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catlandia91's reviews
551 reviews
Redemption in Indigo by Karen Lord
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.75
I really liked this one. Lord's writing really captured the story telling fable vibes, and I thought it was quite effective.
The characters weren't particularly deep, but I found them all quite endearing by the end. The story meanders, but in a way that I think works, although I was wondering how and when the story would resolve as the pages flipped by. I'm glad I picked this one up finally!
The characters weren't particularly deep, but I found them all quite endearing by the end. The story meanders, but in a way that I think works, although I was wondering how and when the story would resolve as the pages flipped by. I'm glad I picked this one up finally!
Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.0
So as a general disclaimer, I don't really consider myself a romance reader. I love love, but I generally prefer it to be an addendum to a story, a plot point, rather than the whole point. But I wanted to get out of my comfort zone, and I must say, I'm glad I picked this one.
The beginning was a little rough for me, the clique-heavy nature of the campus was frustrating. The conflict between social groups felt so immature. It felt more like high school than college, and none of my school experiences remotely matched that, either. The social conflicts help drive much of the plot, which didn't always land for me, but I didn't mind much by the end.
Once I got through the setup drama, I was really hooked by Kiki and Kai's chemistry. I also thought their personal hangups felt pretty relatable, but I wanted to scream in Kiki's ear to stop lying to herself (in a good way, I was getting invested in their relationship). I definitely felt all warm and fuzzy by the end, and I maybe teared up a little. And when it finally happened, the spice was spicy, gat damn!
I also loved the female friendships throughout the book, I had a lot of fun when Aminah and the others were on the page.
The pop culture references felt a little heavy handed in some parts, mostly in Kiki's internal dialogue. They felt more natural in the conversations with Kai or her friends, where they helped give us a sense of everyone's personalities.
The cultural references were also a nice touch-- this felt distinctly British, Nigerian, and Black in a way that was effortless and engaging. If you want a romance with Black joy, I think this would definitely fit the bill.
Overall, this was a fun one, even if I felt a little like a cranky old person dealing with teen problems in the beginning.
The beginning was a little rough for me, the clique-heavy nature of the campus was frustrating. The conflict between social groups felt so immature. It felt more like high school than college, and none of my school experiences remotely matched that, either. The social conflicts help drive much of the plot, which didn't always land for me, but I didn't mind much by the end.
Once I got through the setup drama, I was really hooked by Kiki and Kai's chemistry. I also thought their personal hangups felt pretty relatable, but I wanted to scream in Kiki's ear to stop lying to herself (in a good way, I was getting invested in their relationship). I definitely felt all warm and fuzzy by the end, and I maybe teared up a little. And when it finally happened, the spice was spicy, gat damn!
I also loved the female friendships throughout the book, I had a lot of fun when Aminah and the others were on the page.
The pop culture references felt a little heavy handed in some parts, mostly in Kiki's internal dialogue. They felt more natural in the conversations with Kai or her friends, where they helped give us a sense of everyone's personalities.
The cultural references were also a nice touch-- this felt distinctly British, Nigerian, and Black in a way that was effortless and engaging. If you want a romance with Black joy, I think this would definitely fit the bill.
Overall, this was a fun one, even if I felt a little like a cranky old person dealing with teen problems in the beginning.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Racism
Minor: Cancer
Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
So this book was definitely wild, bleak, and uncomfortable. It's definitely a pretty basic vegan parable/fable, so I can see why some people who are already vegan or vegetarian might find this pretty unoriginal or adding nothing to the conversation. It may not be groundbreaking, but this is the first of this type that I've read, and I found the messaging pretty effective. I'd say 3.5/5 stars, happy to round up.
In terms of prose, I found the writing/translation fairly engaging. There was a sense of distance and numb horror, like we're watching the slaughter from a sterile environment. I think that this was in line with the story and characterization of Marcos.
Bazterrica drops a lot of interesting tidbits into the world, but there are some plot points that require a bit of hand waving to accept. I think this book is more interested in a commentary than a logical dystopia, which I don't mind, but some might find that frustrating.
Subtle, this book is not. It's pretty in your face with the criticism of the meat industry, the way we dehumanize the poor, the way women are viewed as things to own, the callback to Black bodies as commodities, the way we treat animals as objects.
SPOILER
I've read some other reviews/discussions about the ending, and how some people were so shocked by the "twist" and I find that so interesting. Marcos' grief serves as a distraction to the reader, the author wants us to think he'll be the change in this broken world. But once Marcos uses Jasmine for his own gain, he's perfectly happy to slaughter her. You want him to be better, to rise above. But how could he ever be better? He never thinks of Jasmine as human. She's no better than a pet, and only when he wants to use her. Not to mention his treatment of his estranged wife and the butcher.
But the most uncomfortable part is -- am I any different than Marcos? Don't I just ignore the suffering of sentient creatures for my own pleasures? Don't I make excuses when there are no good ones?
This was one I'll think about for a while.
In terms of prose, I found the writing/translation fairly engaging. There was a sense of distance and numb horror, like we're watching the slaughter from a sterile environment. I think that this was in line with the story and characterization of Marcos.
Bazterrica drops a lot of interesting tidbits into the world, but there are some plot points that require a bit of hand waving to accept. I think this book is more interested in a commentary than a logical dystopia, which I don't mind, but some might find that frustrating.
Subtle, this book is not. It's pretty in your face with the criticism of the meat industry, the way we dehumanize the poor, the way women are viewed as things to own, the callback to Black bodies as commodities, the way we treat animals as objects.
SPOILER
I've read some other reviews/discussions about the ending, and how some people were so shocked by the "twist" and I find that so interesting. Marcos' grief serves as a distraction to the reader, the author wants us to think he'll be the change in this broken world. But once Marcos uses Jasmine for his own gain, he's perfectly happy to slaughter her. You want him to be better, to rise above. But how could he ever be better? He never thinks of Jasmine as human. She's no better than a pet, and only when he wants to use her. Not to mention his treatment of his estranged wife and the butcher.
But the most uncomfortable part is -- am I any different than Marcos? Don't I just ignore the suffering of sentient creatures for my own pleasures? Don't I make excuses when there are no good ones?
This was one I'll think about for a while.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Sexual violence, Rape, Cannibalism, Pregnancy, Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Slavery
Moderate: Torture
Minor: Child death, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Death of parent
Soft Science by Franny Choi
emotional
3.5
I didn't love this collection as much as I had hoped to. The first half didn't really resonate with me, I think it was a little too abstract for my liking. I found the second half to be more my speed-- I really enjoyed the later poems. Still, a very unique and interesting collection.
The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-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
4.0
Overall, this was a pretty good read. I loved all the magic woven throughout the book, I think Córdova always has a good sense of fantasy in her books. I was more engaged with the Orquídea flashbacks than I was with the chapters involving the cousins, although I still enjoyed those. While Marimar and Rey had some great characterizations, splitting the chapters with them and Rhiannon or Tatinelly sort of made all the cousins a little less distinguished from one another. Flipping between the past and present made it hard to focus on the present sometimes. The book definitely has a slow burn element to it, as things start happening very quickly by the end of the third section. I almost think this book could have been a little longer, to give the cousins more room to breathe. Still, I'm glad I read this!
Flowers for the Sea by Zin E. Rocklyn
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
Yo, this was weird, grimy, and eerie. I find monstrous motherhood fascinating, and the mix with cosmic horror was right up my alley. The writing was effective, Iraxi was full of rage but also numb, and the prose reflected that. I doubt this story would be as effective if this was longer, but I was left wanting more.