blumoonie's reviews
69 reviews

Bungo Stray Dogs, Vol. 3 (Light Novel): The Untold Origins of the Detective Agency by Kafka Asagiri, Sango Harukawa

emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Though this isn’t the shortest of the Bungou Stray Dogs light novels, it reads very quickly and gives us some amazing insight into Ranpo + Fukuzawa, as well as a general outlook on relationships within the ADA. 

The Case Study of Vanitas, Volume 2 by Jun Mochizuki

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

dark funny reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

it's been a while since I've read this, but the moment I started again I remembered exactly why it's one of my favourite novels of all time. Vonnegut is effortlessly funny, in the way only deeply reflective authors can be, and provides interesting and clever commentary on the construct and understanding of life, death, time, and war. Slaughterhouse Five is simultaneously hilarious and deeply moving, and I doubt I will ever find another book like it. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, War

Wild Spaces by S.L. Coney

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

there's a certain style of horror that I've come to crave, and this hits all the right spots with ease. it's a quick, easy read with haunting imagery that will continue to play over and over in my head for months, maybe years.

Blame! Movie Edition: The Electrofishers' Escape by

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

I was incredibly excited to learn that a movie version of this manga exists, because all I knew from the small amount of research I did after watching BLAME! was that the original manga is vastly different to the movie itself. The art-style was particularly impressive to me, and being able to work through the story at my own pace was helpful. 

Given, Vol. 9 by Natsuki Kizu

emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This might be the most painful volume yet, but also the most satisfying. The focus on Mafuyu’s internal struggle after so many chapters about Hiiragi was refreshing and nostalgic. 

Look Back by Tatsuki Fujimoto

dark emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

 The reputation of this story far proceeded it, and I knew I was signing up for heartache from the moment I opened it. What I didn’t expect was such a random and devastating tragedy. How does one begin to move on from such a thing? 

The Beggar Student by Osamu Dazai

dark funny reflective fast-paced

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

4.0

I often find myself laughing as I read Dazai, not necessarily because what he's written is funny, but because the drama is. I, too, have felt overcome with a hapless despair upon turning in an unsatisfactory assignment. I, too, have dug myself into situations by running my mouth or yes-and-ing too hard.
Relatability aside, this story, though it was simple (and frankly just silly) was filled with unexpected twists and turns. Dazai masterfully captured the essence of what his semi-autobiographical character was feeling: an uncertainty as to where they were going, what they might do, or whether he was saying the right thing. His unreliability as a narrator is one of the things that makes him the most interesting. Though this story is tiny, it was still chock-full of detail that would make for an interesting second read.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts

The Decagon House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji

dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

I'm at an absolute loss for words. this mystery is masterfully constructed; even the final sentence, after the reveal, had me gasping aloud and throwing my poor book across the room. the case is multi-layered, with lots of interesting key players, but the story doesn't feel heavy. often, it's actually quite upbeat, sometimes even funny in a way that connects us strongly to the main characters. the writing (translation?) style makes for a super easy read; I finished most of this in a single sitting.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Vomit, Murder, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Suicide

Marlo by Jay Carmichael

dark emotional reflective 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? Yes

4.5

a historical fiction that achingly toes the line between hope and despair. I'm lost for words.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Physical abuse

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts