agrandreflection's reviews
527 reviews

Julia by Sandra Newman

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

Immortal Longings by Chloe Gong

3.75

Gender Heretics: Evangelicals, Feminists, and the Alliance Against Trans Liberation by Rebecca Jane Morgan

challenging hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

4.75

Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman

challenging dark hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

How is this a classic? I have never seen so much subversive feminine power subsumed into toxic patriarchal bullshit. 

This is not the feminine empowerment I'm looking for. This is homesteading through folk cures to appease your sex craved husband (who is only slightly less problematic than the literal murderer you may or may not have escaped from).

I get that it's a bit of a product of it's time, but geez. This is not empowering. This upholds limiting gender norms, and has a small view of what thriving looks like for men and women alike. Hell, for all the romance littered throughout, it's also got a miniscule vision of love itself. We deserve better examples than this. 


One extra star for the good use of lightning as metaphor tho.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Rape

Ascension by Nicholas Binge

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

The Body Is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love by Sonya Renee Taylor

hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

Witch King by Martha Wells

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense 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

3.5

Embodied Activism: Engaging the Body to Cultivate Liberation, Justice, and Authentic Connection--A Practical Handbook for Transformative Social Change by Rae Johnson

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

4.5

The First Bright Thing by J.R. Dawson

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

4.5