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takarakei's reviews
521 reviews
The Cloisters by Katy Hays
mysterious
tense
medium-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
3.0
I couldn't help but draw some stark comparisons to The Secret History. And while yes that book is the birth of dark academia, this one didn't quite add enough 'newness' to the genre to be super impactful. Does it show how the echelon of academia forces people to do some wild things? Sure, but so do so many other books and they do it better.
I think part of the issue was the characters really didn't draw me in. They were rather surface level and I didn't feel super invested in them. It's not even that they're all kinda shitty, cause I can get down with a morally gray character, but they were just kinda blah.
The Tarot history was interesting but I also didn't feel like it was in depth enough. We would get tidbits and then they'd just kind of move on. I kept expecting something more involved especially with the advisor/boss character (idr his name).
Overall I didn't hate it but also rather forgettable.
ENDINGThe twist at the end with her father was a shock, but I question the inclusion of it except to perhaps establish Ann's character as someone who could kill and move on with her life.
Spice: 2.5/5 (closed door)
I think part of the issue was the characters really didn't draw me in. They were rather surface level and I didn't feel super invested in them. It's not even that they're all kinda shitty, cause I can get down with a morally gray character, but they were just kinda blah.
The Tarot history was interesting but I also didn't feel like it was in depth enough. We would get tidbits and then they'd just kind of move on. I kept expecting something more involved especially with the advisor/boss character (idr his name).
Overall I didn't hate it but also rather forgettable.
ENDING
Spice: 2.5/5 (closed door)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Toxic friendship, and Classism
Moderate: Drug use, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Minor: Eating disorder and Sexual content
The Wren in the Holly Library by K.A. Linde
I was not expecting to enjoy this as much as I did, but THIS is good romantasy!!! It was a fun read! Is the world building all that complex or deep? nah, it's our world but with monsters (vampires, werewolves, trolls etc) and a 'monster-treaty' that was enacted to keep humans semi-safe. Urban setting - NYC is a big part of the book. As someone who doesn't live there that was whatever to me, but someone who does might either love or hate the references.
Kierse is really good at sneaking, stealing and picking locks. She has made her living as a thief-for-hire and while on a job she encounters a powerful monster who has an offer she can't refuse. To steal a highly coveted powerful object in exchange for... a lot of money. Kierse is an orphan who's had a rough life and her friends are her world. It is single pov, but there are these 'interlude' chapters from some secondary character's pov which I thought really rounded out the story.
I wouldn't say the romance is strictly a Beauty and the Beast retelling, but there are some of those vibes. As part of the job she takes on Kierse has to live in this monster's house, so it's forced proximity.
I'll def be continuing the series... once it's written :')
Spice: 3.5/5
adventurous
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
4.25
- romantasy
- urban fantasy
- monsters
- both MC's are bi+
- heists
- smidge of found family
- Celtic myths
I was not expecting to enjoy this as much as I did, but THIS is good romantasy!!! It was a fun read! Is the world building all that complex or deep? nah, it's our world but with monsters (vampires, werewolves, trolls etc) and a 'monster-treaty' that was enacted to keep humans semi-safe. Urban setting - NYC is a big part of the book. As someone who doesn't live there that was whatever to me, but someone who does might either love or hate the references.
Kierse is really good at sneaking, stealing and picking locks. She has made her living as a thief-for-hire and while on a job she encounters a powerful monster who has an offer she can't refuse. To steal a highly coveted powerful object in exchange for... a lot of money. Kierse is an orphan who's had a rough life and her friends are her world. It is single pov, but there are these 'interlude' chapters from some secondary character's pov which I thought really rounded out the story.
I wouldn't say the romance is strictly a Beauty and the Beast retelling, but there are some of those vibes. As part of the job she takes on Kierse has to live in this monster's house, so it's forced proximity.
I'll def be continuing the series... once it's written :')
Spice: 3.5/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Child abuse and Trafficking
Minor: Physical abuse, Medical content, Death of parent, Abandonment, and War
Kierse was raised by a brutal man who physically abused her
Racism as Zoological Witchcraft: A Guide to Getting Out by Aph Ko
informative
fast-paced
4.5
This was so good! I think it's important to know that this book is rather conceptual in what it's trying to do, in the analogies and ideas it's presenting. It's definitely not a 'how-to' guide. Aph Ko proposes many questions she doesn't necessarily have the answers to, but that's because the questions are MASSIVE. She's really proposing a whole new way to think about social justice and animal rights. She also uses media critique to get these points across. Definitely watch the movie Get Out before reading to understand her points.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Slavery, Police brutality, and Colonisation
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Genocide, and Gun violence
Minor: Racial slurs
The Weavers of Alamaxa by Hadeer Elsbai
Did not finish book. Stopped at 33%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 33%.
unfortunately it's been a long time since I read the first book and it's just too slow paced for me right now
The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden
dark
emotional
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
3.75
Me chronically never reading blurbs to never knowing what I’m getting into is just my vibe.
