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atlas_shruggs's reviews
252 reviews
Where the Drowned Girls Go by Seanan McGuire
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
If there's one thing I've learned in my years of reading this series, is that if you don't love a character or storyline, you just haven't gotten to know it well enough. Reading this book made me have a new appreciation for Cora as a character, and made me genuinely interested in reading Across the Green Grass Fields again, even though it has been my least favourite book so far. Cora also bugged me a bit in Beneath the Sugar Sky since it seemed like her entire character was being fat, but reading this book definitely changed my mind on that. As a fat person myself I've always had a hard time finding a good depiction of fatness in media, but this book did it beautifully; Cora's past issues with her body were written so well and so realistically. It also wasn't her biggest personality trait in this story which I liked, though of course her struggles with body image issues were still a central point in her story.
I also loved seeing the effect the Moors had on Cora. So far we've only seen the effect the Moors had on Jack and Jill, who are both already morbid personalities who clearly belong there. Cora however is scarred by her short stay there, and I felt that really emphasized the fact that the doors are not necessarily doors to good or perfect places but rather to your perfect place.
Overall I can't wait for the next book in the series to come out, and I'm still holding out hope for Kade's story to be published soon.
I also loved seeing the effect the Moors had on Cora. So far we've only seen the effect the Moors had on Jack and Jill, who are both already morbid personalities who clearly belong there. Cora however is scarred by her short stay there, and I felt that really emphasized the fact that the doors are not necessarily doors to good or perfect places but rather to your perfect place.
Overall I can't wait for the next book in the series to come out, and I'm still holding out hope for Kade's story to be published soon.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting
Spy x Family, Vol. 2 by Tatsuya Endo
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Police brutality
Nothing But Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cursing, Drug use, and Alcohol
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Reading this again after so long felt like dipping myself in a bathtub filled with pure serotonin. I read the entire series originally when I was around thirteen (so about eight years ago now) and I remembered absolutely loving it at the time. This series along with The Chronicles of Vladimir Todd and Fang Girl were my jam back in the day, and with the upcoming tv series adaption (along with crushing finals depression) I thought it was time to revisit it. And oh boy. I smiled so much while reading this book, I completely emptied my highlighter and ran out of tabs before I even finished it. This was the perfect companion to my finals studying, and it made me even more excited for the upcoming series.
Since it had been so long I'd also forgotten a lot of the plot points in here, like the gang's side-quest to get Ares' shield and the waterbed emporium. I also loved the subtle foreshadowing and the way Rick writes Percy's character. The only thing I would personally change is the slight fatphobia towards Clarisse, she is the only character who is described as fat and she is frequently called ugly. But other than that, this is an excellent book that I recommend to anyone looking for some serotonin.
Since it had been so long I'd also forgotten a lot of the plot points in here, like the gang's side-quest to get Ares' shield and the waterbed emporium. I also loved the subtle foreshadowing and the way Rick writes Percy's character. The only thing I would personally change is the slight fatphobia towards Clarisse, she is the only character who is described as fat and she is frequently called ugly. But other than that, this is an excellent book that I recommend to anyone looking for some serotonin.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Car accident, Abandonment, and War
Minor: Body shaming, Child death, and Fatphobia
Spy x Family, Vol. 1 by Tatsuya Endo
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I needed this. This whole volume is just the adorable family fluff that is the anime and I loved it so much. I definitely recommend reading this if you're in need of a warm hug, which I definitely am seeing that it's finals season for me. I really love the contrast between Yor and Loid when they're in work mode vs when they're with Anya, and Anya of course is just adorable. I also really hope they do end up becoming an official family, but I do like them being each other's found family as well. Can't wait to read more volumes and catch up on the anime!
If I Could Reach You, Volume 1 by tMnR
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
3.5
This was a really well written start to a series I can definitely see myself continuing in. I always find myself looking for more well-made sapphic manga, and so far this one definitely qualifies. It's one of the few ones I've found where the characters don't seem overtly homophobic (although this might change in future volumes), but I'm not sure how I feel about the whole age-gap romance with a splash of possible cheating. I suppose I will keep you posted as I continue on in the series.
This was a really well written start to a series I can definitely see myself continuing in. I always find myself looking for more well-made sapphic manga, and so far this one definitely qualifies. It's one of the few ones I've found where the characters don't seem overtly homophobic (although this might change in future volumes), but I'm not sure how I feel about the whole age-gap romance with a splash of possible cheating. I suppose I will keep you posted as I continue on in the series.
Twisted Love by Ana Huang
dark
emotional
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I never thought I would actually pick up this series, but here we are. I did fully pick this up on a whim at the library and I ended up really liking it. The story was fairly interesting and I liked the "brother's best friend" trope more than I expected.
Alex did annoy me quite a bit with his overly possessive act, and I say that as someone who just read Haunting Adeline. I still don't really like him but I liked the writing and romance enough to want to continue the series.
The spicy scenes were top-tier, but I wish there had been more of them.
Alex did annoy me quite a bit with his overly possessive act, and I say that as someone who just read Haunting Adeline. I still don't really like him but I liked the writing and romance enough to want to continue the series.
The spicy scenes were top-tier, but I wish there had been more of them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Violence, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Death of parent
Saga, Vol. 10 by Brian K. Vaughan
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
fast-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? Yes
5.0
God I missed this series. I've been waiting for so long that honestly this could've been one page and I would have been happy. But jesus was this good. And sad. And it made me very angry. But I really liked it. And now I need Vol. 11 so that's great. I'm gonna go cry now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Racism, Sexual content, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Minor: Rape
Saga, Vol. 6 by Brian K. Vaughan
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
fast-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? Yes
4.0
Re-read in preparation for Saga Vol. 10
Ahhh Hazel's incarceration period, how I love it. Honestly one of my favourite volumes so far, I really loved getting to meet Petrichor and seeing IV grow closer to the family, but the ending really made me tear up when they had to leave Klara behind. Seeing Marco and Alana work together again was also such a relief.
Ahhh Hazel's incarceration period, how I love it. Honestly one of my favourite volumes so far, I really loved getting to meet Petrichor and seeing IV grow closer to the family, but the ending really made me tear up when they had to leave Klara behind. Seeing Marco and Alana work together again was also such a relief.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, and War
Moderate: Racism and Transphobia
Saga, Vol. 5 by Brian K. Vaughan
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
fast-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? Yes
4.0
Re-read in preparation for Saga Vol. 10
Now this is where things get INTENSE, sheesh. I absolutely tore through this one, it was so good, the writing was amazing and the art beautiful as always, and the story is really starting to piece together beautifully.
Now this is where things get INTENSE, sheesh. I absolutely tore through this one, it was so good, the writing was amazing and the art beautiful as always, and the story is really starting to piece together beautifully.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Blood, and Classism