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_everysecondbook's Reviews (239)
Prepare yourself to feel an abnormal amount of justified rage for an entirely fictional story
5/5 stars
I loved this book SO MUCH. I don't read much fantasy, and normally it'll only be if the world is somewhat similar to our own. However, this is the best fantasy novel I have ever read, and I will yell its praises until the day I die.
This story is set in a world made up of three castes: paper caste, completely human like you or I; steele caste, mostly human with some animal qualities; and moon caste, mostly animal with slight human qualities. We follow Lei, a paper caste who is chosen, against her will, to become a Paper Girl: one of eight paper caste girls chosen to become the King's concubines for the next year.
One of my favourite things about this story is the way that Lei handles this situation. I found it so raw and real. She wasn't thrown into this situation, immediately found a way to get out of it, and nothing terrible happened to her. She feels a lot of anger and resentment towards some of the other Paper Girls as they do their jobs as concubines. I found this to be a very real take at what was happening around her. Personally, I took her anger at the other Paper Girls as confusion, like she couldn't possibly understand how they could do this without complaint. But everyone was dealing with it in their own ways, and was real to see how she couldn't fathom that.
The way that sexual assault and abuse is dealt with in this book was amazing. It was incredibly well done and not insensitive. It was a pretty decent commentary on these subjects as we see them in our world as well. There is also a situation where a Paper Girl falls for the King. It was dealt with so well and honestly was such a comparable situation to something that could happen today, in our world.
Also the romance is fucking amazing
One of the issues that this book has is the fact that it is stated that there will be a f/f romance in the synopsis. And that is no lie! But it was a little disappointing to find out that while m/m relationships were accepted, f/f were not. I think it was done this way to give an extra level of forbidden to the romance. But I do think there was enough surrounding the relationship to make it adequately forbidden without adding this in.
I had no idea this book was the start of a series, and while reading it I was pretty adamant about not continuing with the series. One of the major factors that contributed to me reading this book was the synopsis and it was pretty clear that it wouldn't carry through the series. But once I finished the story, and read LITERALLY the last page, there was no doubt in my mind that I will continue with this story.
5/5 stars
I loved this book SO MUCH. I don't read much fantasy, and normally it'll only be if the world is somewhat similar to our own. However, this is the best fantasy novel I have ever read, and I will yell its praises until the day I die.
This story is set in a world made up of three castes: paper caste, completely human like you or I; steele caste, mostly human with some animal qualities; and moon caste, mostly animal with slight human qualities. We follow Lei, a paper caste who is chosen, against her will, to become a Paper Girl: one of eight paper caste girls chosen to become the King's concubines for the next year.
One of my favourite things about this story is the way that Lei handles this situation. I found it so raw and real. She wasn't thrown into this situation, immediately found a way to get out of it, and nothing terrible happened to her. She feels a lot of anger and resentment towards some of the other Paper Girls as they do their jobs as concubines. I found this to be a very real take at what was happening around her. Personally, I took her anger at the other Paper Girls as confusion, like she couldn't possibly understand how they could do this without complaint. But everyone was dealing with it in their own ways, and was real to see how she couldn't fathom that.
The way that sexual assault and abuse is dealt with in this book was amazing. It was incredibly well done and not insensitive. It was a pretty decent commentary on these subjects as we see them in our world as well. There is also a situation where a Paper Girl falls for the King. It was dealt with so well and honestly was such a comparable situation to something that could happen today, in our world.
Also the romance is fucking amazing
One of the issues that this book has is the fact that it is stated that there will be a f/f romance in the synopsis. And that is no lie! But it was a little disappointing to find out that while m/m relationships were accepted, f/f were not. I think it was done this way to give an extra level of forbidden to the romance. But I do think there was enough surrounding the relationship to make it adequately forbidden without adding this in.
I had no idea this book was the start of a series, and while reading it I was pretty adamant about not continuing with the series. One of the major factors that contributed to me reading this book was the synopsis and it was pretty clear that it wouldn't carry through the series. But once I finished the story, and read LITERALLY the last page, there was no doubt in my mind that I will continue with this story.
The Poet X: A Hikau
It is feminist
This was so phenomenal
It is powerful
5/5 stars
Audiobook & Physical Book
This was an incredible book. I listened to it via audiobook and followed along with the physical book. I highly recommend you consume the story this way. The author narrates the audiobook and as such, it being slam poetry, is executed exactly the way she intended it to be.
