chanreads_'s reviews
326 reviews

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

4.0

Being transported to the past was fascinating, and the

implications of her having to make sure her ancestor survived, time passing by slower in the past than in the future, Kevin being stuck in the past for 5 years without Dana

- all so thought provoking. Very difficult to read at points due to subject matter where I just had to take a break from reading. The writing style made it easy to actually read though. This is my second book from Butler and certainly not my last

She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan

3.0

I wanted to like it more but the formal, distanced writing style made that kind of difficult. I also found it frustrating in part 2 trying to keep track of who is who, and giving up. It feels like some of the deception in part 3 at the end would have been more meaningful if I had done a better job of keeping track of all the names, but nooope. 

The Esen/Ouyang ending was a big *oooof* and I felt pretty bad for Wang (Esen's bro), given how everyone expected him to betray them, and he did not (directly anyway).

For Zhu's story, I liked how she spoke as a monk later on, but it was pretty hard to imagine that being the same character as the girl from the start, which I suppose is the point. There was just a lot of suspension of disbelief over army commanders giving her a battalion of her own just because she showed up, or even allowing a monk to get married??

I'm just glad Xu Da didn't die 😂 I was bracing myself for his death the whole time lol. Maybe he will in the direct sequel 🥴

Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky

5.0

What a beautiful edition for such a wonderful book 🥹 I can't wait to get started on the next and continue the trilogy, but I really should give this one some time to percolate before I just jump into the next. I honestly feel that the less you know about this book before you begin, the better! Truly a tale that only whets my appetite for more science fiction! An easy 5⭐️ read for me. It even elicited some unexpected tears on my end at one particular moment, and I'm pretty tough to make cry tbh 👀

The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi

3.5

This was a quick fun read. I quite like Scalzi's writing style and would be curious to pick up more from him. I do wish there was more to describe the kaiju and also to distinguish the characters from each other in the story as they all sounded like the same person spouting witty one liners, but still a fun ride.

Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey

4.5

Struggled with the politics at first but I'm glad I stuck with it. Super enjoyed the ending.

Ship of Fools by Richard Paul Russo

3.5

But...but what WERE they? And what WAS that ending? And what happens AFTER? And where did those missing crewmen go? And what were those weird comatose-like symptoms from? :(

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

5.0

Absolutely loved this book! I was always left wanting to know what was going to happen next, how things shook out with the next husband, why Evelyn had reached out to Monique in the first place. 

I didn't expect to learn that Evelyn was bisexual, and as someone who is also bisexual, it felt almost like I was seen as Evelyn described the nuance of being attracted to both men and women. To empathize with how hurtful it was that Max, Celia, and even Monique seemed to want to fit her into a box of either being straight or gay. 

I do wish we had more time to see Monique wrestle with learning about her father, as things felt like they ended quite abruptly after that. But maybe that was the point, since the story was all about Evelyn Hugo: meeting her, writing about her, and finally, accepting when she has chosen to say goodbye.

Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

3.5

Cytonic by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

4.25

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

5.0