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catmech's reviews
32 reviews
The Unraveling by Benjamin Rosenbaum
GAHHH!!!!
My experience reading this book was actually much smoother than I thought it would be. The pronouns weren't too much of an issue, and I was a big fan of how the book drip-fed world building piece by piece, in a way that wasn't overwhelming but left just enough mystery to compel me to read on. The way Rosenbaum wrote Fift's emotions, and especially how ze felt towards Shria, was just. Gah. I can't describe it. Tender?????
This book is great for those who love character-driven books. The plot is a bit all over the place. Also, if I had to criticize something, Fift had so many parents and I could not keep track of them. But it was okay. This book is so good. Thank you to Ann Leckie for recommending it on her Tumblr. Everyone go read Translation State too. (It matches thematically with this book!)
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
5.0
Ever since I read this last summer I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. My brain keeps leading me back to thinking about all the gender shenanigans and coming-of-ageness that happens and how much I love it. Also, every so often I am reminded of these lines:
But we have existed so long, you and I, accumulating so many layers of memory and interpretation... what do I know, really, of who we once were? All I have left is myth. And surely you've now drifted even farther. What might you have become, Siob, in all these centuries since we last met? Even if I found you again, would you know me? Could we still decipher each other?
GAHHH!!!!
My experience reading this book was actually much smoother than I thought it would be. The pronouns weren't too much of an issue, and I was a big fan of how the book drip-fed world building piece by piece, in a way that wasn't overwhelming but left just enough mystery to compel me to read on. The way Rosenbaum wrote Fift's emotions, and especially how ze felt towards Shria, was just. Gah. I can't describe it. Tender?????
This book is great for those who love character-driven books. The plot is a bit all over the place. Also, if I had to criticize something, Fift had so many parents and I could not keep track of them. But it was okay. This book is so good. Thank you to Ann Leckie for recommending it on her Tumblr. Everyone go read Translation State too. (It matches thematically with this book!)
Translation State by Ann Leckie
adventurous
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I think about Reet every time I am at work and wish I were instead watching Doctor Who with a cold cup of chocolate milk. Reet my beloved we are so similar (it's the autistic parallels). This book was so good I will never stop thinking about it!!!!!!
Ok I am back because I had a bad day and I want to talk about this book that I loved so much. I had to wait a little bit before 5 starring it because I didn't want the immediate post-book high to influence my review but I have been thinking about this book So Much and I loved it so much when I read it. So into the 5 star tier it goes :~)
Reasons I love this book so dearly:
1. Starts with a funeral scene!!!!!! From the very first page I was so excited to read on. And Enae <333333 wahhhh I was rooting for hir the whole way <3333333
2. Again, Reet my absolute beloved. This may be showing my hand a bit but he was immediately boosted into my top-tier characters when he was actively having a conversation with someone and all he was thinking of was "God I wish I were at home, watching my favorite TV show, and eating dumplings." I have had that exact thought process SO MANY TIMES!!!! I have a designated mind room that I like to imagine I am in when I am in situations that I desperately do not want to be in. Reet I am shaking your hand SO HARD!!!! Also, you know, the whole feeling out of place, thoughts of vivisection, and complicated feelings about family. Man. It was like Ann Leckie looked right into my brain and made a character/book out of it. Also, giant, massive, transgender parallels. Just, so much gender parallels, everywhere. My god.
3. REET AND QVEN QPR!!!!!!!!! NOT REALLY BUT LET ME HAVE THIS!!!!!!!!!
4. Qven "eat things you really aren't supposed to" LastName (I forgot if e has a last name) How many times have I been so incredibly into a piece of media that I have dreamed of eating its physical form (CD, book, DVD, cassette tape, etc etc). Again, Ann Leckie brain look write book I read book it is such a mirror. This review is getting less comprehensible as it goes on.
5. THE POWER OF BUREAUCRACY!!!! As someone who mayyy go into government in the future and has also been very very interested in government, this was super great to see. More scifi lawyers please!!! I need this.
6. Super glad I read the Imperial Radch trilogy before reading this book, though a reread right before would have been the best thing to do. I wanted to join in on the excitement of favorite characters returning but I forgot almost everyone but Breq and Seivarden :( But there was a little mention of Breq!!!!! I was very excited about that. No babygirl Seivarden though :(
7. BODY HORROR I ALMOST FORGOT. I was NOT expecting the intense body horror but I was SUCH A FAN!!!!!!!!!! God I lovedddddd all the body melting and melding and gore. It made me feel a little sick but I loved it so much. My god the next time I need some serious body horror I am going to give this book a reread.
8. Made me so happy that Enae was middle-aged <33333 I am not old by any means but I am very aware of how quickly I am getting there and so I have been wishing to read more books with older characters. I like 20-something year old characters now, but I am sure that when I get a little older it will be a little sad to only read about characters who are much younger than I am. It's already weird reading YA books where the main characters are 16-18. Very strange.
