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dreareads_'s reviews
231 reviews
Dark Disciple by Christie Golden
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-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
Not me crying in the middle of the night after I finished this book.
This book is for the Star Wars girlies that saw Anakin and Padme and thought “eh not toxic enough” and I love it ✨
This book is for the Star Wars girlies that saw Anakin and Padme and thought “eh not toxic enough” and I love it ✨
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Genocide, Grief, Murder, Torture, Toxic relationship, War, Death, and Violence
Bunny by Mona Awad
dark
emotional
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Short review for now:
I loved it. My friends and I talked about this book for HOURS sharing theories and interpretations. I will share later on!
I loved it. My friends and I talked about this book for HOURS sharing theories and interpretations. I will share later on!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Abandonment, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Gore, Violence, Emotional abuse, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Toxic friendship, Addiction, and Body horror
You Exist Too Much by Zaina Arafat
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
4.0
Beautiful and poignant look at mental health and mother/daughter relationships.
Our main character is Palestinian / American (never named), which leads to constant flashbacks to her summers in Palestine and her mothers own experience growing up. During the present timeline, our MC is dealing with her addiction to love, and her relationship with her mother who refuses to accept our MCs bisexuality. We see her learn to come to terms with her traumas, and create connections with those around her beyond her usual sexual and obsessive ones.
There is a lot of beautiful and personal introspection throughout the text, but it all gets lost with the constant time jumps. At times they all feel separate from each other, and it leaves you with a sense of vagueness, never truly getting to the root of each theme. The ending especially felt rushed, as we jump from relationship to relationship and the role of the mother (which seems to be the core relationship of the book) being put off to the side.
I could definitely relate to the mother/daughter relationship, as it reminded me of my own. Especially in regards to being a bisexual woc whose mother dismisses, ignores, or at worse condemns their sexuality. I was also moved by the exploration of the mother as an individual outside of her role as mom to remind us that she is just human and not some evil manipulative monster. I simply wish that we had had more interactions between mother and daughter in the present and not only in the past.
I will say, the title of this book? to me was the most powerful statement made. I think in some ways, I wish the book lived up to the title.
Our main character is Palestinian / American (never named), which leads to constant flashbacks to her summers in Palestine and her mothers own experience growing up. During the present timeline, our MC is dealing with her addiction to love, and her relationship with her mother who refuses to accept our MCs bisexuality. We see her learn to come to terms with her traumas, and create connections with those around her beyond her usual sexual and obsessive ones.
There is a lot of beautiful and personal introspection throughout the text, but it all gets lost with the constant time jumps. At times they all feel separate from each other, and it leaves you with a sense of vagueness, never truly getting to the root of each theme. The ending especially felt rushed, as we jump from relationship to relationship and the role of the mother (which seems to be the core relationship of the book) being put off to the side.
I could definitely relate to the mother/daughter relationship, as it reminded me of my own. Especially in regards to being a bisexual woc whose mother dismisses, ignores, or at worse condemns their sexuality. I was also moved by the exploration of the mother as an individual outside of her role as mom to remind us that she is just human and not some evil manipulative monster. I simply wish that we had had more interactions between mother and daughter in the present and not only in the past.
I will say, the title of this book? to me was the most powerful statement made. I think in some ways, I wish the book lived up to the title.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Toxic relationship, Eating disorder, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gaslighting, and Sexual content
Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
4.0
I won't lie, for a second there I though Ms Talia Hibbert was going to get me to give a romance book 5 stars lol
I mean I was kind of obsessed with Danika and Zafir. Tbh I want more love interests like Zafir because he was precious. And I have never related more to an iconic, bisexual, academically stressed queen like I did to Danika.
Tbh I enjoyed it quite a bit, but just as with most contemporary romance book I read I was bored for the last 50 pages or so. The moment the story gets too emotional/happy I kind of always check out.. But that is mainly a me problem not a book problem....
I mean I was kind of obsessed with Danika and Zafir. Tbh I want more love interests like Zafir because he was precious. And I have never related more to an iconic, bisexual, academically stressed queen like I did to Danika.
Tbh I enjoyed it quite a bit, but just as with most contemporary romance book I read I was bored for the last 50 pages or so. The moment the story gets too emotional/happy I kind of always check out.. But that is mainly a me problem not a book problem....
