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dylanhenning's reviews
93 reviews
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book was very interesting and frustrating to read but in the best way.
Our main character is June Hayward. She is a white author who didn’t have the most successful debut book and she holds a lot of animosity and envy for her former classmate and sort of friend Athena Liu who has had runaway success with her novel and is in talks for a Netflix deal.
One night Athena and June are hanging out at Athena’s place and Athena chokes on her food and dies. Before EMT’s can arrive June takes an unpublished manuscript written by Athena that she had seen earlier in the evening and she ends up publishing it as her own book under the name Juniper Song to appear more racially ambiguous. The book is a major success but there are some skeptics out there that June actually wrote it.
From there Yellowface takes us on a truly wild journey through the publishing industry and a white author trying to navigate scandal and trying not to lose her grip on her success and fame.
June Hayward is not just our main character but she’s also our narrator. This book is told to us from her perspective and June is very egotistical, self absorbed, and narcissistic. She’s an unreliable narrator and that can be frustrating to read but it makes it all that much more interesting. We as the reader know what June did. We know she’s a terrible person and she keeps making terrible choices throughout this book to avoid taking responsibility and being held accountable for her actions.
She has absolutely no redeeming qualities and I respect R.F. Kuang for following through on that the entire time. There were brief moments of introspection or moments where it seemed June had been caught and she was going to confess and apologize for everything she had done up to that point. But those moments are few and so brief because as soon as June considers the truth she immediately concocts another lie or another scheme to keep fueling her original theft and lie.
The thing that kept this from being a 5 star read was the ending. I won’t spoil anything plot related here but it didn’t feel satisfying. It felt like I was going to turn the page and start the next chapter in this messy chaotic story and instead it just ends.
In the end I really recommend this book. It’s frustrating, it’s funny, it’s a look at how white people often get the benefit of the doubt and goodwill even when they haven’t done the work to earn it. It’s a look behind the curtain of the publishing industry and some of its more toxic elements being put on display.
Our main character is June Hayward. She is a white author who didn’t have the most successful debut book and she holds a lot of animosity and envy for her former classmate and sort of friend Athena Liu who has had runaway success with her novel and is in talks for a Netflix deal.
One night Athena and June are hanging out at Athena’s place and Athena chokes on her food and dies. Before EMT’s can arrive June takes an unpublished manuscript written by Athena that she had seen earlier in the evening and she ends up publishing it as her own book under the name Juniper Song to appear more racially ambiguous. The book is a major success but there are some skeptics out there that June actually wrote it.
From there Yellowface takes us on a truly wild journey through the publishing industry and a white author trying to navigate scandal and trying not to lose her grip on her success and fame.
June Hayward is not just our main character but she’s also our narrator. This book is told to us from her perspective and June is very egotistical, self absorbed, and narcissistic. She’s an unreliable narrator and that can be frustrating to read but it makes it all that much more interesting. We as the reader know what June did. We know she’s a terrible person and she keeps making terrible choices throughout this book to avoid taking responsibility and being held accountable for her actions.
She has absolutely no redeeming qualities and I respect R.F. Kuang for following through on that the entire time. There were brief moments of introspection or moments where it seemed June had been caught and she was going to confess and apologize for everything she had done up to that point. But those moments are few and so brief because as soon as June considers the truth she immediately concocts another lie or another scheme to keep fueling her original theft and lie.
The thing that kept this from being a 5 star read was the ending. I won’t spoil anything plot related here but it didn’t feel satisfying. It felt like I was going to turn the page and start the next chapter in this messy chaotic story and instead it just ends.
In the end I really recommend this book. It’s frustrating, it’s funny, it’s a look at how white people often get the benefit of the doubt and goodwill even when they haven’t done the work to earn it. It’s a look behind the curtain of the publishing industry and some of its more toxic elements being put on display.
Guardians of the Whills by Greg Rucka
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This book was frustrating as a Star Wars fan. It felt like it was being pulled in a few different narrative directions and it doesn’t really explore any of them enough to provide any real depth.
I did appreciate getting some lore tidbits on the Whills and even the Sith through translated poems and journal entries at the beginning of each chapter. It would’ve been cool to dive a little deeper there but I can understand why they wouldn’t want to do that so early in the “new” canon timeline.
