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corvidcorvid's reviews
30 reviews
The Prisoner's Throne by Holly Black
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I was so disappointed that details I'd forgotten about what Wren fundamentally was/is were brought up only briefly at the end of the book, along with what I thought was the only really compelling imagery in it. There was so much there, so much history and backstory and potential, all crammed into the very end, and only to fizzle out.
Idk! I enjoy the world of the Folk of the Air so much, but I don't feel magic or awe.
Idk! I enjoy the world of the Folk of the Air so much, but I don't feel magic or awe.
She Started It by Sian Gilbert
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I don't know if this wants to be a satisfying story of bullies getting their comeuppance; to me it's more a display of how disappointing people can be. A few times the bullies hope what's happening is a dream, and that's what it felt like to me. A frustrated fantasy.
I did really enjoy the multiple voice actors in the audiobook.
I did really enjoy the multiple voice actors in the audiobook.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Violence
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Drug use
The Secret Commonwealth by Philip Pullman
Did not finish book.
Did not finish book.
I've listened to this book once before, and was extremely surprised and put off by the sexual assault (that I guess is not exactly "graphic" but is brutal) near the end. I feel it might be worse to read about, because, spoken, at least there's an urgency and a speed to it. It gives me the shivers even saying that.
I thought maybe I was remembering too harshly (relationship between main characters)Malcolm's saying that he is in love with Lyra. But, no, I didn't imagine that Hannah, of all people, who knows that Malcolm first met Lyra when she was a BABY, blesses it by saying something like, "Once, maybe, it would have been inappropriate. But you're both adults!" Gross.
I'll keep my fond memories of His Dark Materials and I'll keep what I've taken from it, but I am not interested in reading the third of The Book of Dust if this is what Philip Pullman is doing with the characters.
I thought maybe I was remembering too harshly (relationship between main characters)
I'll keep my fond memories of His Dark Materials and I'll keep what I've taken from it, but I am not interested in reading the third of The Book of Dust if this is what Philip Pullman is doing with the characters.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black
adventurous
mysterious
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
3.0
I've read and listened to this several times; I do quite like it. Since other reviews talk about the story itself, here are my issues.
While tame, I skip the descriptions of making out and other physical scenes because I'm already not into reading about that, but here, it's high schoolers, which makes me want to read/hear about it even less.
Holly Black has a habit of peppering in tiny red herrings, which irritates me.
I've noticed more than one occasion of current YA authors glossing over certain interactions in ways that disturb me. In this book, it's the end of chapter 14 and the beginning of chapter 16. At the revel, an unknown fairy kisses Jack, then takes a drink of wine and kisses Hazel, transferring the wine to her. Fairy drink and food totally effs humans up; Hazel is, understandably, smashed. Chapter 16 opens with Jack yelling at her, "What were you thinking?" Hazel, hungover, apologizes, not mentioning that the fairy who essentially assaulted her was the only reason she ingested anything. This is incredibly weird and distasteful. Jack was there and saw what happened, and blames Hazel? And Hazel takes it? I don't think this was intentionally realistic victim-blaming and I'm incredibly disappointed this was not edited differently.
While tame, I skip the descriptions of making out and other physical scenes because I'm already not into reading about that, but here, it's high schoolers, which makes me want to read/hear about it even less.
Holly Black has a habit of peppering in tiny red herrings, which irritates me.
I've noticed more than one occasion of current YA authors glossing over certain interactions in ways that disturb me. In this book, it's the end of chapter 14 and the beginning of chapter 16. At the revel, an unknown fairy kisses Jack, then takes a drink of wine and kisses Hazel, transferring the wine to her. Fairy drink and food totally effs humans up; Hazel is, understandably, smashed. Chapter 16 opens with Jack yelling at her, "What were you thinking?" Hazel, hungover, apologizes, not mentioning that the fairy who essentially assaulted her was the only reason she ingested anything. This is incredibly weird and distasteful. Jack was there and saw what happened, and blames Hazel? And Hazel takes it? I don't think this was intentionally realistic victim-blaming and I'm incredibly disappointed this was not edited differently.
The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.
(In the audiobook), I'm not really enjoying the intonation of the narrator. Kind of huffy, affronted teen, which I understand is the protagonist, but it's too much for me. I'll try reading rather than listening to this.
Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Slow to get going, at many times long-winded, sometimes preachy, often condescending of the characters, who were practically caricatures, but insightful. I didn't care for the ending, so I'm just going to imagine it differently.
The creepiest aspect of the book, imo, was the infiltration of privacy with technology that's nearly impossible for laypeople to recognize. I gasped and physically cringed whenRobert revealed how he knew who Mira was, and when he usurped Mira's phone. Mira, and the rest of Birnam Wood, had NO questions at him having deposited the initial $10k directly into her bank account to demonstrate that he was legit. That was the linchpin for me, where I want to believe I would have nope'd out.
The creepiest aspect of the book, imo, was the infiltration of privacy with technology that's nearly impossible for laypeople to recognize. I gasped and physically cringed when
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Animal death, and Injury/Injury detail