bea_reads_books's reviews
343 reviews

Fireheart Tiger by Aliette de Bodard

emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Blood and Injury/Injury detail

Ophie's Ghosts by Justina Ireland

emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad

4.25

Darkstalker by Tui T. Sutherland

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Chasing the Prophecy by Brandon Mull

adventurous emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.25

All Systems Red by Martha Wells

dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.75

I’ve been told I would love this, and boy were you right Tif. Murderbot is a partially-organic security unit for a survey team on another planet. It has hacked its own software and has secretly gone rogue, but still does its job because it likes its humans. There is a thriller/mystery element, and Murderbot is so incredibly relatable. Some might not, but I personally absolutely loved the ending and I’m very curious to learn more about this futuristic sci-fi world. I will definitely be continuing the series (they are quick reads; the audiobooks are only about three hours each)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail

The Wicked Unseen by Gigi Griffis

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

The Bone Garden by Heather Kassner

emotional hopeful mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.5

Murder in the Family by Cara Hunter

tense fast-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

Originally I expected to give this book three stars, because it seems to be trying to make a point about the way true crime media often re-traumatizes victims and crosses boundaries in the pursuit of sensationalism. However it did not do this well, and that aspect fell flat. I bumped off another half star about half way through because of the casual sprinklings of racism/copaganda and zionism throughout, but it was the last 15% of the book that really pissed me off and caused me to put it at 2 stars. The end of this book is so disgustingly ableist, makes absolutely no fucking sense, and heavily leans into the demonization of mental heath conditions/trauma. It reinforces the idea that trauma makes people violent to the point of senseless murder. I am so angry right now, the book had a really great ending all mapped out, a road it could’ve taken, and instead it did exactly the same nasty shit that true crime tv so often does (which is ironic considering the author seemed to be *trying* to make a point about that).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Drug use, Infidelity, Racism, Blood, Dementia, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Hate crime, Homophobia, and Car accident

Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology by Shane Hawk, Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense

4.25

The Winglets Quartet: The First Four Stories by Tui T. Sutherland

adventurous emotional mysterious sad 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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury