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transcendent's reviews
205 reviews
Time Is a Mother by Ocean Vuong
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.75
ocean vuong when i get you ocean. WHEN I GET YOU.
This anthology has one of my personal favourite poems that Vuong's released Amazon History of A Former Nail Salon Worker and a new addition of Not Even, both of which left me shattered on the floor.
I do want to mention that this did not take long to read, but between not having the time and losing the damn book, it took a longer than expected time.
This anthology has one of my personal favourite poems that Vuong's released Amazon History of A Former Nail Salon Worker and a new addition of Not Even, both of which left me shattered on the floor.
I do want to mention that this did not take long to read, but between not having the time and losing the damn book, it took a longer than expected time.
Don't Let the Forest In by C.G. Drews
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
3.75
although I was very interested initially, the absolute muddled structure of the middle really took the excitement out of me, leaving me really confused about the relationships which andrew (?) had and was forming throughout the year (also ? because I can't tell the timeline of this).
finding out the about "the incident from last year" in the last three chapters of the book truly pissed me off, and how it was supposed to be this big yahtzee! type twist but it just made me very very upset with how it was just ..... idk given? to the reader after being ignored for most of the damn story which was so annoying.
I was just annoyed by this whole book actually. the horror elements are great, there's some good psychological horror, great tie ins with mental health and eating disorders, and what is essentially doomed yaoi. but the way that the actual story line is written just feels wrong to me, and not for the right reason.
finding out the about "the incident from last year" in the last three chapters of the book truly pissed me off, and how it was supposed to be this big yahtzee! type twist but it just made me very very upset with how it was just ..... idk given? to the reader after being ignored for most of the damn story which was so annoying.
I was just annoyed by this whole book actually. the horror elements are great, there's some good psychological horror, great tie ins with mental health and eating disorders, and what is essentially doomed yaoi. but the way that the actual story line is written just feels wrong to me, and not for the right reason.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Eating disorder, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit
The Quiet and the Loud by Helena Fox
challenging
emotional
reflective
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
After loving Fox's debut and having it be my highest rated book for a good bit, I had some high hopes for The Quiet and the Loud however it felt like such a muddy, mish mash of different things the author wanted to state their contention on as quickly as they physically could.
I genuinely despised the best friend in this book and felt like whatever message was being broadcast through her storyline (which was blurry at best) was overshadowed by her name taking up most of my page- ALTHOUGH I UNDERSTAND ITS SUPPOSED TO! I just don't think I'm meant to have this much disdain for a fictional pregnant person.
The general messages that were being put out were also so insane, like I had to remind myself if it was about the Australian government's lack of care for the climate, abortion rights/pregnancy rights, the harrowing subjects of domestic abuse/violence, family abuse/violence, addiction and how it's normalised in the context of the Australian home, being part of the LGBTQIA community as an adult and a youth(?)(which. felt so performative at a certain point) , being a POC in the protest space and the freaking class divide in Sydney.
I have no final thoughts I'm going to go watch a tv show to get rid of Tess's insane plotline out of my head. It will be a talking point over coffee with my friends. Like would I have enjoyed this book more without the best friend.... Yes, probably! I'm so mad.
I genuinely despised the best friend in this book and felt like whatever message was being broadcast through her storyline (which was blurry at best) was overshadowed by her name taking up most of my page- ALTHOUGH I UNDERSTAND ITS SUPPOSED TO! I just don't think I'm meant to have this much disdain for a fictional pregnant person.
The general messages that were being put out were also so insane, like I had to remind myself if it was about the Australian government's lack of care for the climate, abortion rights/pregnancy rights, the harrowing subjects of domestic abuse/violence, family abuse/violence, addiction and how it's normalised in the context of the Australian home, being part of the LGBTQIA community as an adult and a youth
I have no final thoughts I'm going to go watch a tv show to get rid of Tess's insane plotline out of my head. It will be a talking point over coffee with my friends. Like would I have enjoyed this book more without the best friend.... Yes, probably! I'm so mad.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Cursing, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Grief, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Car accident, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Minor: Animal cruelty and Physical abuse
Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood
funny
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
3.75
werk autism stem representation!!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Abandonment
Minor: Alcohol
The Omen of Stones by Casey L. Bond
funny
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
rounding off all of my qualms about this book with a solid 3 stars. like yes, could give it more, however then i would have to acknowledge the absolutely lack of plot and voice through the whole book, and how there was so many point of views that i didnt know what i was reading half the time.
for afun silly wholesome christian time, read this. for a book with any substance that moves, read anything else.
for a
Content Warnings
spoilers about the big bad i just need to get this out while it's fresh look i totally understand reusing a villian but the SAME VILLIAN FOR THE SAME REASONS AND DEFEATING HER IN THE SAME WAY? AND NOT EVEN EXPLAINING HOW SHE REALLY "CAME BACK TO LIFE" OTHER THAN SHE BECAME A GHOST? IM SO MAD I SAW IT COMING A MILE AWAY BUT I HAD TO FINISH IT.
The Constellations Are Unrecognizable Here by Andrew Joseph White
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sprawled out on the floor because of this.
Funny Story by Emily Henry
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
don't talk to me i finally finished this.
after figuring out why i couldn't get through this, i slammed through it in a couple of hours and honestly, no regrets.
put daphne on my kinlist or something idk she is so me i am so her we are interlinked- however i am not 33 that is cringe.
after figuring out why i couldn't get through this, i slammed through it in a couple of hours and honestly, no regrets.
put daphne on my kinlist or something idk she is so me i am so her we are interlinked- however i am not 33 that is cringe.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment and Alcohol
Moderate: Infidelity, Mental illness, and Sexual content
Minor: Toxic relationship
The Six Deaths of the Saint by Alix E. Harrow
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
4.0
Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett
funny
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.5
Professor Wilde is thee autism representation we needed from a series like this I love her and her crew so much.
Also, Wendell, call me back the kids miss you.
(I did also really enjoy that there were connections to the first book, and it wasn't like two stand alone books in a series. having Poe be a really important character still made me so happy he is just my little guy.)
Also, Wendell, call me back the kids miss you.
(I did also really enjoy that there were connections to the first book, and it wasn't like two stand alone books in a series. having Poe be a really important character still made me so happy he is just my little guy.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content, Death of parent, and War
The Secret Library of Hummingbird House by Julianne Negri
funny
lighthearted
fast-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? Yes
2.5