This covers so many topics in such a short amount of time. However, none of them felt underdeveloped, unfinished, or rushed. Everything felt well thought out and important. I highly recommend this book to everyone. Even if you don't read poetry, even if you don't like it, please read this. It is amazing and you will not be disappointed.
It is feminist
This was so phenomenal
It is powerful
5/5 stars
Audiobook & Physical Book
This was an incredible book. I listened to it via audiobook and followed along with the physical book. I highly recommend you consume the story this way. The author narrates the audiobook and as such, it being slam poetry, is executed exactly the way she intended it to be.
This covers so many topics in such a short amount of time. However, none of them felt underdeveloped, unfinished, or rushed. Everything felt well thought out and important. I highly recommend this book to everyone. Even if you don't read poetry, even if you don't like it, please read this. It is amazing and you will not be disappointed.
Is asexual representation and precious romance what you're looking for? You've come to the right place
3.75/5 stars
Soooooooo, here's the thing. I loved the representation, and was told it was pretty accurate by a friend. And I truly loved the romance and would die for Takumi. And here is about 75% of the book, but is also where my enjoyment ends.
I HATED the writing, I really did. It didn't work for me at all (so many parentheses). And I kind of hated the main character. She didn't seem like she was in college at all. She felt pretty juvenile to me, and that really contributed to my annoyance with her.
This book is a contemporary romance, and while I don't consider this a spoiler I will mark it as such.
Overall, I would recommend this book. The representation is amazing, and the romance is one of my all time favourites in a book. Although the writing wasn't my favourite, that is something that is completely subjective, and you may love it. It is a debut, and when I take this into account, I feel as though certain aspects with improve with experience.
3.75/5 stars
Soooooooo, here's the thing. I loved the representation, and was told it was pretty accurate by a friend. And I truly loved the romance and would die for Takumi. And here is about 75% of the book, but is also where my enjoyment ends.
I HATED the writing, I really did. It didn't work for me at all (so many parentheses). And I kind of hated the main character. She didn't seem like she was in college at all. She felt pretty juvenile to me, and that really contributed to my annoyance with her.
This book is a contemporary romance, and while I don't consider this a spoiler I will mark it as such.
Spoiler
I think that the way the Takumi deals with Alice's confession of her asexuality as well as her feeling for him so well. It felt so authentic and real.Overall, I would recommend this book. The representation is amazing, and the romance is one of my all time favourites in a book. Although the writing wasn't my favourite, that is something that is completely subjective, and you may love it. It is a debut, and when I take this into account, I feel as though certain aspects with improve with experience.
Well hello, severely underrated gem. I am so glad you came out from under the radar
4.5/5 stars
I cannot believe more people are not talking about this book. This was an incredible feminist story, holy moly. The plot, the characters, everything was just so well fleshed out and complete. Nothing felt unfinished or underdeveloped, it felt as though everything was important in it's own right.
I've seen multiple reviews say that they stopped when the main character starts to become selfish and mean, but that's part of the story! Please, if you consider stopping, please read on, it is so worth it.
I can't even write a proper review of this one, you all just have to read it yourselves. I knew pretty much nothing about it going into it, except that it was highly recommended by a friend. And I think everyone should go into it this way. Just please read it, it was so surprisingly feminist. I loved it so much. Read it
4.5/5 stars
I cannot believe more people are not talking about this book. This was an incredible feminist story, holy moly. The plot, the characters, everything was just so well fleshed out and complete. Nothing felt unfinished or underdeveloped, it felt as though everything was important in it's own right.
I've seen multiple reviews say that they stopped when the main character starts to become selfish and mean, but that's part of the story! Please, if you consider stopping, please read on, it is so worth it.
I can't even write a proper review of this one, you all just have to read it yourselves. I knew pretty much nothing about it going into it, except that it was highly recommended by a friend. And I think everyone should go into it this way. Just please read it, it was so surprisingly feminist. I loved it so much. Read it
I wasn't at all prepared for this to be a new all time favourite
5/5 stars
This was SO GOOD. I don't even have the words to describe my love for this. If you liked [b:Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda|19547856|Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (Creekwood, #1)|Becky Albertalli|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1402915678s/19547856.jpg|27679579] I have no doubts that you will love this. It has the same vibes but is a completely different story. This book does feature discussions of sex, but has no actual explicit sex scenes. I asked an friend that identifies as asexual, and hates/is disgusted by sexual descriptions, if she could read this book (I read her some of the most explicit scenes with her consent) and she said she definitely could. Just wanted to throw that out there if you are uncomfortable with sexual descriptions.
