dododenise's reviews
224 reviews
Gearbreakers, by Zoe Hana Mikuta
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I just wasn‘t that into it. I don’t know where it went wrong, because it definitely isn’t a bad book. Somehow it just didn’t work for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Confinement, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, and Torture
Moderate: Death of parent and War
Lore and Lust, by Karla Nikole
emotional
lighthearted
fast-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
2.5
The writing style made this a lot worse than it needed to be. I could not get over the fact that this book does not seem to know the words “man” or “woman” and instead always said “male” or “female”. It took me out of the moment ever time. But also generally, the writing style is a lot to be desired.
The romance was mediocre. It was supposed to be a slow burn but it was not very slow at all. Sure, no insta-love, but nothing that I would name slow burn. The development was weird and while I did like them together, it was missing some depth and essence.
The book also tried to do some world building and politics next to its romance but that fell flat completely. I did not care and I am not sure the book cared either. It should have let itself be a tacky vampire romance and not make it more complicated than it needed to be.
The romance was mediocre. It was supposed to be a slow burn but it was not very slow at all. Sure, no insta-love, but nothing that I would name slow burn. The development was weird and while I did like them together, it was missing some depth and essence.
The book also tried to do some world building and politics next to its romance but that fell flat completely. I did not care and I am not sure the book cared either. It should have let itself be a tacky vampire romance and not make it more complicated than it needed to be.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Child abuse, and Violence
Minor: Blood and Death of parent
Dark Rise, by C.S. Pacat
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Damn, this book really won me over. It was slow to start with and I needed to take my time with it, but with each new chapter I was pulled into this world more. By the end I just wanted to keep reading, get to know these characters even better and see their relationships develop. All the relationships of the main characters are so interesting. It took me one to two scenes for me to be on board with a certain dynamic and craving for more. It was masterfully done.
The twists and turns of the story kept me on my toes and I can’t wait to see where it will go.
Now I desperately want to continue reading.
The twists and turns of the story kept me on my toes and I can’t wait to see where it will go.
Now I desperately want to continue reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Death of parent, and Death
Moderate: Torture
Minor: Animal death
The Feeling of Falling in Love, by Mason Deaver
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The first two thirds were perfection. Beautiful development and beautiful use of the fake-dating trope.
Then came the third act drama, and I wish that was done differently. I know this book is following all the typical tropes and yet I hoped for a different ending. I hate it every time a romance book does this and this one was no different. I feel like a different ending would have felt nicer and healthier. Especially with Neil’s mom I wish it was handled differently. She is still not painted as perfect of course, but the road to forgiveness was entered too quickly. But also Neil and Wyatt’s relationship could have been given more time to deal with their issues and the way that Neil struggles with his emotions and his relationships. I was waiting for more shared conversations about this in particular.
In the end, I still flew through the pages. It was so easy and light to read that I lost track of time and kept going as long as I could.
And of course, I love the trans rep. Mason does it beautifully and it makes me want to read everything they write. Add to that their writing style that is perfect for me, and you get me gushing all over their books. I saw a lot of myself in Wyatt, both in their experience with their gender and their personality, so they were wonderful to watch and to see them grow.
Then came the third act drama, and I wish that was done differently. I know this book is following all the typical tropes and yet I hoped for a different ending. I hate it every time a romance book does this and this one was no different. I feel like a different ending would have felt nicer and healthier. Especially with Neil’s mom I wish it was handled differently. She is still not painted as perfect of course, but the road to forgiveness was entered too quickly. But also Neil and Wyatt’s relationship could have been given more time to deal with their issues and the way that Neil struggles with his emotions and his relationships. I was waiting for more shared conversations about this in particular.
In the end, I still flew through the pages. It was so easy and light to read that I lost track of time and kept going as long as I could.
And of course, I love the trans rep. Mason does it beautifully and it makes me want to read everything they write. Add to that their writing style that is perfect for me, and you get me gushing all over their books. I saw a lot of myself in Wyatt, both in their experience with their gender and their personality, so they were wonderful to watch and to see them grow.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Dysphoria, Transphobia, Homophobia, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcohol, Deadnaming, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Misogyny, Outing, and Sexual content
On a Sunbeam, by Tillie Walden
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
what a masterpiece!
Ace: What Asexuality Reveals about Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex, by Angela Chen
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
A very interesting read.
There were parts I needed to hear, parts I didn’t quite like how they were worded, parts where I hoped for more perspectives, and parts that gave me new perspectives.
Overall, it made me think. It made me consider things and made me curious. It made me reconsider things I saw as settled and it opened ideas which I hadn’t thought about before.
Especially studying to become a therapist this was very valuable to take with me. But even more so, it was valuable to me as an ace person
There were parts I needed to hear, parts I didn’t quite like how they were worded, parts where I hoped for more perspectives, and parts that gave me new perspectives.
Overall, it made me think. It made me consider things and made me curious. It made me reconsider things I saw as settled and it opened ideas which I hadn’t thought about before.
Especially studying to become a therapist this was very valuable to take with me. But even more so, it was valuable to me as an ace person
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Acephobia/Arophobia, Transphobia, and Ableism
Moderate: Sexual assault and Rape
Tim Te Maro And The Subterranean Heartsick Blues, by H.S. Valley
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Magical boarding school, gay enemies-to-lovers who do a revenge plan on their exes by taking care of a fake baby. And a lot of sharing the same bed.
This sounded like the perfect list of tropes to me and it did not disappoint! I loved this book! It was everything I hoped it would be. It was cozy and super character focused, which I enjoyed immensely.
The characters were really fun, although I wished the other characters would have gotten more personality. There are a lot of others next to the main pairing and I don’t really got to know them, which was a shame.
Tim and Elliot, however, were brilliant and I was rooting for them. There were bits in their relationship which I didn’t like as much, for example when Tim tried to initiate a conversation on their boundaries and Elliot made him feel made fun of for it. There was generally more communication in this relationship than in most using these tropes, especially in YA with stupid teens as their characters, yet sometimes I hoped they would be more clear on what they wanted. Nonetheless, their relationship was fun to read and watching it grow and develop was glorious.
The whole book at a very fanficy vibe, and I mean that in the best way possible. There’s a reason why I enjoy reading fanfiction and this book captures those elements.
I’m very surprised I haven’t seen anyone else talk about this book, because it’s amazing!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Misogyny and Lesbophobia
A Purrfect Gift, by Jae
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
very very cute
Chick Magnet, by Emma Barry
funny
relaxing
fast-paced
2.0
This book was not what I expected or hoped it would be.
Okay, it was somewhat. There was quite some chicken content and cute animals. However, I hoped for more chicken content and especially more chicken puns. The description of the book promised beautiful things and I didn’t get them. To be honest, from the description and cover I hoped it would be weirder.
So, the book itself: It was very mediocre. A mediocre romance, with mediocre characters and a mediocre relationship. I didn’t care about the characters or their relationship. I didn’t like Nic or Will and why either of them are supposed to be super hot and appealing is a mystery to me.
The development of the relationship didn’t really make sense to me and the book told me what the relationship looked like at that moment instead of making me feel it. Add to that a rushed and under-developed resolution and you get a poor plot for a romance.
The book also went into the effects of the pandemic. Aside from the fact that I really don’t want to read about the pandemic, it also such scratched the surface. It attempted to show Will’s depression and Nic’s fear of relationships after her abused past, but I have seen other books portray it a million times better.
The highlight of this book was Will covered in cats. Cats make everything better and I will treasure that moment. Other than that, I will probably forget about everything in this book very quickly.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Animal death