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the_wendybirb's reviews
52 reviews
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Is this book's message obvious? Yes. But I love the message, love the way it's told, and love the numerous glimpses into other worlds and lives.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Alcoholism
Dune by Frank Herbert
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A Most Peculiar Book: The Inherent Strangeness of the Bible by Kristin Swenson
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.25
I really appreciate where this book was going, but I was not it's intended audience. I went into this read thinking I'd get some funny stories, but it was far more reflective, and would be better understood by someone with knowledge of Biblical stories and lessons.
The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix
But really, the vampire SA-ing a religious woman in her home and giving her a horrendous STI-like disorder was a terrible plot point and was not needed.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
For the most part, this book was fun! My issues come from the last maybe third or fourth of the book, where we suddenly had 1) sexual assault (with A LOT of traumatic circumstances around it) and 2) orgasmic vampire feeding.
Neither of these things added to the plot or themes of the book in a way that other plot points hadn't already covered. I found the sudden sexual element unnecessary, and felt it was done purely to make it an "edgier" read.
Neither of these things added to the plot or themes of the book in a way that other plot points hadn't already covered. I found the sudden sexual element unnecessary, and felt it was done purely to make it an "edgier" read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Suicide attempt
Binti: The Complete Trilogy by Nnedi Okorafor
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
3.25
I enjoyed many pieces of this series. It's a very different style than any other sci-fi book I've read. Meditative at times, slow moving, tense, with living ships and telepathic links to aliens.
But it struggled with fleshing out the world. Some "hows" and "whys" can be brushed aside, but there were ALOT of these that I just couldn't get out of my head. The last book, Night Masquerade, was particularly guilty of this. I think that story tried to be too much.
All in all it was fun, and I'll probably revisit the first couple of stories in the book.
But it struggled with fleshing out the world. Some "hows" and "whys" can be brushed aside, but there were ALOT of these that I just couldn't get out of my head. The last book, Night Masquerade, was particularly guilty of this. I think that story tried to be too much.
All in all it was fun, and I'll probably revisit the first couple of stories in the book.
Content Warnings
This is where I'm putting my spoiler-y rant about the plot I didn't like.
I hate the trope that has characters DNA changing them into multiple other species to bring about peace. By the end of this series, Binti is a Himba girl with alien tentacles, Space Fish microorganisms and telepathy passed on from an alien race that visited Earth. Plus - after all the trauma she's been to, she's now permanently tethered to Space Fish, pair bonded to a former enemy and smooching a boy from earth. She deserves peace and definitely didn't get it. No matter how much she puts on a brave face to come to terms with it.
Honeycomb by Joanne M. Harris
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book can be pretty well divided into 2 parts - the first 50 chapters are short stories and original fairy tales, with some reoccurring characters. The second half still has a few stand alone stories, but the majority focus on those reoccurring characters and places, wrapping up a much larger story. I preferred the first half to the second, but altogether this was a lovely book I'll pick up again.
Minor spoiler/complaint- There's 2 short stories that feature girls wearing veils or headscarves of some kind. Both of those stories focus on the girls being oppressed by their families. It doesn't sit right with me to use this trope twice, especially considering that many modern veiled woman have been trying to share their veiling stories as a matter of choice and empowerment.
Minor spoiler/complaint- There's 2 short stories that feature girls wearing veils or headscarves of some kind. Both of those stories focus on the girls being oppressed by their families. It doesn't sit right with me to use this trope twice, especially considering that many modern veiled woman have been trying to share their veiling stories as a matter of choice and empowerment.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Sexual content and Torture
The Unspoken Name by A.K. Larkwood
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
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
4.5
I loved this book! It was a fun fantasy, coming of age story about a girl who was raised in a death cult, trained as a mercenary (read: grew up doing what others told her to do.), and then had to figure out her own was in the world. The multiple worlds, travel system, gods and magic systems were all fun to read about, and offered glimpses into a bigger picture.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror and Child death
Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot by Mikki Kendall
Did not finish book. Stopped at 3%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 3%.
I read the first chapter, and while I liked the message, I wanted the author's anecdotes about POC feminist issues backed up with facts and figures, not solely her stories.
It may have gotten better further in, I just wasn't in a good headspace to continue on.
It may have gotten better further in, I just wasn't in a good headspace to continue on.
The Empire of Gold by S.A. Chakraborty
adventurous
dark
inspiring
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
The Kingdom of Copper by S.A. Chakraborty
adventurous
challenging
dark
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0