Anyways, I will be recommending this book to everyone, all my friends, strangers on the street, new classmates, etc etc. I won't stop bothering people about this book until everyone reads it and tells me that they loved it. Everyone go borrow this book at your local library/buy a copy/ask me to borrow my copy (when I get a copy!!!! It's going to happen some time. I'm going to be in a bookstore ((dangerous)), have a little extra spending money, not enough self-control, and maybe have an enabler friend by my side, and it's going to happen. I know it.). Read this book.
Ok I am back because I had a bad day and I want to talk about this book that I loved so much. I had to wait a little bit before 5 starring it because I didn't want the immediate post-book high to influence my review but I have been thinking about this book So Much and I loved it so much when I read it. So into the 5 star tier it goes :~)
Reasons I love this book so dearly:
2. Again, Reet my absolute beloved. This may be showing my hand a bit but he was immediately boosted into my top-tier characters when he was actively having a conversation with someone and all he was thinking of was "God I wish I were at home, watching my favorite TV show, and eating dumplings." I have had that exact thought process SO MANY TIMES!!!! I have a designated mind room that I like to imagine I am in when I am in situations that I desperately do not want to be in. Reet I am shaking your hand SO HARD!!!! Also, you know, the whole feeling out of place, thoughts of vivisection, and complicated feelings about family. Man. It was like Ann Leckie looked right into my brain and made a character/book out of it. Also, giant, massive, transgender parallels. Just, so much gender parallels, everywhere. My god.
3. REET AND QVEN QPR!!!!!!!!! NOT REALLY BUT LET ME HAVE THIS!!!!!!!!!
4. Qven "eat things you really aren't supposed to" LastName (I forgot if e has a last name) How many times have I been so incredibly into a piece of media that I have dreamed of eating its physical form (CD, book, DVD, cassette tape, etc etc). Again, Ann Leckie brain look write book I read book it is such a mirror. This review is getting less comprehensible as it goes on.
5. THE POWER OF BUREAUCRACY!!!! As someone who mayyy go into government in the future and has also been very very interested in government, this was super great to see. More scifi lawyers please!!! I need this.
6. Super glad I read the Imperial Radch trilogy before reading this book, though a reread right before would have been the best thing to do. I wanted to join in on the excitement of favorite characters returning but I forgot almost everyone but Breq and Seivarden :( But there was a little mention of Breq!!!!! I was very excited about that. No babygirl Seivarden though :(
7. BODY HORROR I ALMOST FORGOT. I was NOT expecting the intense body horror but I was SUCH A FAN!!!!!!!!!! God I lovedddddd all the body melting and melding and gore. It made me feel a little sick but I loved it so much. My god the next time I need some serious body horror I am going to give this book a reread.
8. Made me so happy that Enae was middle-aged <33333 I am not old by any means but I am very aware of how quickly I am getting there and so I have been wishing to read more books with older characters. I like 20-something year old characters now, but I am sure that when I get a little older it will be a little sad to only read about characters who are much younger than I am. It's already weird reading YA books where the main characters are 16-18. Very strange.
Anyways, I will be recommending this book to everyone, all my friends, strangers on the street, new classmates, etc etc. I won't stop bothering people about this book until everyone reads it and tells me that they loved it. Everyone go borrow this book at your local library/buy a copy/ask me to borrow my copy (when I get a copy!!!! It's going to happen some time. I'm going to be in a bookstore ((dangerous)), have a little extra spending money, not enough self-control, and maybe have an enabler friend by my side, and it's going to happen. I know it.). Read this book.
The Luminous Dead by Caitlin Starling
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Did not like this book. The descriptions of the environment were confusing, the romance was not believable at all (and super unecessary!!!) and the book was soooooo slow. It was not at all fun to read setback after setback. I could have skipped from 50% into the book to 90% of the book and not felt like I had really missed a thing. Very unfortunate. Also I read this book during a terrible horrible week so that did not help. Putting this book in the category "books that make me never want to read another book by this author" (Grady Hendrix is in this category too). Maybe I will read Translation State again for good scifi.
Edit: Just realized that The Death of Jane Lawrence was also written by Caitlin Starling and I did not finish that book either. Both books had strong beginnings and then just draaaagged. So if you like books that do that, go for those books.
Edit: Just realized that The Death of Jane Lawrence was also written by Caitlin Starling and I did not finish that book either. Both books had strong beginnings and then just draaaagged. So if you like books that do that, go for those books.
Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
5.0
I liked this book so much more than I thought I would and I am still thinking about it months after I finished it <33333 Only love for this book <3333333
The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I have to review this book now (right after I've finished) so I don't let the book get to me too much. Listen. I liked most of the book. The beginning of the book. But also!!!! This book has made me remember that I should probably check trigger warnings because I read stuff I don't know that much about!!!!!!!!! Hahahahaha that sure was fun to read last night when I wanted to read and unwind a little. That was. HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. Anyways I am so tired of rape being used to demean women. I guess it's how vampires spread their vampire-ness but I am tired. It was so unnecessary and it took me right out of the book. Also, I absolutely hate seeing rape in media. This is a me problem but still . I think books about women that are written by men should always be looked at a little more critically but sigh. I don't know. I'm very tired. The vampire was not even fun in this book. He just sucked. Also I totally got gaslit by him and that wasn't fun. Also, the husbands becoming evil and not caring for their wives at all after James Harris was just. Cool. Would have been nice if we still cared about them a little bit!!! Whatever!!! .
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Gaslighting
Minor: Vomit
Ancillary Mercy by Ann Leckie
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
3.5
Ok so I'm not entirely sure what my problem is with this book, but near the end I wasn't feeling it as much??? I was very much enjoying the first half of the book, maybe not as much as I liked Ancillary Justice (still my favorite Imperial Radch book) but listen. The part when Breq was hurt and Seivarden went right next to her (snuggling time) and Breq was ?????????????? This is nice. BIG MOOD. Also I liked the whole idea of AI being thought of as a person. That's nice.
I think a lot of my feeling eeehhhh about this book was 1. My confusion about why a lot of things were happening(I feel like the Anaander Mianaai we saw the most was so weak??? I guess because there was only the one of her?? But she was dealt with so fast. And also I feel like I didn't understand the motivations of the ships very well.) and 2. I was indeed falling asleep during the climax of this book. NOT Ann Leckie's fault. I had just done dishes and it was almost 12 in the morning so. But it really did interfere with me comprehending what was going on. Anyways! I liked this series a lot, but I think I'll be taking a break before I start on Provenance. Need an Imperial Radch break I think. I have no clue what I'm going to read next. Uh oh.
I think a lot of my feeling eeehhhh about this book was 1. My confusion about why a lot of things were happening
Ancillary Sword by Ann Leckie
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Hm so this book. It did keep me very nice company during this terrible terrible quarantine time and I am very grateful to it. However it did feel like nothing was really happening for about 80% of the book. I think my problem is that if there isn't any character development I feel like not much has happened? And there wasn't much character development in this book, especially compared to Ancillary Justice. Also I didn't really catch on to the mystery beats, which may be a me problem. Everything connecting together in the last ten percent of the book was cool though. Also I hate Raughd so much.
There were a ton of parts in this book where Certain characters were talking and I went "Oh man. Oh boy. Ouchy." Just. All the politics of colonization really come through in this book and the characters. It was nice to see.
I wish there were more Breq and Seivarden moments also. I missed them interacting so much and honestly Seivarden seems like a different person in this book. However I think that makes sense as she has metaphorically pulled herself together and is in a position of power that she was used to before the Great Freezing.
Also I found the worldbuilding to be much less confusing than in the first book!!! Maybe because this book was building on the first book, but I thought it also took the time to explain things more often than the first book did. However Breq did repeat herself a lot, like reminding us she was Justice of Toren or whatever. I know bud!!! How would I not know at this point!!! It was fine though.
Nice book!!!! Though overall I did find myself asking a bunch "what is the plot here". Though thankfully I am someone who doesn't really care if books have plot (slice of life lover over here).
There were a ton of parts in this book where Certain characters were talking and I went "Oh man. Oh boy. Ouchy." Just. All the politics of colonization really come through in this book and the characters. It was nice to see.
Also I found the worldbuilding to be much less confusing than in the first book!!! Maybe because this book was building on the first book, but I thought it also took the time to explain things more often than the first book did. However Breq did repeat herself a lot, like reminding us she was Justice of Toren or whatever. I know bud!!! How would I not know at this point!!! It was fine though.
Nice book!!!! Though overall I did find myself asking a bunch "what is the plot here". Though thankfully I am someone who doesn't really care if books have plot (slice of life lover over here).
Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I have no idea what to say about this book. I finished it an hour ago and I feel like my brain is mush. I read this book way too fast for the last like. 50% of it. Uhhhhhhhh I liked this book more than I liked Gideon the Ninth I think???? Though I did very much enjoy Gideon the Ninth. Oh my god. Why am I reviewing this book I have nothing substantial to say. It was a good book and I am going to be thinking about Gideon and Harrow for the next several moons
The only reason why it's not a 5 star book is because it was SO LONG (though I respect it) and also because there were So Many Descriptions Of Places and I just can't do those. Apologies Ms. Tamsyn Muir!!!!!!!!!! But all your characters are chefs kiss. I need to reread Gideon the Ninth sometime.
