dragongurrl's reviews
295 reviews

Sparrow and Vine by Sophie Lark
Did not finish book.

It’s 2025. How tf are authors and publishers getting away with putting in things that are so obviously and horrendously racist and thinking it’s ok to send off, charge people, and call it art. Fuck you Sophie lark. I’m ashamed I ever bought, read and liked any of your books. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

Boy's Abyss, Vol. 7 by Ryo Minenami

dark slow-paced

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

4.0

A Time of Blood by John Gwynne

adventurous dark emotional sad tense 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

5.0

Another wild ride with so many twists and turns! I’m dreading getting to the final book in this series….ill never be ready to leave the banished lands. I feel like I will always come back to these books whenever I need a fantasy that feels like home. The characters and their bonds together are so beautifully done. Even the characters who are the bad guys that you root for their downfall even have their own reasons for fighting that are well written and fleshed out. If there’s any man I trust to write strong female characters (and their rage) it’s John Gwynne!

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
Did not finish book. Stopped at 8%.

Slow and not really attention grabbing. The way that all of these characters are so casual about racial slurs being used towards each other during stressful times is wild! (Not current slurs but what is considered to be a slur to these more alien species). I’m an hour in and I see nothing that makes me care for the captain or rosemary or whatever secrets the two have. I’m just not really hooked and the casual racism to the other species that they have been around for so long apparently is absolutely just not something I’m interested in dragging myself through. It’s a shame because the book itself (plot wise) sounds fun and adventurous but I just don’t wanna bog through all this in hopes of it becoming fun later on. 

Binti by Nnedi Okorafor

adventurous dark tense fast-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

5.0

Idk what to say except wow….a short yet captivating story that had me on the edge of my seat the whole way through. Absolutely fantastic! 

The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by S.A. Chakraborty
Did not finish book. Stopped at 1%.

The writing style just isn’t for me

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

emotional funny relaxing 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

3.0

Never thought I’d say this…but thank god that’s over. That was honestly the worst book I’ve read by EH….ive loved all of her other work but this just drags….so much time spent leading up to this big reveal that turns out to be nothing….the conflict was so small but caused such a major issue…the characters were just obnoxious. Did we really need to go back through all those irrelevant summer vacations just to find out the issue they had a few years ago was something so small??? Really????

All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson

emotional informative inspiring

5.0

Phantasma by Kaylie Smith
Did not finish book. Stopped at 4%.

I can’t do it. The writing style isn’t for me. The girls totally make themselves look suspicious as fuck in the beginning. I’m tired of the delicate nose and porcelain skin styled characters. I just can’t get into it….

Her Soul to Take by Harley Laroux

dark mysterious tense fast-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

5.0

Once I started I couldn’t put it down….dangerously good and incredibly addicting!