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ballgownsandbooks's reviews
59 reviews
Pandora by Susan Stokes-Chapman
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This... was an interesting one. It was definitely a compelling read, more and more so as it went along; the historical setting was delightfully detailed (disturbingly graphic at times, even); the writing itself was good; and Dora was easy to root for!
However - I'm not sure I can quite say I loved it. One one level, I think this book was just trying to do too much. The Author's Note says it was born out of several separate ideas that Susan Stokes-Chapman decided to put together, and I think it shows. This book is over 400 pages - it's not short - so it really shouldn't feel rushed or underdeveloped! But, several of the elements felt oddly disjointed or abrupt.
The romance, in particular, felt incredibly rushed and came totally out of nowhere: I spent almost the whole book convinced they were just going to end up as friends, and would have been completely satisfied with that - so the last-minute escalation (and a steep escalation at that) that showed up with no warning at all threw me completely off, which is not what you want at the 92%-mark!
Edward's backstory, while alluded to vaguely at several points, also felt underdeveloped and like it was just glossed over, shoehorned in at the end just for the sake of it, without the appropriate weight for the subject matter. I also felt quite removed from Edward himself, and couldn't fully get behind his perspective, and most of the side characters were pretty one-note too.
The mystery of the box, and the slight speculative element around whether or not myths and Greek gods actually exist, could have been really interesting, and there were really interesting seeds there - but unfortunately, I think overall that thread is let down by the number of other things happening around it, which stop it from being explored as fully as it could have been. The ambiguity of the ending also feels more 'unfinished' than 'deliberate choice'.
However - I'm not sure I can quite say I loved it. One one level, I think this book was just trying to do too much. The Author's Note says it was born out of several separate ideas that Susan Stokes-Chapman decided to put together, and I think it shows. This book is over 400 pages - it's not short - so it really shouldn't feel rushed or underdeveloped! But, several of the elements felt oddly disjointed or abrupt.
The romance, in particular, felt incredibly rushed and came totally out of nowhere: I spent almost the whole book convinced they were just going to end up as friends, and would have been completely satisfied with that - so the last-minute escalation (and a steep escalation at that) that showed up with no warning at all threw me completely off, which is not what you want at the 92%-mark!
Edward's backstory, while alluded to vaguely at several points, also felt underdeveloped and like it was just glossed over, shoehorned in at the end just for the sake of it, without the appropriate weight for the subject matter. I also felt quite removed from Edward himself, and couldn't fully get behind his perspective, and most of the side characters were pretty one-note too.
The mystery of the box, and the slight speculative element around whether or not myths and Greek gods actually exist, could have been really interesting, and there were really interesting seeds there - but unfortunately, I think overall that thread is let down by the number of other things happening around it, which stop it from being explored as fully as it could have been. The ambiguity of the ending also feels more 'unfinished' than 'deliberate choice'.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Gore, Blood, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Physical abuse
The Book Binder's Daughter by Jessica Thorne
mysterious
fast-paced
4.0
Hands down, the best thing about this book was the setting and the atmosphere: the mysterious, lightly magical vibe was so beautifully created, and the library felt like a real place that I could totally imagine myself in! I've also always been fascinated by the practice of bookbinding/restoration, so I found those details a lot of fun!
I'm always here for childhood friends to lovers too, so I loved Sophie and Will's relationship! I'm glad we got Will's POV too, which I hadn't been expecting: I connected emotionally with him in a way I didn't quite with Sophie, and I thought it was also an effective way to convey a bit more information about the library, compared with Sophie's absolute cluelessness.
Unfortunately, this book plays into one of my least favourite plot tropes: the 'this entire conflict could have been avoided if a piece of essential information had just been communicated to the main character!!' The reason for the secrets of the library being kept from Sophie were never explained in a way that felt satisfactory to me, which just made the entire plot a frustration, particularly as Sophie then kept blaming herself for everything that had gone wrong in the past twenty years, none of which was remotely her fault! Similarly, I think some of the reveals came a little too late, so that quite a lot of the worldbuilding and relationship moments ended up a little rushed as they had to be crammed into the end.
