cursedepub's reviews
369 reviews

The Shadow of What Was Lost by James Islington

adventurous dark medium-paced

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

3.5

I picked this book up due to seeing it recommended multiple times on the r/Fantasy subreddit, and knowing it was Islignton's debut novel (Redditors noted the plot twists and shouted out a few great characters). While this is a solid fantasy novel with all the genre's favorite tropes, it also was clear that this is not a seasoned author's work.

The plot twists WERE genuinely surprising without feeling like cop-outs, and the book often took darker turns than I expected. The characters, however, were all rather bland and generally not very distinct. The novel does a great job of having the characters progress in terms of their roles in the story; they all end up in very different places from where they began in quite natural ways. However there is a lack of real personality across the board. This is definitely a work where events drive the story forward much more than character choices and motivations. The story does keep you curious enough that you are not really reading for the characters anyway.

Ultimately this was an enjoyable enough read, but it did not leave much of a mark.

How to Be Eaten by Maria Adelmann

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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? Yes

3.75

A very interesting reimagining of various classic fairy tales through a simple (in the sense of, not deeply complex and political) feminist lens. Each new spin is very true to the heart of the original tale while subverting it and contextualizing it in the modern world. What I enjoyed the most was how each character's narrative voice is distinct and unique, but the novel still has a cohesive overall prose style that is both biting and honest. The actual conceit of the story (group therapy with a twist, orchestrated by someone with ulterior motives) is honestly not very strong compared to each of the women's individual tales.

The Tyrant's Tomb by Rick Riordan

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny fast-paced