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308 reviews
The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
In theory, all aspects of this book seem perfect. In reality, the execution is what ruined those elements for me.
The writing tries to mimick the feeling of a nonfiction memoir or documentary. This is successfully done until the actions started to get unrealistic. If you want your book to feel like a documentary, you can't let your characters get away with unrealistic shit.
Cate drove away for like 1½h and you're gonna tell me no one found her? She was like a town away.
Additionally, because of this very prominent style of writing, it was impossible to connect to any characters, even the MC. They were vessel's retelling the story instead of real characters. Not once did they feel like real people. Therefore, I also couldn't bring myself to care about any of the emotional drama going on.
While I was interested in the story and the complexity of the mess unraveling, I didn't enjoy this nearly as much as I had hoped to. Part of that definitely is also because Cate Kay is just a very unlikable character and I found myself not rooting for her. Instead I got frustrated with the fact that no one in the book actually seems to care that she's a selfish bitch who makes a lot of very egotistical mistakes repeatedly and doesn't seem to learn from them. She did not deserve Amanda.
However, this was a quick, entertaining read and I do see the appeal. As said, the idea of the story appealed to me and kept me reading. The multi media used in here was a nice idea and made it feel like a rela documentary. However, honestly, I hated the inserts of her book in here. Simply because it was so horrendously written.
Fun idea, meh execution.
The writing tries to mimick the feeling of a nonfiction memoir or documentary. This is successfully done until the actions started to get unrealistic. If you want your book to feel like a documentary, you can't let your characters get away with unrealistic shit.
Additionally, because of this very prominent style of writing, it was impossible to connect to any characters, even the MC. They were vessel's retelling the story instead of real characters. Not once did they feel like real people. Therefore, I also couldn't bring myself to care about any of the emotional drama going on.
While I was interested in the story and the complexity of the mess unraveling, I didn't enjoy this nearly as much as I had hoped to. Part of that definitely is also because Cate Kay is just a very unlikable character and I found myself not rooting for her. Instead I got frustrated with the fact that no one in the book actually seems to care that she's a selfish bitch who makes a lot of very egotistical mistakes repeatedly and doesn't seem to learn from them. She did not deserve Amanda.
However, this was a quick, entertaining read and I do see the appeal. As said, the idea of the story appealed to me and kept me reading. The multi media used in here was a nice idea and made it feel like a rela documentary. However, honestly, I hated the inserts of her book in here. Simply because it was so horrendously written.
Fun idea, meh execution.
The Blood Trials by N.E. Davenport
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
I was a big fan of Ikenna and appreciated how she's a genuinely strong, unapologetic female lead. Additionally, the trials seemed to be the perfect mix of gruesome fighting for life and death and entertainment.
This led me to believe that I would end up loving this book and for the first maybe 20% I did.
However, the pacing is so painfully off I almost dnfed this. At times so much happened at once you couldn't keep up and had no idea what was going on and then other times this dragged so much I felt like reading a thousand pages when really I only read like 10.
Additionally, the magic system was complete nonsense. It wasn't properly explained, I still don't understand her bloodgift nor the politics or anything really. Her abilities seemed to be based off on whatever was convenient in the given situation. Furthermore, the random romance side plot enraged me. It could have been a really cool forbidden risky high stakes kind of love but it just made no sense. Why were they interested in one another? Why were they suddenly attracted to each other? Why would they care? It came out of nowhere felt entirely forced and therefore awkwar and stiff.
I dragged myself through the last 40% bc I had such high hopes for this and really really wanted to end up loving this but it lowkey just got worse with every page and was not worth staying for. The idea was fantastic, I enjoy the strong fmc but the writing didn't menage to execute the story and its high stakes at all.
This led me to believe that I would end up loving this book and for the first maybe 20% I did.
However, the pacing is so painfully off I almost dnfed this. At times so much happened at once you couldn't keep up and had no idea what was going on and then other times this dragged so much I felt like reading a thousand pages when really I only read like 10.
Additionally, the magic system was complete nonsense. It wasn't properly explained, I still don't understand her bloodgift nor the politics or anything really. Her abilities seemed to be based off on whatever was convenient in the given situation. Furthermore, the random romance side plot enraged me. It could have been a really cool forbidden risky high stakes kind of love but it just made no sense. Why were they interested in one another? Why were they suddenly attracted to each other? Why would they care? It came out of nowhere felt entirely forced and therefore awkwar and stiff.
