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deereadstoo's reviews
150 reviews
Love Radio by Ebony LaDelle
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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? No
4.0
CW/TW: sexual assault
There are some couples that just remind you of the 90s. They remind you of when you'd see a couple sitting on the stoop. The man nestled in between his girl's legs as she delicately greased his scalp. An intimate moment between the two. They're both at peace within. Massaging the stresses away with Blue Magic and summer heat. I know they're literally in high school but this is how I imagine Dani and Prince.
Young, Black love makes my heart swoon. Such a delicate flower. Prince, with wisdom beyond his years, partly due to being in a situation he had no control of but took control of anyway. Dani, fighting for every ounce of control she can find because nothing feels more out of your control than your mind. The two of them crash-landing into each other sparked an untamable fire growing within each of them. Pure love. What I wouldn't give to find something as sickly sweet as them because everyone deserves of true love story.
There are some couples that just remind you of the 90s. They remind you of when you'd see a couple sitting on the stoop. The man nestled in between his girl's legs as she delicately greased his scalp. An intimate moment between the two. They're both at peace within. Massaging the stresses away with Blue Magic and summer heat. I know they're literally in high school but this is how I imagine Dani and Prince.
Young, Black love makes my heart swoon. Such a delicate flower. Prince, with wisdom beyond his years, partly due to being in a situation he had no control of but took control of anyway. Dani, fighting for every ounce of control she can find because nothing feels more out of your control than your mind. The two of them crash-landing into each other sparked an untamable fire growing within each of them. Pure love. What I wouldn't give to find something as sickly sweet as them because everyone deserves of true love story.
She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
CW/TW: gender dysphoria, internalized homophobia, war themes, misgendering, gender inequality
Sometimes reading the synopsis taints the reading experience just a little bit.
Shelley Parker-Chan puts pen to paper and brings to life some of the most vibrant and emotionally jarring characters I’ve ever read. When I first met Ouyang, Baoxiang, and Esen, I was immediately enthralled. The way they portrayed these characters was breathtaking. The passion, the pain, the flaws. They were all characteristics that made each one of them bring something different and yet similar to the story and help bring it to life. Even more so with Ouyang as Parker-Chan artistically explores gender identity and how it rears its head so beautifully and really takes the reader on the journey with him as goes through internal struggles regarding who he is and what he’s fighting for.
However, there’s one character that didn’t seem to get that same dedication–Zhu Chongba. Now, one could argue that Zhu’s one-dimensional characterization fits rather well with her one-track mind to greatness, but I think there still could’ve been more depth to her character while still blazing her path to greatness by any means necessary. It really felt like a disservice as she’s literally who the story is about. Maybe if the synopsis was written to include both Zhu and Ouyang’s stories, I would’ve felt that the story made more sense and was truthful in it’s marketing.
In terms of the writing, the beginning and end had me gripped. The storytelling and imagery. The passion and vigor for fighting for your destiny was right there. However, the middle...dragged. The pacing was painfully slow which is why it took me a month to finish it. I was interested but not enough to keep reading until night became day. That ending definitely made up for it. I was in it. My jaw was unhinged and my fingers were flipping the pages as fast as my eyes could take me because I needed to know–what next? I’m definitely intrigued because Zhu did say they will meet again.
Overall, I don’t think this was a bad story. If you’re interested in Chinese historical fantasies and enjoy more character-driven stories that explore gender identity and fate, this is definitely something you want to indulge in.
EDIT: Mulan meets Song of Achilles is probably the best use of books to describe another book I’ve ever seen.
Sometimes reading the synopsis taints the reading experience just a little bit.
Shelley Parker-Chan puts pen to paper and brings to life some of the most vibrant and emotionally jarring characters I’ve ever read. When I first met Ouyang, Baoxiang, and Esen, I was immediately enthralled. The way they portrayed these characters was breathtaking. The passion, the pain, the flaws. They were all characteristics that made each one of them bring something different and yet similar to the story and help bring it to life. Even more so with Ouyang as Parker-Chan artistically explores gender identity and how it rears its head so beautifully and really takes the reader on the journey with him as goes through internal struggles regarding who he is and what he’s fighting for.
However, there’s one character that didn’t seem to get that same dedication–Zhu Chongba. Now, one could argue that Zhu’s one-dimensional characterization fits rather well with her one-track mind to greatness, but I think there still could’ve been more depth to her character while still blazing her path to greatness by any means necessary. It really felt like a disservice as she’s literally who the story is about. Maybe if the synopsis was written to include both Zhu and Ouyang’s stories, I would’ve felt that the story made more sense and was truthful in it’s marketing.
In terms of the writing, the beginning and end had me gripped. The storytelling and imagery. The passion and vigor for fighting for your destiny was right there. However, the middle...dragged. The pacing was painfully slow which is why it took me a month to finish it. I was interested but not enough to keep reading until night became day. That ending definitely made up for it. I was in it. My jaw was unhinged and my fingers were flipping the pages as fast as my eyes could take me because I needed to know–what next? I’m definitely intrigued because Zhu did say they will meet again.
Overall, I don’t think this was a bad story. If you’re interested in Chinese historical fantasies and enjoy more character-driven stories that explore gender identity and fate, this is definitely something you want to indulge in.
EDIT: Mulan meets Song of Achilles is probably the best use of books to describe another book I’ve ever seen.
PET by Akwaeke Emezi
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
His Only Wife by Peace Adzo Medie
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
Need You by Me by Endiya Carter
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Abortion
Relationship Goals by Christina C. Jones
funny
hopeful
informative
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness
Minor: Child abuse
Equivalent Exchange by Christina C. Jones
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Drug abuse and Sexual assault
Beyond Measures by Kimberly Brown
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Rape
Again by J.L. Seegars
hopeful
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? Yes
3.0
This one hurts a little bit cause it feels like a dive from Restore Me. Restore Me had so much depth and emotion and I was enthralled in every page while with Again I was definitely just skimming most of the content. I wasn’t really emotionally invested in Amina’s and Jaxon’s endgame. I feel like majority of this is because it’s a novella and not nearly the length Restore Me was but I kind of expected more. It was enjoyable but I was left unfulfilled in the end.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infertility and Infidelity