But even though it wasn't craft-wise the best-constructed book I've ever read, I did really enjoy it, and I am keen to read more of Jessica Thorne's writing now!
I'm always here for childhood friends to lovers too, so I loved Sophie and Will's relationship! I'm glad we got Will's POV too, which I hadn't been expecting: I connected emotionally with him in a way I didn't quite with Sophie, and I thought it was also an effective way to convey a bit more information about the library, compared with Sophie's absolute cluelessness.
Unfortunately, this book plays into one of my least favourite plot tropes: the 'this entire conflict could have been avoided if a piece of essential information had just been communicated to the main character!!' The reason for the secrets of the library being kept from Sophie were never explained in a way that felt satisfactory to me, which just made the entire plot a frustration, particularly as Sophie then kept blaming herself for everything that had gone wrong in the past twenty years, none of which was remotely her fault! Similarly, I think some of the reveals came a little too late, so that quite a lot of the worldbuilding and relationship moments ended up a little rushed as they had to be crammed into the end.
But even though it wasn't craft-wise the best-constructed book I've ever read, I did really enjoy it, and I am keen to read more of Jessica Thorne's writing now!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Grief and Death of parent
Minor: Death and Gun violence
Against White Feminism by Rafia Zakaria
I was just nodding along throughout almost this whole book: it's such a fantastic look at the history of systemic white feminism, and the ways in which white women's struggle to be equals of white men in a structurally white supremacist society must inherently involve the oppression of women (and all people) of colour; in particular I'd had no idea just how much of British and American women's suffrage in the early 20th century was positioned explicitly in opposition to rights for people of colour, both domestic and colonial.
The interrogation of the 'white saviour' narrative was especially wonderful, as well as the connections she draws between capitalism and white feminism, and the problems inherent in philanthropy and foreign aid. The chapter on how 'feminism' was used as an excuse to justify the invasion of Afghanistan (among countless other countries) was particularly brilliant and horribly timely.
My one major complaint was the chapter on sexual liberation, where it felt a little like Zakariya (perhaps in an attempt to distance herself from her 'conservative' Pakistani Muslim upbringing), in her rush to emphasise her belief that sexual liberation should be a part of the movement (just not the be all and end all of it), missed an opportunity to underscore that the choice NOT to have sex can be as much a powerful and liberating one as the choice to do so.
informative
medium-paced
4.0
"The story of feminism which our daughters learn tomorrow must be different from the one we know today. It is not enough for alternative narratives of women of colours simply to exist; they must actually influence the conetent and the course of the movement for gender parity."
"It is impossible for any change to occur unless white women, particularly older white women, let go of their paranoid belief that racial equality within the movement is some sort of surreptitious strategy to displace them."
I was just nodding along throughout almost this whole book: it's such a fantastic look at the history of systemic white feminism, and the ways in which white women's struggle to be equals of white men in a structurally white supremacist society must inherently involve the oppression of women (and all people) of colour; in particular I'd had no idea just how much of British and American women's suffrage in the early 20th century was positioned explicitly in opposition to rights for people of colour, both domestic and colonial.
The interrogation of the 'white saviour' narrative was especially wonderful, as well as the connections she draws between capitalism and white feminism, and the problems inherent in philanthropy and foreign aid. The chapter on how 'feminism' was used as an excuse to justify the invasion of Afghanistan (among countless other countries) was particularly brilliant and horribly timely.
My one major complaint was the chapter on sexual liberation, where it felt a little like Zakariya (perhaps in an attempt to distance herself from her 'conservative' Pakistani Muslim upbringing), in her rush to emphasise her belief that sexual liberation should be a part of the movement (just not the be all and end all of it), missed an opportunity to underscore that the choice NOT to have sex can be as much a powerful and liberating one as the choice to do so.
Between Sea and Sky by Nicola Penfold
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
3.75
It took me a while to get into this book, but by the end I was crying on public transport, so safe to say I was emotionally invested!