It was fun to get more of Baze and Chirrut and their banter and relationship.
There was a pretty interesting quote in the last third of the book about the Empire and conformity. I hadn’t considered it from that perspective before but it will certainly be in my mind going forward.
The ending here felt lackluster. There was no major conflict or intense action sequence to drive home the end of the story. Just a brief altercation that dissipates almost as quickly as it started.
In the end this is a fun read for Star Wars conpletionists nut I wouldn’t consider essential reading. I think this story might have worked better as a short story or comic one-shot to tighten the focus and flow.
I did appreciate getting some lore tidbits on the Whills and even the Sith through translated poems and journal entries at the beginning of each chapter. It would’ve been cool to dive a little deeper there but I can understand why they wouldn’t want to do that so early in the “new” canon timeline.
It was fun to get more of Baze and Chirrut and their banter and relationship.
There was a pretty interesting quote in the last third of the book about the Empire and conformity. I hadn’t considered it from that perspective before but it will certainly be in my mind going forward.
The ending here felt lackluster. There was no major conflict or intense action sequence to drive home the end of the story. Just a brief altercation that dissipates almost as quickly as it started.
In the end this is a fun read for Star Wars conpletionists nut I wouldn’t consider essential reading. I think this story might have worked better as a short story or comic one-shot to tighten the focus and flow.
Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Batman by Jimmy Palmiotti, Eduardo Risso, Brian Azzarello, Tony Shasteen, George Pérez, Scott Koblish, J.T. Krul, Joe Bennett, Fernando Blanco, Mikel Janín, Alejandro Giraldo, Fabrizio Fiorentino, Peter Milligan, Alex Massacci, John Dell
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Comic compilations/volumes like this are hard to assign a numerical score to because it’s four completely different stories that don’t really connect aside from taking place in the background of the overarching Flashpoint world/narrative.
Batman: Knight of Vengeance is easily the best part of this collection. It’s this three part story that examines a world where Bruce Wayne is the one that dies and in their grief Martha Wayne becomes Joker and Thomas Wayne becomes a less heroic and more vengeful version of Batman. Their story arc here is really beautiful and I wish it had gotten more than 3 issues. If the whole collection had just been their stories this would have a higher rating.
Deadman and the Flying Graysons was an interesting story. It’s a peek into the Dick Grayson of this world and his story interspersed with some other DC characters. It’s a fine story. Nothing spectacular and super memorable but not entirely boring either.
Deathstroke and the Curse of the Ravager is one that was pretty interesting but should’ve been a tighter story. The idea is Deathstroke is a pirate captain and he enlists the help of other DC villains to join his crew to rescue his daughter. It’s an interesting premise but it didn’t need 3 issues. It had a lot of material that could have been cut out or condensed.
Secret Seven was one that actually surprised me. I expected to go into it not really caring about the storyline but it was actually pretty interesting with a unique cast of magical or mystical characters from the DC universe.
Batman: Knight of Vengeance is easily the best part of this collection. It’s this three part story that examines a world where Bruce Wayne is the one that dies and in their grief Martha Wayne becomes Joker and Thomas Wayne becomes a less heroic and more vengeful version of Batman. Their story arc here is really beautiful and I wish it had gotten more than 3 issues. If the whole collection had just been their stories this would have a higher rating.
Deadman and the Flying Graysons was an interesting story. It’s a peek into the Dick Grayson of this world and his story interspersed with some other DC characters. It’s a fine story. Nothing spectacular and super memorable but not entirely boring either.
Deathstroke and the Curse of the Ravager is one that was pretty interesting but should’ve been a tighter story. The idea is Deathstroke is a pirate captain and he enlists the help of other DC villains to join his crew to rescue his daughter. It’s an interesting premise but it didn’t need 3 issues. It had a lot of material that could have been cut out or condensed.
Secret Seven was one that actually surprised me. I expected to go into it not really caring about the storyline but it was actually pretty interesting with a unique cast of magical or mystical characters from the DC universe.
Taylor Swift: A Little Golden Book Biography by Wendy Loggia
adventurous
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
3.5
At 32 years old I’m a little outside of the target demographic for this book but as a Swiftie I had to read it anyway.