Anyway the only thing I knew about this was like ghosts(?) and something about a violin which is what sold me initially.
But it’s a commentary for sure on war. It’s set during WWI and I actually really enjoyed the authors note at the end which talked about all the research she did and gave some more context for her reasons to write this book. I just love a good
Authors note.
It’s told in dual pov between Laura in the ‘present’ 1918 and her brother in the past a few months before. It was interesting to read a book that centered a brother sister relationship. It generally reads very much historical fiction with some fantasy/odd things sprinkled in.
Speaking of, I will say I was a bit confused even at the end with the whole plot line of this mysterious sort of evil character (name is escaping me so that maybe shows how memorable it was) who is sort of feeding off the emotionally weak. The violin ended up being just a part of what this nefarious being uses to manipulate people. I think maybe if the plot had leaned in to it a bit more it would’ve felt more integrated, but as I said it reads really more like hist fiction. Which if that’s your genre you’d probably love this. It just didn’t quite work for me.
That being said there was some beautiful prose and I did overall enjoy the story. There’s a little romance in there which I really enjoyed. The stern doctor was one of my fav characters
Anyway the only thing I knew about this was like ghosts(?) and something about a violin which is what sold me initially.
But it’s a commentary for sure on war. It’s set during WWI and I actually really enjoyed the authors note at the end which talked about all the research she did and gave some more context for her reasons to write this book. I just love a good
Authors note.
It’s told in dual pov between Laura in the ‘present’ 1918 and her brother in the past a few months before. It was interesting to read a book that centered a brother sister relationship. It generally reads very much historical fiction with some fantasy/odd things sprinkled in.
Speaking of, I will say I was a bit confused even at the end with the whole plot line of this mysterious sort of evil character (name is escaping me so that maybe shows how memorable it was) who is sort of feeding off the emotionally weak. The violin ended up being just a part of what this nefarious being uses to manipulate people. I think maybe if the plot had leaned in to it a bit more it would’ve felt more integrated, but as I said it reads really more like hist fiction. Which if that’s your genre you’d probably love this. It just didn’t quite work for me.
That being said there was some beautiful prose and I did overall enjoy the story. There’s a little romance in there which I really enjoyed. The stern doctor was one of my fav characters
Content Warnings
Graphic: War and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Blood, Medical content, Grief, and Medical trauma
Sunny Disposition by Deanna Grey
lighthearted
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
2.5
Unfortunately I didn’t enjoy this overall. I’m just not a big fan of the amnesia trope although I will say that almost became the part I did like best which I think says a lot 🥴 Specifically Finn’s (sp? I did audio) journey with his memory loss and his recovery, I liked the message that he could be whoever he wanted to be now and not who he was in the past.
First of all- why is a black woman renting this apartment and having to clean up after a bunch of (from what I could tell) white men!?? It’s explained like her friend’s family owns the house and Naomi is getting rent cheap so cleaning is part of the deal to make up for that??? But why do grown (yes I know they’re in college but still) men not just… CLEAN UP AFTER THEMSELVES?!
I didn’t like the male narrator at all especially the voice he did for Naomi was so high pitched and squeaky whyyyyyyy!? cause the female narrator did not sound like that 😭 this definitely didn’t help the spicy scenes which already seemed to come out of left field for me like the language used and the content (like I love spice but I felt like suddenly we were listening to intense language 👁️👄👁️ and I just prefer to have that build a little more idk). The vibe of the spice didn’t match the semi chillness of the rest of the book if that makes sense.
There’s not much hockey, which is fine I guess I just thought there’d be more. At the endthere was this weird like scamming thing related to the hockey team losing or something which seemed completely out of nowhere. And then Finn suddenly remembers some like evidence or something??? But then the book just ends and there was no resolution, he’s just gonna go play for the Eagles now? Which confused me cause that’s a football team…
First of all- why is a black woman renting this apartment and having to clean up after a bunch of (from what I could tell) white men!?? It’s explained like her friend’s family owns the house and Naomi is getting rent cheap so cleaning is part of the deal to make up for that??? But why do grown (yes I know they’re in college but still) men not just… CLEAN UP AFTER THEMSELVES?!
