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doughtah's reviews
311 reviews
That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Human by Kimberly Lemming
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This was a great one! The romance in this one hit a lot of potholes that the scenario SHOULD have hit (she was kidnapped by a dragon and then told that she's the mate of a dragon! of course she'd have hangups! I love that the author acknowledged this!). I enjoyed the first two books in the series, but I really enjoyed this one and I'm glad that the author stepped away from (while also consistently winking at) the plots for the first two books. I enjoyed the nods to Beauty and the Beast, too, which might explain why I like it a bit more, too. It's still funny, it's still got several sex scenes (this one more specifically has bdsm-like scenarios), and it's still got magic roaming through every page.
Anyway, a great addition to the Mead Mishaps series. Excited for her next one!
Anyway, a great addition to the Mead Mishaps series. Excited for her next one!
That Time I Got Drunk And Yeeted A Love Potion At A Werewolf by Kimberly Lemming
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
I'm not certain I can pinpoint exactly why, but I liked this book more than the first. It might be because the author already has one book under her and her writing's a bit more confident because of it? All I know is that this werewolf romance reads really well and really quickly. There's consent and tentacles and questions of 'would you want to become a werewolf?' and it's just a great little read if you're interested in some romance with some sex scenes.
There were a couple moments where timelines felt off between the first and second books, but it's easily not thought about. I do wonder how much was planned beforehand in the timeline and the worldbuilding, but it's also not quite the book where one ought to think about it I suppose.
There were a couple moments where timelines felt off between the first and second books, but it's easily not thought about. I do wonder how much was planned beforehand in the timeline and the worldbuilding, but it's also not quite the book where one ought to think about it I suppose.
That Time I Got Drunk And Saved A Demon by Kimberly Lemming
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This was a fun book. The author knows the fantasy tropes and pokes fun at them throughout, while giving a quick rom-com about a demon and a human trying to save their continent (?) from evil. It’s not a dense read and has several sexual scenes for those interested in it. It reminds me of Katee Robert’s monster romance series in a lot of ways.
After the Dragons by Cynthia Zhang
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I really liked this short novel. It was a wonderful modern magical realism story. I’ll add a longer review later. But, if you’re debating on reading this story, I wholeheartedly recommend it.
Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett
adventurous
challenging
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Took about 60 pages for me to get into it, but this book was a fun read. Glad I gave it another chance a few years later.
A Void of Magic by Sandy Williams
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was a pretty standard urban fantasy novel with more guys than girls making up the secondary characters and a female main character who has a chip on her shoulder. There's mystery and some horror and some tragedy mixed into the story. I'll be honest, I was genuinely moved to tears in a couple of different spots. I would have loved for one of the scenes to allow a bit more emotion into it, but it still managed to choke me up. I really liked those scenes.
Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku, Vol. 8 by Yuji Kaku
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This book was so much fun. If you like romance, fantasy, and worldbuilding that doesn't treat the reader like they're a fool, you'll enjoy A Taste of Gold and Iron. I enjoyed the pacing, the characterization, and the plot beyond the romance.
The story is built primarily around the relationship of Prince Kadou and one of his kahyalar Evemer. You get both of their points of view, flipping between the POVs a couple of times in each chapter. The pacing is really slow in some parts only because Rowland does have you sit inside their heads when something emotional happens or when they're overthinking things. It reminds me of some other stories I've read or even some RPs I've seen where the author really focuses on that interior part of the characters.
As far as characterization, I enjoyed how we saw the characters through the others eyes AND through their own eyes. It was fun to have that juxtaposition. Prince Kadou deals with extreme anxiety and it was thrilling to read through his panic attacks and sometimes just as nervewracking! At the same time, he's an honorable prince who just wants to do right by his people. And then you have Evemer, who's picture-perfect as a knight-like figure. He's serious and stoic and by-the-rules and then to see him grow through the book and his relationship with Kadou was such a blast. I really like how they grew to know one another better.
The only reason this book isn't getting a 5.0 is because while the romance was perfect, I really wanted just a smidge more politics and that's just my own little nitpick probably because it's what I've been most in the mood for in reading. The book served up a lot of politics and some economics and dropping you into a different culture's custom without explaining every single detail to you while still immersing you in it! I will likely reread this again once I have given it a little more time to stew.
