Take a photo of a barcode or cover
cjwitch's reviews
113 reviews
The Lies of the Ajungo by Moses Ose Utomi
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
4.5
A beautifully written tale about what some people will do for power, and what that power costs from others.
This novella packs so much punch into so few pages, with a flowing narration that begins like the beginning of a myth and evolves along the way as Tutu, the young MMC, begins to learn the truths of the world he inhabits. Tutu's desperation and drive to save his mother had me hanging onto every word and his pain and rage as he learns what is behind the lies of his life is heart-wrenching.
As more and more of the truth is uncovered during Tutu's journey, this book slowly begins to become more and more relevant to events happening in the world today. The lies that Tutu has known feel eerily similar to the lies that people in power tell all over our world.
My favorite (spoiler-free) quote from the book is "Evil in one place is evil in every place."
This novella packs so much punch into so few pages, with a flowing narration that begins like the beginning of a myth and evolves along the way as Tutu, the young MMC, begins to learn the truths of the world he inhabits. Tutu's desperation and drive to save his mother had me hanging onto every word and his pain and rage as he learns what is behind the lies of his life is heart-wrenching.
As more and more of the truth is uncovered during Tutu's journey, this book slowly begins to become more and more relevant to events happening in the world today. The lies that Tutu has known feel eerily similar to the lies that people in power tell all over our world.
My favorite (spoiler-free) quote from the book is "Evil in one place is evil in every place."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, and Blood
Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
challenging
dark
informative
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Speculative Fiction is a genre that I've just recently begun to explore and this book is not just the best of the genre that I have read so far, but one of the best books that I have read, period. Chain-Gang All-Stars is engaging, fast-paced and beautifully written, balancing brutal violence with love and gentleness. It has numerous POVs, including from prisoners, fans of the "games," protesters, and that of people both working in and running the events. It can be hard to follow at times, especially with the few time jumps that occur, but the plot never feels lost or overwrought.
This book will make you uncomfortable. It will frustrate you. It will depress you. And, hopefully, it will make you want to take action. Because this may be speculative fiction, but it is here and now. It is how we treat prisoners. How we disregard life in so many ways. It's how the American legal system is unbalanced and often fails the people who are put at it's mercy. The footnotes, which give facts about real life events and statistics, heighten that reality even further.
One of the things that I loved about this book is that, despite everything, it didn't leave me feeling hopeless. There is no guide for how to fix everything. In fact, there is acknowledgement that there is no easy answer and that no one person is likely to be able to figure it out alone. But it makes you aware and makes you question and that is the beginning of change.
This book will make you uncomfortable. It will frustrate you. It will depress you. And, hopefully, it will make you want to take action. Because this may be speculative fiction, but it is here and now. It is how we treat prisoners. How we disregard life in so many ways. It's how the American legal system is unbalanced and often fails the people who are put at it's mercy. The footnotes, which give facts about real life events and statistics, heighten that reality even further.
One of the things that I loved about this book is that, despite everything, it didn't leave me feeling hopeless. There is no guide for how to fix everything. In fact, there is acknowledgement that there is no easy answer and that no one person is likely to be able to figure it out alone. But it makes you aware and makes you question and that is the beginning of change.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Suicide and Police brutality
Minor: Rape
The Beauty of Your Face: A Novel by Sahar Mustafah
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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
5.0
This book begins in Afaf's present day, where she is the principal of an Islamic girls school that is the target of a mass shooting. It then immediately jumps back in time to her early childhood. Most of the book is spent exploring Afaf's past, her childhood and her journey into adulthood, with flashes back to the shooting taking place between each major time period of her life. These flashes of the shooting are told mainly from the POV of the shooter and are both jarring and disturbing to read.
Afaf's past is littered with pain and growth and eventually joy and love. This part of the story begins when Afaf is ten years old and her older sister goes missing. It follows the impact that this has on herself and her family, and focuses on how "other" Afaf feels both inside and outside of her home. For years Afaf's family is torn apart by loss and Afaf struggles with no sense of belonging, until her father first discovers and then introduces her to the Muslim community. It is through her newfound faith and community that Afaf finally connects with herself.
This book showcases the complexities of being a 1st generation immigrant, and of being both Arab and Muslim in a pre and post 9/11 world. The reader is emersed in Middle Eastern culture, foods and language and customs, in a way that is rich and welcoming, especially as Afaf begins to embrace her faith.
The Beauty of Your Face is at times incredibly beautiful and often intensely painful. I think I cried through the entirety of the last 20% of it. It is so relevant to current times and however difficult this book may be, I urge you to pick to this up.
