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azaleas_bouquet's reviews
34 reviews
Bang Bang! you're dead by William Mastrosimone
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mass/school shootings and Violence
A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-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
Prince of Lust by Lucien Burr
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
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
4.75
Outdrawn by Deanna Grey
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
medium-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
4.5
This book was ADORABLE!! As someone who 1) doesn’t usually read romance and 2) gets picky when she does read romance, I was blown out of the water with this book!
I loved Sage and Noah as protagonists separately, so it was just that much sweeter when they came together and formed an amazing duo. The focus on their individual flaws and shortcomings was nice, and made everything feel so driven. There were moments of this novel that felt like character studies (and I LOVE a good character study). Their banter was quick and witty—it walked that fine line between teasing that made me believe they hated each other but not so mean that I no longer root for them perfectly. Both of them just felt so real. They had their moments, but nothing unrealistically melodramatic. Miscommunications felt like they had a point. Honestly, there was never a dull moment in the book. I was fully invested the whole time, and I was having fun the whole time! Highly recommend this, 5 stars!
I loved Sage and Noah as protagonists separately, so it was just that much sweeter when they came together and formed an amazing duo. The focus on their individual flaws and shortcomings was nice, and made everything feel so driven. There were moments of this novel that felt like character studies (and I LOVE a good character study). Their banter was quick and witty—it walked that fine line between teasing that made me believe they hated each other but not so mean that I no longer root for them perfectly. Both of them just felt so real. They had their moments, but nothing unrealistically melodramatic. Miscommunications felt like they had a point. Honestly, there was never a dull moment in the book. I was fully invested the whole time, and I was having fun the whole time! Highly recommend this, 5 stars!
Three Kings by Freydís Moon
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
The Teras Trials by Lucien Burr
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This. Was. AMAZING.
All of the were so intriguing, I was the edge of my seat the entire second half of the book! Cassius' internal monologue is so rich, I was so invested in his character the entire way through. The author strikes a balance between the mythical plot aspects of the book and the real, relatable character aspects that had me so interested both all the way through. I can't sit here and list ever single amazing thing about this body so I'm just gonna rapid list a bunch my to you to this.
Beautiful prose and writing style that explains both the emotional moments and the other-worldly plot moments well I was new and always intrigued. General air of mystery about absolutely everything and everyone. Social commentary on academia, institutional religion, self preservation in the face of harsh society. Painfully relatable trauma and trauma responses. So much other stuff too.
I’m so hype for the rest of the series!!
All of the were so intriguing, I was the edge of my seat the entire second half of the book! Cassius' internal monologue is so rich, I was so invested in his character the entire way through. The author strikes a balance between the mythical plot aspects of the book and the real, relatable character aspects that had me so interested both all the way through. I can't sit here and list ever single amazing thing about this body so I'm just gonna rapid list a bunch my to you to this.
Beautiful prose and writing style that explains both the emotional moments and the other-worldly plot moments well I was new and always intrigued. General air of mystery about absolutely everything and everyone. Social commentary on academia, institutional religion, self preservation in the face of harsh society. Painfully relatable trauma and trauma responses. So much other stuff too.
I’m so hype for the rest of the series!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Homophobia and Child abuse
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Xenophobia
Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu by Mokumokuren
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I read this because James Somerton made a video about it. I started the video, and then about halfway through I stopped because I knew I wanted to read it for myself first, and I’m glad I did.
The layout of this manga is genuinely so beautiful. Aesthetically, yes, but it also serves its purpose. It adds to much to the story and emotion in a way I can’t see happening in other mediums like anime or novels. (TBH, it kinda of reminds me of Chainsaw Man, except less comedic and more focused on character-centric emotional builds than plot-centric emphatic moments.) Even as someone who knows literally nothing about art, I can say without a doubt that the style of the art and layout is one of the standout qualities of this manga.
That’s not to say the other elements were lacking, however. This volume set such a good foundation, and I’m excited to see how all the loose threads are going to get tied up. I was immediately invested in the characters, especially in Toshiki’s internal conflict and the desperation of the titular Hikaru. The horror elements of this manga are also astounding. They were so perfectly timed, and got some genuine gasps out of me. The body horror with Hikaru is the perfect balance between intriguing and unsettling, and the off-putting formatting of the manga during the sections focused on Toshiki reminded me that horror doesn’t necessarily have to be in an external plot device, but just in the manner in which something is presented. I really feel like these are characters than can carry a series, and all the side characters also have me intrigued.
Overall, I would highly recommend this manga. It’s intriguing, and it incorporates it’s horror elements with it’s teen angst emotional elements seamlessly. I’m excited to read the rest of this series.
The layout of this manga is genuinely so beautiful. Aesthetically, yes, but it also serves its purpose. It adds to much to the story and emotion in a way I can’t see happening in other mediums like anime or novels. (TBH, it kinda of reminds me of Chainsaw Man, except less comedic and more focused on character-centric emotional builds than plot-centric emphatic moments.) Even as someone who knows literally nothing about art, I can say without a doubt that the style of the art and layout is one of the standout qualities of this manga.
That’s not to say the other elements were lacking, however. This volume set such a good foundation, and I’m excited to see how all the loose threads are going to get tied up. I was immediately invested in the characters, especially in Toshiki’s internal conflict and the desperation of the titular Hikaru. The horror elements of this manga are also astounding. They were so perfectly timed, and got some genuine gasps out of me. The body horror with Hikaru is the perfect balance between intriguing and unsettling, and the off-putting formatting of the manga during the sections focused on Toshiki reminded me that horror doesn’t necessarily have to be in an external plot device, but just in the manner in which something is presented. I really feel like these are characters than can carry a series, and all the side characters also have me intrigued.
Overall, I would highly recommend this manga. It’s intriguing, and it incorporates it’s horror elements with it’s teen angst emotional elements seamlessly. I’m excited to read the rest of this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Death
Minor: Homophobia
The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Heartstopper Volume 1 by Alice Oseman
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.0