fillings/techniques as well as shining some spotlight on some very longstanding and famous Chinatown bakeries with their specialties. The inclusion of breakfast foods and drinks was fun - I really appreciated the variety. I feel like maybe my digital copy was missing some photo step-by-steps, but it isn't imperative to have them.
Definitely saved a couple recipes to try out later.
Definitely saved a couple recipes to try out later.
Cult of the Lamb Vol. 1: The First Verse by Alex Paknadel
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? It's complicated
4.0
This one was fun - or well, as fun as sacrificial cults can get haha. Anyway, I liked the expansion of the lore and how the Lamb ended up where he was at the start of the game. I think I would've liked it more if they hadn't leaned so hard into the Reluctant Hero/Leader for the Lamb's personality, but otherwise I am so glad they included a panel of a follower pooping on the ground. Made my night.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory by Caitlin Doughty
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Going into this I was expecting some funny/shocking stories about working in the death industry mixed with some insider information. And while that's definitely something that I got from this, there was so much more to it: the reality that death is being commodified to the point of unaffordability, the erasure of death and its associations in our culture, and the realities of prolonging life. It makes me think more about what I want to happen to my own corpse after death, as well as broach the topic with family members.
On top of that, the audiobook is great and Caitlin is a massively engaging reader. Sounds like listening to my friend talk about her crazy stories during a lunch.
On top of that, the audiobook is great and Caitlin is a massively engaging reader. Sounds like listening to my friend talk about her crazy stories during a lunch.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Death