apollo0325's reviews
380 reviews

The Apothecary Diaries, Volume 1 by Itsuki Nanao, Nekokurage, Natsu Hyuuga

funny informative mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

This manga is genuinely so funny and I love a man that simps so hard for someone. Maomao is a rabid icon 💖 we stan!!

Come Closer by Sara Gran

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

I flew through this audiobook because it is so short and was an easy to digest horror. However, I felt the emotional connection to Amanda, Ed, and their overall relationship lackluster as the climax really hits IF you feel an ounce of anything for either of them. Amanda might be possessed, might not be. Ed might be a demanding husband, might just be tired of his wife’s erratic behavior.

I think for this being released in 2003, it was  doing stuff other horror authors didn’t want to touch since we had the Exorcist to fill the void of demonic possession stories BUT I think now, something like A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay did the concept better.

Heart, Haunt, Havoc by Freydís Moon
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.

Noting to myself that Freydis Moon racebaited as a trans Latine author when they’re actually white and have done this under multiple pseudonyms. Yellowface wasn’t a manual, bestie 🫡

The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward

dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

Just finished but going to come back to this review and maybe adjust star ratings (currently a 3)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Violence, Animal death, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Blood, Child death, Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Death, and Mental illness

Moderate: Alcoholism and Medical content

There are a lot of potentially triggering material

including the description of a hanging (suicide), injury/burn descriptions, child abuse, starvation, death, death of a child (dead child's body described), and as a MAJOR PLOT POINT, dissociative identity disorder (I do not have DID so I cannot speak to the authenticity of it - the author's afterword describes her research on DID).

If you're afraid of snakes, one of the narrators has a severe fear of snakes and will constantly describe snakes.

Ignore the Dead by Jay Sizemore
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.

Adding a note to myself because this author wrote r*pe poems about women poets. He also made a burner account burning one of his author arcs of one of his titles and stitched it on his main account to garner sympathy. Absolutely pathetic and disgusting all around. 🤮

The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.

Opting to refuse to read this author as they support Israel. Unfortunate because I was looking forward to reading this one.

Supermutant Magic Academy by Jillian Tamaki
Did not finish book. Stopped at 11%.

I picked this up a bit ago and just never felt compelled to pick it back up.

Lumberjanes, Vol. 2: Friendship to the Max by Grace Ellis, ND Stevenson

adventurous funny mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Wasn’t expecting a sudden Greek mythology interlude but it’s a queer series so it’s to be expected LOL I really enjoyed this and Ripley continues to be my big fave. Also sapphics stay winning with Mal and Molly 💖

The Invisible Man and His Soon-to-Be Wife Vol. 1 by IWATOBINEKO

funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

Overall, I enjoyed the love story happening between the main couple and I like their mutual understanding of their difference in physicalities, but I hate fantasy racism (white elves vs dark elves) and emphasizing stereotypes of dark skinned people (being overly flirty and sexual). When they’re the only dark skinned character around, it falls into a stereotype. I hesitate continuing only because the kind of stuff really infuriates me :(

The Ice Guy and His Cool Female Colleague, Volume 1 by Miyuki Tonogaya

funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

An absolute banger. Really fun and funny with a nice, light supernatural element. The art is GORGEOUS!!! I can’t wait to grab more volumes.