Here I will include a list of things I loved about this book because it is about as coherent I can get in this review:
- sex positive
- openly gay and proud mc
- sexual advice column with actual, decent advice
- mystery stalker
- challenges slut shaming
- challenges fetishizing gay men
- mc is incredibly sexual and not ashamed
- only safe sex is practiced
5/5 stars
This was SO GOOD. I don't even have the words to describe my love for this. If you liked [b:Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda|19547856|Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (Creekwood, #1)|Becky Albertalli|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1402915678s/19547856.jpg|27679579] I have no doubts that you will love this. It has the same vibes but is a completely different story. This book does feature discussions of sex, but has no actual explicit sex scenes. I asked an friend that identifies as asexual, and hates/is disgusted by sexual descriptions, if she could read this book (I read her some of the most explicit scenes with her consent) and she said she definitely could. Just wanted to throw that out there if you are uncomfortable with sexual descriptions.
Here I will include a list of things I loved about this book because it is about as coherent I can get in this review:
- sex positive
- openly gay and proud mc
- sexual advice column with actual, decent advice
- mystery stalker
- challenges slut shaming
- challenges fetishizing gay men
- mc is incredibly sexual and not ashamed
- only safe sex is practiced
This book ruined me and I still can't think about it
5/5 stars
My review: Thanks Silvera
5/5 stars
My review: Thanks Silvera
New Erotica for Feminists: Satirical Fantasies of Love, Lust, and Equal Pay
Fiona Taylor, Caitlin Kunkel, Brooke Preston
"Romeo: But we are star-crossed lovers...
Juliet: Mmmm, yeah, except no. We're not. You were drooling over fair Rosaline five minutes ago. This is a toxic relationship in the making, and I'm out of here.
Juliet exits stage left and lives to be ninety-eight years old."
5/5 stars
I thought this was hilarious. If you're looking for something that challenges that stereotypical, misogynistic erotica, and those old views. This is definitely something you wanna read.
Well I've been sleeping on this one
4/5 stars
Hi, this was so good, give it a go. This volume was so good, but I can also gather from this volume that it's only going to get better.
4/5 stars
Hi, this was so good, give it a go. This volume was so good, but I can also gather from this volume that it's only going to get better.
Why, the fuck, did I wait until 2019 to read this book
5/5 stars (obviously)
So this definitely lived up to its reputation. Like, it surpassed its reputation.
I went into this book thinking it was about police violence against people of colour. HA was I wrong. Yeah, that's a big part of this story. But it talks about so much more than that and I wasn't prepared for the impact this would have on me.
I'm not the person to review this book for you. Instead I'm going to leave a book talk here for you to watch. It's not my place, but it is their's
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAvdSCGbJyI&t=316s
5/5 stars (obviously)
So this definitely lived up to its reputation. Like, it surpassed its reputation.
I went into this book thinking it was about police violence against people of colour. HA was I wrong. Yeah, that's a big part of this story. But it talks about so much more than that and I wasn't prepared for the impact this would have on me.
I'm not the person to review this book for you. Instead I'm going to leave a book talk here for you to watch. It's not my place, but it is their's
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAvdSCGbJyI&t=316s
Read this book
5/5 stars
This book is so important and has become my most annotated book of all time. There is so much feminist discussion in this. But probably my favourite part was all the talk around micro-aggressions. There are things that are so deeply ingrained into your psyche you don't even know that they hurt people. And God did I love that. There are also so many references to people/movements that I will absolutely be looking into and learning more about.
This book has so much:
- feminism
- actual definitions and terms for things
- fat rep
- POC MC
- romance that doesn't take over
- male feminists
- poetry
- art
- blog posts WITH comments
- challenged sexual assault
I wasn't prepared for all the representation and feelings. So many things I found relatable, especially with the fat rep. Things people wouldn't even think about if they hadn't experienced it themselves. It's a phenomenal book, pick it up.
5/5 stars
This book is so important and has become my most annotated book of all time. There is so much feminist discussion in this. But probably my favourite part was all the talk around micro-aggressions. There are things that are so deeply ingrained into your psyche you don't even know that they hurt people. And God did I love that. There are also so many references to people/movements that I will absolutely be looking into and learning more about.
This book has so much:
- feminism
- actual definitions and terms for things
- fat rep
- POC MC
- romance that doesn't take over
- male feminists
- poetry
- art
- blog posts WITH comments
- challenged sexual assault
I wasn't prepared for all the representation and feelings. So many things I found relatable, especially with the fat rep. Things people wouldn't even think about if they hadn't experienced it themselves. It's a phenomenal book, pick it up.