etosaurus's reviews
182 reviews

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

adventurous emotional inspiring tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Ella Minnow Pea: A Novel in Letters by Mark Dunn

challenging lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Suicide attempt and Police brutality

There is a use of the r-word near the end.

Sandry's Book by Tamora Pierce

lighthearted slow-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Fatphobia, and Racism

The End of Policing by Alex S. Vitale

challenging informative

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Violence, Xenophobia, Slavery, Sexual assault, Racism, and Gun violence

Moderate: Child death and Drug use

I'm sure my tags are incomplete. This book covers a lot of horrible violence perpetuated by police officers in our society.

Games Wizards Play by Diane Duane

inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexism, Grief, and Emotional abuse

The Serpent Sea by Martha Wells

adventurous medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Death, Grief, and Violence

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

A Wizard of Mars by Diane Duane

adventurous mysterious slow-paced

2.5

I struggled a lot with this book. It felt like nothing happened for the first half or so, and this thing where Nita and Kit don't get to spend any time together on-screen and conveniently "just miss" each other repeatedly so the plot can happen is getting really old. The second half of the book had more stuff going on, but I just didn't emotionally connect to it.

And Kit and Nita formalizing that they're in a relationship at the end really falls flat after we've had a couple books where they barely  get to hang out on screen together in a harmonious way. It's clear they spend time offscreen together, because they make references to it, but as a reader I don't actually get to enjoy any of that, and just get told it happens while onscreen they're bickering.

And this whole boys vs girls thing I was just...not that into! 

That said, Carmella is a delight, and I'm glad we've been seeing more of her recently, and it was interesting to see

Nita get to magically duel with someone who wasn't the Lone Power, I'm not sure if that has happened before?

North American Lake Monsters: Stories by Nathan Ballingrud

dark mysterious

• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Antisemitism, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gore, Grief, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Racism, Self harm, and Suicide

Wizards at War by Diane Duane

adventurous emotional

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror and Animal death

Shatter City by Scott Westerfeld

fast-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug use, Violence, and Addiction