Obviously this is a children’s book so it’s not going to be as in-depth or comprehensive as you would want from a biography but I think it still does a pretty decent job at laying the foundation for Taylor Swift’s origins. It shows her upbringing and her family and her struggles with bullying before she found fame with her singer-songwriter talent.
My one wish for this book is that I wish they had pulled a couple quotes from Taylor about her creativity, passion, and determination to make her dreams come true.
That being said there’s a good message for children in here about how you can make your dreams come true if you work hard, believe in yourself, and have a loving support system behind you.
Obviously this is a children’s book so it’s not going to be as in-depth or comprehensive as you would want from a biography but I think it still does a pretty decent job at laying the foundation for Taylor Swift’s origins. It shows her upbringing and her family and her struggles with bullying before she found fame with her singer-songwriter talent.
My one wish for this book is that I wish they had pulled a couple quotes from Taylor about her creativity, passion, and determination to make her dreams come true.
That being said there’s a good message for children in here about how you can make your dreams come true if you work hard, believe in yourself, and have a loving support system behind you.
Rebel Rising by Beth Revis
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Let’s start with me saying that as a diehard Star Wars fan I don’t think this book is essential reading. This book doesn’t really add much to the wider Star Wars lore and I would say is really only necessary to people who are obsessed with every little lore detail like myself, or folks who just really like the character of Jyn Erso and want to learn more about her backstory.
That being said I don’t think this book is at all bad. I had a great time with it and I think this book does a lot to explain why Jyn is reluctant to joint the Rebellion at first in Rogue One and why she’s ambivalent at best towards the Empire. She sees them both as equally destructive forces in the Galaxy. She doesn’t see one as good and one as evil. She just sees destruction, death, and fear wherever they both go and her experiences throughout this book does a good job of explaining why she wants no part in any of it.
This book is presented as YA and I’d say it is pretty accessible to that age group but it’s not all sunshine and happiness. There’s a lot of death in this book and a lot of tragedy and sadness so if you’re considering this book for your child just be aware of that before you give it to them.
That being said I don’t think this book is at all bad. I had a great time with it and I think this book does a lot to explain why Jyn is reluctant to joint the Rebellion at first in Rogue One and why she’s ambivalent at best towards the Empire. She sees them both as equally destructive forces in the Galaxy. She doesn’t see one as good and one as evil. She just sees destruction, death, and fear wherever they both go and her experiences throughout this book does a good job of explaining why she wants no part in any of it.
This book is presented as YA and I’d say it is pretty accessible to that age group but it’s not all sunshine and happiness. There’s a lot of death in this book and a lot of tragedy and sadness so if you’re considering this book for your child just be aware of that before you give it to them.
Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book has
• Messy bisexuals
• A magic Nazi cult
• Set in Mexico in the 90’s
• packed with references to classic horror films.
Horror books can feel a little samey sometimes so I really appreciate when I find ones that gives me something that feels unique and stands out from the pack. This book does just that. There’s interesting characters that are flawed that they don’t try to hide it or shy away from it. There’s an interesting story about this legendary horror film that was never finished and a link to occult magic. Our two main characters get pulled into the directors attempt to finish the film (and the spell) to bring them good luck and things seem to be going well for everyone…until the director turns up dead. Eventually darker forces come into play working to get their hands on the film for their own purposes.
I won’t spoil the ending but I did enjoy how our characters face their flaws and use their life long friendship to face the horrors thrown at them.
This is the first book I’ve read from Silvia Moreno-Garcia but I’ll definitely be adding more to my TBR!
• Messy bisexuals
• A magic Nazi cult
• Set in Mexico in the 90’s
• packed with references to classic horror films.
Horror books can feel a little samey sometimes so I really appreciate when I find ones that gives me something that feels unique and stands out from the pack. This book does just that. There’s interesting characters that are flawed that they don’t try to hide it or shy away from it. There’s an interesting story about this legendary horror film that was never finished and a link to occult magic. Our two main characters get pulled into the directors attempt to finish the film (and the spell) to bring them good luck and things seem to be going well for everyone…until the director turns up dead. Eventually darker forces come into play working to get their hands on the film for their own purposes.
I won’t spoil the ending but I did enjoy how our characters face their flaws and use their life long friendship to face the horrors thrown at them.
