courtofsmutandstuff's reviews
1339 reviews

Elantris by Brandon Sanderson

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5.0

So like I enjoyed it, but there were also a lot of "... I think this is actually kind of problematic??" moments at several times that take me out of the plot. Like the morality of the "oh if they're just GIVEN food that's terrible for them!! They'll regress into mindless Elantrians again!!! ThEy NeEd To WoRkkkkk" being one of the biggest ones. I want to believe that Sanderson means well and is only trying to tell stories with "good" messages and he tells them with flawed and therefore realistic characters, but I just couldn't be fully comfy with some of the ideas of some of them. Even the misogyny of King Iadon is supposed to be a "well obviously HE'S terrible but we're all so much better"  but it doesn't feel so much like Sanderson is subverting stereotypes as saying "well Sarene is Not Like Other Girls therefore she's Good". Also the way he portrays Galladon reminds me that Mormonism has some pretty canonically messed up ideas about Black people to say the least. It's not going to turn me off of Sanderson, but it makes for some "wait a minute..." moments when reading, and I hope that as this is his first book, as I read more in the Cosmere, those uncomfy moments disappear. 
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Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors by Gordon Greenberg, Steve Rosen

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3.0

Incredibly campy and over the top, I think this would really work as a production, but it's not so much a script that shines alone on the page. If you're looking for a campy, over the top comedy that also trades on name recognition, this is a solid choice. 
A Sky Beyond the Storm by Sabaa Tahir

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5.0

This is a series that should be read through together back to back to back. I hadn't done a reread before tackling Sky, and I wish I had had the time (though I am looking forward to a future reread down the line). 
Tahir frustrated me at times by switching narrators/plot lines just when it was getting really good, but I understand that choice. The book also wraps up cleanly (though not pleasantly - girlfriend is in the George RR Martin camp of killing characters), and I felt it resolved a lot of issues (though I think on my reread I'll be fully satisfied when I fully remember all the minor details Tahir weaves together). I would still like more about Keris (I'd love a "Fairest" style book from her perspective) but she is meant to be an enigma. 
Overall, I'd recommend this series (especially since it's now completed) but recommend each book be taken down in quick succession so you can appreciate all the small details Tahir builds upon and weaves together.

In 2024 on the reread - Sabaa is amazing, this series is amazing, and it's even better on the reread.
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The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley

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5.0

I really love how Lucy Foley always has several different POVs (from characters who are wildly different from each other) and her dedication to showing that rich people are the absolute worst. I tore through this audiobook incredibly quickly and loved each of the narrators, and enjoyed the twists and surprises. 
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Heir by Sabaa Tahir

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5.0

I LOVED IT! And especially for a Sabaa Tahir book - I *didn't* get my heart ripped out? And she had a really good - bordering on spicy - romance subplot??? Perfect no notes. I love all the POVs, I love the characters, and I love <spoilers> the plot twists/reveals!!! SO GOOD </spoilers>. I had done a full Ember in the Ashes reread before picking this up and I don't think that is necessary, so if you're putting off Heir because you think you need to do a reread, you don't have to, but man did I love Ember so much more on the reread!! (Obviously if you haven't read Ember in the Ashes please read that first - but if it's been a few years since you read it you'll still be fine!) 
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Second Tide's the Charm by Chandra Blumberg

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  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I just love that this book is about sharks and shark research. This book is not spicy (rated PG) but I love the dual POV and second chance romance. There were some parts that made me stress out (if the characters are anxious and dreading something then I'm also going to be anxious and dreading something), and I felt there were some moments of peril/distress that weren't fully resolved (
like who ended up being a troll, but it then seemed largely disregarded
) but I really enjoyed Hope and Adrian, and do recommend this, and it's especially good as a recommendation for someone who doesn't want a spicy romance but they still want something with all the feels. 
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Graduation Day by Joelle Charbonneau

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3.0

I did wish that a lot of this was then still covered and featured in book 2, and then the climax/resolution of this was so fast it just didn't feel satisfying. I still feel like I don't really understand where the world is going after this, and wonder how different it would've been if book 2 ended with the night of rebellion, and then book 3 covered what happened afterwards. 
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Independent Study by Joelle Charbonneau

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3.0

The world building is intriguing, but the book ends on a cliffhanger that I almost wish was resolved more in this book rather than the sequel. 
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The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau

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3.5

This is still an interesting read, but I think I would've liked it more if I read it more in the peak of dystopian craze. I'm intrigued by the plot/world-building, but there are times where it sounds like a stereotypical dystopian (which I don't think is a dig against the author but more dystopian-fatigue). 
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Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood

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4.0

Love Ali, and love this quick read. 
However, dare I say... I could've used a bit more plot.