claireskies's reviews
22 reviews

An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

This is a brilliant read, and a horrifying spin on the speculative genre. Solomon's world building is incredible, and I was always excited to hear more of the terrifying Matilda. I felt I left with more questions about Matilda than I began with, and I would've loved to have known the history of this world a little more. However, Solomon's compelling characters and intense action drives this novel forward. Aster's voice is so strong, and so needed. 

In Ascension by Martin MacInnes

adventurous emotional reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

What the fuck. Actually, what the fuck. 

I'd read Infinite Ground last year and fell in love with MacInnes writing. I then read Infinite Ground a second time, and I thought that there could be nothing as shocking, inspiring and emotional as that. Maybe it's my own awe and terror of space, but reading this book was like having a minor panic attack every five seconds; I was so full of andrenalinr and excitement and dread. How did MacInnes do that? How did you hide such an emotional tale in a piece that is so scientific, with a protagonist that is so analytical and shut off from her own emotions.

at midnight I had just started on Nereus and thought I'd read a chapter or two before bed. It's two am and everything is soaked in tears.

this is it. This is the book that was written for me. 

Fairy Tales and Feminism: New Approaches by

informative medium-paced

3.0

Cacophony of Bone by Kerri ní Dochartaigh

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

A gorgeous, gorgeous book. This book has everything! I really love pieces that read as projects, experiences, rather than with a single through line. Ní Dochartaigh covers everything, from the pandemic, to the Black Lives Matters movement, to gardening and human rights, to mental health, moths, and light. This book is beautiful. I was apprehensive to read a pandemic book, thinking it might conjure up some distressing memories, but no. This book made me feel so safe, like the author was resting her head on my shoulder and telling me her stories. I'd highly recommend listening to the audiobook and hear Ní Dochartaigh read her words herself.

Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious 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

Tamsyn Muir is a genius at playing the long game. To be honest, I was a little lost in the first half of the book. I loved to follow the characters and was emotionally invested, but I didn't find myself as gripped as I was with Gideon. But then BAM! Page 315. She did it. The payoff was incredible and so worthwhile. I love this series, and I loved Muir's development of this strange, magical, sci-fi, apocalyptic world. Let's go lesbians! 

Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

From an eco-fiction standpoint, I really loved this book. The narrator's empathy for her natural world was completely gripping and was a driving force in this narrative. Tokarczuk created a world that was alive, with vivid characters and a mysterious, compelling setting that transformed with the seasons. I loved the use of Astrology and how we were embedded within this character's worldview. It was clear that her voice was unreliable, but she was so likeable that you wanted to believe her anyways. However, I felt like this was a book where everything happened off screen, which, from a mystery standpoint, made the plot feel weak and last minute.

I guessed early on who the murderer was, and wasn't disappointed, but I felt let down in how it was done. Please, I don't want to read a summarising chapter. I felt she had an alibi for everything, and as there were long gaps between each murder, I didn't find their mystery compelling. I think I would've been much more satisfied if it had been the animals, but I didn't think it was that kind of book. Of course,  I'm reading a translation and I understand that does have an effect on how the narrative unravels.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. I'd recommend it to those who like eco-fiction and character studies. This novel really handles ageism well, and would recommend it to those wanting to read stories about older characters. However, I wouldn't recommend this as a crime, mystery, or noir narrative. 

The Secret Commonwealth by Philip Pullman
Did not finish book.

What gripped me in Pullman's other books, was not present in this. I loved this series for its children's fantasy that covered intense issues. The Belle Sauvage might be one of my favourite books. But I couldn't love the same characters I did when they were adults, even though I think they were well written, they were simply dull. An unfitting romance with a questionable age gap and power dyanmic seemed a haphazard attempt to make Lyra and Malcolm compelling as adults, but it simply drove me away. I might tune back in for the third book, but right now I have to accept defeat and put this book away.

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• 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 book about love, loss, and restarting. It explores what it means to play this horribly difficult and unpredictable game of life. Zevin plays with temporality and breaks reality to convey a raw understanding of the world and who we are as characters, players, and creatives.The perspective moved backwards and forwards in time, flowing from one character into the next. Dive inside the narrative or find yourself in the middle of an interview or a game created by Sadie and Sam. This novel is beautiful and each time I think of certain moments I just start tearing up. The story of Sadie and Sam, and all the characters and places Zevin introduces us to, will haunt me forever.

The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett

adventurous funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

A fun, exciting read and the start of an amazing series. This is the first book in the Discworld series and it does, somewhat unfortunately, show. The pacing is a little bit messy and I did find some parts somewhat predictable. However, Pratchett's confidence in his world and writing by the end of the novel paves the way for future installations. I was not expecting such a beautiful end to this silly book. His characters have my heart, and I'm left wanting to explore more of this world. This is a fun satire of DnD/High-fantast style narratives, and it's great to see the genre being poked fun of. In some ways, this is an anti-novel, and Pratchett handels it well

Where Angels Fear to Tread by E.M. Forster

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0