berrytown's reviews
174 reviews

Baptism of Fire by Andrzej Sapkowski

adventurous emotional funny tense medium-paced

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

4.75

the witcher at its best really. so much of geralt’s gruff tenderness is highlighted in this book. there is action, there is war, there is political intrigue! shockingly progressive discussions surrounding pregnancy and a woman’s right to choose… also emiel regis please call me! 

The Drowning Faith by R.F. Kuang

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

“Oh,  he thinks.  But history moves in such cruel circles." 

i will lay in the street thanks! 

The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-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

5.0

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

dark informative reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.25

as much a commentary on the pursuit of youth as it is on the importance and purpose of art told in prose that are so flowery it will make you feel like you are standing in a garden.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Antisemitism

Minor: Xenophobia

All of Our Demise by C.L. Herman, Amanda Foody

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

3.0

very meh sequel definitely was way too long and could have been around 50 pages shorter 

Brute: Poems by Emily Skaja

emotional reflective medium-paced

4.0

The Diviners by Libba Bray
Did not finish book. Stopped at 25%.

the setting here is very cool but not exactly novel. new york in the prohibition era has been done and i don’t see anything new being added within the confines of this series. i’m already a quarter in and it doesn’t look like it’s improving on that front so i am calling it quits here! 

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

adventurous dark emotional informative tense medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

R.F. KUANG THE WOMAN THAT YOU ARE!!!

A sweeping epic from start to finish. A harrowing tale of the brutal reality of warfare and it's impact on a nation and its civilians. This novel is unflinching with its depictions of violence. It begs the reader not to look away because like our protagonist; studying the cost of war and seeing its actual effects are night and day. The cast is compelling and due to the fact that they hail from different parts of this rich world they bring their own necessary perspective to the events unfolding.  The plot is so tight and well orchestrated it spans so much and everything that was included was needed in populating Rin's narrative arc. I could go on! But I won't since no one will read this but just wow. No lies were spoken THIS is how you write a debut novel. 

All of Us Villains by C.L. Herman, Amanda Foody

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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

4.0

rating this on my YA scale. the start was so strong but it started to lose its footing in the second act only to find it again. it definitely was camp as a match to the death can be. also, i can tell these two authors definitely went to the v.e. schwab school of vicious (affectionate) 

Selected Poems: Keats by John Keats
Did not finish book.

keats bestie you may be too dramatic even for me. i see the appeal here i get the vision but i finally, well and truly understand, what someone means when throw around keatsian as a descriptor now. this man is truly a repository of every classical myth reference known to man i will give him that the footnotes were footnoting.