athenezadam's reviews
174 reviews

What the Dead Know by Nghi Vo

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.0

In What the Dead Know, a woman posing as a medium comes face to face with the dead. This is a classic, atmospheric ghost story, but the plot needs more detail, and is too slimmed for a short story.

The Six Deaths of the Saint by Alix E. Harrow

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The Six Deaths of the Saint is about a great warrior's personal cost of war. This powerful short story is beautifully written and explores sacrifice, loyalty, and love.

Serpent Sea by Maiya Ibrahim

adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

In Serpent Sea, two warriors must save their home from an invasion after the magical enchantment that hid them from the world is defeated. There are two points of view. The female protagonist becomes less interesting in this installment while the male protagonist has excellent depth. The fantasy world is immersive with imaginative monsters, and the ending creates an expectation of more monsters in the next book. The story's pacing dulls at times due to excessive description. This is a good story though it requires some patience.

Fledgling by S.K. Ali

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Fledgling takes place in a dystopia where rebels disrupt a royal wedding that will kick off a tyrannical infusion of technology to reunite a fractured Earth. The world building in this novel is phenomenal, laid out in a way that makes complicated politics and twists learned through varying perspectives easy to understand. The characters are all engaging and multidimensional. This is a terrific first part of a duology.

Misfortune Gilded in Greed by Chantel Burnham, Chantel Burnham

adventurous dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

Misfortune Gilded in Greed is about a girl who makes a deal with her family's embittered leprechaun, to rescue her parents in exchange for the leprechaun's freedom. This magical fantasy is a fun adventure though the book becomes darker as it progresses. The main character's perspective is appropriately written as an inexperienced teenager, and the leprechaun is a dynamic personality who is fun to read.

She Who Knows by Nnedi Okorafor

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

She Who Knows is about the first female salt miner, whose presence on the road changes her village and family. The African mythology and fantasy carries this novella. The gender roles and implications are interesting to read, and the protagonist is great character. But the ending of this tale is rushed.

A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

In A Sorceress Comes to Call, a girl's cruel, sorceress mother attempts to lure a wealthy Squire into marriage, while his sister tries to save him from bewitchment and save the terrified daughter. All of the characters are exceptionally written, each of them unique and worth rooting for. The sorceress and her magic are unsettling, and the horse is particularly disturbing. This is a dark gothic fantasy that is delightful to read.

All Systems Red by Martha Wells

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.0

All Systems Red is about a rogue AI security bot that protects a team of scientists on a distant planet when a neighbouring mission goes dark. The AI bot is a hilariously realistic, unmotivated employee, and its characterization is consistent and fulsome. The dynamic between the bot and the crew is nicely developed. The plot is engaging. This is a quick, fun read.

Ghost Station by S.A. Barnes

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

In Ghost Station, a psychologist must survive an ancient abandoned planet, where all members of the crew are keeping secrets. The blurb is somewhat misleading, as the events of the novel take much longer than indicated. Also, the story is more mystery than horror, but this is subjective. There are good clues throughout the mystery. The characters are generally interesting and the main character's arc is adequate. The most insightful aspects of her character are her psychological assessments of the crew as well as well-timed revelations about her past.

The Truth of the Aleke by Moses Ose Utomi

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The Truth of the Aleke is about a Junior Peacekeeper in the Forever Desert's last free city, who tries to defend his home from the Aleke, a Cult that has attempted to invade the city for three centuries. The storytelling in this dark fantasy novella is as compelling as the first in the series, exploring truth, power, and manipulation through the eyes of a flawed hero. The story is masterfully woven with the events of the first novella. This is a brilliant, gut-wrenching read.