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skudiklier's reviews
602 reviews
The Burning by Laura Bates
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This book delivered on its premise, and definitely kept me engaged! I was furious throughout most of it at the unfairness of everything, and I really wanted to know what had happened in the past that was kept secret through the first half of the book. Overall though a lot of this felt a little too YA for me. I liked it but I'm not sure I'd actively recommend it to anyone. It was pretty hard to read at some points but strikes a good balance of trying to be realistic and not sugarcoating things, while also leaving some hope and a (vague spoilers) sort of happy ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Sexual assault, Violence, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Ableism, Cancer, Death, Fatphobia, Rape, Sexual content, Suicide, Vomit, and Alcohol
to grow roots: a poetry chapbook by Salem Paige
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Aaaa I love this so much. Salem's poetry is always amazing but there's something about this collection that really got to me. I really relate to so much of their writing about change, gender, climate change, nostalgia, community....it's gorgeous and haunting and packs so much into so few words. I want everyone to read this.
I Swear Somewhere This Works: Selected Poems 2013-2023 by Trista Mateer
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
I loved this! It was great to see some of Trista's work I'd seen before as well as a lot I hadn't. It made me interested in the projects that were abandoned, and I love the way this is structured (non-chronologically). I'd definitely recommend this to poetry readers, but especially long-time fans of Trista.
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
4.5
I don't know how to feel about this book! It was really good and in some ways better than the first one. But I also really wasn't prepared for it to immediately undo the HEA of the previous book?? That feels like a no-no for a romance series ksldjsflj I'm not gonna lie. Kind of made me frustrated with the first book's ending. But? It also makes sense and the relationship here is more healthy. I just feel weird about going from liking Tamlin to hating him. I wish his character maybe could have been handled differently even if she didn't end up with him.
Anyway. Definitely excited to continue the series! I just felt a little weird about that. And also I read this a few weeks ago at this point so my review is probably different than it would have been if I'd written it right after finishing it.
Anyway. Definitely excited to continue the series! I just felt a little weird about that. And also I read this a few weeks ago at this point so my review is probably different than it would have been if I'd written it right after finishing it.
A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.5
I really liked this! It was interesting how the author tried to make it semi-realistic while also knowing that having a trans person in this time period be accepted would be hard and complicated. I read this while sick and it was a nice fluffy romance that still had enough substance to keep me interested. Would definitely read more like this from this author!
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
medium-paced
4.75
I was so caught up in this, and I can't believe my friend recommended it to me without telling me about the end, and that the second book isn't out yet! I can't wait to read it. Would definitely recommend this to fantasy/romance fans.
Cruel Seduction by Katee Robert
adventurous
emotional
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
4.75
Just as good as the other books in the series--I love the polyamory of this one! I was really unsure how Robert would get us to like Theseus after the last book, but I think it's well-done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
Moderate: Murder
Pleasure and Efficacy: Of Pen Names, Cover Versions, and Other Trans Techniques by Grace Elisabeth Lavery
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
Grace Lavery was my favorite professor in college, and I took tons of her classes even though they fulfilled no requirements for my major, just because I really enjoyed her lectures. I think she's brilliant, and I've really liked keeping up with her work online since.
I think this book was well-written and interesting, but I found a lot of it hard to follow. I'm not sure how much of that is a me problem vs how much is the book's problem. The biggest factor in how well I could follow along was whether I was familiar with the material she was referencing--the sections on The Old Curiosity Shop, The Silence of the Lambs, George Eliot, and egg theory were easier for me to understand, because I knew more about those topics and had read/seen those books/movies/authors. But when I was unfamiliar with her references I found it really hard to keep up, and I would end up feeling bored and confused. To be fair, I also just haven't read a lot of theory since graduating, so part of this could definitely be a me problem.
I'd recommend it to anyone interested, but I wouldn't recommend it unprompted, if that makes sense.
I think this book was well-written and interesting, but I found a lot of it hard to follow. I'm not sure how much of that is a me problem vs how much is the book's problem. The biggest factor in how well I could follow along was whether I was familiar with the material she was referencing--the sections on The Old Curiosity Shop, The Silence of the Lambs, George Eliot, and egg theory were easier for me to understand, because I knew more about those topics and had read/seen those books/movies/authors. But when I was unfamiliar with her references I found it really hard to keep up, and I would end up feeling bored and confused. To be fair, I also just haven't read a lot of theory since graduating, so part of this could definitely be a me problem.
I'd recommend it to anyone interested, but I wouldn't recommend it unprompted, if that makes sense.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia
Moderate: Misogyny, Pedophilia, and Murder
You Exist Too Much by Zaina Arafat
challenging
emotional
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
4.75
I was really engaged with this--after I got through the beginning bits and got properly into the story, I read almost the whole thing in a day. I found the protagonist relatable in a messy she-needs-help kind of way, and some of her struggles with things like abandonment and generational trauma were hard to read, but in a good way. I like the way the timeline jumps around and you don't find out things in chronological order, and I also like how the book addresses why the narrator's mom is the way she is, without excusing the way she treats the narrator. I'd recommend this book but I'd also definitely say to look at the content warnings first, since this book can get pretty heavy at times.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, Pedophilia, Racism, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Outing, and War
Minor: Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Blood, and Pregnancy
Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.75
I enjoyed this book on a lot of levels--the plot, the characters, the mystery, what I learned about Ojibwe culture and traditions--and definitely found it suspenseful and engaging. I wouldn't say the writing itself is my favorite (I felt like it did a lot of telling rather than showing), but it wasn't bad by any means and didn't distract from the story. I couldn't tell how it was going to end and I felt pretty satisfied with the ending (especially that it didn't force a HEA for the romance when that would have been unhealthy) . Overall I'd definitely recommend this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Racism, Rape, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Vomit, Medical content, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Ableism, Alcoholism, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Torture, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Cultural appropriation