renstrange's reviews
179 reviews

Those Beyond the Wall by Micaiah Johnson

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adventurous challenging dark inspiring mysterious reflective tense 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

please sir, may i have some more? 🙏 

i am genuinely obsessed with the characters and world micaiah johnson has created. this book was even better than the first and i'm still clamoring for more. 

the commentary on class disparity, racism, and the impact of white supremacy on any differentiation from whiteness and cisgender-ness was sharp and  poignant. it’s about how protest must answer the violence of oppression. it’s about identity, family, and love. 

i see an avenue for a third installment that i desperately, desperately hope we get. i am so immersed in this world and i don’t want to leave just yet.
The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson

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adventurous mysterious tense 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

i read this book for the first time back in 2020 and at the time i had a few critiques and gave it 4.5 stars. this is what i said back then: https://strangestoryteller.com/2020/10/03/book-review-the-space-between-worlds-by-micaiah-johnson/

idk what it was about rereading it, if it was because i knew what to expect, but i loved it even more the second time. and now on to the sequel!
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

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adventurous mysterious reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

oh no, it’s anti-communist propaganda :(

likes: mrs. whatsit, mrs. who, & mrs. which (their characterization, the way they communicate and why, and the world building around what they are), tessaring, and the different planets

dislikes: the writing (very ‘60s), the characters and their relationships (underdeveloped), the lack of action taken by the characters/limited agency, the meandering plot with unanswered questions, and the perpetuation of anti-communist propaganda 
An Education in Malice by S.T. Gibson

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 14%.
oh no the writing is bad :(
Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher

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adventurous dark medium-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 had a better experience with this t. kingfisher than my first one. i really liked the dark tone and fairy tale vibes. the middle was a bit of a slog and the tone less dark, but overall, it was a good read. not really a fan of the shoehorned romance, but whatever. i shall simply pretend the dust-wife and agnes are also in love
A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G. Summers

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dark reflective tense 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? Yes

4.0

idk what to say about this except it was good
Hazbin Hotel: Prequel Comic by Vivienne Medrano

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challenging dark funny fast-paced

4.0

really liked the added background to angel’s character and hazbin hotel
Tryst Six Venom by Penelope Douglas

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dark hopeful reflective tense 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

3.5

this book is what i like to call “elevated wattpad.” the writing is pretty good, but the melodrama is very fanfiction. i found the progression of the romance believable and certain scenes appealing, but this book was too long. cut out some of the repetition and a sex scene or two, and this book would’ve been a much more suitable length and not allowed for boredom. also, i hated liv’s brothers and the weird pseudo-incest they had going on. but at least they weren’t cartoonishly evil like callum and milo. all that said, it was also compulsively readable. i may read more penelope douglas someday, but only if she writes more gay stories.
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

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challenging informative 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

4.5

i’m so glad i gave malinda lo another chance. i really enjoyed this book! the written is fantastic and i absolutely love lily and kath. i would be open to reading more by lo in the future.
Stitch & The Samurai (The Complete Collection) by Hiroto Wada

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adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • 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

2.75

where was the evil, chaotic stitch? this story was way too focused on his cuteness, when it could’ve been about his ability to cause destruction. amusing, but not a fave