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createandchaos's reviews
9 reviews
Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
5.0
This book has a special place in my heart as a first generation child of immigrants.
Patron Saints of Nothing is a poignant novel, tackling Duterte's war on drugs, how it affects those left behind, and reconciling with the ideas that made it happen when you are practically a foreigner yourself.
Patron Saints of Nothing is a poignant novel, tackling Duterte's war on drugs, how it affects those left behind, and reconciling with the ideas that made it happen when you are practically a foreigner yourself.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, and Police brutality
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Racism
Minor: Homophobia, Sexual assault, and Trafficking
The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Tim O'Brien's writing style is one I've never encountered before but it kept me hooked. The war stories he recounts tells his and fellow soldiers stories and what the war was like for them. The Things They Carried is a hauntingly beautiful story about what war did to them and others in their position.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, and War
Moderate: Racism and Suicide
Freedom Is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement by Angela Y. Davis
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Freedom Is a Constant Struggle is a must read for those who want to understand the genocide occurring in Palestine and how it effects the world as well. Angela Davis explains how the history of anti-blackness in America and apartheid in Israel is a reflection of the ongoing western imperial project while opening the door for independent research. History can't be forgotten because it intersects in so many paths.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Racism, Police brutality, and War
Moderate: Death and Slavery
A Crown of Hopes and Sorrows by Nicole Bailey
Did not finish book. Stopped at 6%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 6%.
The book didn't really interest me and I lost the motivation to read it
The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.75
The Tower of Nero by Rick Riordan
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
5.0
The development that has been sown throughout The Trials of Apollo has finally come to its head in the final installment, The Tower of Nero.
The book itself is heart wrenching, the narrative displaying how Apollo has changed from where he started back in The Hidden Oracle and how he's putting all he's learned to use. Combined with the rest of the series, it's an ending that is heart wrenching and makes you want to cry with what all the characters have been through. It's a story of redemption, grief, trying to be better, and ultimately? At the core of it all, there was a story of escaping and beginning to heal from abuse.
The way Rick Riordan wrote Apollo and Meg finally break free from their abusers hold on them was heartbreaking, with it all beginning with Apollo recognizing the abuse Nero was inflicting on Meg back in The Hidden Oracle with what he dealt with under the hands of Zeus, a realization that has festered and expanded until it culminates into two powerful paragraphs/sentences in the last book.
"The Beast is dead." Meg tapped the side of her head. "I killed it..."
"As soon as I thought this, I realized how foolish it was. Zeus didn't work that way. He would not save me any more than Nero had saved Meg. I had to let go of that fantasy. I had to save myself."
The moments when they fight back against and/or came to the realization about their abuser is heartbreaking but it is also gratifying. They're free, they can heal, or in Apollo's case, with the newfound realizations about himself and how toxic and abusive the environment is among the Olympians, he's chosen to distance himself and to spend time with those who actually care about and love him.
He's spent more time and bonded with his children than he ever did before his trials and he's not going to let all that time go. He's moved on from his past, taking off his laurel wreath and contemplating the creation of the hyacinths, stating that he'd been responsible for Daphne transforming just to escape him and wondering if he created the hyacinths to commemorate Hyacinthus or to wallow in his grief and guilt. Hell, Apollo even misses the scars he gained over his journey because to they've become symbols of his humanity, they started to represent the hope that maybe he won't forget what it's like to be human. Apollo regained his own immortality and godhood for the purpose of keeping his promises, to come back, to remember being human, and to be better.
The Trials of Apollo has been a hell of a ride, but it was a ride worth taking.
The book itself is heart wrenching, the narrative displaying how Apollo has changed from where he started back in The Hidden Oracle and how he's putting all he's learned to use. Combined with the rest of the series, it's an ending that is heart wrenching and makes you want to cry with what all the characters have been through. It's a story of redemption, grief, trying to be better, and ultimately? At the core of it all, there was a story of escaping and beginning to heal from abuse.
"The Beast is dead." Meg tapped the side of her head. "I killed it..."
"As soon as I thought this, I realized how foolish it was. Zeus didn't work that way. He would not save me any more than Nero had saved Meg. I had to let go of that fantasy. I had to save myself."
The moments when they fight back against and/or came to the realization about their abuser is heartbreaking but it is also gratifying. They're free, they can heal, or in Apollo's case, with the newfound realizations about himself and how toxic and abusive the environment is among the Olympians, he's chosen to distance himself and to spend time with those who actually care about and love him.
He's spent more time and bonded with his children than he ever did before his trials and he's not going to let all that time go. He's moved on from his past, taking off his laurel wreath and contemplating the creation of the hyacinths, stating that he'd been responsible for Daphne transforming just to escape him and wondering if he created the hyacinths to commemorate Hyacinthus or to wallow in his grief and guilt. Hell, Apollo even misses the scars he gained over his journey because to they've become symbols of his humanity, they started to represent the hope that maybe he won't forget what it's like to be human. Apollo regained his own immortality and godhood for the purpose of keeping his promises, to come back, to remember being human, and to be better.
The Trials of Apollo has been a hell of a ride, but it was a ride worth taking.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Death, Blood, and Grief
The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
Tyson is literally the best brother ever and I'd kill for him. Percy count your days because I'm about to steal your brother.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, and Violence
Moderate: Death
Minor: Blood
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I first read this book when I was in elementary and in my Greek Mythology phase. Now years later, I've decided to reread it and see if it holds up to what I thought of it when I was young.
Despite how long it's been, I can confidently say that this has been one of my favorite books to read. The story of Percy coming into his own and learning about who he is was an entertaining one, his personality and lack of filter wanting to make you laugh. Seriously, have you tried imagining a twelve year old trying to pick fights with gods?
There's so much more that's great about this book, however if I try to continue this review would become an incoherent mess. 😂
Despite how long it's been, I can confidently say that this has been one of my favorite books to read. The story of Percy coming into his own and learning about who he is was an entertaining one, his personality and lack of filter wanting to make you laugh. Seriously, have you tried imagining a twelve year old trying to pick fights with gods?
There's so much more that's great about this book, however if I try to continue this review would become an incoherent mess. 😂
A Veil of Gods and Kings by Nicole Bailey
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
While it's an entertaining story and gets creative with characterizations that seem to slide smoothly into place with the characters and canon personalities, it falls a bit short on it actually being a Greek Mythology retelling. Instead it feels like it takes inspiration from the Mythology itself and doesn't quite fully build up on it.
However it does introduce interesting concepts such as Ares and Apollo's relationship and their unique perceptions on Zeus, which also extends to how Apollo's other siblings (barring Temi and Ares) view him.
However it does introduce interesting concepts such as Ares and Apollo's relationship and their unique perceptions on Zeus, which also extends to how Apollo's other siblings (barring Temi and Ares) view him.
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