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turrean's reviews
2281 reviews
Wordhunter: A Novel by Stella Sands
Did not finish book.
Did not finish book.
Main character was such a cliche I could barely make myself turn the pages.
What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Excellent period horror with a science fiction overlay; creative language use; compelling storytelling.
I want to go clean my house now, and I’m definitely buying a water filter.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, and Death
What You Are Looking For is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
A sweet and gentle novel about self-discovery (at the library!)
The POV characters, each featured in one section of the book, are at different stages in their lives, but each starts off down new roads after meeting the wise librarian. They cross paths with one another,, too, which is great fun.
I did roll my eyes mightily at the chapters narrated by Natsumi, a woman balancing home, baby, and career. (I would like to have a heart-to-heart with her husband about the concept of mental load. No, dear, she doesn’t need to make you a list 🤦🏻♀️)
The book really highlighted some fascinating differences between Japanese and American beliefs about self identity, gender roles, and the value of work.
The different voice actors varied quite a bit in ability.
The POV characters, each featured in one section of the book, are at different stages in their lives, but each starts off down new roads after meeting the wise librarian. They cross paths with one another,, too, which is great fun.
I did roll my eyes mightily at the chapters narrated by Natsumi, a woman balancing home, baby, and career. (I would like to have a heart-to-heart with her husband about the concept of mental load. No, dear, she doesn’t need to make you a list 🤦🏻♀️)
The book really highlighted some fascinating differences between Japanese and American beliefs about self identity, gender roles, and the value of work.
The different voice actors varied quite a bit in ability.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism
The One Hundred Nights of Hero by Isabel Greenberg
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
A clever and humorous graphic novel that retells a number of folk and fairy tales with a feminist spin. The artwork is drawn with bold strokes, and in some places resembles woodcut prints. I found the font and font size to be hard on the eyes.
The frame story, of a woman holding off a “suitor” (using the term ironically…) by telling a new story each night, comes from The 1001 Nights / Arabian Nights. The tales the clever storyteller relates come from other traditional tales and songs, like The Twelve Dancing Princesses, The Buried Moon, and the folk song The Two Sisters of Binnorie, and other sources I didn’t recognize.
This worked beautifully as an antidote to a surfeit of beautiful maiden-in-the-tower stories and big-eyed cartoon princesses.
Oh, and there’s a Madeline homage! 😀
The frame story, of a woman holding off a “suitor” (using the term ironically…) by telling a new story each night, comes from The 1001 Nights / Arabian Nights. The tales the clever storyteller relates come from other traditional tales and songs, like The Twelve Dancing Princesses, The Buried Moon, and the folk song The Two Sisters of Binnorie, and other sources I didn’t recognize.
This worked beautifully as an antidote to a surfeit of beautiful maiden-in-the-tower stories and big-eyed cartoon princesses.
Oh, and there’s a Madeline homage! 😀
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Religious bigotry, and Sexual harassment
The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri
dark
mysterious
sad
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
3.75
The author has created an intricately detailed world for the reader. The multifaceted point of view characters take turns telling us how the realities of this harsh world play out for men, women, royalty, servants, devotees of various religions, and so on. The story is compelling, epic, and dark.
Every now and the dialogue or inner musings of the characters would take a wry, pragmatic, or tender turn, leading to some of the most human scenes. “I’m hallucinating, Priya, try to keep up.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Violence, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
The World We Make by N.K. Jemisin
adventurous
mysterious
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? No
5.0
This series (two and a half stories!) is brilliant. It’s wildly imaginative, and populated by complex characters the reader either loves or loves to hate.
The audiobook is STELLAR. This is an inspired production with fantastic sound effects and perfect voicing by Robin Miles. Every character was instantly recognizable, from the delightful New York accents of the main cast, to the beautifully rendered cameo appearances of dozens of other characters, with accents spanning the globe.
It’s my favorite of Jemisin’s works.
The audiobook is STELLAR. This is an inspired production with fantastic sound effects and perfect voicing by Robin Miles. Every character was instantly recognizable, from the delightful New York accents of the main cast, to the beautifully rendered cameo appearances of dozens of other characters, with accents spanning the globe.
It’s my favorite of Jemisin’s works.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Xenophobia, and Classism
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Police brutality and Deportation
The Girl in Red by Christina Henry
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Death of parent, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Ableism and Racism
Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Kingfisher doesn’t disappoint. This retelling was eerie and dark, as the reader ponders the different qualities that identify a monster.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
dark
mysterious
sad
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? No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Pregnancy