blonohorror's reviews
71 reviews

Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang

informative inspiring medium-paced

4.0

similarly to the author, i don't give a rip about sports. HOWEVER: this did it for me and actually taught me a bit that i didn't know while also being a really enjoyable experience

Huda F Are You? by Huda Fahmy

emotional lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.0

this was just...fine. i think it really could've benefited from taking its time with building up the relationships and less of a "here's this person, now on to the next" approach, but i wouldn't not recommend this

The Forest Demands Its Due by Kosoko Jackson

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

this was so nearly what i wanted it to be and what it could be but fell flat in a lot of ways :( too many things felt rushed or glossed over and, while i don't say this often, it really could've benefited from being longer by about 100 pages or so to give space to things that REALLY needed them. the ending was perfect though and i really dig the author's style

(that and the editor could've done a way better job. too many misplaced punctuation marks and characters' names being changed mid-scene as well as random tense shifts pulled me out of the story one too many times)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Violence

Treacle Walker by Alan Garner

challenging emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.75

a bit "fun! but what's happening" and a lot of "oh i recognize that folklore beat! and that one! and THAT one! wait now we're going into recursion" with a punch in the heart at the end. entirely gorgeous and confusing

Tales of Zorro by Richard Dean Starr

adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.25

some really solid stories in this one but on the whole it could benefit from proofreading and authors taking note of how names & titles functioned back then

The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper

adventurous emotional medium-paced

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

4.5

The Devil's Children by Peter Dickinson

adventurous mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.0

Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping

The Feasting Dead by John Metcalfe

challenging dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.25

a serviceable enough book (especially if one enjoys the likes of m r james) though i can't help but imagine what a film treatment of this would be like, especially if done by hammer or amicus in the early 60s

Penpal by Dathan Auerbach

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.75