virgilsaeneid's reviews
331 reviews

emotional lighthearted mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

DNF'd at 78%

I do think this book is a good read, but unfortunately I was just struggling too much to feel strongly about parts of the plotline, although I thought the friendship between the three FMCs was really cute!!

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

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adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

It's like the Spiderman pointing meme but they all have guns

The Trunk by Kim Ryeo-ryeong

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mysterious reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

For my messy girls feeling lost and aimless and emotionally detached.

The Night Market by Jesikah Sundin

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adventurous emotional lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I think that The Night Market had a strong start, but lost itself a little towards the end as it fell into the conventional stereotypes of broody/toxic men that are so common to romantasy. Not a bad read by any standards, though. I found this book randomly through the recommended for you section on kindle and it offered an easy romantasy palette cleanser. I was very partial to how well-researched the mythology felt, the childhood friends to lovers (rather than insta-love so common to fated mates), and the kind relationships between both male and female characters. I'll forever think about Rhylen telling Filena he would barter and bargain 100 times just to give her a dress she liked because they have no money.

Perfume & Pain by Anna Dorn

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reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? N/A
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

1.0

DNF'd at 14%

I had a lot of issues with this book. When I don't like a book, I generally try to muscle through the first 100 pages in the hope it picks up. But it's 2025 and I've decided to protect my peace.

Needless to say, this book critiques a lot of stereotypes about both lesbians and gay men, all the while writing characters that are stereotypes of them. Scenes are broken up by random tangential rants that read like the author's opinion pieces - such as the FMC mentally monologuing about how the term sapphic sounds too "tik tok-y" in the middle of a Zoom writer's call. Dorn also uses exposition more than I can palette and insta-lust, which is so far from being my cup of tea. I see why this book appeals to some audiences. I love an insufferable MC as much as the next person, but it wasn't just the MC in this case who was insufferable, it was the entire cast. The writing and events were a faux edgy commentary on cancel culture. Maybe being pissed off while reading this book was the author's intention, but I'd rather not spend 344 pages being vaguely annoyed and trapped in the FMC's head. Godspeed to anyone who decides to pick up this book, I hope you have the patience to do what I didn't (finish it).

Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel

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dark slow-paced