clacksee's reviews
1178 reviews

Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This is a difficult book to review because it’s two very different books in one. 

The first third of the book follows a family through multiple generations over about a century. The rest follows a bunch of contemporary characters going through a trauma.

Both parts were exceptional – just not very well matched. 

The Languid Belly of the Beast by J.S. Carter Gilson

adventurous 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

4.75

I’m loving this little series. Fast-paced sci-fi series full of hope and acceptance in a dark, oppressive world. 

The Black God's Drums by P. Djèlí Clark

adventurous emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

When Creeper overhears an important secrets, she thinks it’s her ticket out of New Orleans. She takes the news to Ann-Marie, captain of an airship, hoping to trade information for a job. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs

Moderate: Racism, Kidnapping, Colonisation

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney

dark mysterious tense slow-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

4.75

Okay, first off, rest easy. The dog lives . 

After his wife disappears without a trace, author Grady Green is bereft. An opportunity comes up to head north to an isolated Scottish island to write his next book. But all is not as it seems. 

It’s difficult to know what to say about this book without giving too much away. The first of the twists becomes obvious early on. But beyond that, I honestly wasn’t sure whether Grady was losing it or if the islanders were genuinely conspiring against him. 

Perils and Potions by S. Usher Evans

hopeful lighthearted mysterious 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? No

4.75

I love this series so much and I’m so sad it’s ending soon. This wasn’t my favourite instalment in the series – but its got  some pretty stiff competition in that regard. It’s still a heartwarming comfort read. 

The Nameless Restaurant by Tao Wong, Emily Woo Zeller

hopeful slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

A magical restaurant in the heart of Toronto. I think I’d like to read more of this series. 

My one complaint: If you’re going to set your book in Toronto, hire a narrator who knows how to pronounce the city name like a local, not like an American newscaster.  

When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain by Nghi Vo

adventurous emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

Cleric Shih is back on the road. This time, they encounter three tigers. While the tigers decide whether or not to eat Shih and their friends, they swap stories. 

I'm Not Done With You Yet by Jesse Q. Sutanto

dark mysterious tense medium-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

I thoroughly enjoyed the Vera Wong book, so I keep reading more of Sutanto's work hoping it'll be like that. Except her other works (or the ones I've read at any rate) are very much not that.

When Jane meets Thalia, sparks fly. Jane is a self-diagnosed sociopath with intense anger issues. She becomes obsessed with Thalia – pretty, sweet, perfect Thalia.

For me, I find it quite stressful spending so much time in the mind of such disturbed/disturbing people. It's not a relaxing read. But that's just me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship

An Ethical Guide To Murder by Jenny Morris

dark funny 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

4.5

I read a lot of ‘women who kill’ books. Like, a LOT. 

This one was dark. 

Most of the books in the genre are about women getting justice any way they can – or even just taking out people who piss them off. In this one, Thea discovers her power.  Instead of using it to do a bit of vengeance, she immediately hooks up with a former crush and allows him to use her to fulfil his agenda. 

For most of the book, Thea demonstrates very little agency. Or maybe it’s that she surrenders her agency. 

Abolition Democracy: Beyond Prisons, Torture, and Empire by Angela Y. Davis

challenging dark inspiring fast-paced

5.0

Yowzers! Powerful and timely. And a reminder that we can all do better. Together, change is possible.