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fuchs_galaxis's reviews
175 reviews
Running Close to the Wind by Alexandra Rowland
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
5.0
An absolute romp! Had me cackling over and over at different points. The main character is sex-obsessed goofball with a weakness for a pretty face and being bullied. Also he's supernaturally lucky and always pays his tab.
A potential love triangle with a satisfying conclusion and a mystery about sea serpents and a merchant country trying to hold a monopoly over safe travel across the oceans.
A potential love triangle with a satisfying conclusion and a mystery about sea serpents and a merchant country trying to hold a monopoly over safe travel across the oceans.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Animal death
Minor: Religious bigotry, Bullying, and Violence
There's a plot relevant thing at the end where they kill a lot of seagulls. Only slightly graphic.
Opal by Maggie Stiefvater
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
X by Davey Davis
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
What the actual ever-loving fuck?
I loved it. It's fucked up and complex and the narrator is a complicated asshole and more questions are asked than answered and oh my actual God.
If you'd like to read some interesting stuff with real, challenging, fucked up kinky motherfuckers, this is your book, with the underpinnings of dystopia and queer despair.
Anyway, mind the trigger warnings.
I loved it. It's fucked up and complex and the narrator is a complicated asshole and more questions are asked than answered and oh my actual God.
If you'd like to read some interesting stuff with real, challenging, fucked up kinky motherfuckers, this is your book, with the underpinnings of dystopia and queer despair.
Anyway, mind the trigger warnings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deportation, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Physical abuse, Transphobia, Violence, Toxic relationship, Stalking, and Child abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Confinement, Rape, Stalking, Terminal illness, Abandonment, Death, Drug use, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Blood, Death of parent, Animal cruelty, Sexual assault, Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Deportation, Homophobia, and Murder
Minor: Police brutality, Bullying, and Antisemitism
All Systems Red by Martha Wells
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.5
Murderbot will make you love it immensely, and it would hate that.
Snarky, depressed, cyborg security guard is sent to a planet with a group of scientists who bumble into danger. Murderbot has a secret it is desperately trying to hide- its own autonomy, but it's forced to choose between maintaining that secret and saving some lives.
This is a quick novella that will get you fully sucked into this world and invested in these characters. Amazing world building, complicated and interesting cast of characters, and a security guard that really just wants to be left alone to watch TV. Spectacular.
Snarky, depressed, cyborg security guard is sent to a planet with a group of scientists who bumble into danger. Murderbot has a secret it is desperately trying to hide- its own autonomy, but it's forced to choose between maintaining that secret and saving some lives.
This is a quick novella that will get you fully sucked into this world and invested in these characters. Amazing world building, complicated and interesting cast of characters, and a security guard that really just wants to be left alone to watch TV. Spectacular.
These Violent Delights by Micah Nemerever
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I don't review books poorly very often, but I just... did not enjoy this one. I don't know if it's bad or anything, I just don't like it.
The language is interesting and compelling. It's got quotes worth writing down for days.
I love me some tragic gays, but the relationship between these guys is more distressing than compelling at any given point. We spend a lot of time hearing about how they love each other, but not a lot of time seeing why they're lovable.
I finished it, but mostly out of determination and curiosity rather than wanting to read it.
The language is interesting and compelling. It's got quotes worth writing down for days.
I love me some tragic gays, but the relationship between these guys is more distressing than compelling at any given point. We spend a lot of time hearing about how they love each other, but not a lot of time seeing why they're lovable.
I finished it, but mostly out of determination and curiosity rather than wanting to read it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Physical abuse
Moderate: Murder and Suicide
Minor: Antisemitism, War, and Homophobia
Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Oh my God this book is so good. I devoured the audiobook in about a day.
Different ways to describe it:
Different ways to describe it:
- Dukes of Hazzard but gay and haunted
- Someone read The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater and went "this could be gayer and scarier"
It's spooky and visceral and filled with unrequited longing, gay panic (the queer kind not the murder kind), and fast cars. So fucking good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Drug use
Moderate: Alcohol, Self harm, and Murder
Minor: Child abuse and Vomit
The Foxhole Court by Nora Sakavic
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is not a recommendation. This is a record of how much I loved them. If you like sports anime mixed with mafia anime mixed with american sports movies mixed with emotional trauma and homoerotic tension, check out trigger warnings and give them a shot. Or don't. But either way don't blame me.
That being said, I did read them twice in the space of a week so how am I not supposed to give them 5 stars
Solid over-the-top everything with a fake sport, real rivalry, and 2 guys shoving each other around pretending it's not flirting
That being said, I did read them twice in the space of a week so how am I not supposed to give them 5 stars
Solid over-the-top everything with a fake sport, real rivalry, and 2 guys shoving each other around
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Death of parent, Drug use, and Alcohol
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Violence, Alcoholism, and Physical abuse
Minor: Suicide attempt and Ableism
Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
4.5
I really liked it, but wasn't sure I was going to up through the first half. Fits very firmly within its genre, with some interesting innovations. I enjoy the focus on Chinese culture and how that flavors a lot of the decisions made.
The ending is definitely a fun shock in-universe but isn't super surprising if youre genre savvy.
Also I find it a little too bury your gays, but I have hope that arc gets redeemed. </spoilers>
The ending
Also
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Gaslighting, and Torture
Moderate: Emotional abuse and War
Minor: Sexual assault and Physical abuse
All the Crooked Saints by Maggie Stiefvater
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
Yall I'm reading All the Crooked Saints (more maggie stiefvater, surprise) and oh my God her writing is so well suited for magical realism.
This book is One Hundred Years of Solitude with 70% less despair (and 100% less ants, which I appreciate). Also owls can hear miracles, which just seems true.
Stiefvater's characteristic use of repetition fits the story and the tone so well, building a rhythm of character introduction and how we see in each character's head.
The audiobook is, of course, spectacular and the reader Thom Rivera adds elements that are integral to building the magical realism and connection to Marquez specifically. If you can stand audiobooks at all, listen to this one. (Also if you do not speak Spanish or hang out with many Spanish speakers, he will introduce you to the best way to say Colorado ever.)
This book is One Hundred Years of Solitude with 70% less despair (and 100% less ants, which I appreciate). Also owls can hear miracles, which just seems true.
Stiefvater's characteristic use of repetition fits the story and the tone so well, building a rhythm of character introduction and how we see in each character's head.
The audiobook is, of course, spectacular and the reader Thom Rivera adds elements that are integral to building the magical realism and connection to Marquez specifically. If you can stand audiobooks at all, listen to this one. (Also if you do not speak Spanish or hang out with many Spanish speakers, he will introduce you to the best way to say Colorado ever.)
Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25