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draconicrose's reviews
207 reviews
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Reading this in 2023, with modern sensibilities around gender, society, and expectations, detracts a lot from what the book is trying to say. I found it a bit meandering, dense, with not much to say on either gender or society.
Reforged by Seth Haddon
adventurous
emotional
fast-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? No
3.0
This book makes me mad because it has almost everything it needs to be good: an interesting dynamic, a respectable plot, a refreshing magic system, and a cast of characters who differ enough to not become samey and be likeable.
What it didn't seem to have was a good editor. This book is a mess. Gramatical mistakes, wrong or repeated words. Plot holes and points that don't go anywhere, inconsistent character motivations and reactions, moods changing from one sentence to the other without explanation.
I really wanted to love this book and I wanted to be good but due to the lack of editing it was allowed to come out as mediocre.
What it didn't seem to have was a good editor. This book is a mess. Gramatical mistakes, wrong or repeated words. Plot holes and points that don't go anywhere, inconsistent character motivations and reactions, moods changing from one sentence to the other without explanation.
I really wanted to love this book and I wanted to be good but due to the lack of editing it was allowed to come out as mediocre.
A Trans Man Walks Into a Gay Bar by Harry Nicholas
challenging
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0
It's really hard to see all of my personal fears described by someone else, but it's heartening to see that someone else came out the other side okay , so maybe I will too.
Gotta say, the afterword really said "finish him!"
Gotta say, the afterword really said "finish him!"
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Homophobia and Transphobia
Exodus 20:3 by Freydís Moon
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Short and boring. It has cool ideas but fails to evoke any kind of emotion. I didn't feel the relationship between the characters happening and the sex scenes were uninspired despite the angel having two dicks. It's almost impressive.
Yakuza Pride by H. J. Brues
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This reads like an anime in text form and the sex scenes are skippable, in fact I skipped most of them because they didn't add anything and weren't hot.
If you go in with the expectation that you'll be reading characters react like anime characters you will probably enjoy this book. It is fun, I enjoyed the plot , though it had the exact ending that I feared.
Honestly, at some points this book got visceral with its description and couldn't seem to decide if it wanted to be a lighthearted love story with some edge, or a view into the underbelly and criminal society with all that might mean for two men in love.
I was impressed with the author's knowledge and even learned something new from this, but the random "untranslated" Japanese felt gratuitous and it was never used for expressions that would lose nuance in English, with the exception of honorifics.
If you go in with the expectation that you'll be reading characters react like anime characters you will probably enjoy this book. It is fun, I enjoyed the plot , though it had the exact ending that I feared.
Honestly, at some points this book got visceral with its description and couldn't seem to decide if it wanted to be a lighthearted love story with some edge, or a view into the underbelly and criminal society with all that might mean for two men in love.
I was impressed with the author's knowledge and even learned something new from this, but the random "untranslated" Japanese felt gratuitous and it was never used for expressions that would lose nuance in English, with the exception of honorifics.
The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
His First Bite by D.N. Bryn
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Weaveworld by Clive Barker
Did not finish book. Stopped at 39%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 39%.
This book is a slog through an unimaginative fantasy with bland, uninteresting characters. Apparently, the version I have wasn't properly proof-read either as many sentences had spelling and punctuation mistakes.
I read it for a book club where we meet once a month and at the end of the month I was only at 40% and glad to be rid of this book.
I read it for a book club where we meet once a month and at the end of the month I was only at 40% and glad to be rid of this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Racial slurs
Daggerspell by Katharine Kerr
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0