Also, I really did enjoy how (I'm fairly certain) this story takes place in the same world as Rowland's other books. I look forward to seeing more of their adventures in their world! It reminds me of some other fantasy writers I adored in the past like Sherwood Smith or Terry Pratchett in terms of having a universe and setting stories there. The magic and some of the characters remind me more of Diana Wynne Jones, especially Tenzin.
The story is built primarily around the relationship of Prince Kadou and one of his kahyalar Evemer. You get both of their points of view, flipping between the POVs a couple of times in each chapter. The pacing is really slow in some parts only because Rowland does have you sit inside their heads when something emotional happens or when they're overthinking things. It reminds me of some other stories I've read or even some RPs I've seen where the author really focuses on that interior part of the characters.
As far as characterization, I enjoyed how we saw the characters through the others eyes AND through their own eyes. It was fun to have that juxtaposition. Prince Kadou deals with extreme anxiety and it was thrilling to read through his panic attacks and sometimes just as nervewracking! At the same time, he's an honorable prince who just wants to do right by his people. And then you have Evemer, who's picture-perfect as a knight-like figure. He's serious and stoic and by-the-rules and then to see him grow through the book and his relationship with Kadou was such a blast. I really like how they grew to know one another better.
The only reason this book isn't getting a 5.0 is because while the romance was perfect, I really wanted just a smidge more politics and that's just my own little nitpick probably because it's what I've been most in the mood for in reading. The book served up a lot of politics and some economics and dropping you into a different culture's custom without explaining every single detail to you while still immersing you in it! I will likely reread this again once I have given it a little more time to stew.
Also, I really did enjoy how (I'm fairly certain) this story takes place in the same world as Rowland's other books. I look forward to seeing more of their adventures in their world! It reminds me of some other fantasy writers I adored in the past like Sherwood Smith or Terry Pratchett in terms of having a universe and setting stories there. The magic and some of the characters remind me more of Diana Wynne Jones, especially Tenzin.
Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa
Did not finish book. Stopped at 31%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 31%.
I went in expecting a Pride and Prejudice remix where ‘Elizabeth’ was a transman and the story would change from there but would retain its Regency era details, sans any anti-trans attitudes.
The book is very YA however and ‘Elizabeth’ was a transboy, not a man, and the regency aspect of the original story was quite glossed over. The characters didn’t speak in a way that made sense for the era, their vocabulary felt off, and their habits were not historically accurate. For example, in the book, Oliver (‘Elizabeth’’s name in the book) says he never learned how to play card games because it’s not ‘ladylike’ and his mother didnt want to teach him or his sisters, but cards were a regular social thing at the time for all genders.
Another issue was that the author rewrote certain scenes in his own way that didn’t handle certain social aspects as well as the original book did. I would have preferred him to not deal with the canon scenes at all and have his own story rather than try to hit the same exact beats as the book or movies did.
I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for the regency aspect in this retelling. I think the author has a good narrative voice and I’m certain other readers could enjoy this. I, unfortunately, did not.
The book is very YA however and ‘Elizabeth’ was a transboy, not a man, and the regency aspect of the original story was quite glossed over. The characters didn’t speak in a way that made sense for the era, their vocabulary felt off, and their habits were not historically accurate. For example, in the book, Oliver (‘Elizabeth’’s name in the book) says he never learned how to play card games because it’s not ‘ladylike’ and his mother didnt want to teach him or his sisters, but cards were a regular social thing at the time for all genders.
Another issue was that the author rewrote certain scenes in his own way that didn’t handle certain social aspects as well as the original book did. I would have preferred him to not deal with the canon scenes at all and have his own story rather than try to hit the same exact beats as the book or movies did.
I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for the regency aspect in this retelling. I think the author has a good narrative voice and I’m certain other readers could enjoy this. I, unfortunately, did not.
Himawari House by Harmony Becker
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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? No
5.0
This was given to me as a gift by a friend, whom I have shared many years with and who said this was perhaps her favorite graphic novel ever. It was amazing and struck so many cords with me. Bring the tissues if you’re going to read it. If you’ve ever tried to reconnect to your roots, if you’ve ever moved away from your family, or struggled on the pathway from teen to adult, I hope this book will strike cords with you, too. It was so good.