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ariel937's reviews
477 reviews
Out of Body by Jeffrey Ford
3.0
i read this within 2 hours. it was really fast paced and interesting, and i really wanted to read until the end to find out what happens. this is a really strange but interesting book, and not at all what i expected. i anticipated this to be more horror, and while there are horror elements in it, it’s more like an action-horror (if that makes sense?)
while this is a good short story, i wonder if it being longer would have helped develop it more. i wish we got more information about the characters, and at times it felt like one weird thing would happen after the other, throwing it all on the wall to see what sticks. but i think this was a quick, interesting story to get my horror fix.
while this is a good short story, i wonder if it being longer would have helped develop it more. i wish we got more information about the characters, and at times it felt like one weird thing would happen after the other, throwing it all on the wall to see what sticks. but i think this was a quick, interesting story to get my horror fix.
Dance with a Vampire by Ellen Schreiber
3.0
yep. worst book in the series lol. i truly TRULY did not care about valentine and it’s obvious that this book is entirely a set up, but i don’t really care what the author will do with him. idk. (also why do i still kiiiind of ship trevor and raven? tbh i really want them to be endgame lol)
To Stir the Heart: Four African Stories by Bessie Head, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o
this was an interesting collection of short stories from two prominent African writers. if i didn’t read this for a class on post-colonialism, i wouldn’t have ever read this and i’m glad i did - i would highly recommend this!
The Coffin Club by Ellen Schreiber
3.0
ok yeah now i’m definitely losing steam. these books just aren’t INTERESTING to me anymore lol and def not as funny. i mean this one is marginally better than the previous book, but not by a lot. now i feel like completing this series just out of spite
Breath, Eyes, Memory by Edwidge Danticat
i was surprised by how emotional this book was. i wasn’t very impressed with the writing or the sequence of events (it all felt very removed from the reader) but the character were very strong and lively. as this deals with themes of generational trauma and rape, i would tread lightly. but this was a quick book that i’m glad to have read.
And the Trees Crept In by Dawn Kurtagich
3.0
i’m going to admit that if i hadn’t listened to this on audio, i might not have liked it as much. the audio is AMAZING. and seriously so so creepy. the weird formatting thats apparently in this book is extremely well executed and made it very difficult to sleep at night
Burn Our Bodies Down by Rory Power
4.0
this book was incredible. i wasn’t immediately sucked into the story until about halfway through, but the creativity and creepiness was engrossing. while this isn’t a favorite, it definitely made an impression on me.
A Heart of Blood and Ashes by Milla Vane
4.0
this was, like, REALLY really good. this is a really gritty, powerful, and wonderfully told romance that it a sloooow burn. like up there with mariana zapata except with like...hella fantasy and gore lol. and while i don't normally talk about trigger warnings, i will say this has a LOT in here, and you can find a full list of them here: http://millavane.com/books/content-warning/ as someone who is comfortable reading most things, it didn't bother me and actually made this world even more interesting. i really commend milla vane for creating this super complex and detailed world - you can really feel the love and care she has for this series.
honestly, the reason why this is a 4 star books and not 5 is that i felt kind of...stupid reading this book, lol. i'd say i was confused and skimmed about a fifth of it. while i found the politics and world SUPER fascinating, i couldn't retain a lot of it and i felt slightly overwhelmed by it all - especially if i set it down for a few days and had to just go along with whatever was happening bc i couldn't remember it all lmao. this isn't a fault of the author at all, but if you're like me and don't read a lot of hard fantasy (is this hard fantasy?? idk but it felt like it lol. maybe medium fantasy?) then be prepared to be just a little bit confused for most of the journey. (and that's probably why it took me so long to read this.) the writing was also a little much sometimes - this is a *barbarian* fantasy romance, so some of the language can be expected but i couldn't keep myself from laughing at some of the, um, words chosen for the sex scenes. but y'know. horny warriors and such.
BUT the relationship between yvenne and maddek really made it worth it. yvenne especially is such a wonderful and strong character. not that maddek wasn't, but i was always kind of bored when it came to his chapters and every time i found out something new about yvenne, she grew to be even more interesting. i'd honestly read a whole series about these two, and i'm kinda bummed this is one of those series where each book is a different relationship lol. i'm not that interested in the sequel, but might read it anyways because even though the overarching plot of the series was difficult to follow, it was super interesting and i want to see what will happen next!
honestly, the reason why this is a 4 star books and not 5 is that i felt kind of...stupid reading this book, lol. i'd say i was confused and skimmed about a fifth of it. while i found the politics and world SUPER fascinating, i couldn't retain a lot of it and i felt slightly overwhelmed by it all - especially if i set it down for a few days and had to just go along with whatever was happening bc i couldn't remember it all lmao. this isn't a fault of the author at all, but if you're like me and don't read a lot of hard fantasy (is this hard fantasy?? idk but it felt like it lol. maybe medium fantasy?) then be prepared to be just a little bit confused for most of the journey. (and that's probably why it took me so long to read this.) the writing was also a little much sometimes - this is a *barbarian* fantasy romance, so some of the language can be expected but i couldn't keep myself from laughing at some of the, um, words chosen for the sex scenes. but y'know. horny warriors and such.
BUT the relationship between yvenne and maddek really made it worth it. yvenne especially is such a wonderful and strong character. not that maddek wasn't, but i was always kind of bored when it came to his chapters and every time i found out something new about yvenne, she grew to be even more interesting. i'd honestly read a whole series about these two, and i'm kinda bummed this is one of those series where each book is a different relationship lol. i'm not that interested in the sequel, but might read it anyways because even though the overarching plot of the series was difficult to follow, it was super interesting and i want to see what will happen next!
We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo
this was really good - it’s surprised me how much i enjoyed it. the audiobook was great, and i would recommend this to readers who want to learn more about immigrant experience, diaspora, and sacrifices immigrants have made for their families to have a better life. (definitely some parts in here i want to shove into peoples hands and make them read!)