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bkwrm1317's reviews
216 reviews
The Genius Plague by David Walton
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
SF thriller by David Walton, an engineering contractor for Lockheed Martin (hence why our main character works for the NSA and isn’t self-critical, I suppose).
Disappointed that the acknowledgement doesn’t manage to even mention the linguistic anthropologists whose work is undoubtedly a major source of research for this novel like Daniel Everett, I’d guess, among others.
Our protagonist, Niel, has just secured a job at the NSA, following in his father’s footsteps, when his older brother Paul nearly dies at the hands of a paramilitary group in the Brazilian Amazon. Paul, a mycologist, escapes by walking through the jungle, and discovers a bioluminescent species of fungi on the way.
A fascinating reflection on language-as-code, and what a species might do to help itself survive.
A near perfect novel for me in the beginning 2/3, regardless of my initial complaints here, but the ending was lackluster for me and stepped too far away from the brainy code breaking of the plot line that got us there.
Disappointed that the acknowledgement doesn’t manage to even mention the linguistic anthropologists whose work is undoubtedly a major source of research for this novel like Daniel Everett, I’d guess, among others.
Our protagonist, Niel, has just secured a job at the NSA, following in his father’s footsteps, when his older brother Paul nearly dies at the hands of a paramilitary group in the Brazilian Amazon. Paul, a mycologist, escapes by walking through the jungle, and discovers a bioluminescent species of fungi on the way.
A fascinating reflection on language-as-code, and what a species might do to help itself survive.
A near perfect novel for me in the beginning 2/3, regardless of my initial complaints here, but the ending was lackluster for me and stepped too far away from the brainy code breaking of the plot line that got us there.
White Horse by Erika T. Wurth
dark
mysterious
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
4.0
So glad I picked this up on a whim for a later in the year reading challenge and looking forward to reading more by Wurth very soon.
A new voice (for me) in horror to eat right up. Loved this metal head, the Lofa haunting her, and the slow burn reveal about her mother who went missing two days after her birth, presumed dead. Definitely worth the read!
Check CWs
A new voice (for me) in horror to eat right up. Loved this metal head, the Lofa haunting her, and the slow burn reveal about her mother who went missing two days after her birth, presumed dead. Definitely worth the read!
Check CWs
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Incest, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Murder
Pretty Deadly, Vol. 1: The Shrike by Kelly Sue DeConnick
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Picked up on a whim when my fave librarian showed me the adult graphic novel section at the library. Looking forward to Vols 2 and 3.
Different than other GNs I’ve read. Western and dark, but also spaghetti and more manga than comic.
Different than other GNs I’ve read. Western and dark, but also spaghetti and more manga than comic.
Tread of Angels by Rebecca Roanhorse
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Interesting little novella by Roanhorse that diverges from most of her writing to date.
Murder on the Red River by Marcie R. Rendon
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Solid start to a mystery series. Looking forward to reading more by Rendon, and hoping Long Braids is back in book two alongside Cash Blackbear, our badass young femme protag struggling with a history of being separated from her mother and siblings in 1970s N Dakota and Minnesota, which saw many Tribally affiliated children separated from their loving families and communities and placed into abusive white foster homes.
Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Dark and brooding, Bazterrica takes the reader on a fascinating journey into a not so distant future where animals are diseased and humans become the meat we consume.
The irony lies in the ways it is regulated, and that Marcos was key in developing and enforcing regulations he later breaks while dealing with the late stages of his father’s life, tied in with the death of his son and loss of his wife at the same time.
Fascinating exploration of how far we are willing to go, and how we view the morals of what we do, and others do and how different those can feel from our own egocentric view of the world/reality.
The irony lies in the ways it is regulated, and that Marcos was key in developing and enforcing regulations he later breaks while dealing with the late stages of his father’s life, tied in with the death of his son and loss of his wife at the same time.
Fascinating exploration of how far we are willing to go, and how we view the morals of what we do, and others do and how different those can feel from our own egocentric view of the world/reality.
Too Much Lip by Melissa Lucashenko
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
Such an interesting and refreshing portrayal of an Aboriginal family. As the artist cover wrote (I couldn’t say it better myself): “Even on a flash motorbike, wearing a leather jacket, we belong right where our ancestors have been for generations…”
Kerry and her mob are brilliant, even Elvis the dog and Orange Cat. Her complicated feelings for her family and their trauma, the racism and colonialism they experience in their small community in Bundjalung country, and structural inequity experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians are explored on every page of this novel.
Kerry and her mob are brilliant, even Elvis the dog and Orange Cat. Her complicated feelings for her family and their trauma, the racism and colonialism they experience in their small community in Bundjalung country, and structural inequity experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians are explored on every page of this novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, and Colonisation
Moderate: Addiction, Incest, Rape, Sexual violence, and Alcohol
Minor: Animal death, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Abortion
Starling House by Alix E. Harrow
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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
4.5
Expertly written (lines I considered jotting down or snapping a picture of, but which would lose their meaning outside their context of course). My second read by Harrow.
Loved the motley crew of characters (a creaky old house that loves attention, Arthur and his broody little self-sacrificing self, Opal and her hard knock upbringing that has her thinking of her brother Jasper before herself after the death of their mother; Bev who runs the motel where they live - the sweet grumpy old lesbian that she is; Charlotte, the librarian who loves her for it and loves Opal’s reading; Jasper, who is exasperated by Opal’s need to care for him, and ultimately is most concerned when she isn’t even reading (gods forbid!) because of her dark mood.
A town haunted by the betrayal of one of its own early daughters (hey Eleanor!), and the destruction her vengeance wreaks for more than a century afterwards.
Love Opal and Arthur together 💜 because duh.
Loved the motley crew of characters (a creaky old house that loves attention, Arthur and his broody little self-sacrificing self, Opal and her hard knock upbringing that has her thinking of her brother Jasper before herself after the death of their mother; Bev who runs the motel where they live - the sweet grumpy old lesbian that she is; Charlotte, the librarian who loves her for it and loves Opal’s reading; Jasper, who is exasperated by Opal’s need to care for him, and ultimately is most concerned when she isn’t even reading (gods forbid!) because of her dark mood.
A town haunted by the betrayal of one of its own early daughters (hey Eleanor!), and the destruction her vengeance wreaks for more than a century afterwards.
Love Opal and Arthur together 💜 because duh.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Racism, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Classism
Minor: Slavery, Violence, Vomit, and Injury/Injury detail
The Slow Regard of Silent Things by Patrick Rothfuss
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
A strange little novella, this one. Gifted to me/recommended by a dear friend who I keep trying to turn onto more SFF, and who reads weirder fantasy than me (apparently). But I did indeed become fairly attached to Auri and her brokenness and her strangeness through these pages.
Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? No
4.0
Iron Widow was recommended to me back in 2021 when it was published, and it's been on my TBR since. I'm really glad that I elected to get back to this read. A great fit for readers who enjoy fiesty femme protags, switching gender roles, disability representation, tropes around toxic masculinity and patriarchal values, with fantasy and sci-fi elements.
Mechas, Chinese history (?), and the life power of young women being leeched dry to fight aliens terrorizing the human race in the future. Our primary protag's initial goal is to avenge the death of her sister. Once she does this, her journey takes twists and turns that I didn't see coming.
Mechas, Chinese history (?), and the life power of young women being leeched dry to fight aliens terrorizing the human race in the future. Our primary protag's initial goal is to avenge the death of her sister. Once she does this, her journey takes twists and turns that I didn't see coming.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Sexism
Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, War, and Classism