This is the first book I’ve read from Silvia Moreno-Garcia but I’ll definitely be adding more to my TBR!
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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
3.5
Ok let’s talk about Iron Flame. Let’s start with what I did like because that’s always more fun.
• There was more world building and lore here and as a fantasy fan I really love that. Having rich lore and world building helps me feel more connected to the fictional world that’s being presented to me and make the characters struggles and challenges feel more relatable even though I will never experience these fantastical things in my real life.
• The cast of characters got more time to feel fleshed out and interesting. In Fourth Wing they largely felt like they were part of the background. Here they felt like they were part of the story. Injecting humor, drama, and emotional drama into the world helping it feel more real.
• The Ending. A book can be made or broken by how it sticks the landing with its ending. Especially in an ongoing series. I am happy to say that Rebecca Yarros delivers a satisfying ending that provides some answers but also sets some questions for additional books and leaving the reader wanting more.
Now for the things I didn’t like…
• Violet and Xaden have extremely bad communication in their relationship and it’s honestly toxic at times even though it’s often romanticized or sensationalized. They don’t communicate their needs or wants and then get mad at each other for not instinctively knowing the right thing to ask or knowing to volunteer certain facts and information themselves.
• This book suffers from bloat which is largely why I’m giving it a 3.5 rating. There’s a lot of fantastic story here but it’s weighed down by a lot of extraneous stuff that doesn’t matter to the overall plot or character development. This book came out just months after its predecessor Fourth Wing and it feels rushed. It feels like it didn’t have proper editing or else large chunks of inconsequential material would’ve been taken out or slimmed down to make the pacing and flow of the story smoother.
• There was more world building and lore here and as a fantasy fan I really love that. Having rich lore and world building helps me feel more connected to the fictional world that’s being presented to me and make the characters struggles and challenges feel more relatable even though I will never experience these fantastical things in my real life.
• The cast of characters got more time to feel fleshed out and interesting. In Fourth Wing they largely felt like they were part of the background. Here they felt like they were part of the story. Injecting humor, drama, and emotional drama into the world helping it feel more real.
• The Ending. A book can be made or broken by how it sticks the landing with its ending. Especially in an ongoing series. I am happy to say that Rebecca Yarros delivers a satisfying ending that provides some answers but also sets some questions for additional books and leaving the reader wanting more.
Now for the things I didn’t like…
• Violet and Xaden have extremely bad communication in their relationship and it’s honestly toxic at times even though it’s often romanticized or sensationalized. They don’t communicate their needs or wants and then get mad at each other for not instinctively knowing the right thing to ask or knowing to volunteer certain facts and information themselves.
• This book suffers from bloat which is largely why I’m giving it a 3.5 rating. There’s a lot of fantastic story here but it’s weighed down by a lot of extraneous stuff that doesn’t matter to the overall plot or character development. This book came out just months after its predecessor Fourth Wing and it feels rushed. It feels like it didn’t have proper editing or else large chunks of inconsequential material would’ve been taken out or slimmed down to make the pacing and flow of the story smoother.
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
This book is so beautifully written and I can tell I’m going to be obsessed with the themes and messages presented with this story for a long time. It made me laugh and cry. I felt a range of emotions from annoyance, sadness, anger, joy, and empathy.
In this story we meet a curmudgeonly older man named Ove and initially he’s very unlikable in how he interacts with the people in his town and his neighbors but Fredrik Backman slowly starts peeling back the layers and we get more details on things Ove has experienced that had an impact and shaped who he is. As the reader I slowly began to understand and ultimately love this grumpy man for who he is at his core.
The cast of characters is wonderful and add so much personality to bounce off of the abrasive nature of Ove.
This is one book not to skip or DNF. Stick with it. I promise you the journey is worth it.
In this story we meet a curmudgeonly older man named Ove and initially he’s very unlikable in how he interacts with the people in his town and his neighbors but Fredrik Backman slowly starts peeling back the layers and we get more details on things Ove has experienced that had an impact and shaped who he is. As the reader I slowly began to understand and ultimately love this grumpy man for who he is at his core.
The cast of characters is wonderful and add so much personality to bounce off of the abrasive nature of Ove.
This is one book not to skip or DNF. Stick with it. I promise you the journey is worth it.