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bisexualwentworth's reviews
764 reviews
A Bánh Mì for Two by Trinity Nguyen
3.5
Fun sweet gay palette cleanser of a book. Wished there had been a few more scenes with Vivi's extended family and a couple other things. Definitely lacking in a couple elements but still very enjoyable. Would recommend.
The Dawn of Yangchen by F.C. Yee
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Almost as good as The Rise of Kyoshi. Such an interesting look at this world, filled with compelling characters and driven by a compelling plot. It also sets up the sequel well, so I'm hoping it will be a satisfying duology. F.C. Yee continues to be the most creative writer who has worked in this setting. I especially continue to love how much he explores the options of what can be done with specific bending styles. This is also the most development we've ever gotten for water tribe culture, which is wild considering how many previous main characters have been water tribe.
Remote Control by Nnedi Okorafor
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I love books that personify death like this. I love Nnedi Okorafor’s approach to the scifi elements in this book. I love the main character and her fox friend. I cried at points.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Suicide, Death of parent, Murder
Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne
4.0
I enjoyed the characters, plot, and vibes, but the actual world didn't work for me at all. I'll probably continue with the series, though.
Fevered Star by Rebecca Roanhorse
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Not a strong as Black Sun (big middle book syndrome going on) but still very strong. Naranpa's story was definitely my favorite (and felt the most complete), and I'm glad that we got more development for Balam, Okoa, and Iktan. I'm interested in where Serapio's arc is headed, but he was mostly in this book as an ominous offpage presence more than a real character (with a couple notable exceptions). Xiala is incredibly frustrating in this book. She defines herself by her relationships, mostly her relationships with men, in a way that she did not in book one and that I strongly disliked, and she spent far too much time pining and doing nothing. I'm very excited to see what will happen with her in book three, though. I enjoyed the pacing and the politics overall, as well as the expansions of the world, though there was a LOT of telling and not enough showing for my taste, and I still don't have a super clear picture of the city of Tova. Still, very much excited to read Mirrored Heavens.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual violence, Xenophobia
With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo
- 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
4.0
My least favorite of Elizabeth Acevedo's novels so far but still very good. I think her lyrical, vignette-driven writing style works better with poetry than with prose. There were also far too many instances of "I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding" (three in a row!).
I loved the characters, the story, and the use of food in the narrative (though it maybe could have been interwoven a little bit more). The ending was just right. Emoni's arc really really worked, and I rooted for her and her people the whole way through.
I loved the characters, the story, and the use of food in the narrative (though it maybe could have been interwoven a little bit more). The ending was just right. Emoni's arc really really worked, and I rooted for her and her people the whole way through.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Gun violence, Sexism, Grief, Death of parent, Colonisation
Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent
Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Fuck you, cruel world.
Suck my dick, America.
Suck my dick, America.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder
Moderate: Misogyny, Rape
The Other Merlin by Robyn Schneider
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
The Other Merlin is very straightforwardly BBC Merlin fanfiction with a plot taken from Shakespeare's Twelfth Night combined with Tamora Pierce's first two Song of the Lioness novel. Specifically, it is aimed at people who shipped Merlin/Arthur, Viola/Orsino, and Alanna/Jonathan, as the main relationship here is a combination of all three. This is a compliment. In fact, basically all of my issues with this book could have been fixed if Robyn Schneider had stayed closer to those three source texts.
I personally didn't mind the anachronistic dialogue. It fit with the vibes of the story. If you went into this novel with any expectation of historical accuracy or sticking closer to the most typical versions of the Arthurian canon, I fear it is simply not the book for you.
I really enjoyed Emry as a protagonist. She is a strong young woman who is friends with boys and engages in multiple traditionally masculine activities (acting, wizardry, etc.) but who also engages with the other women in her life in a variety of ways. She is bisexual. She is incredibly powerful but not without limits. I will definitely read the sequels at some point because I want to see where her story goes.
WHY WAS GUINEVERE STRAIGHT? Truly this choice made no sense to me and almost ruined parts of the book. Like I get the direction her attraction goes in due to the Twelfth Night comparisons, but making her sapphic would have been so much more compelling and much more in line with Twelfth Night! Also tragic that any Guinevere/Morgana shipping would be problematic in this particular setting. Booooo.
There is some racial diversity in the cast, but there's a white default to the descriptions that I dearly hope will change in the following installments.
I struggle with chosen one stories generally, but I am cautiously optimistic about how this one will end up going.
Loved that Lancelot was gay. Just wish that more central characters had identified as queer on page in addition to Emry and Lance. Specifically Guinevere, but I would take any side sapphic content at this point. Please.
Overall very fun, if not quite as good as it could have been.
I personally didn't mind the anachronistic dialogue. It fit with the vibes of the story. If you went into this novel with any expectation of historical accuracy or sticking closer to the most typical versions of the Arthurian canon, I fear it is simply not the book for you.
I really enjoyed Emry as a protagonist. She is a strong young woman who is friends with boys and engages in multiple traditionally masculine activities (acting, wizardry, etc.) but who also engages with the other women in her life in a variety of ways. She is bisexual. She is incredibly powerful but not without limits. I will definitely read the sequels at some point because I want to see where her story goes.
WHY WAS GUINEVERE STRAIGHT? Truly this choice made no sense to me and almost ruined parts of the book. Like I get the direction her attraction goes in due to the Twelfth Night comparisons, but making her sapphic would have been so much more compelling and much more in line with Twelfth Night! Also tragic that any Guinevere/Morgana shipping would be problematic in this particular setting. Booooo.
There is some racial diversity in the cast, but there's a white default to the descriptions that I dearly hope will change in the following installments.
I struggle with chosen one stories generally, but I am cautiously optimistic about how this one will end up going.
Loved that Lancelot was gay. Just wish that more central characters had identified as queer on page in addition to Emry and Lance. Specifically Guinevere, but I would take any side sapphic content at this point. Please.
Overall very fun, if not quite as good as it could have been.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Homophobia, Violence, Grief
Us by Sara Soler
Did not finish book. Stopped at 7%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 7%.
A little too trans 101 and I wasn't vibing with the art style. The cover art is soooooo gorgeous, but the art inside is much more simplistic and not for me.