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bisexualwentworth's reviews
764 reviews
Outdrawn by Deanna Grey
Did not finish book. Stopped at 17%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 17%.
Soft DNF. I like the characters and the premise but I'm not super engaged so far. Might try again some other time.
Her Majesty's Royal Coven by Juno Dawson
- 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
4.5
This book absolutely exists as a response to Harry Potter in a “fuck you JKR” sort of way, and I mean this very much as a compliment. It’s a British fantasy novel set in a modern world with a hidden magical society. There are a few other similarities in the worldbuilding as well (government, history, etc.), though Dawson has evidently thought about most aspects of her magical world much more than Rowling ever has.
Her Mejesty’s Royal Coven, however, is a story that subverts and plays with these concepts in ways that are a direct result of common critiques of both Rowling and her novels. The characters and the text interrogate magic supremacy, magic gender essentialism, and real-world white supremacy and transphobia as central parts of the story.
I love that the main characters here are in their thirties and that the teens are firmly secondary characters. I LOVED what Dawson did with prophecies. I was compelled by all of the plotlines (though I’m definitely hoping for more Leonie in the sequels), and the ending absolutely made me lose my mind.
It was rough around the edges in some places, and the beginning was definitely VERY slow, but I would absolutely recommend this modern adult pro-trans witch novel and look forward to continuing the series.
Her Mejesty’s Royal Coven, however, is a story that subverts and plays with these concepts in ways that are a direct result of common critiques of both Rowling and her novels. The characters and the text interrogate magic supremacy, magic gender essentialism, and real-world white supremacy and transphobia as central parts of the story.
I love that the main characters here are in their thirties and that the teens are firmly secondary characters. I LOVED what Dawson did with prophecies. I was compelled by all of the plotlines (though I’m definitely hoping for more Leonie in the sequels), and the ending absolutely made me lose my mind.
It was rough around the edges in some places, and the beginning was definitely VERY slow, but I would absolutely recommend this modern adult pro-trans witch novel and look forward to continuing the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Transphobia, Violence
Moderate: Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Murder
The Lost Kingdom of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Weirdly slow for such a short book. Luckily the relationship dynamics are much better than in the other book set in this world, but the book as a whole is also a lot less fun and readable. The main character has a decent arc. The Rapunzel stuff is integrated creatively and fairly subtly, which is what I would expect from Gail Carson Levine. The oppression plotline is heavy handed but fine. Overall, not Levine's best, but it still had good moments, especially near the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Racism, Xenophobia, Blood, Colonisation
What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Interesting take on The Fall of the House of Usher. Will be continuing with the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore
His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Very fun dragon book. Temeraire has definitely entered my list of favorite dragons. I am super interested in how this alternate history is going to play out over the course of the series. I wish there were gay people, but I'm sure they'll turn up. It's a nine book series, after all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gore, Violence
Moderate: Misogyny
The Capture by Kathryn Lasky
4.0
I have so many questions about this world's class system, but overall this book holds up. Excited to reread the rest of the series.
The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Unfortunately much worse upon a reread as an adult. The romantic relationships in this book are very questionable and I wonder why Levine made any of those choices because they were entirely avoidable. Addie also feels extremely juvenile for the first chunk of the book (more so than makes sense for her character), which REALLY doesn't help with the eventual romance. Lots of great scenes, though, and an easy and fun read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood
Minor: Death of parent
The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Wow. Maybe I like horror after all.
Stephen Graham Jones writes tension so brilliantly. He builds terror and suspense in a way I haven't quite encountered before. This novel follows several different characters as a terrifying series of deaths takes place, but that description also doesn't do it justice at all. The events of the book happen as a consequence of an ill-fated hunting trip that four Blackfeet men went on several years ago. They killed a deer. When the book starts, one man is dead, two are still living on the rez, and one has moved away and is living with his white wife and their dog. And something is hunting them and the people close to them.
Never before have I so sympathized with an antagonist in a way that was so intentional to the story. Never before have I been simultaneously so afraid on a character's behalf and so satisfied with the tragic fate that befell them.
The ending was perfect.
It got kind of bogged down in the middle section (in the transition from Lewis to the other characters), but otherwise I have no real complaints.
I will be thinking about this book for a long time.
Stephen Graham Jones writes tension so brilliantly. He builds terror and suspense in a way I haven't quite encountered before. This novel follows several different characters as a terrifying series of deaths takes place, but that description also doesn't do it justice at all. The events of the book happen as a consequence of an ill-fated hunting trip that four Blackfeet men went on several years ago. They killed a deer. When the book starts, one man is dead, two are still living on the rez, and one has moved away and is living with his white wife and their dog. And something is hunting them and the people close to them.
Never before have I so sympathized with an antagonist in a way that was so intentional to the story. Never before have I been simultaneously so afraid on a character's behalf and so satisfied with the tragic fate that befell them.
The ending was perfect.
It got kind of bogged down in the middle section (in the transition from Lewis to the other characters), but otherwise I have no real complaints.
I will be thinking about this book for a long time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Misogyny, Racism
The Inconvenient Heiress by Jane Walsh
4.0
Give Jane Walsh a proper editor and some better cover art and she will be unstoppable. This is my second book of hers and despite some sentence-level errors and a couple other minor issues, I really enjoyed it. It wasn't as centered on the romance as most historical romances are, but I still found the love story satisfying and rooted for the characters all the way through. The non-romance plot was a fascinating homage to Jane Austen in many ways, with strong elements of Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion in particular threaded throughout. Loved the way that Arabella's art was incorporated. Love that we met some other lesbians and set them up to have their own books without developing them very much yet. The epilogue could have been set up better but was still satisfying. If you like sapphic historical romance and haven't read anything by this author, you absolutely should.