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the_wendybirb's reviews
52 reviews
The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
The Factory Witches of Lowell by C.S. Malerich
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Absolutely love this book! It's simple but conveys a good message.
Content Warnings
Minor: Slavery
Chosen Ones by Veronica Roth
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
What I liked- The premise of "What does a Chosen One do after saving the world?", the magic system, Alternate Universe Chicago/Earth, short chapters, imperfect hero, processing trauma, articles and excerpts between chapters to flesh out the world, the details from 10 years ago that we get glimpses of (but fill in the gaps ourselves)
What I didn't like- The Twist (and how easily the hero accepts it.), The Prophecy and how muddled it got, The Motel Scene (unnecessary mention of sexy times at a dumb point in the plot), the Big Bad's memory reveal that doesn't mesh with what we know of the universe (I really hope we get more explanation in future books), supporting characters that are more props than people, a white/cis/(assumed) straight hero whose diverse friend group doesn't get a chance to shine (I'd like someone non-white/straight to be a kick-ass hero. [Also for the gay character to casually give someone a smooch.])
I'll seek out future books in the series, but I'm not expecting them to knock my socks off. I hope I'm proven wrong, because I love the worlds I've been introduced to.
What I didn't like- The Twist (and how easily the hero accepts it.), The Prophecy and how muddled it got, The Motel Scene (unnecessary mention of sexy times at a dumb point in the plot), the Big Bad's memory reveal that doesn't mesh with what we know of the universe (I really hope we get more explanation in future books), supporting characters that are more props than people, a white/cis/(assumed) straight hero whose diverse friend group doesn't get a chance to shine (I'd like someone non-white/straight to be a kick-ass hero. [Also for the gay character to casually give someone a smooch.])
I'll seek out future books in the series, but I'm not expecting them to knock my socks off. I hope I'm proven wrong, because I love the worlds I've been introduced to.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Suicide and Kidnapping
Minor: Body horror and Drug use
Rants I just need to get out:Why was the gay lady left behind?! Why was the Big Bad suddenly reveled as practically immortal in the final pages?! Can we get more info on why he needed to manipulate so many folks into hating him? Cause he sucked from the beginning. And how are our heroes going to reunite in another country in a month? The world is in chaos. I expect either dangerous apocalyptic gangs or increased border security to quell the chaos.
Remote Control by Nnedi Okorafor
reflective
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett
Did not finish book.
Did not finish book.
Just not in the mood for the whimsy of this at the moment. I may revisit it or another book from Discworld in the future. I think I'm most interested in the gods and lore, rather than the protagonists.
Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton
This book contains zombies.
adventurous
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A very funny book about animals (particularly pets) navigating a world where humans are suddenly not able to care for them. Features many dark-humor moments, and some straight up dark or sad bits, but altogether I found this an entertaining read about a very smart crow and his posse of dogs, octopi, orangutans and more surviving in a post-human world.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death
The Wretched of Muirwood by Jeff Wheeler
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
A simple and entertaining story of a girl who has lived a small life in an abbey going on an adventure outside the abbey walls.
If you're religious this book will probably speak to you more than it spoke to me. Woven throughout the world is not-subtle messages of trusting God (in book: the Medium), God shaping events, and ordinary folks suddenly developing power through their connection to God. This book has its place in the world, that place is just not on my book shelf.
If you're religious this book will probably speak to you more than it spoke to me. Woven throughout the world is not-subtle messages of trusting God (in book: the Medium), God shaping events, and ordinary folks suddenly developing power through their connection to God. This book has its place in the world, that place is just not on my book shelf.
Hawksong by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I read this entire series multiple times as a teen, and was in love with the world and characters of the Keisha'Ra series. As an adult, I'm much more aware of the plot holes and strange narrative. If I were to read it for the first time as an adult, I would not be impressed. But this is a YA book, and the storyline is one that I think will pull many teens in. It's not something you'd read in a Literature class, but it's a sweet romance with a noble female protagonist.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death
Robots vs. Fairies by Navah Wolfe, Dominik Parisien
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A very fun read! These short stories alternate between focusing on fairies or robots, all written by well-known authors. Like most books of this type, some stories wont appeal to everyone, but I found the majority to be great fun, with things to reflect upon in terms of what makes us human.
The Women's War by Jenna Glass
dark
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This was a self indulgent read for me, about women taking their own power in a patriarchal world. It can be rather ham-fisted and isn't subtle, but it was fun, and a book I plan on reading again the next time I'm frustrated about modern politics. :-)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual assault