bkwrm1317's reviews
225 reviews

The Collapsing Empire by John Scalzi

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted tense fast-paced

• 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? No

4.0

Really solid speedy read by Scalzi, who I am growing to enjoy more and more. I love the quippy, don't give a fuck, characters that fill his novels, the humor that is embedded everywhere, while also taking things like the potential collapse of the universe as his characters know it, seriously enough for the scope of the novel. I'll be looking forward to enjoying more of this series, and seeing what indeed happens with the Flow. 

I honestly have no idea what will happen next, which is thrilling! 

This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate by Naomi Klein

dark hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

4.25

Reading this novel a little over a decade after its publication certainly makes it feel a bit less hopeful than it may have been at time of publication, given we are far beyond the 2C global warming mark from collective emissions. 

Some of the stories of the big green groups not only accepting, but contributing TO the destruction of the planet actively, the dispossession of the ancestral and rightful heirs to spaces of land, and even actively drilling on land for protected endangered species (including Prairie Attwater Chicken that has breeding grounds - or did - right down the road from me here in Galveston). Hopeful projects, as well as an explanation as to the reality of the climate crisis (at least what it was in 2014) and how that inequitably impacts communities already most harmed by capitalism and imperialism. 

Oathbound by Tracy Deonn

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

Third of four in the Legendborn Cycle and all I can say immediate is WHEW CHILE! 

While not a perfect to me novel, it's pretty darn close, and was a really compelling, very solid read. Starting things out was a smidge rough, just since I've read so much since the first two books in this series (there will be a fourth book too - wooty woo!). 

After the events of the first two novels, Bree is now very much on her own and alone with the King. She's cut ties to her ancestors (which also means she's cut ties with Arthur, who took her over very much against her will) but this also means she's cut herself off from her powers as a Scion, as well as via her Medium powers. Bree makes a deal with the proverbial devil, asking the King of Shadows to teach her how to wield her powers, putting her future in his hands. 

What she doesn't expect is that this will come with budding deep found family relationships in Zoelle and Elijah. The King cuts her off from the people in her life, so that she doesn't remember their names, her history with them, and more. The past catches up to Bree, but her people, as always, have her back. 

Selwyn (Sel), on the other hand, is getting closer to demonia, and wants nothing more than to consume more of Bree's power, which he now lusts for. Bree's community will come together to protect her, try to bring down the King, and keep Sel safe from himself, and Bree from him. While longer, this novel does NOT meander - make no mistake, this is another page-turner from Deonn, and I love her for it. Can't wait to read the final novel in this series and more from Deonn in the future! 

Man Made Monsters by Andrea L. Rogers

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

Short stories aren’t usually my jam, but these were really solid. From folk horror to native spec fic, these were deeply enjoyable. 

Without giving anything away, I really loved how one character in particular, was able to show up across the generations, building on their story and identity as the book progresses. I really enjoy Rogers and the place she is taking within horror. Each of the stories tackles different shades of the horror genre while united by bloodlines: empire, domestic violence, zombies, sea creatures, Deer Woman, and more. The art is also fantastic. 

Acceptance by Jeff VanderMeer

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

I enjoyed this one more than the second book though it brought everything back together in ways that were a bit wild at times. More soon when on the computer. 

Edited to add: In this third novel in the series (the original ending?), we are back in the present (or are we?) of Area X, and some of the mysteries of Area X are unraveled for readers (the slow-burn, ecohorror we expect of the Southern Reach series at this point), and more (and new) terrifying things are going bump in the night and looking at us from within the shadows in this one as well. 

Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful sad tense medium-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

4.25

Really solid debut. Hard in some ways, but that’s what grappling with this kind of content is about (religious cults, trans-ness, apocalypse, plague, etc) AND still was challenging emotionally in some ways. 

More when on the comp. 

Edited to add: a dark foray into the world of religious cults, dystopian futures, and more. Our protagonist, 16 year old trans boy Benji, is running from the religious cult his mother leads that shaped his upbringing and understanding of the world. After being infected with a bioweapon, as part of the church's plans, Benji escapes with help from his father, and is desperate to find anywhere the cult can't reach him. Benji ends up rescued, after the assassination of his father, by a group of youth who are/were part of an LGBTQNIA2S+ center prior to civilization's downfall. Benji is offered respite with the group, but one of their leaders quickly learns his secret, and may use Benji for his own devices. Coming of age tell combined with coming into self tale, dystopian future combined with hopeful found family tropes, the battles that wage in those of us who are forced to choose to divorce ourselves from our families (by blood and extended) when they want to use us for purposes not of our choosing. Dark, gritty, this novel isn't for the faint of heart, but is exceptionally well-written, and was a very solid debut. 

Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

2.5

This was a pretty bizarre little novel/screenplay combo. More info when on the comp. 

Edited to add: cursed film genre isn't my favorite (though I have read some that fall into this subgenre that are quite compelling), and this didn't really compel me to enjoy it more than I do. Four young folks create a film that is art-house, disturbing, and never fully released. Many years later, Hollywood wants to "reboot" the film, of which three scenes have ever actually been seen, and involve the antagonist/boogeyman of the film into its recreation in one way or another. As a result, he reflects on the original creation of the film, what went right, and what went very wrong. 

I found this novel to be fairly disjointed, not near as compelling as I'd hoped, and not the right way for me to engage. Really just didn't do it for me, but many folks I know who enjoy this author - may give another novel a try in the future, but this one just really wasn't for me. 

Year of the Reaper by Makiia Lucier

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

4.25

Meant to review sooner after reading. Oops! Definitely enjoyed this one, and will seek out more from this author. More to come when I’m on the computer! 

Edited to add: standalone compelling YA fantasy novel. With a mysterious illness having taken over an entire kingdom, and an assassin trying to murder the queen, our protagonist, Lord Cassia, has returned to his family's ancestral home to a lot of surprises. Cas and Lena, a historian-in-training for the court, investigate the assassination attempts together, and learn of the kingdom's secrets - together. A quick-paced adventure through the kingdom, through some of its recent history, and stories of pacts pledged between kingdoms, I'll definitely be on the lookout for more from this author in the future. 

The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu

slow-paced

3.75

Médium-slow pace. 

Military books just really aren’t my jam but there were lots of really good nuggets - creative approaches, Kuni Garu’s willingness to listen to women, commoners, and thieves, etc. 

So it was better than most but won’t likely continue the series due to the pacing etc. 

Masquerade by O.O. Sangoyomi

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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

4.25

Moments that felt repetitive (tho I think this was a literary device to show us how frustrating her day to day was or repetitive at times, etc), but for a debut this is VERY good and I love the idea as well of revisiting 15th century pre colonial African kingdoms and cultures. 

Reminded me a lot of what I’ve learned of W African kingdoms 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexism, Violence, War

Minor: Sexual violence