draconicrose's reviews
207 reviews

Moth by Lily Mayne

adventurous emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

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

5.0

So this one is pretty much my favorite. Not only do I love both protagonists, I relate to Moth a lot. Thankfully not in the uh family background.

I'm a trans man who came out at an older age. I've always been pretty isolated from my peers and felt like most relationships with me weren't real. Romantic ones? I've had three and one of them lasted 3 days. 

That is to say, I relate to Moth's inexperience, to the way he puts up walls of arrogance and pretends not to care as a defense mechanism. To his insecurities about his inexperience and body, which is not what most partners would expect. 

So this book hit really close to home and gets 5 stars for that. Even without the personal angle, it's a pretty good story with characters you can't help but feel and root for.

Gloam by Lily Mayne

dark emotional slow-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? No

3.5

Wyn by Lily Mayne

emotional funny hopeful slow-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? No

3.75

The Rycke by Lily Mayne

adventurous dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

3.75

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

3.75

Edin by Lily Mayne

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

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

4.5

Soul Eater by Lily Mayne

adventurous emotional funny 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? It's complicated

4.5

Irregulars: Stories by Nicole Kimberling, Josh Lanyon, Ginn Hale and Astrid Amara by Astrid Amara, Ginn Hale, Josh Lanyon

adventurous dark funny medium-paced

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

4.0

I don't usually read story collections but this one was pretty cohesive and the quality and styles went well together. I particularly liked the world building and the idea that the characters of the various stories are professional acquaintances at some point. 

My favorites were the stories No Life But This and Things Unseen and Deadly. Guess I do love me some tortured men with special powers. And betrayal.

Angels Before Man by rafael nicolás
Did not finish book. Stopped at 46%.

I held out until the main relationship started but it didn't get any less boring so I'm DNFing.

The writing is flowery in ways that sometimes don't even make sense. There are long stretches where nothing of consequence happens and it's hard to care for characters that have the personality equivalent of unseasoned boiled chicken. Including and most damning (pun intended) the main character.

A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland

emotional lighthearted 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? Yes

4.0

I liked this book better in the second half. I liked the way the main character's anxiety and panic attacks were portrayed. I wish they had some opportunities to be slightly more morally ambiguous. The book felt like it was missing a prologue to cap off the relationship

probably with their wedding going public

, without which it feels like the story doesn't so much conclude as it abruptly stops.

Thank you beta readers for saving Tadek.