the_broadway_slasher's reviews
52 reviews

The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective tense slow-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 really, really wanted to love THE CITY WE BECAME but the first few chapters are really repetitive in that each one introduces us to one character and their environment until we get through a large chunk of an ensemble cast of characters that still need to get together for the story to get moving. It’s very monotonous and hard to follow until you get a good sense of what’s going on. By the time the story gets into first gear, it may or may not have already lost your attention. For me, it was still mildly piqued, so I pushed through. Ultimately I am glad I did because once the story gets going, it’s really interesting and unique, if a little heavy handed. Still, original sci-fi is hard to come by these days and I really enjoyed the ideas at play and loved all the characters. My biggest problem here is that THE STORY WE BECAME is very clearly just half of a story and the last act feels rushed and anticlimactic. I know a sequel has been published recently but unfortunately I don’t think I enjoyed this enough to pursue 
Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle

Go to review page

dark hopeful mysterious reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Just finished BURY YOUR GAYS and I’m full of adrenaline, thoughts and emotions. I’m a little scared of saying too much because this is def the kind of novel one should go into knowing as little as possible for maximum surprise and enjoyment. I will say that it is an excellent little queer horror thriller with some really fun and exciting set-pieces. It’s not for the faint of heart and features some gruesome gore that had me squealing in horror-fan delight but it’s so much more than that. If you’re looking for a novel about queer resilience with some political and showbiz commentary, look no further! This is my first time reading Chuck Tingle and I’m really excited to read more! This novel really subverted all my expectations and would make for a great episode of Black Mirror. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune

Go to review page

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense fast-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? No

5.0

I wanted to love THE HOUSE IN THE CERULEAN SEA so bad but it felt like it was really lacking conflict and stakes and I was hesitant going into SOMEWHERE BEYOND THE SEA expecting more of the same but I’m glad to say that this series has grown up, while fully maintaining the quirkiness, comfort and charm of its predecessor. WOW, this book was written for TODAY and its themes and messages are as timely as ever. I really enjoyed it and am very much looking forward to the next in the series. TJ Klune, I love you and I love that you’re out here writing the stories our kids deserve about hope, love and resilience. 
Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-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

A near perfect book, Margo’s Got Money Troubles is going to stick with me. First of all, I have to admit that I initially got this in August as part of RuPaul’s book club, but the cover art and the premise on the jacket did not appeal to me at all. Fast forward to one of my friends telling me she was going to start it and I caved and decided we should do a buddy read. What’s the old adage… “don’t judge a book by its cover?” Ok yeah well… I know now! 😅 So glad I gave this novel a chance.

At first, the story was giving me Juno vibes and it wasn’t clicking with me, but something magical happens when we fast forward past the awkward romance and to “current day” Margo. The plot begins racing in directions you never imagined and the most lovable, 3-dimensional characters begin to hop on the train while the author sneakily injects her prose with thoughtful analysis about parenting, love and finding your passion in a world that is obsessed with telling us what’s right and wrong. 

I enjoyed this read so much and basically devoured the book in two sittings. It’s funny, quirky, sad, and more than anything surprisingly relatable even though I’ve never been a pregnant 19yr old with an Only Fans. 😂 Margo spoke to my heart and I will be championing the hell out of this book however I can. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Firestarter by Stephen King

Go to review page

dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-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

Damn. I was pretty disinterested in reading Firestarter because I thought it might be too similar to Carrie but I was wrong. Yes, similar elements but completely different take on the material and beautifully layered, especially when it came to Andy and Charlie’s father/daughter relationship. I really enjoyed this King novel and am starting to think the 80s produced his best work. Shame we’ve yet to get a really good big-screen adaptation of this classic story.
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

Go to review page

hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

I really enjoyed Legends & Lattes! Though it sells itself  as “low-stakes” adventure, I was ready to throw it out the window when I realized all I might be in for were overly long descriptions of every day items as novelties but thankfully somewhere along the read we got just enough conflict to keep me interested and I found myself on the other side of a really sweet story about friendships and new beginnings. This book is a great read if you’re looking for something whimsical, relaxing and cute. If you’re looking for an epic adventure, this is probably not the book for you. I’m very intrigued by the added short story we got at the end and it definitely piqued my interest for the prequel. 
The Hike by Drew Magary

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective fast-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

Wow. What a stunningly beautiful adventure. A friend has been recommending that I read this book for close to a year and I’m so grateful I finally laid my hands on it. It’s a fantastical journey that is hard to explain without spoiling. If you’re looking to dive into a fantastical world full of heart, humors, thrills, action and lovable characters, I urge you to pick this book up asap. It moves quickly and I was able to basically finish it in two reads. So good! I will be thinking about this book and all its lessons for quite some time. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire

Go to review page

adventurous 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

5.0

So glad I decided to give Wicked another chance! I first read it when I was about 14 and it bored me to death but I think I just wasn’t old enough to appreciate all the literary magic at play. Not only did I love this book, but I’m also now fully prepared to take a deep dive into Gregory Maguire’e entire series.
A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

Go to review page

hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-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

Sometimes the right book finds you at the right time, even when you weren’t looking for it. This was a delightful read packed with some really great philosophical insights I’ve been wrestling with the last few months. Can’t wait to dive into the sequel!
Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy by Thommy Hutson

Go to review page

informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

Cute little retrospective and companion to the superior Never Sleep Again documentary.