I dragged myself through the last 40% bc I had such high hopes for this and really really wanted to end up loving this but it lowkey just got worse with every page and was not worth staying for. The idea was fantastic, I enjoy the strong fmc but the writing didn't menage to execute the story and its high stakes at all.
Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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
Whalefall by Daniel Kraus
adventurous
dark
tense
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? Yes
1.25
This was horrendous. I regret not dnfing it.
I loved the survival horror element and that part was actually well written. However, it was only minimal present, heavily overshadowed by the daddy issues of this whining man.
Jay actually had every right to be traumatized by his dad, wich makes it even worse that the abusive father ended up being turned into an inspirational hero. WHAT THE FUCK?! That's incredible disrespectful towards anyone who experienced abusive from their parents. This book is full of victim blaming and toxic masculinity, wich is atrocious.
This book was written by a man and you can tell!
I'm actually so mad that Jay survived.
I loved the survival horror element and that part was actually well written. However, it was only minimal present, heavily overshadowed by the daddy issues of this whining man.
Jay actually had every right to be traumatized by his dad, wich makes it even worse that the abusive father ended up being turned into an inspirational hero. WHAT THE FUCK?! That's incredible disrespectful towards anyone who experienced abusive from their parents. This book is full of victim blaming and toxic masculinity, wich is atrocious.
This book was written by a man and you can tell!
How to Read Literature Like a Professor [Third Edition]: A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Understanding Literature, from The Great Gatsby to The Hate You Give by Thomas C. Foster
informative
medium-paced
If your school education didn't fail you and you bothered to pay attention in class, you should already know all of this.
However, if you can't even point out a metaphor in a book this is probably a good book for you.
However, if you can't even point out a metaphor in a book this is probably a good book for you.
The Lamb by Lucy Rose
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is okay. It's a quick and easy read. However, sadly, that's also its strongest weakness. The sentences are very short, condensed, and emotionless. This hinders the book from being as deep as the author seemed to have intended.
While it is entertaining, it just also isn't anything live changing. Most things in here happen out of pure convenience. The characters are one dimensional and especially the relationship between the two women just seemed to happen for no coherent reason at all. We don't know why they are cannibals nor what made them fall in love besides them happening to be both cannibals.
It's also really not as gruesome and shocking as people make it out to be.
I did love the idea and intent. You can see glimpses of the message the author meant to bring across. However, the writing is just too weak.
Great idea. I can see what she meant to do. But the execution failed. I still had fun. It's far from a bad book and you can definitely read into the hints of depth and enjoy this. I just wanted so much more from this.
While it is entertaining, it just also isn't anything live changing. Most things in here happen out of pure convenience. The characters are one dimensional and especially the relationship between the two women just seemed to happen for no coherent reason at all. We don't know why they are cannibals nor what made them fall in love besides them happening to be both cannibals.
It's also really not as gruesome and shocking as people make it out to be.
I did love the idea and intent. You can see glimpses of the message the author meant to bring across. However, the writing is just too weak.
Great idea. I can see what she meant to do. But the execution failed. I still had fun. It's far from a bad book and you can definitely read into the hints of depth and enjoy this. I just wanted so much more from this.
Dawn by Octavia E. Butler
Octavia E. Butlers writing is absolutely phenomenal. I was captivated from page 1 and couldn't put this down. Octavia is a master at writing absolutely mind-blowing plots with lots of tension, intriguing, and flawed yet loveable characters, all while managing to put so much social commentary and critique into her lines. Her books are the perfect mix of entertaining read and powerful messages!
Absolutely recommend to literally anyone!
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
"She had had time to get used to the idea and to understand that she must struggle not against nonhuman aliens, but against her own kind."
Octavia E. Butlers writing is absolutely phenomenal. I was captivated from page 1 and couldn't put this down. Octavia is a master at writing absolutely mind-blowing plots with lots of tension, intriguing, and flawed yet loveable characters, all while managing to put so much social commentary and critique into her lines. Her books are the perfect mix of entertaining read and powerful messages!
Absolutely recommend to literally anyone!
I'm So (Not) Over You by Kosoko Jackson
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
If you just want something very unserious but fun, this is the romcom for you.
The characters are fun and following the family drama was super entertaining. However, the plot was kinda flawed and had some plot holes. This really is just for the mindless palace cleanser for when you need a good laugh.
The characters are fun and following the family drama was super entertaining. However, the plot was kinda flawed and had some plot holes. This really is just for the mindless palace cleanser for when you need a good laugh.
Kinder des Nebels: Die Nebelgeborenen 1 by Brandon Sanderson
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
The Yellow Wall-Paper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0