claudcloud's reviews
300 reviews

The Golden Raven by Nora Sakavic

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.75

Going into this new AFTG series, never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined I'd care so much about a previous side-character - but I guess this is Nora magic. I will genuinely die and kill for Jean Moreau, and getting to see him make friends, find a family, be encouraged and cared for by his entire team and coaches, starting to unpack his trauma and SAY WITH HIS OWN MOUTH THAT HE DIDN'T DESERVE ANY OF IT (🥹🥹🥹), breaking away from the Nest and Riko and Tetsuji and the Ravens, find comfort in Jeremy and Cat and Laila and choosing them every time???? Witnessing him earnestly fulfilling his promise to Kevin, in spite of how much it hurts, and learning to finally live?? Has been nothing short of incredible.

The next and final book will absolutely destroy me, I fear, but I couldn't be more excited!!

I Hear the Sunspot: Four Seasons Volume 2 by Yuki Fumino

emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

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

4.0

Demon in the Wood Graphic Novel by Leigh Bardugo

emotional mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

3.5

Given that my Grishaverse knowledge is limited to the TV show (RIP Six of Crows spin-off 🥺) maybe I should've tried the original trilogy before wanting to learn more about the Darkling - but the beautiful art style and Leigh's incredible writing more than made up for it!

Immortal Longings by Chloe Gong

challenging mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.0

This could have been so much less boring than it was 😕

The setting, the premise, the vibes had so much potential, but unfortunately... it just didn't make me feel anything?? The characters were one-dimensional, the games aspect of the whole thing felt like an afterthought rather than the whole reason the plot exists (not to mention that the game system made exactly 0 sense and was just a complete mess??), nothing felt explored as it should've been??? And if I'm being quite honest, this did not feel like an adult novel in any way, shape or form??

The Anton-is-now-in-August's-body reveal at the end would be the only reason why I would even consider continuing with this series, but even that was so rushed and so completely unearned that I just?? Don't know if I will.

Graveyard Shift by M.L. Rio

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.25

I wanted to love this one way more than I did 😥 I enjoyed the writing style, which I knew I would after reading If We Were Villains, and the atmosphere that M.L. Rio creates in her books is always a plus - but the plot and the characters were boring (due, in part, to this being a novella), the mystery was not that exciting at all, and it just fell flat. I will say that having the audiobook alongside the physical helped quite a bit, so it's worth giving that a try!

I Hear the Sunspot: Four Seasons Volume 1 by Yuki Fumino

emotional hopeful inspiring relaxing fast-paced

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

4.5

I've officially adopted these two. That's all 🥹

I Hear the Sunspot: Limit Volume 3 by Yuki Fumino

emotional inspiring reflective 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

4.5

FINALLY. FINALLY. FINALLY. It ached how much I was able to relate to both Kouhei and Taichi and all the reservations they both had about the other - but FINALLY 🥹

I Hear the Sunspot: Limit Volume 2 by Yuki Fumino

challenging emotional reflective sad fast-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

3.75

Oh, the trials and challenges of miscommunication... we love to hate it and we hate to love it! I'm not above admitting that I eat it up every single time - but I just want these two to finally talk everything through properly!!! PLEASE!!!!!!

I Hear the Sunspot: Limit, Vol. 1 by Yuki Fumino

emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective fast-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? No

4.0

Oh Taichi, my sweet summer child... I get you so deeply 🥹

I Hear the Sunspot: Theory of Happiness by Yuki Fumino

emotional hopeful lighthearted 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? It's complicated

4.0

This tugged at my heartstrings then single-handedly stitched them all back together in the span of a few chapters and I LOVED IT. I'm officially adopting these two 🥹