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askoda's reviews
155 reviews
Luxe in Between by Cara Blaine
Not so sure about Romantasy? It’s ok me neither. Well, that was until I read Luxe in Between. Blaine has created a slow burn love triangle that is perfect for getting your toes wet with this booming genre.
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Not so sure about Romantasy? It’s ok me neither. Well, that was until I read Luxe in Between. Blaine has created a slow burn love triangle that is perfect for getting your toes wet with this booming genre.
There was magic, there was wonder, there was of course some spice and I was here for it.
Embedded into the world of fae, witches, evil queens, and miss Luxe was one layer after another of believability and relatability. Somehow, I found similarities in the magic riddled characters.
But what Blaine did was create a world where everyone has something to offer. There’s this sense of empowerment while reading because of the tenacity and well stubbornness of Luxe. In a way, Blaine highlights through her story how important it is to see your own worth and to embrace your unique abilities.
I’m excited to see what happens next for Luxe!
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Warning: this book was first published in 2007 and has some outdated/offensive language
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Warning: this book was first published in 2007 and has some outdated/offensive language
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian brings attention to the vast differences between mainstream Americana and reservation life.
It’s a fairly quick read and simplistic in the verbiage. Honestly, there were several major points that Alexie made that were valuable. That being said, this was all told in a very simplistic point of view- as if a teen boy can’t dig deeper than the surface.
Despite Junior’s surface level interactions and musings, there was a lot to unpack. It’s quite possible that his blasé perspective was part of the point. Alexie makes it so secret that the hardships Junior faces are old news when it comes to the history of reservation life.
In the end, it’s still worth the read. There are still things that we as a nation could improve on greatly and if anything… we could look to this novel for the first steps.
A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
Full disclosure, I’ve now read this twice so this review may be long winded.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Full disclosure, I’ve now read this twice so this review may be long winded.
Besides the fact that Libba Bray beautifully paints a romanticized “century cusp” tale, she masterfully rigs this YA fantasy with fierce social commentary. Every page seemed to drip with prose.
As a teen, I picked up quickly on how Bray danced between the grotesque and the beautiful. Without giving too much away, Gemma reveals through her time at Spence and discovering The Order that you simply cannot have one without the other.
Darkness surrounds us whether or not we acknowledge it.
Now on this second go around, I found myself immersed in Gemma’s world all over again and not wanting to leave. Stuck between what society expects of her and her own wants and needs, Gemma dangerously toggles between the two worlds hoping to gain the acceptance she desires. And in a way, her journey is not unlike ours because of this.
There’s political undertones, socioeconomic walls, and a strong dosage of societal criticism. Everything and everyone have a role to play and just like our world, there are many powers in Gemma’s world that are trying to keep everyone in their place.
In addition to this, I love how Bray uses every minute detail that she could to express the restraint and the longing each girl feels throughout the novel. Like I said, this novel is loaded with prose and loaded intentions. Just like the fantastical world Gemma finds herself exploring.
So, if you’re looking for fantasy, a hint of romance, danger, or some incredible observations on society… this book is for you.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Self harm, Suicide, Death of parent
Circe by Madeline Miller
Circe was a wonderful story heavy with the intricacies of Greek Mythology.
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Circe was a wonderful story heavy with the intricacies of Greek Mythology.
Were there a lot of names to keep track of? Yea. Were there literally thousands of years to trace and recount? Absolutely!
What I personally loved about Miller’s retelling of Circe’s story was how human she made her. Every page dripped of the very same desires we feel in our lives. In fact, I feel that they were exasperated by the sheer length of Circe’s existence.
Instead of showing a glowing and indestructible daughter, Miller traced the curves and curls of every insecurity and despair Circe held.
It’s what made me root for her- I wanted her to find herself just as much as her father wanted to exile her. What isn’t more human than that?
The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop
Kelly Bishop pleasantly surprised me with her memoir!
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.75
Kelly Bishop pleasantly surprised me with her memoir!
As an avid Gilmore Girls fan, her character Emily was someone who I loved to… loved to… wonder about. She was so dynamic and the way Bishop brought her to life mesmerized me.
Admittedly, I purchased this book to read with my mom for nostalgic purposes. Opening up the pages, my heart was hopeful that Bishop would gush about the ins and outs of Emily Gilmore.
That’s not what’s in this memoir.
Yes, she touches on her time on the set of Gilmore Girls but honestly, it’s not the focus. There is so much more to Bishop and it would’ve been a disservice to her incredible journey if she only focused on one part. Though I will say that the reason why she was drawn to Ms. Gilmore really reflected the incredible woman she is.
Instead, she focuses on her entire career and everything that encompasses it.
With grace and gratitude, Bishop displays how humble she is with every word she writes. Bishop is classy, sassy, and one vivacious human being.
Diary of an Oxygen Thief by Anonymous
5.0
Hook line and sink. Complete honesty, with little tact. This is truly a story that shows the darker side of humans and how far we go for the things we desire.... regardless of the other people around us. It's straight to the point and darker than the surface. I can't wait to read the next few books and explore deeper into the mind of"Anonymous".