devan's reviews
137 reviews

Ace by Angela Chen

emotional funny informative medium-paced

4.5

Very informative and well written. It’s a book anyone can and should read. Maybe you’ll learn something about yourself!

Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton

adventurous dark mysterious fast-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? Yes

5.0

I typically don’t like books where I don’t like at least one main character but the way Eleanor Catton wrote these characters, I could not put the book down. I loved the nods to Macbeth without it being a retelling (those are boring). It was captivating and a true page turner. 

Panama in Black: Afro-Caribbean World Making in the Twentieth Century by Kaysha Corinealdi

challenging informative slow-paced

2.5

I really wanted to like this book. It was informative but the writing style made it hard to focus or retain anything. The style shifted a bit in chapters 4&5 and the conclusion. I feel like those stuck with me.

Wake: The Hidden History of Women-Led Slave Revolts by Rebecca Hall

dark informative inspiring sad fast-paced

4.75

This book was so well executed. The artwork was stunning. Rebecca Hall did a wonderful job of weaving her story through the stories of powerful forgotten women. Very well crafted.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Slavery and Death

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Holy ****! This book was a tough read but so worth it. My friend compared it to a kick in the face and she is right. It is heartbreaking and horrifying and yet I could not put it down. My heart ached for Dana. This is a book everyone should read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery

Moderate: Rape and Death

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

Wow! What a lovely read. I had just finished a couple of tough reads and this was just so pleasant. I truly loved this little gem. It’s a very quick read. 
So well written and the 2 main characters are just lovely, not perfect, but perfect together. 
Grab a cup of tea and read this!

A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende

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

3.5

This book gets so much praise but it didn’t do it for me. It skipped around too much and had a good dead of pointless storytelling. How a feminist writer can write women with such an obsession of weight gain made me cringe multiple times. Her depiction of women felt like it was written by a man. I wanted more of the history aspect. Part 3, while it jumped around was the best written part.

This Is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone, Amal El-Mohtar

funny hopeful mysterious fast-paced

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

4.5

Leading Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: A Guide for Systemic Change in Multinational Organizations by Rohini Anand

informative fast-paced

3.75

For me personally we are doing DEI work in my school and this book was just too corporate. I know that is what it is written for so I am taking that into account. It had good stories and anecdotes and was a quick read.

The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw

dark emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Loved the different stories. I really got into a few of them and were sad when they ended.