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madmadmaddymad's reviews
193 reviews
Hello Stranger by Katherine Center
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Very cute.
(Predictable.)
But very cute.
I kind of identify with the main character - whenever I’m reading a book and it describes a hunky guy, I can’t imagine his face for some reason. All my romance novel love interests are faceless, and I fall in love with them anyway.
Wish this book had had the courage to let Sadie stay face blind - I kind of liked that part of her character. But it was definitely the appropriate ending to have it all come back together and her to see Joe’s face for the first time and somehow be able to recognize him. Kind of reminded me of 50 First Dates, in a way.
(Predictable.)
But very cute.
I kind of identify with the main character - whenever I’m reading a book and it describes a hunky guy, I can’t imagine his face for some reason. All my romance novel love interests are faceless, and I fall in love with them anyway.
Wish this book had had the courage to let Sadie stay face blind - I kind of liked that part of her character. But it was definitely the appropriate ending to have it all come back together and her to see Joe’s face for the first time and somehow be able to recognize him. Kind of reminded me of 50 First Dates, in a way.
Misery by Stephen King
dark
reflective
tense
slow-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? Yes
5.0
I haven’t read much Stephen King but this is still my favorite King novel.
The way Paul has to write on a typewriter with no “n” key really stuck with me. The way the “e” and “t” later fell off the typewriter was so devastating and vivid in my memory. It really goes to show how hopeless this man had become, that writing was his only escape from a messed up situation.
And of course; there’s Annie. Annie is the worst, most hateful villainess in almost any work I can think of. I vividly remember her forcing Paul to burn his book. The disjointed pieces of Misery. And the lawnmower scene.
The way Paul has to write on a typewriter with no “n” key really stuck with me. The way the “e” and “t” later fell off the typewriter was so devastating and vivid in my memory. It really goes to show how hopeless this man had become, that writing was his only escape from a messed up situation.
And of course; there’s Annie. Annie is the worst, most hateful villainess in almost any work I can think of. I vividly remember her forcing Paul to burn his book. The disjointed pieces of Misery. And the lawnmower scene.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Gore, Torture, and Blood
Moderate: Drug use, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail
The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss
adventurous
challenging
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
I really enjoyed this book!
My favorite sequence is the time Kvothe spent with Felurian. (What can you expect? I’m faerie trash.) I did not enjoy the Ademre sequence - even though the women are badasses, I still found it somehow misogynistic. Maybe it’s because of Kvothe, and how he tainted the time he spent there by talking about how it’s not proper for women to fight, women where he comes from do not fight, and bemoaning that he was paired to spar with a little girl. I just found that that part of the book really dragged, and even though we spent a lot of time there, I didn’t get close to any of the women, and I didn’t get the feeling that Kvothe really respected any of the women? I was waiting for it to be over, and him to go back to the Maer. Even though I didn’t care much for the court politics and the Maer, I still felt like there was more life in that part of the story than the piece in the Ademre.
But aside from that portion of the book… this was such a captivating and excellent story. I still love the parts with Bast, the Chronicler, and Kvothe-the-tavernkeep the most. It feels so fresh to read a fantasy story this way - to have the days laid out this way, and the story told from the hero’s perspective while a perfect stranger and truly good friend listen in.
Bast is obviously still my favorite
I love a scary faerie man
My favorite sequence is the time Kvothe spent with Felurian. (What can you expect? I’m faerie trash.) I did not enjoy the Ademre sequence - even though the women are badasses, I still found it somehow misogynistic. Maybe it’s because of Kvothe, and how he tainted the time he spent there by talking about how it’s not proper for women to fight, women where he comes from do not fight, and bemoaning that he was paired to spar with a little girl. I just found that that part of the book really dragged, and even though we spent a lot of time there, I didn’t get close to any of the women, and I didn’t get the feeling that Kvothe really respected any of the women? I was waiting for it to be over, and him to go back to the Maer. Even though I didn’t care much for the court politics and the Maer, I still felt like there was more life in that part of the story than the piece in the Ademre.
But aside from that portion of the book… this was such a captivating and excellent story. I still love the parts with Bast, the Chronicler, and Kvothe-the-tavernkeep the most. It feels so fresh to read a fantasy story this way - to have the days laid out this way, and the story told from the hero’s perspective while a perfect stranger and truly good friend listen in.
Bast is obviously still my favorite
I love a scary faerie man
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Racism, Rape, and Sexual violence
Minor: Sexual content
Furiously Happy: A Funny Book about Horrible Things by Jenny Lawson
dark
funny
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
A wacky and absurd book about suffering from depression.
My favorite part was the story about digging for her keys in the garbage can at the zoo, and then not knowing what she threw away when her husband came and told her he had her keys. Also, the story about visiting Australia. Easily the most chaotic road trip I’ve ever been on (and I wasn’t even there)
My favorite part was the story about digging for her keys in the garbage can at the zoo, and then not knowing what she threw away when her husband came and told her he had her keys. Also, the story about visiting Australia. Easily the most chaotic road trip I’ve ever been on (and I wasn’t even there)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Mental illness, and Self harm
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Animal death
Lore Olympus: Volume Five by Rachel Smythe
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-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
5.0
This one has Hades and Persephone’s first kiss!
(FIVE VOLUMES IN)
(THE BURN IS SO SLOW)
The plot thickens. I love this series. This is where I was able to binge read to when I first started reading this comic, and then I started having to pay for issues because I became obsessed. I remember losing interest somewhere around the next issue! So I’m about to be in uncharted territory.
Can’t wait to see what happens next.
(FIVE VOLUMES IN)
(THE BURN IS SO SLOW)
The plot thickens. I love this series. This is where I was able to binge read to when I first started reading this comic, and then I started having to pay for issues because I became obsessed. I remember losing interest somewhere around the next issue! So I’m about to be in uncharted territory.
Can’t wait to see what happens next.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship
Minor: Rape
Lore Olympus: Volume Four by Rachel Smythe
dark
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
5.0
I love Ares. He gives me such Cassian from ACoTaR vibes. I especially love the scene where he tricks Persephone to making out with him. It just goes to show, there is such a thing as being a jerk without violating someone’s consent (ahem ahem APOLLO)
I also love the confrontation with Persephone and Apollo! I think it’s so important what this series is doing in terms of displaying a relationship like theirs. Apollo thinks he’s a nice guy, and that he’s done nothing wrong. It is so vital what Rachel Smythe is doing, because rape doesn’t always look like someone holding a threat of violence over you for it to be rape. I love this comic’s take on this difficult subject, and I love the art, I love the way Persephone’s trauma is always drawn with those discordant music notes, striped across the panel.
I’m so proud of her for standing up to her rapist.
This series is such a pleasure to read. I love, love, love the characters, the art, the story, and basically everything there is about it.
I also love the confrontation with Persephone and Apollo! I think it’s so important what this series is doing in terms of displaying a relationship like theirs. Apollo thinks he’s a nice guy, and that he’s done nothing wrong. It is so vital what Rachel Smythe is doing, because rape doesn’t always look like someone holding a threat of violence over you for it to be rape. I love this comic’s take on this difficult subject, and I love the art, I love the way Persephone’s trauma is always drawn with those discordant music notes, striped across the panel.
I’m so proud of her for standing up to her rapist.
This series is such a pleasure to read. I love, love, love the characters, the art, the story, and basically everything there is about it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Rape
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Infertility
And They Lived . . . by Steven Salvatore
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
First of all I would like to mention that I wasn’t totally a fan of the WRITING of this book. It’s probably a four star book if I were going to be honest about how it felt to read it. Emotional books like this should never be written in first person present tense. Because it’s too intense. It feels like an action story. That’s just my opinion.
Second.
I love everything else about this book. Chase is heartbreakingly relatable. I loved how it was a gender discovery story - and that he came to decide it’s okay to both be nonbinary while using he/him pronouns and calling himself gay. The whole question of queerness and gender and sexuality is dealt with beautifully in this book, and felt so naturally depicted.
I also love Jack! He is the epitome of the manic pixie dream girl trope. But I love that about him. And I love that this trope can be used and can thrive in a book like this, with a queer romance story at the heart of it.
The love story was so good. I really enjoyed how quickly they fell. How sweet and tender it was, and how, even in the midst of all of that, there was still so much of a struggle. Sometimes, happily ever after isn’t the most important part of the ending. I had my misgivings when certain events happened in this book, because with the whole thing being told from Chase’s perspective, it is a challenge to go through what Chase is going through while also realizing that other people can be going through shit too. Jack’s struggles were painful to read, and even more painful because it was clear to me that they just needed to talk to each other. I love that this story is an exercise in empathy, queerness, and self acceptance.
And I love that it has a happy ending.
Great book. Excellent.
Second.
I love everything else about this book. Chase is heartbreakingly relatable. I loved how it was a gender discovery story - and that he came to decide it’s okay to both be nonbinary while using he/him pronouns and calling himself gay. The whole question of queerness and gender and sexuality is dealt with beautifully in this book, and felt so naturally depicted.
I also love Jack! He is the epitome of the manic pixie dream girl trope. But I love that about him. And I love that this trope can be used and can thrive in a book like this, with a queer romance story at the heart of it.
The love story was so good. I really enjoyed how quickly they fell. How sweet and tender it was, and how, even in the midst of all of that, there was still so much of a struggle. Sometimes, happily ever after isn’t the most important part of the ending. I had my misgivings when certain events happened in this book, because with the whole thing being told from Chase’s perspective, it is a challenge to go through what Chase is going through while also realizing that other people can be going through shit too. Jack’s struggles were painful to read, and even more painful because it was clear to me that they just needed to talk to each other. I love that this story is an exercise in empathy, queerness, and self acceptance.
And I love that it has a happy ending.
Great book. Excellent.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Homophobia, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Fatphobia
Minor: Bullying and Outing
The Gargoyle's Captive by Katee Robert
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
It has a little too much plot. I think Katee Robert’s strengths are in the sexy, steamy, smutty scenes - I personally really don’t care for her storytelling. It kind of pains me to say it, because I find the universe of these deal-with-a-demon books so fun, but I do come for the smut obviously.
This one earns four stars for having a submissive male love interest. Good boy, Bram.
This one earns four stars for having a submissive male love interest. Good boy, Bram.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
Lore Olympus: Volume Three by Rachel Smythe
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
5.0
Love this series. This volume came together really well, it has beautiful, vibrant art and a nice pace to the story with lots of emotional moments.
I love Artemis and I have a pet theory that she’s suffering from a crush on Persephone. That whole sequence where Persephone was needling her about “never having a crush on anyone ever in the whole history of time” and Artemis’s expression…. I ship it!
(I mean. Obviously I ship Hades and Persephone, as why would I be reading this if I didn’t. But. Ya know. Artemis having an unrequited crush would be cute and make a lot of sense for her character - especially with her hatred of Hades.)
I love Artemis and I have a pet theory that she’s suffering from a crush on Persephone. That whole sequence where Persephone was needling her about “never having a crush on anyone ever in the whole history of time” and Artemis’s expression…. I ship it!
(I mean. Obviously I ship Hades and Persephone, as why would I be reading this if I didn’t. But. Ya know. Artemis having an unrequited crush would be cute and make a lot of sense for her character - especially with her hatred of Hades.)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship
Minor: Mental illness and Rape
The Demon's Bargain by Katee Robert
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
I think this one is my favorite of the “Deal with a Demon” series.
I really liked the sexy bargain and the three day trail run. I didn’t care about the plot so much - with trying to get back her Amulet…. It felt very arbitrary, and with that steamy final sex scene I couldn’t help but feel like they were wasting their last day with all of the nonsensical violence. However. I’m a sucker for that insta love trope - and the trans love interest, chef’s kiss! So glad the adventure concluded happily, and that Ramanu and Lenora got to fall in love.
(Also this book has so much kinky sex, I LOVED the play of dominance and submissiveness. And the pegging scene! Very few romance novels go there!!! I’m so glad this one did. Holy shit. It was perfect! So sexy!)
I really liked the sexy bargain and the three day trail run. I didn’t care about the plot so much - with trying to get back her Amulet…. It felt very arbitrary, and with that steamy final sex scene I couldn’t help but feel like they were wasting their last day with all of the nonsensical violence. However. I’m a sucker for that insta love trope - and the trans love interest, chef’s kiss! So glad the adventure concluded happily, and that Ramanu and Lenora got to fall in love.
(Also this book has so much kinky sex, I LOVED the play of dominance and submissiveness. And the pegging scene! Very few romance novels go there!!! I’m so glad this one did. Holy shit. It was perfect! So sexy!)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content