Afaf's past is littered with pain and growth and eventually joy and love. This part of the story begins when Afaf is ten years old and her older sister goes missing. It follows the impact that this has on herself and her family, and focuses on how "other" Afaf feels both inside and outside of her home. For years Afaf's family is torn apart by loss and Afaf struggles with no sense of belonging, until her father first discovers and then introduces her to the Muslim community. It is through her newfound faith and community that Afaf finally connects with herself.
This book showcases the complexities of being a 1st generation immigrant, and of being both Arab and Muslim in a pre and post 9/11 world. The reader is emersed in Middle Eastern culture, foods and language and customs, in a way that is rich and welcoming, especially as Afaf begins to embrace her faith.
The Beauty of Your Face is at times incredibly beautiful and often intensely painful. I think I cried through the entirety of the last 20% of it. It is so relevant to current times and however difficult this book may be, I urge you to pick to this up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Islamophobia, and Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Mental illness, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse, Car accident, and Alcohol
Mother Country by Etaf Rum
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A beautiful and powerful story a young Palestinian American woman writes to her mother, confronting the shame and fear that she learned in childhood and how she came to understand her mother through her own experiences with marriage and motherhood. This story is about a woman trying to live a better life than her mother was able to live, and to be a better mother to her children so that her children could live a better life in turn. It's about trauma and courage and striving to forever do better by the next generation.
This was heavy and sad, as the unnamed narrator first runs from and then confronts the traumas that had been passed down to her, but by the end there was a note of hope and love finally understood.
This was heavy and sad, as the unnamed narrator first runs from and then confronts the traumas that had been passed down to her, but by the end there was a note of hope and love finally understood.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent
Exit Strategy by Martha Wells
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
5.0
The first 4 novellas of The MurderBot Diaries are tied together with an overarching plot and Exit Strategy was the perfect conclusion to it. Heartwarming, hilarious, and my current favorite piece of media on the entertainment feed.
This book was more action-packed than the earlier books in the series, but MurderBot was still MurderBot and it somehow makes even life and death situations funny and lighthearted. MurderBot also got to further explore the tentative friendships that it formed with the Preservation crew from All Systems Red and seeing them reconnect was EVERYTHING. MurderBot is awkward and unsure and sometimes very afraid of rejection (even while thinking it SHOULD be rejected), but it cares so much about the humans it claims and it sort of hates that it cares and refuses to admit to it (while admitting it at every turn).
As always, MurderBot is the most relatable and lovable character in existence.
Side note: it's discovery of giant display screens in hotels was nothing short of perfection.
This book was more action-packed than the earlier books in the series, but MurderBot was still MurderBot and it somehow makes even life and death situations funny and lighthearted. MurderBot also got to further explore the tentative friendships that it formed with the Preservation crew from All Systems Red and seeing them reconnect was EVERYTHING. MurderBot is awkward and unsure and sometimes very afraid of rejection (even while thinking it SHOULD be rejected), but it cares so much about the humans it claims and it sort of hates that it cares and refuses to admit to it (while admitting it at every turn).
As always, MurderBot is the most relatable and lovable character in existence.
Side note: it's discovery of giant display screens in hotels was nothing short of perfection.
You Exist Too Much by Zaina Arafat
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Going into the book, I expected something different from what it is. What I found was a book about emotional, particularly parental, trauma and the very human responses to it. This book was difficult in the beginning, the FMC deeply unlikeable and her perspective both unhealthy and unenjoyable through much of the book.
What I did love about the book, and what kept me engaged from the start, was the non-linear storytelling, which flashes between the FMC's present and her past. It allows us glimpses into the traumas that fuel her present day actions and allows the reader to see the vulnerability behind the FMC's rough edges.
Despite her flaws, the FMC's drive to self-analysis and personal growth is admirable. Even when she knows that the growth won't fix her most recent relationship, she recognizes the need to improve for herself and her own future.
By the end, my dislike of the unnamed FMC had diminished somewhat, though I never gained a true love of the character. Still, somehow I found that I enjoyed this book; enjoyed the journey that the FMC took and the growth that she achieved and the way her view of her mother evolved.
1st Generation Palestinian-American
Bisexual FMC
Generational Trauma
Therapy and Healing
Introspection
What I did love about the book, and what kept me engaged from the start, was the non-linear storytelling, which flashes between the FMC's present and her past. It allows us glimpses into the traumas that fuel her present day actions and allows the reader to see the vulnerability behind the FMC's rough edges.
Despite her flaws, the FMC's drive to self-analysis and personal growth is admirable. Even when she knows that the growth won't fix her most recent relationship, she recognizes the need to improve for herself and her own future.
By the end, my dislike of the unnamed FMC had diminished somewhat, though I never gained a true love of the character. Still, somehow I found that I enjoyed this book; enjoyed the journey that the FMC took and the growth that she achieved and the way her view of her mother evolved.
