fri3d_kai's reviews
110 reviews

The Golem and the Djinni by Helene Wecker

adventurous emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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? It's complicated

5.0

This book was so beautiful, my heart hurts

Babel by R.F. Kuang

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective 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

5.0

Had to hold my tears in while I was in the coffee shop so...

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Suicide, Grief, Death of parent, Colonisation

Moderate: Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, Toxic friendship, War

The Heart Goes Last by Margaret Atwood

dark emotional mysterious tense 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

3.75

cool concept

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Forced institutionalization

How to Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie

dark funny mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

have to respect it tbh

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Infidelity, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Murder

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.0

very juicy mystery

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Eating disorder, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Murder

Brickmakers by Selva Almada

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

this was lovely and easy to read, although I kind of wish it was longer so you could get to know the characters a bit better

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Sexual content, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing 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

5.0

this was so wholesome, 5 stars because it made my heart feel full 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Hate crime, Forced institutionalization, Abandonment

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

challenging emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

absolutely heartbreaking, but excellent 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, Islamophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, War

Astonishing Splashes of Colour by Clare Morrall

challenging emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

had no idea what to expect, but the book was quite good. not sure that the whole synaesthesia asepct really came through though

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Kidnapping, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment

Manhunt by Gretchen Felker-Martin

dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

While the concept on which this book is based is interesting, and should be cool, the execution here is horrifying. The book contains body horror after body horror, written in mediocre prose, and honestly presents a really poor image of trans women. The characters are constantly sexualised, and constantly sexualise other characters at inappropriate and unrealistic moments. The concept could have been great, but unfortunately this book is just not it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Death, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, War