I didn’t like the male narrator at all especially the voice he did for Naomi was so high pitched and squeaky whyyyyyyy!? cause the female narrator did not sound like that 😭 this definitely didn’t help the spicy scenes which already seemed to come out of left field for me like the language used and the content (like I love spice but I felt like suddenly we were listening to intense language 👁️👄👁️ and I just prefer to have that build a little more idk). The vibe of the spice didn’t match the semi chillness of the rest of the book if that makes sense.
There’s not much hockey, which is fine I guess I just thought there’d be more. At the end
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
Moderate: Chronic illness, Grief, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Biphobia
Idk how to categorize it as chronic illness or mental health but the MC Finn is involved in a fight (violence) which results in amnesia
The Stolen Heir by Holly Black
Did not finish book. Stopped at 63%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 63%.
I simply do not care about these characters
Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan
lighthearted
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
Is this the best romance I've ever read? Nah! but did I have fun? you bet!
idk maybe it's just my love of the Scottish highlands and the lore that hooked me, but I actually was surprised that it seemed like this book was well researched (note: all my information on this topic comes completely from Outlander so do with that what you will).
The only thing that frustrated me was that I figured out how they had to break the curse like very early on and it takes Riley far too long (especially for a 'pro') to realize it. And it felt like the only reason for that was just because they had to build this pseudo-enemies kind of trope. They are not true enemies because they've only just met, but sure there's some antagonism there due to the fact that Clark just downright doesn't believe in curses or what Riley is doing at all.
But in the end I thought this was a cute little paranormal-adjacent romance with some decent spice and banter! Also the MC is described as what I would consider to be average to plus size, and there's no fatphobia at all which always seems like a hurdle that has to be jumped over when a MC is plus sized!
idk maybe it's just my love of the Scottish highlands and the lore that hooked me, but I actually was surprised that it seemed like this book was well researched (note: all my information on this topic comes completely from Outlander so do with that what you will).
The only thing that frustrated me was that I figured out how they had to break the curse like very early on and it takes Riley far too long (especially for a 'pro') to realize it. And it felt like the only reason for that was just because they had to build this pseudo-enemies kind of trope. They are not true enemies because they've only just met, but sure there's some antagonism there due to the fact that Clark just downright doesn't believe in curses or what Riley is doing at all.
But in the end I thought this was a cute little paranormal-adjacent romance with some decent spice and banter! Also the MC is described as what I would consider to be average to plus size, and there's no fatphobia at all which always seems like a hurdle that has to be jumped over when a MC is plus sized!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Abandonment
Minor: Violence, Murder, and Alcohol
Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I have read the introduction written by Karen Joy Fowler included in this version now 3 times. The first time it was sent to me by a friend to convince me to read this book. Then again obviously when I read it. And a third time after I finished I went back and read it again, to really understand what the hell was going on! (Sometimes I just need to read analysis of something to fully comprehend it) That third time really blew my mind! WOW!
The only thing I didn't love about this was the flashback parts about the MC's life prior to the expedition. I understand they were included to build context for her relationship with her husband and why our MC even decides to go on the expedition. But they oddly went into a bit of a lit-fic-y kinda realm, which to me felt a little out of place with everything else going on. I just cared way more about what was happening on the expedition and found myself less interested in her husband in general *shrug*
I do think I will probably read the rest of this series in physical form vs doing exclusively audio to be able to follow along better!
The only thing I didn't love about this was the flashback parts about the MC's life prior to the expedition. I understand they were included to build context for her relationship with her husband and why our MC even decides to go on the expedition. But they oddly went into a bit of a lit-fic-y kinda realm, which to me felt a little out of place with everything else going on. I just cared way more about what was happening on the expedition and found myself less interested in her husband in general *shrug*
I do think I will probably read the rest of this series in physical form vs doing exclusively audio to be able to follow along better!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gun violence, Suicide, and Murder
Minor: Animal death, Cancer, and Sexual content
This Gilded Abyss by Rebecca Thorne
Despite some photography inaccuracies which took me out of the story for a bit (totally a me thing)... this was super fun to read! I found the world building interesting and the mysterious plot kept me reading along! I've heard this was inspired by Bioshock? which makes sense. Audiobook is good too!
Downside is it's the first in a series and the next book isn't out yet :'( but I shall be continuing once that's out!
adventurous
mysterious
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
- 'submarines' more like a giant cruise ship underwater
- a bit of sci-fi horror
- environmental undertones
- queer second chance romance!
Despite some photography inaccuracies which took me out of the story for a bit (totally a me thing)... this was super fun to read! I found the world building interesting and the mysterious plot kept me reading along! I've heard this was inspired by Bioshock? which makes sense. Audiobook is good too!
Downside is it's the first in a series and the next book isn't out yet :'( but I shall be continuing once that's out!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content, Vomit, and Medical content
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and War