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Toxic friendship
To Shape a Dragon's Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Indigenous fantasy lore, Dragons, and a fearless main character! There is plenty to love in this book but also a few things that keep it from being perfect.
Things I loved:
- Anequs is such a fun and unique character with a very clear set of believes that she is not afraid to express. I love how unmoving she was in the presence of those that wanted to change her. Her love for her family and community inspired me.
- The DRAGONS!!! Ugh I love how they are described and how each race of dragon is representative of the culture they come come.
- The world building!! Especially the use of stories as mirrors into the make up an ideologies of the communities and individuals in the book. Storytelling was a very beautiful and compelling world building tool that gave something special to the book. I genuinely think the world building is the strongest aspect of this book.
- Beautifully diverse cast with representation of queerness, disabilities, backgrounds, and histories.
- The complex ideologies of the book. Blackgoose did an excellent job at creating characters in all sides of the spectrum of good-bad-complicated. I also think that the politics between and inside the indigenous were fascinating and I wanted to learn more.
What I did not like:
- While I love Anequs, other than reinforcing her believes she did not go through much of a character development. In many ways, Anequs is the same girl in the end as she was in the beginning (albeit a few technicalities here and there). As a main character she is such a clear unmoving moral compass, that she feels one note at times.
- Most of the character development fell on Theod , the other nackie at the dragon school. The problem with this is that due to the book being written in first person we did not get to experience these changes. Majority of the character development takes place off page. We were constantly told that Theod was changing but again, not even in his interactions between Anequs and Theod were these changes clear.
- Anequs love for her community of Masquapaug comes through clearly, but the relationships she has with the people in her community do not. Maybe it is because we spend such little time with her in Masquapaug, but I know more about the believes and history of the Masquapaug than I do of Anequs place in her community. We were constantly told that she has friends, and that she knew her place in the community but we never saw it. Even her friends felt like forgotten side pieces.
- The plot and final resolution felt rushed. I think this is in part due to the fact that the world building took up so much space, but alongside with majority of the characters being underdeveloped so was the plot. In particular the final deus ex machina used to solve the government plot was ridiculous.
Overall, a book with lots of heart and lots to enjoy. It simply suffered from telling more than showing in regards to character development. I truly hope that the sequel will expand on the plot and make the final resolution not feel as jarring
Things I loved:
- Anequs is such a fun and unique character with a very clear set of believes that she is not afraid to express. I love how unmoving she was in the presence of those that wanted to change her. Her love for her family and community inspired me.
- The DRAGONS!!! Ugh I love how they are described and how each race of dragon is representative of the culture they come come.
- The world building!! Especially the use of stories as mirrors into the make up an ideologies of the communities and individuals in the book. Storytelling was a very beautiful and compelling world building tool that gave something special to the book. I genuinely think the world building is the strongest aspect of this book.
- Beautifully diverse cast with representation of queerness, disabilities, backgrounds, and histories.
- The complex ideologies of the book. Blackgoose did an excellent job at creating characters in all sides of the spectrum of good-bad-complicated. I also think that the politics between and inside the indigenous were fascinating and I wanted to learn more.
What I did not like:
- While I love Anequs, other than reinforcing her believes she did not go through much of a character development. In many ways, Anequs is the same girl in the end as she was in the beginning (albeit a few technicalities here and there). As a main character she is such a clear unmoving moral compass, that she feels one note at times.
- Most of the character development fell on Theod , the other nackie at the dragon school. The problem with this is that due to the book being written in first person we did not get to experience these changes. Majority of the character development takes place off page. We were constantly told that Theod was changing but again, not even in his interactions between Anequs and Theod were these changes clear.
- Anequs love for her community of Masquapaug comes through clearly, but the relationships she has with the people in her community do not. Maybe it is because we spend such little time with her in Masquapaug, but I know more about the believes and history of the Masquapaug than I do of Anequs place in her community. We were constantly told that she has friends, and that she knew her place in the community but we never saw it. Even her friends felt like forgotten side pieces.
- The plot and final resolution felt rushed. I think this is in part due to the fact that the world building took up so much space, but alongside with majority of the characters being underdeveloped so was the plot. In particular the final deus ex machina used to solve the government plot was ridiculous.
