Scan barcode
botanicals's reviews
649 reviews
The Fated Prince by Mikki Madison
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
(I received an eARC of The Fated Prince. I'm not obligated to give a good review, just an honest one.)
I asked for this ARC because I liked Mikki Madison’s story in the Aether Beyond the Binary anthology. The Fated Prince is published under the Duck Prints Press's explicit imprint, which I suppose, makes it obvious what the focus of the story is. What hooked me into the story was the mundane being made foreign (to the fae), like sunburn and how to treat it. While there were certainly some good scenes in the story, I felt that the non-POV character was very opaque. That is probably part of the point when writing fae characters—in which case, this story was excellently done—but I realised as I was reading it that I don't particularly like a very mysterious character in an explicit short story.
I asked for this ARC because I liked Mikki Madison’s story in the Aether Beyond the Binary anthology. The Fated Prince is published under the Duck Prints Press's explicit imprint, which I suppose, makes it obvious what the focus of the story is. What hooked me into the story was the mundane being made foreign (to the fae), like sunburn and how to treat it. While there were certainly some good scenes in the story, I felt that the non-POV character was very opaque. That is probably part of the point when writing fae characters—in which case, this story was excellently done—but I realised as I was reading it that I don't particularly like a very mysterious character in an explicit short story.
Freedom Is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement by Angela Y. Davis
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0
Slow Down: The Degrowth Manifesto by Kōhei Saitō
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.5
Finding Their Roots by Tris Lawrence
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
(I received an eARC from the author with a request for an honest review.)
The first thing I have to say is that if you haven't read the description/blurb thingy, skip it. I do it habitually, and for this book in particular, it was such a good twist that I would have been sad to have known beforehand.
Now that that's out of the way, I think my favourite thing about this book is that it's cozy, the characters are warm, and they spend a lot of the time in nature. That they were in nature and it was so sparsely described was the only downside for me, actually—I would have liked more descriptions at certain points. On the other hand, this is what makes this book read very quickly. I read it in one day and now the only question is when the next book is coming out. We've met some characters, situated Colin in a corner of a universe that is obviously much bigger and that I would like to know more about. (I'm also really interested in other characters' thoughts on Colin.) This book is such a good hook.
I'll just share my favourite quote, that is such a computer programmer thing to say, before I go:
The first thing I have to say is that if you haven't read the description/blurb thingy, skip it. I do it habitually, and for this book in particular, it was such a good twist that I would have been sad to have known beforehand.
Now that that's out of the way, I think my favourite thing about this book is that it's cozy, the characters are warm, and they spend a lot of the time in nature. That they were in nature and it was so sparsely described was the only downside for me, actually—I would have liked more descriptions at certain points. On the other hand, this is what makes this book read very quickly. I read it in one day and now the only question is when the next book is coming out. We've met some characters, situated Colin in a corner of a universe that is obviously much bigger and that I would like to know more about. (I'm also really interested in other characters' thoughts on Colin.) This book is such a good hook.
I'll just share my favourite quote, that is such a computer programmer thing to say, before I go:
"I've got all of his records here, and he's already been seen by the vets at Derwent, so if you don't mind using them...?"
"That'll be fine. Does he come with documentation?"
Barbie opens her mouth, then closes it. "Oh. You mean how to take care of him. For a moment I thought you thought he might be a purebred dog."
Kći Lotršćaka by Marija Jurić Zagorka
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
Starter Villain by John Scalzi
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0