I think I was thrown by the tone at first: I wasn’t expecting the world to feel so much like a generic dystopian of the early 2010s - à la The Hunger Games, Divergent, etc. - and yet so imminently and terrifyingly realistic at the same time. And yet this book is so much more - and so much more important.
I also struggled with the characters at first, particularly Pearl and Clover. I felt for their predicament and I did understand and appreciate both of their perspectives, but I still found them both quite annoying in the beginning. However, as their friendship with Nat developed and they began to rediscover the wonders around them, I really grew to love them by the end!
This is a cautionary tale, but also a beautiful a story of hope and resilience and innocence.
I think I was thrown by the tone at first: I wasn’t expecting the world to feel so much like a generic dystopian of the early 2010s - à la The Hunger Games, Divergent, etc. - and yet so imminently and terrifyingly realistic at the same time. And yet this book is so much more - and so much more important.
I also struggled with the characters at first, particularly Pearl and Clover. I felt for their predicament and I did understand and appreciate both of their perspectives, but I still found them both quite annoying in the beginning. However, as their friendship with Nat developed and they began to rediscover the wonders around them, I really grew to love them by the end!
This is a cautionary tale, but also a beautiful a story of hope and resilience and innocence.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Death of parent
Minor: Alcoholism
Environmental collapse; family separation; incarceration
Dancing in the Mosque: An Afghan Mother's Letter to Her Son by Homeira Qaderi
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
This is an absolutely heartbreaking memoir chronicling Qaderi's childhood in Afghanistan, during first the Soviet-Afghan War and then the rise of the Taliban. She describes the atrocities experienced by her family and neighbours during this time, and also paints a fascinating and horrifying picture of the way extremism can infect an entire culture. Qaderi's strength and resilience shines through every chapter, but her desperation and grief is palpable too, making this an incredibly affecting and devastating read.
With regard to writing style and craft: the narration in the first few chapters is absolutely gorgeous and evocative - credit to both Qaderi and her initial translator, Vanisa Saffari - though I found the dialogue to be somewhat stilted and unnatural. The writing style in the later chapters also felt a little choppy; presumably a consequence of the fact that these were done by a different translator.
With regard to writing style and craft: the narration in the first few chapters is absolutely gorgeous and evocative - credit to both Qaderi and her initial translator, Vanisa Saffari - though I found the dialogue to be somewhat stilted and unnatural. The writing style in the later chapters also felt a little choppy; presumably a consequence of the fact that these were done by a different translator.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Violence
Moderate: Grief
Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I enjoyed this so much! I've always had quite a few issue with the fairytale that this is based on, so I was a little trepidatious at first, but Elizabeth Lim clearly has some of the same issues because she fixed them all, and this turned out to be a great story!
The characters were definitely my favourite thing. Though I found Shiori herself a little insufferable at first, I really appreciated her arc of learning the value of hard work and doing things for other people, and I loved the determined, resourceful and resilient girl she'd become by the end. I also ADORED Takkan - the softest of soft boys, and new fictional crush material for sure!
The focus on family was also wonderful, and I loved the way Shiori and her brothers love and look out for each other. I've always felt this story places a slightly unfair burden on the princess compared to the brothers, so I loved seeing them all work together to break the curse, and the way the love and support was so clearly shared and reciprocated equally between them all. (I will say I could have done with the individual brothers being a little more fleshed-out, as they all slightly blended together for me at times/only two or three of them really felt like they had developed personalities.)
On the other hand, I wasn't so keen on either the plot or the worldbuilding. I found some aspects of the mythology of the world quite confusing and under-developed; I sort of felt like there were too many different kinds of magic, with enchanters/sorcerers/demons/dragons all separate things, and not quite enough explanation given of any of them. In a similar vein, the motivations and aims of the various antagonists were never quite clear to me either. The stakes also never felt quite high enough. Or rather - the stakes were incredibly high, but something in the matter-of-fact tone of the narration meant I never really /felt/ the urgency or tension until right at the end.
Overall, not a perfect book but still a great read and a wonderful retelling, and I'm excited to see where the sequel goes (particularly as it seems to be promising much more in the way of explanations about dragon lore!)!
The characters were definitely my favourite thing. Though I found Shiori herself a little insufferable at first, I really appreciated her arc of learning the value of hard work and doing things for other people, and I loved the determined, resourceful and resilient girl she'd become by the end. I also ADORED Takkan - the softest of soft boys, and new fictional crush material for sure!
The focus on family was also wonderful, and I loved the way Shiori and her brothers love and look out for each other. I've always felt this story places a slightly unfair burden on the princess compared to the brothers, so I loved seeing them all work together to break the curse, and the way the love and support was so clearly shared and reciprocated equally between them all. (I will say I could have done with the individual brothers being a little more fleshed-out, as they all slightly blended together for me at times/only two or three of them really felt like they had developed personalities.)
On the other hand, I wasn't so keen on either the plot or the worldbuilding. I found some aspects of the mythology of the world quite confusing and under-developed; I sort of felt like there were too many different kinds of magic, with enchanters/sorcerers/demons/dragons all separate things, and not quite enough explanation given of any of them. In a similar vein, the motivations and aims of the various antagonists were never quite clear to me either. The stakes also never felt quite high enough. Or rather - the stakes were incredibly high, but something in the matter-of-fact tone of the narration meant I never really /felt/ the urgency or tension until right at the end.
Overall, not a perfect book but still a great read and a wonderful retelling, and I'm excited to see where the sequel goes (particularly as it seems to be promising much more in the way of explanations about dragon lore!)!
What Was Said to Me: The Life of Sti'tum'atul'wut, a Cowichan Woman by Ruby Peter
informative
medium-paced
This book is rambling and repetitive and at times confusing, and that's exactly the point. It's Sti'tum'atul'wut (Ruby Peter)'s story told in exactly her own words, as if she were telling you herself as different recollections come to her, and you can absolutely hear her voice and feel her personality coming through in a way that's much more personal than intentionally-written prose.
I have a hard time rating autobiographical work in general, and it feels even less appropriate to review this in the usual sense, given that even the 'writing style' and the flow of different anecdotes haven't been deliberately structured, but I will say that this is an incredibly important story that I'm glad is being shared. I learned so much about Cowichan ways and traditions, and there are so many lessons in Ruby's life that we can all apply to our own. The whole book is packed full of wisdom, and I highly recommend it!
I have a hard time rating autobiographical work in general, and it feels even less appropriate to review this in the usual sense, given that even the 'writing style' and the flow of different anecdotes haven't been deliberately structured, but I will say that this is an incredibly important story that I'm glad is being shared. I learned so much about Cowichan ways and traditions, and there are so many lessons in Ruby's life that we can all apply to our own. The whole book is packed full of wisdom, and I highly recommend it!
Miss Bennet's Dragon by M. Verant
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
As someone's who's read a LOT of online Austen fanfic, this felt so delightfully familiar! It definitely had its issues, and I would say it wasn't *quite* up to the standard I usually expect from a published book, but I still really enjoyed it overall!
The first two-thirds were a pretty faithful retelling, right down to a lot of the dialogue being Austen's own words, and I was really interested in the fantasy aspect and all the different types of draca! The changes it made to the original were all the things I get frustrated at in retellings usually too (Austen can get away with them but no one else seems to be able to!!): e.g. Mary has much more agency and she and Lizzy are much closer; and Lizzy gets suspicious of Wickham much earlier! The choice to make Lady Catherine own slave plantations in the Caribbean was an interesting one, too, though I do think it should have been explored a bit better if it was going to be included...
The last third takes a pretty sharp turn into full-on chosen-one-saving-the-world fantasy novel; from this point it's largely unrecognisable as Pride and Prejudice and almost feels like a different book altogether (Darcy in particular seems to develop an entirely new personality). I was intrigued enough by that point to stick with it and give it the benefit of the doubt, but I can definitely imagine it bothering me had I been in a different mood, and I can certainly see how it won't work for everyone!