Overall, a book with lots of heart and lots to enjoy. It simply suffered from telling more than showing in regards to character development. I truly hope that the sequel will expand on the plot and make the final resolution not feel as jarring
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Bullying, Racism, Classism, Ableism, Colonisation, Racial slurs, Toxic friendship, Violence, and Xenophobia
Exhalation by Ted Chiang
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Great science fiction stories that could use a but more humanity and heart to engage the reader.
Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.0
Don’t ask me why I read this, I just did lol
Was it good? No
Did I read it in a day? Yes
Did they actually f**ck in front of a mirror? Sadly, no.
Would I recommend? I don’t know 😭
Was it good? No
Did I read it in a day? Yes
Did they actually f**ck in front of a mirror? Sadly, no.
Would I recommend? I don’t know 😭
Finna by Nino Cipri
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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
4.5
This was a fun short queer multiversal critique of capitalism that its hard to not enjoy.
This book was so freaking funny, especially in the way it presented the goofiness of a furniture store with profit as its main goal. At times it was ridiculous but in a very endearing way. Our two characters were lovely and the love and hurt between them came through the page.
I love that this takes place in a future version of Ikea and uses the mundane store concept to make t the perfect place for wormholes to appear. Ironically, I wanted to spend more time with the 'Ikea' corporate system just to experience more of their banality and subtle evilness. To me the story loses focus and what makes it special the moment we travel to different multiverses that are a little TOO different from the evils of capitalism. I kind of wish we had had more worlds that were representative of the different way capitalism can ruin us all.
The book also loses its thread during the third act. It felt very much "blue beam at the end of an MCU movie" and some of the character choices were not very clear. I do not mind an open ending, but there were decisions made by characters (the grandma) that simply did not make sense.
Overall a fun time that I think most people would really enjoy!
This book was so freaking funny, especially in the way it presented the goofiness of a furniture store with profit as its main goal. At times it was ridiculous but in a very endearing way. Our two characters were lovely and the love and hurt between them came through the page.
I love that this takes place in a future version of Ikea and uses the mundane store concept to make t the perfect place for wormholes to appear. Ironically, I wanted to spend more time with the 'Ikea' corporate system just to experience more of their banality and subtle evilness. To me the story loses focus and what makes it special the moment we travel to different multiverses that are a little TOO different from the evils of capitalism. I kind of wish we had had more worlds that were representative of the different way capitalism can ruin us all.
The book also loses its thread during the third act. It felt very much "blue beam at the end of an MCU movie" and some of the character choices were not very clear. I do not mind an open ending, but there were decisions made by characters (the grandma) that simply did not make sense.
Overall a fun time that I think most people would really enjoy!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Toxic relationship, and Transphobia
The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
4.25
Pain. So much pain.
If there’s something Andrew Joseph White can do is write body horror that will have you squirming in your seat. Add to that the presence of medical trauma and you have a book that will give you nightmares.
But of all the body horror, and misery that this book covers it was its discussion of womanhood and trans masc identity that elevated it for me. Joseph White did a brilliant job at exploring the complexities of these identities while simultaneously maintaining a clear critique of the cis patriarchical system in the story (as well as real life).
I loved the relationship between Silas and Daphne. Their first meeting warmed my heart and brought me to tears. In addition, I just love how good Joseph White is at writing relationships between characters. Like I FELT the betrayal in the story.
My main “critiques” or caveats would be that the book gets bogged down in its metaphors and imageries at times. Towards the middle of the book the imagery that Joseph White was trying to evoke through his use of stylistic language felt repetitive, and disruptive of the flow of the text.
I would also add that although there is a historical note at the end of the book explaining how medical experimentation was racialized in the real world, you could really feel the lack of intersectional examination in the text.
Overall, another excellent book from an author that quickly becoming one of my favorites.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Hate crime, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Abortion, Misogyny, Murder, Confinement, Cursing, Ableism, Animal cruelty, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Transphobia, Body horror, Child death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Dysphoria, Abandonment, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Violence, Sexual harassment, Body shaming, Cancer, Colonisation, Deadnaming, Death, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexism