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madmadmaddymad's reviews
193 reviews
Please Come Off-Book by Kevin Kantor
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Loved it.
Non-binary excellence.
Ugly in its honesty.
Sensational.
I don’t read a lot of poetry - but maybe I should. I loved everything about this.
Non-binary excellence.
Ugly in its honesty.
Sensational.
I don’t read a lot of poetry - but maybe I should. I loved everything about this.
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
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
A fairytale for adults. It gave me Hobbit vibes, and although it had less of a journey, it had more magic.
I saw the film before reading the book, but it’s been years and years. I just remember liking it. This book was an echo of the movie - reading it made me remember visuals and sometimes exact moments. It made me remember the feeling of being young, and of the friend I had been sitting next to in the movie theater. She’s trans, and when the young boy sold the goat to the witch, and was changed randomly into a girl, I remember her saying “I wish I could go to this place and meet a witch like her.” It’s a silly moment but I remembered it so vividly.
I do wish the ending was different, but I like how bittersweet the story is.
I saw the film before reading the book, but it’s been years and years. I just remember liking it. This book was an echo of the movie - reading it made me remember visuals and sometimes exact moments. It made me remember the feeling of being young, and of the friend I had been sitting next to in the movie theater. She’s trans, and when the young boy sold the goat to the witch, and was changed randomly into a girl, I remember her saying “I wish I could go to this place and meet a witch like her.” It’s a silly moment but I remembered it so vividly.
I do wish the ending was different, but I like how bittersweet the story is.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Minor: Sexual content
Voices in the Snow by Darcy Coates
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
The first half was chilling and atmospheric, mysterious in a “What’s-Up-With-Dorran” kind of way. I thought I was reading Misery by Stephen King.
The second half was completely off the rails. Bonkers. Very fun and unexpected horror. Resident Evil Village vibes. I wish that villain had been around for more of it, she was great!
Definitely not what I was expecting, but definitely a worthwhile read.
The second half was completely off the rails. Bonkers. Very fun and unexpected horror. Resident Evil Village vibes. I wish that villain had been around for more of it, she was great!
Definitely not what I was expecting, but definitely a worthwhile read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, and Classism
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-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
3.0
Mmmm. It was alright, but fairly tedious compared to the first one. I suffered for the first 200 pages, and then managed to get slightly more invested once Andarna woke up and Xaden and Violet made up.
The break up felt arbitrary and forced. There were lots of emotions, and not as much action, and it’s written in first person present tense, a style that DEMANDS action, it just felt like a chore to read.
However I will say that the final 100 pages or so are pretty exciting and worth reading. I’m not out on this series yet, but this one might be the one I skip if I ever do end up rereading these novels
The break up felt arbitrary and forced. There were lots of emotions, and not as much action, and it’s written in first person present tense, a style that DEMANDS action, it just felt like a chore to read.
However I will say that the final 100 pages or so are pretty exciting and worth reading. I’m not out on this series yet, but this one might be the one I skip if I ever do end up rereading these novels
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Violence, Blood, and War
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
funny
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.0
I liked it as much as chocolate but
Oompa Loompa’s rhyme kind of lazily
And towards the end - their songs become tedious
If you like songs - it might make you crazy
Heartwarming, sort of, we all know the story
Willy Wonka has the ability to make me feel like a child
There’s candy and whimsy and lessons about love and kindness
Thank you Roald Dahl for a book that’s both worthwhile and wild
Oompa Loompa’s rhyme kind of lazily
And towards the end - their songs become tedious
If you like songs - it might make you crazy
Heartwarming, sort of, we all know the story
Willy Wonka has the ability to make me feel like a child
There’s candy and whimsy and lessons about love and kindness
Thank you Roald Dahl for a book that’s both worthwhile and wild
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming and Fatphobia
Moderate: Colonisation
Minor: Slavery and Xenophobia
What You Are Looking For is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I really enjoyed how uplifting this book was. A very welcome read for the end of the year.
My favourites were Tomoka and Hiroya. Oh, and of course, Sayuri. I find it charming that everyone who met her saw her differently, by the end, I could picture her in my head, all dressed in white with the little acacia flower dangling from her hair bun, working on her needle felting in the back of the library.
My favourites were Tomoka and Hiroya. Oh, and of course, Sayuri. I find it charming that everyone who met her saw her differently, by the end, I could picture her in my head, all dressed in white with the little acacia flower dangling from her hair bun, working on her needle felting in the back of the library.
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Oh my god, it took me WAY too long to read this incredible book. I’m kicking myself for leaving this on my TBR for as long as I did. What an amazing, well crafted story. I particularly enjoyed the split perspective, with interludes in the tavern.
I also have the hugest crush on Bast, woah. That final chapter was a whirl. He captured my heart way back when he first revealed himself as fae - and then he tore it into tiny pieces and taped them back together in letters that spelled “I heart Bast” when he used his full Fae form to be all threatening to the Chronicler. Also, do I ship Bast x the Chronicler? What? Shhh this book was so much fun but wow am I invested in the interlude side characters.
I also have the hugest crush on Bast, woah. That final chapter was a whirl. He captured my heart way back when he first revealed himself as fae - and then he tore it into tiny pieces and taped them back together in letters that spelled “I heart Bast” when he used his full Fae form to be all threatening to the Chronicler. Also, do I ship Bast x the Chronicler? What? Shhh this book was so much fun but wow am I invested in the interlude side characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Grief, and Death of parent
He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker-Chan
challenging
dark
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
I loved this book. Zhu became so ruthless in her quest to become the emperor and rule the world! And I wasn’t prepared for how much loss we had to suffer for her to get there.
I really liked how this book had more villains, and more queer people, and more intense moments of wondering if the ones we’re rooting for are really doing the right thing after all. Can fate can be ours to make, or does Heaven have it all planned out from the start?
Ouyang was my favorite character in this book. I loved how trans the book felt when it was told from his point of view, and how he always awarded Zhu he/him pronouns. He’s problematic as heck but I sure love him. And I also loved the very deeply uncomfortable moments of masochism, where Zhu needed to help him ground himself. I was really rooting for these two to get along, and I felt so betrayed when Ouyang left because he didn’t believe Zhu could become Emperor!
The ending tied it all together nicely but I still hurt for the things we lost when Ouyang lost faith in her.
I really liked how this book had more villains, and more queer people, and more intense moments of wondering if the ones we’re rooting for are really doing the right thing after all. Can fate can be ours to make, or does Heaven have it all planned out from the start?
Ouyang was my favorite character in this book. I loved how trans the book felt when it was told from his point of view, and how he always awarded Zhu he/him pronouns. He’s problematic as heck but I sure love him. And I also loved the very deeply uncomfortable moments of masochism, where Zhu needed to help him ground himself. I was really rooting for these two to get along, and I felt so betrayed when Ouyang left because he didn’t believe Zhu could become Emperor!
The ending tied it all together nicely but I still hurt for the things we lost when Ouyang lost faith in her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and War
Moderate: Rape and Sexual violence
Minor: Slavery, Suicide, and Torture
Son of a Trickster by Eden Robinson
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Such a twisted, dark, intense story. I really loved Sarah. I found Wee’git to be very unsettling, even if he wasn’t in most of the story.
It’s kind of a magical realism coming-of-age story, with the twist that of course, is there magic? Or are the characters just experiencing drug induced hallucinations?
Well written and well executed.
It’s kind of a magical realism coming-of-age story, with the twist that of course, is there magic? Or are the characters just experiencing drug induced hallucinations?
Well written and well executed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Drug use, Self harm, Toxic relationship, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Stalking, and Abandonment
Minor: Incest, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver
challenging
hopeful
reflective
fast-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
So heartwarming, so relatable, and such a tender love story.
I started this book just wondering why the parents were so cartoonishly evil - but by the end, I decided it didn’t matter. This book is queer as heck, and I don’t need any other reason to love it.
I started this book just wondering why the parents were so cartoonishly evil - but by the end, I decided it didn’t matter. This book is queer as heck, and I don’t need any other reason to love it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Abandonment
Moderate: Transphobia