So, although technically speaking it wasn't the best constructed book I've ever read, and it isn't something that will live in my feelings by any means, I did enjoy it for what it was, and I definitely will be reading the rest of the series!
The first two-thirds were a pretty faithful retelling, right down to a lot of the dialogue being Austen's own words, and I was really interested in the fantasy aspect and all the different types of draca! The changes it made to the original were all the things I get frustrated at in retellings usually too (Austen can get away with them but no one else seems to be able to!!): e.g. Mary has much more agency and she and Lizzy are much closer; and Lizzy gets suspicious of Wickham much earlier! The choice to make Lady Catherine own slave plantations in the Caribbean was an interesting one, too, though I do think it should have been explored a bit better if it was going to be included...
The last third takes a pretty sharp turn into full-on chosen-one-saving-the-world fantasy novel; from this point it's largely unrecognisable as Pride and Prejudice and almost feels like a different book altogether (Darcy in particular seems to develop an entirely new personality). I was intrigued enough by that point to stick with it and give it the benefit of the doubt, but I can definitely imagine it bothering me had I been in a different mood, and I can certainly see how it won't work for everyone!
So, although technically speaking it wasn't the best constructed book I've ever read, and it isn't something that will live in my feelings by any means, I did enjoy it for what it was, and I definitely will be reading the rest of the series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Minor: Mental illness and Suicide
Pride and Premeditation by Tirzah Price
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, and Murder
Minor: Racism and Sexual assault
All the Murmuring Bones by A.G. Slatter
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
3.0
This... was okay? Though I'm inclined to think the parts that didn't work for me were more of a 'it's me not you' problem.
The premise was interesting and Slatter's writing is certainly beautiful - and McMahon's narration is absolutely gorgeous too! But the story didn't really hook me: I didn't particularly care for Mirren or really get a feel for her wants and motivations beyond not wanting to get married, but she's definitely capable and stubborn, so I could see fans of the stereotypically 'strong', morally grey heroines enjoying her!
The story was also kind of... rambly? It didn't feel like there was really a driving arc (there's a reason why the synopsis is so vague, I guess) so it just sort of meandered along from one plot point to another. The jumps between chapters were also weird, with a lot of the action happening off-page and us just getting the aftermath, which threw me off a few times. Again, things that definitely won't bother everyone, but since I wasn't interested in Mirren, I needed to be able to be compelled by the plot!
The folklore elements were definitely intriguing and my favourite parts were the story-within-a-story fairytales from Mirren's childhood; also the writing style, as I've mentioned, really added to that Gothic fairytale vibe. I did feel like there were a few too many types of magic at times (witches, merpeople, kelpies, and this random magic automaton who shows up twice and doesn't really add anything to the plot?).
All in all, I think a good one for people who like atmospheric dark fantasy with mystery elements, morally grey main characters, and narration in a lovely Irish accent!
The premise was interesting and Slatter's writing is certainly beautiful - and McMahon's narration is absolutely gorgeous too! But the story didn't really hook me: I didn't particularly care for Mirren or really get a feel for her wants and motivations beyond not wanting to get married, but she's definitely capable and stubborn, so I could see fans of the stereotypically 'strong', morally grey heroines enjoying her!
The story was also kind of... rambly? It didn't feel like there was really a driving arc (there's a reason why the synopsis is so vague, I guess) so it just sort of meandered along from one plot point to another. The jumps between chapters were also weird, with a lot of the action happening off-page and us just getting the aftermath, which threw me off a few times. Again, things that definitely won't bother everyone, but since I wasn't interested in Mirren, I needed to be able to be compelled by the plot!
The folklore elements were definitely intriguing and my favourite parts were the story-within-a-story fairytales from Mirren's childhood; also the writing style, as I've mentioned, really added to that Gothic fairytale vibe. I did feel like there were a few too many types of magic at times (witches, merpeople, kelpies, and this random magic automaton who shows up twice and doesn't really add anything to the plot?).
All in all, I think a good one for people who like atmospheric dark fantasy with mystery elements, morally grey main characters, and narration in a lovely Irish accent!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Death
Moderate: Body horror, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder