Scan barcode
madmadmaddymad's reviews
195 reviews
This Is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone, Amal El-Mohtar
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It’s fantastic.
Beautifully written and complex and fascinating.
This is a story that can only be experienced in a book. It’s beautiful and poetic and so sad…. And I loved every minute of it.
Beautifully written and complex and fascinating.
This is a story that can only be experienced in a book. It’s beautiful and poetic and so sad…. And I loved every minute of it.
Girl Friends: The Complete Collection 1 by Milk Morinaga
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
It’s pretty bland with almost no plot to speak of… Mari is painfully obsessed with Akko and the whole through line of the story is “does she like me or are we just friends?” Sprinkle with a hint of gay panic, toxic “girls can’t date girls” rhetoric, and way too much fanservice in the form of skimpy outfits and brief instances of nudity.
It’s not entertaining enough for me to keep reading but I am sure it’s relatable for some people, especially if you’re a young wlw.
It’s not entertaining enough for me to keep reading but I am sure it’s relatable for some people, especially if you’re a young wlw.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Sexual content
Squad by Maggie Tokuda-Hall
dark
emotional
tense
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? Yes
5.0
NICE.
It’s a little bit Heathers, and highly satisfying. Becca moves to a new town and joins a pack of werewolves comprised of the school’s mean, popular clique. Once a month; they attend glamorous parties and devour any guy who can’t take “no” for an answer.
It’s a dark and playful feminist fantasy. Oh; and it has a really satisfying sapphic romance subplot. I love this one. 5 stars - will read again!
It’s a little bit Heathers, and highly satisfying. Becca moves to a new town and joins a pack of werewolves comprised of the school’s mean, popular clique. Once a month; they attend glamorous parties and devour any guy who can’t take “no” for an answer.
It’s a dark and playful feminist fantasy. Oh; and it has a really satisfying sapphic romance subplot. I love this one. 5 stars - will read again!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Sexual assault, and Murder
Moderate: Body shaming, Eating disorder, and Fatphobia
Minor: Bullying, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Nimona by ND Stevenson
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
So - I heard this was acquired by Disney to be made into an animated film. I heard they dropped the project, which is a huge bummer, because this comic is WONDERFUL.
I love the characters, and the complicated and silly worldbuilding. Every hero needs a villain. Every villain needs a sidekick.
This was such a joy to read, with that classic ND Stevenson art style, a compelling narrative, and a quirky sense of humor.
I can’t wait to see this project brought to life with animation. Disney really missed out on a big name when they dropped this one!
I love the characters, and the complicated and silly worldbuilding. Every hero needs a villain. Every villain needs a sidekick.
This was such a joy to read, with that classic ND Stevenson art style, a compelling narrative, and a quirky sense of humor.
I can’t wait to see this project brought to life with animation. Disney really missed out on a big name when they dropped this one!
The Tea Dragon Society by K. O'Neill
informative
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Short! But magical, cozy, and thoroughly enjoyable.
The character designs are so cute I can’t stand it. I especially liked Minette. She’s unicorn? I dunno! I love her design though.
The character designs are so cute I can’t stand it. I especially liked Minette. She’s unicorn? I dunno! I love her design though.
Beetle & the Hollowbones by Aliza Layne
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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
THIS IS SO CUTE OMG
I love everything about it. So wholesome and heartwarming and the world is so fun. It flawlessly combines fantastical elements with a modern flair. The kids use social media, write fanfiction, and hang out at the mall.
Beetle is a compelling protagonist, a goblin witch coming-of-age who is obsessed with “big, pretty magic”, everything that goblin magic’s not. “it’s slow, and it isn’t pretty”. I really like the bit where her grandma tells her that she can make her own way in the world, and gives her a sorcery crystal.
I really like Kat as well, but as far as I’m concerned the star of the show is Blob Ghost! Blob Ghost stole my heart in every sequence they were in!
I would love to see this translated into a Disney film or a cartoon series. It’s so amazing and I feel like I could get lost in this world for hours.
I love everything about it. So wholesome and heartwarming and the world is so fun. It flawlessly combines fantastical elements with a modern flair. The kids use social media, write fanfiction, and hang out at the mall.
Beetle is a compelling protagonist, a goblin witch coming-of-age who is obsessed with “big, pretty magic”, everything that goblin magic’s not. “it’s slow, and it isn’t pretty”. I really like the bit where her grandma tells her that she can make her own way in the world, and gives her a sorcery crystal.
I really like Kat as well, but as far as I’m concerned the star of the show is Blob Ghost! Blob Ghost stole my heart in every sequence they were in!
I would love to see this translated into a Disney film or a cartoon series. It’s so amazing and I feel like I could get lost in this world for hours.
Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker
adventurous
hopeful
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Cute and cozy, the story of a young witch and a non-binary werewolf falling in love and combatting a neighbor who isn’t what she seems.
I really like the depiction of the spirits. It’s very Miyazaki-esque. The stakes are really low, but sometimes I just want to curl up in a nice little fantasy world for a few hours.
I really like the depiction of the spirits. It’s very Miyazaki-esque. The stakes are really low, but sometimes I just want to curl up in a nice little fantasy world for a few hours.
Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon
Did not finish book.
Did not finish book.
Hard no from me. I can’t get past the rape scene in the first chapter, yikes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
The Dragon's Bride by Katee Robert
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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? Yes
5.0
Yo, this one took me by surprise!
Sol is such a gentleman!
And when he chases her… ❤️
Sol is such a gentleman!
And when he chases her… ❤️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia
House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-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? Yes
3.0
It’s good. I liked it. But I wish that someone would reign this woman in. This book did NOT need to be 800 pgs.
I almost put this one down permanently. Twice. It’s a slog to get through, that’s for sure. But the final act is incredible. You have to keep reading until you are 80% of the way there, and then it’s non-stop action and intensity until the very end! I’ve been dying for SJM to give me a story with some more stakes, and she delivered in this one. I enjoyed the latter half of the book so much, I can almost forget about the pain and torment of enduring the way she infodumps in great big tell-don’t-show paragraphs for the first 50%.
Also I really like Hunt. He seems like a dreamy combination of Cassian and Azriel. I have no complaints, but I will warn anyone who happens to stumble on this review that this book isn’t going to… ahem… water your crops. If you go in THINKING that it’s a romantic novel, just know, these two barely even interact romantically until the very end. Get ready for blue balls!
I almost put this one down permanently. Twice. It’s a slog to get through, that’s for sure. But the final act is incredible. You have to keep reading until you are 80% of the way there, and then it’s non-stop action and intensity until the very end! I’ve been dying for SJM to give me a story with some more stakes, and she delivered in this one. I enjoyed the latter half of the book so much, I can almost forget about the pain and torment of enduring the way she infodumps in great big tell-don’t-show paragraphs for the first 50%.
Also I really like Hunt. He seems like a dreamy combination of Cassian and Azriel. I have no complaints, but I will warn anyone who happens to stumble on this review that this book isn’t going to… ahem… water your crops. If you go in THINKING that it’s a romantic novel, just know, these two barely even interact romantically until the very end. Get ready for blue balls!
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Drug use, Violence, Grief, and Suicide attempt