The only reason why it's not a 5 star book is because it was SO LONG (though I respect it) and also because there were So Many Descriptions Of Places and I just can't do those. Apologies Ms. Tamsyn Muir!!!!!!!!!! But all your characters are chefs kiss. I need to reread Gideon the Ninth sometime.
Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
I liked this book a lot!!!!! It was a good Nellie rec and also in the wheelhouse of The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet I think. The only parts of the book I did not enjoy as much were kind of my own failures I think?? I have a hard time keeping names of people and places in my head and this is a sci-fi book so there are many names of people and places. When Captain Vel came back up I literally did not remember who they were. Also the gender stuff did not help (but was very very cool!!!!!!!! I liked it a lot it was just not helpful for me and my terrible terrible brain).
Top 10 things I liked about this book: 1. Breq and Seivarden 2. Breq and Seivarden 3. Breq and Seivarden 4. Breq and Seivarden 5. Breq and Seivarden 6. Breq and Seivarden 7. Breq and Seivarden 8. Breq and Seivarden 9. Breq and Seivarden 10. Breq and Seivarden. Thank you for coming to my TED Talk.
At the end of the book I was wishing so desperately for Seivarden to just sweep Breq up into her arms. Stop making her walk around she is so tired and she deserves to be held!!!!!!!!!! But Breq probably would not enjoy that so. I will let it slide.
Anyways I will never not be sad about Breq and Lieutenant Awn. I am once again Inconsolable.
Good book I want to read the next one but I also want to read The Devil in the White City so!!!!!! Speedrun time I think.
Update: ACK I FORGOT ANOTHER ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS OF THE BOOK. I am shaking Breq's hand in Autism Masking. Love to read all the parts where she's talking about changing her expressions purposefully andwhen she starts acting as her ancillary self it felt like such a huge sense of relief,,,,,,, Big Mood. Also Seivarden has been in brain for a bit and I am officially establishing her as my #1 poor little meow meow. I love Seivarden a lot (and love whatever her and Breq have going on even more)!!!!!!!
Top 10 things I liked about this book: 1. Breq and Seivarden 2. Breq and Seivarden 3. Breq and Seivarden 4. Breq and Seivarden 5. Breq and Seivarden 6. Breq and Seivarden 7. Breq and Seivarden 8. Breq and Seivarden 9. Breq and Seivarden 10. Breq and Seivarden. Thank you for coming to my TED Talk.
At the end of the book I was wishing so desperately for Seivarden to just sweep Breq up into her arms. Stop making her walk around she is so tired and she deserves to be held!!!!!!!!!! But Breq probably would not enjoy that so. I will let it slide.
Good book I want to read the next one but I also want to read The Devil in the White City so!!!!!! Speedrun time I think.
Update: ACK I FORGOT ANOTHER ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS OF THE BOOK. I am shaking Breq's hand in Autism Masking. Love to read all the parts where she's talking about changing her expressions purposefully and
League of Dragons by Naomi Novik
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
I am VERY SAD about having finished this series :'((( I had such a fun time with Laurence and Temeraire and everybody (I love Jane and Granby and Emily and Ferris very much. And also everybody else. I am very bad at names but I think a group hug would be nice) and I am very sad to not have more Temeraire content. Also I did steal Laurence's name for myself whenever I have to do character creation because I think it is a very nice name. Other Temeraire names that are in my brain forever now as name alternatives are Jane and Catherine. I just like those names a lot.
I think I read these books too fast because if you asked me about a plot point there is a 50-50 chance I will not know what you are talking about. However I also think this series has big rereadability possibilities so I will probably get on that in a year or a month or a week or a day.
Anyways my six months ago wish to have Laurence and Temeraire living happily with their friends nearby did come to fruition!!!!! I am so happy for them and I am wishing them nothing but happiness and friendship and tasty bread etc etc!!!!!! Also crossing my fingers for Jane Laurence Tharkay platonic poly companionship. I think that would be nice.
I also have to mention that I was reading the last half of this book whenever I had breaks from working at the voting polls and once I was reading during my lunch break at Whole Foods and The Scene with Laurence and Jane came up. Why does this always happen to me. Anyways it was a nice scene but I think I have opposite luck or something.
I think I read these books too fast because if you asked me about a plot point there is a 50-50 chance I will not know what you are talking about. However I also think this series has big rereadability possibilities so I will probably get on that in a year or a month or a week or a day.
I also have to mention that I was reading the last half of this book whenever I had breaks from working at the voting polls and once I was reading during my lunch break at Whole Foods and The Scene with Laurence and Jane came up. Why does this always happen to me. Anyways it was a nice scene but I think I have opposite luck or something.