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dododenise's reviews
328 reviews
Heartstopper Volume 5 by Alice Oseman
emotional
hopeful
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
5.0
I love them so much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, and Self harm
Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-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
5.0
I was surprised by this book. I started out seeing simple story telling. A slow progression of events. Simple language. But the more I read the more I realised how much this book was saying. On a seemingly simple foundation so many themes, topics and developments were explored.
I was transported into Darius’ world. A world where I can see overlap with myself. I also struggle with depression. I also have a double nationality and don’t quite know where I belong. Seeing those overlaps and seeing how similar or different they can be experienced was a personal enrichment. Darius is also very different to me in many ways. Seeing those different experiences is also very enriching in its own way.
This book ended up capturing so much. I believe I will carry a lot of this story with me for some time to come.
I was transported into Darius’ world. A world where I can see overlap with myself. I also struggle with depression. I also have a double nationality and don’t quite know where I belong. Seeing those overlaps and seeing how similar or different they can be experienced was a personal enrichment. Darius is also very different to me in many ways. Seeing those different experiences is also very enriching in its own way.
This book ended up capturing so much. I believe I will carry a lot of this story with me for some time to come.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Mental illness, and Racism
Moderate: Suicide, Death of parent, Death, and Grief
How to Excavate a Heart by Jake Maia Arlow
emotional
funny
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
4.0
This book turned into more than I expected. The cover alone promises a very sweet romance and that’s certainly what I got. I grew to love these characters so much. It’s easy for the characters in these sweet romances to pass me by without too deep of an attachment, but at some point I just wanted to give these characters hugs and advice. The struggles of being young, figuring out your emotions and really just dealing with yourself was done so well. Shani definitely had some very irritating moments, but they were real and understandable. It never caused me to let her go. If anything, it made me want to help her.
This was a beautiful journey, perfect for this time of the year.
This was a beautiful journey, perfect for this time of the year.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexual assault and Medical content
She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen
emotional
funny
medium-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
4.0
This was fun. I wasn’t super swept away by it but I had a good time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Lesbophobia and Toxic relationship
Godly Heathens by H.E. Edgmon
Did not finish book. Stopped at 55%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 55%.
Sadly I have to make the decision to not finish reading this book at about the halfway point. This book has started to feel like a chore to read and I never want my reading to be something tiresome. It somehow even started a depressive/anxious episode for me. I really wanted to love this book, but I don't. Perhaps this is more other people's taste, it just wasn't mine.
There are two main issues with this book: Pacing and likability of the characters.
Even halfway into this book, I do not feel like we got beyond the introductory part of the story. Throughout the book Gem, the main character, slowly gets their memory back. Because of this it feels like we are still missing crucial information to understand this story and truly get started. The pacing of the story supports this perception.
The main character Gem is a morally grey character. This can be interesting and is full of potential especially, in my opinion, in a fantasy setting. This potential was not utilised well. While it creates some mystery around the character, especially concerning their history, in the present it really just makes them irritating and unlikeable. This probably was the intention, but I as a reader do not like that. Motivation and more of an understanding of where the character's behaviours stem from is missing. I feel like the book hides behind the fact that Gem is a god and that is enough of an explanation. Maybe that will become clearer in the rest of the book, but for now it makes my reading experience pretty miserable. The most likeable character, Enzo, is treated unreasonably bad by Gem and it's just so frustrating. The other characters either do not have enough depth yet, or the ones that we do somewhat know are not characters that I particularly enjoy reading about.
I'm really sad that this book didn't do it for me. I really wanted to like it. The premise sounded perfect. I liked Edgmon's other books. But in the end it this was not an enjoyable read.
There are two main issues with this book: Pacing and likability of the characters.
Even halfway into this book, I do not feel like we got beyond the introductory part of the story. Throughout the book Gem, the main character, slowly gets their memory back. Because of this it feels like we are still missing crucial information to understand this story and truly get started. The pacing of the story supports this perception.
The main character Gem is a morally grey character. This can be interesting and is full of potential especially, in my opinion, in a fantasy setting. This potential was not utilised well. While it creates some mystery around the character, especially concerning their history, in the present it really just makes them irritating and unlikeable. This probably was the intention, but I as a reader do not like that. Motivation and more of an understanding of where the character's behaviours stem from is missing. I feel like the book hides behind the fact that Gem is a god and that is enough of an explanation. Maybe that will become clearer in the rest of the book, but for now it makes my reading experience pretty miserable. The most likeable character, Enzo, is treated unreasonably bad by Gem and it's just so frustrating. The other characters either do not have enough depth yet, or the ones that we do somewhat know are not characters that I particularly enjoy reading about.
I'm really sad that this book didn't do it for me. I really wanted to like it. The premise sounded perfect. I liked Edgmon's other books. But in the end it this was not an enjoyable read.
Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst
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
3.5
This book is a very classic concept. It also doesn’t do anything very extraordinary with it. It was fun. The main relationship had good chemistry. But I felt like there was missing something to make me really care a lot. I never truly fell into this world. Part of that may have been the lacking world building. Next to the romance it tries to be political high fantasy, but too much knowledge about the culture and politics of this world and the kingdoms is missing for me to really get into it.
There were also some really heavy moments that never got to me to the extend that the should. There are some major deaths in this book and they didn’t have enough of an emotional impact on me or even the characters.
There were also some really heavy moments that never got to me to the extend that the should. There are some major deaths in this book and they didn’t have enough of an emotional impact on me or even the characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Grief
Gwen and Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher
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
4.0
This was fun! The more I read the better the dynamics between the characters became. From all of them being pretty annoying to building a beautiful found family.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Violence, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Child abuse
Tokyo Ghoul, Vol. 2 by Sui Ishida
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, Violence, Blood, and Death of parent
Tokyo Ghoul, Vol. 1 by Sui Ishida
4.0
It’s been years since watching the anime and going back and reading the manga brings back many memories. The art style is stunning and I still really like the concept of this story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Medical content