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renstrange's reviews
179 reviews
You Exist Too Much by Zaina Arafat
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
i liked this book, though i definitely felt exhausted by the main character’s choices and tendency to fall back on the same destructive patterns. i definitely thought her relationship/conflict with her mother would be more prominent, which feels weird to say because it was a major aspect of this book. i just felt like the romantic relationships took precedence. still, i overall liked the book and thought it was well-written.
Off With Their Heads by Zoe Hana Mikuta
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
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? Yes
5.0
i knew this would be a five-star book from the first page. hands down, this is the best alice in wonderland retelling i’ve ever read. i love the dynamic between caro and icca, even more when you throw hattie into the mix. the writing is flowery and lyrical in the best way. the whole story is so deliciously dark and so inventive. though ya, it could easily be marketed as an adult novel. mikuta’s best work by far!
The Six Deaths of the Saint by Alix E. Harrow
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
this thirty page story made me feel so much omg
Undercover by Tamsyn Muir
dark
mysterious
medium-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? No
4.5
this story didn’t go where i expected, but i liked it in spite of and because of that
Kittentits by Holly Wilson
adventurous
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
this is a very surreal book about an abrasive ten-year-old girl. it’s difficult to say how much was real, how much molly made up, and how much was her skewed perception. but that’s part of what made this book so interesting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Death, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Classism
Minor: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Child death, Blood, and Alcohol
A Grim and Sunken Vow by Ashley Shuttleworth
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
5.0
this is the most fun i’ve had reading a book in a long time. i absolutely devoured this. this particular installment spends most of its time picking up the pieces from the previous book’s ending and setting the board for the final book, and yet i still enjoyed every second of it. i can’t wait to read the final book when it comes out in november!!!!
Stone Butch Blues by Leslie Feinberg
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
5.0
i’m so glad i finally read one of the cornerstones of lesbian literature. i learned so much about the hardships our queer elders faced, as well as a peak into aspects of lesbian culture in the past. i enjoyed following jess goldberg through her life, though it was quite harrowing at times. this book was compulsively readable, as well. i read it in about 3 days! such an important piece of lesbian historical literature!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Deadnaming, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, Outing, Alcohol, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism and Drug use
Even Though I Knew the End by C.L. Polk
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
i liked the characters and the relationship between helen and edith. it’s difficult to write a pre-existing relationship well, but c.l. polk nails it. i found the mystery predictable, though. and the pacing was rapid fire. the story could’ve been fleshed out a bit more, while still remaining a novella.
The Free People's Village by Sim Kern
challenging
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
hoo boy! okay, so i have a lot of critiques:
1. why did the characters at the center of a social justice story not seem to really care about the issues they claimed to fight for? at every turn, their main focus was themselves. plus, they just kind of sucked as people. i’m all for flawed- and even unlikable- characters, but this was to a whole other degree.
2- all of the organizing and a good chunk of the action was off-page. our protagonist isn’t even present for some of it. so much of the action is presented in summary. additionally, the protagonist does almost nothing to further the plot. she’s just kind of there. it felt like the author wanted to write a protest story but knew nothing about protesting.
3- this book really reads as little more than an opportunity for the author to spew leftist talking points at the reader. perhaps i’d have gotten more out of it if i wasn’t already well aware of leftism, but it really detracted from the book.
4- why, in this alternate reality story, does a character hypothesize about what the world would be like if gwb were elected and somehow predict exactly what happened in this reality?
5- why is this social justice book mainly about people partying?
6- there’s a bit halfway through where the author remembers her characters are in a band, they start playing again, become suddenly famous, and then their fame is never mentioned again.
7- at least there was lots of trans rep (including a character with neo-pronouns). so that’s… something?
1. why did the characters at the center of a social justice story not seem to really care about the issues they claimed to fight for? at every turn, their main focus was themselves. plus, they just kind of sucked as people. i’m all for flawed- and even unlikable- characters, but this was to a whole other degree.
2- all of the organizing and a good chunk of the action was off-page. our protagonist isn’t even present for some of it. so much of the action is presented in summary. additionally, the protagonist does almost nothing to further the plot. she’s just kind of there. it felt like the author wanted to write a protest story but knew nothing about protesting.
3- this book really reads as little more than an opportunity for the author to spew leftist talking points at the reader. perhaps i’d have gotten more out of it if i wasn’t already well aware of leftism, but it really detracted from the book.
4- why, in this alternate reality story, does a character hypothesize about what the world would be like if gwb were elected and somehow predict exactly what happened in this reality?
5- why is this social justice book mainly about people partying?
6- there’s a bit halfway through where the author remembers her characters are in a band, they start playing again, become suddenly famous, and then their fame is never mentioned again.
7- at least there was lots of trans rep (including a character with neo-pronouns). so that’s… something?
Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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? Yes
3.5
i’m not gonna lie, i skimmed a lot in the middle. this book is well-written and i like the characters well enough, but i was bored a lot of the time. i don’t think cozy fantasy is for me. i need higher stakes! i recommend this author though