gracecrandall's reviews
898 reviews

Mission To The Stars by A.E. van Vogt

adventurous medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation

I'm not sure how to tag the multiple incidents of mind control and 'psychological conditioning'. The male lead is 'conditioned' into being in love with the female lead, on her own prders. He mind controls her briefly and kisses her while she is under mind control, but never forces things beyond that point. Mention is made of a law that would penalize a man and a woman for not procreating while marooned on a planet. She is later 'conditioned' out of love with him, and he attempts to legally force her into deconditioning so she'll be in love with him again. Nothing more than kissing takes place on the page, and due to the point/counterpoint nature of their relationship, it's hard to say that there's a real power imbalance or consent issue one way or another, but it's pretty uncomfortable.

The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction - 770 - November/December 2023 by Sheree Renée Thomas

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

How We End by L.M. Juniper

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Addiction, Death of parent, Death, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts

The Poison King: The Life and Legend of Mithradates, Rome's Deadliest Enemy by Adrienne Mayor

adventurous informative medium-paced

3.75

That Time I Got Drunk And Saved A Demon by Kimberly Lemming

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

The Prisoner's Throne by Holly Black

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious tense 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

5.0

Genghis Khan: His Conquests, His Empire, His Legacy by Frank McLynn

informative slow-paced

3.0

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by S.A. Chakraborty

adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious relaxing 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

5.0

The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo by Tom Reiss

adventurous dark emotional informative inspiring medium-paced

5.0

The Bookseller of Florence by Ross King

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

5.0