1st Generation Palestinian-American
Bisexual FMC
Generational Trauma
Therapy and Healing
Introspection
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Addiction, Biphobia, and Homophobia
Outdrawn by Deanna Grey
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This is one of the best romance books I've had the pleasure of reading. Every character, no matter how much page time they received, was fleshed out with flaws and backgrounds and personalities all their own. Sage and Noah, our FMC's, were relatable and lovable. The rivalry didn’t feel contrived, and the progression towards love felt natural. By the time Noah and Sage were falling for each other, the writing had completely dragged me, as the reader, along with them! During Noah’s POV, I was absolutely as smitten with Sage as she was, and the reverse rang true during Sage’s POV.
And the bickering! The way these women teased and taunted each other had me kicking my feet and giggling.
What really touched my heart though, and what will stay with me for a long time, was the exploration of asking for “help” vs looking for “rescue.” How asking for or accepting help, or putting up personal boundaries, doesn’t reduce your personal strength or worth. How it’s necessary and often a way of letting your friends/loved ones show their own caring.
Noah and Sage were both strong women. Neither needed to save or be saved by anyone. They met on equal footing and formed a deep understanding of each other because of it, which only enhanced their ability to lean on each other and support each other once they learned to allow themselves. In turn, that actually deepened their bond and brought both further happiness.
Bi/Lesbian Rep
Carpal Tunnel
Office Romance
Rivals to Lovers
Friends and Family
And the bickering! The way these women teased and taunted each other had me kicking my feet and giggling.
What really touched my heart though, and what will stay with me for a long time, was the exploration of asking for “help” vs looking for “rescue.” How asking for or accepting help, or putting up personal boundaries, doesn’t reduce your personal strength or worth. How it’s necessary and often a way of letting your friends/loved ones show their own caring.
Noah and Sage were both strong women. Neither needed to save or be saved by anyone. They met on equal footing and formed a deep understanding of each other because of it, which only enhanced their ability to lean on each other and support each other once they learned to allow themselves. In turn, that actually deepened their bond and brought both further happiness.
Bi/Lesbian Rep
Carpal Tunnel
Office Romance
Rivals to Lovers
Friends and Family
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Alcoholism
Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells
adventurous
emotional
funny
sad
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
4.75
Dammit! How dare this fun relatable little book about bots and constructs make me cry!
As ever, Murderbot continues to be the most relatable character I’ve ever come across.
In Rogue Protocol, Murderbot faces its first encounter with humans and bots who genuinely care about each other and that gives it all sorts of emotions that it’s unsure how to process.
Miki, the bot friend of the local humans, is so pure and wonderful. Murderbot seeing Miki’s trust (which comes from having never been abused by humans) had me wanting to sob. Poor Murderbot needs some therapy and a LONG vacation.
I will say that this book was a bit slower than the previous two. I didn’t see that as a negative, because it built the tension in the abandoned station, but someone who prefers the faster pacing of the first two books might want the heads up on the pacing change. At about the 60%, everything speeds up again for the conclusion.
Artificial Condition by Martha Wells
adventurous
funny
reflective
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
5.0
I saw a meme before reading that said “Artificial Condition, book two of The Murderbot Diaries, is about two robots in a trench coat pretending to be human for a job interview.” (by user @bandee)
This could not have been more accurate. I am in love with ART and Murderbot’s every interaction. This story brought me so much joy and recognition (I too need to sit down and consume hours of media after social situations like job interviews).
I did not think it was possible for these books to get MORE relatable and funny, but somehow, Artificial Condition was even better than All Systems Red!
Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book is a completely unique reading experience.
It is an intriguing and beautiful mashup of science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary that feels like each character is stepping out of their own genre to meet here. It’s messy and chaotic, and shouldn’t work, but somehow it does. Not only does it work, but the final product is something wholly charming.
Each of our three main characters knows something of hell. Shizuka, who made a deal with a demon to escape damnation. Lan, who gathered her family together and fled across space time to escape a galactic war. And Katrina, who faces hell every day merely existing as a young biracial trans woman.
Shizuka, Lan, and Katrina have all lost sight of everything outside their own struggles to survive their personal hells at the beginning. It is only when the three come together that they begin to heal.
What I love about this book is that the character growth here isn’t immediate or easy. It’s something that comes reluctantly and painfully. There are misunderstandings and eye opening revelations, but growth remains slow. When you’ve spent decades just trying to survive, you don’t leave survival mode easily.
There are elements to the book that are perhaps underdeveloped, specifically with the alien society and Endplague. But the characters are so heartbreakingly, heartwarmingly real that I found I didn’t mind.
Please check your trigger warnings here though. While the overall book is lighthearted given the subject matter, there is harsh transphobia and child abuse, as well as less detailed incidents of racism, homophobia, sexual assault, and rape.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Transphobia
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
Minor: Homophobia and Racism