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hwesta's reviews
424 reviews
Demon Daughter by Lois McMaster Bujold
lighthearted
relaxing
4.0
Relaxing tale of Pen, Des and Nikys picking up a stray. In this case, a young girl with an even younger demon.
I liked getting to see Pen from other people's perspective, and getting some time in Nikys' head. Always good to see Blessed Iroki. Rare to see Des so angry, with justification.
I felt like more happened at a better pace than the last few books, even though not much happened.
I liked getting to see Pen from other people's perspective, and getting some time in Nikys' head. Always good to see Blessed Iroki. Rare to see Des so angry, with justification.
I felt like more happened at a better pace than the last few books, even though not much happened.
Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear by Seanan McGuire
adventurous
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Nadya's book! I enjoyed the chance to see her again, and see her world. It's much weirder than I expected, and how she left was tragic.
That said, there's no driving plot and in some sense nothing happens. Nadya gets adopted and grows up in another world, but there's no villains or quests.
Relaxing read.
That said, there's no driving plot and in some sense nothing happens. Nadya gets adopted and grows up in another world, but there's no villains or quests.
Relaxing read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Abandonment
The Masquerades of Spring by Ben Aaronovitch
3.5
A fun adventure set in 1920s New York with a queer narrator dating a Black man. It's was interesting to see Nightingale from a different perspective. Some very poignant moments and some funny ones.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Police brutality
Shubeik Lubeik by Deena Mohamed
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I loved this book and I'm so happy I stumbled on it. It does the wonderful thing that spec fic can - use fantasy to explore real problems in a compelling fashion.
In a world where wishes are a product, street vendor Shokry has 3 first class wishes that he's trying to sell, and we get the story of the three people who get them.
The first story didn't resonate with me, thought I was a compelling exploration of systemic injustice The second, about a depressed college student, was heart wrenching, funny and familiar.
I won't spoil the last story, but it was definitely not what I was expecting, and the best of the three.
The art was beautiful. Mostly black and white, with color for the frame sections.
In a world where wishes are a product, street vendor Shokry has 3 first class wishes that he's trying to sell, and we get the story of the three people who get them.
The first story didn't resonate with me, thought I was a compelling exploration of systemic injustice The second, about a depressed college student, was heart wrenching, funny and familiar.
I won't spoil the last story, but it was definitely not what I was expecting, and the best of the three.
The art was beautiful. Mostly black and white, with color for the frame sections.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Domestic abuse, Terminal illness
Moderate: Cancer, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky
funny
informative
slow-paced
4.5
Fascinating walk through history through the lens of salt. I particularly enjoyed the ancient sections, and discovering that state monopolies and taxation (ancient China) and rent seeing corporations getting rich (Venice) are both much older than I thought! Conversely, canning is much younger (early 1800s)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Colonisation
The Brides of High Hill by Nghi Vo
adventurous
dark
mysterious
4.0
The rest of the books in this series have been relaxing and chill, but this one was definitely horror. I made the mistake of listening to it while going to bed!
Quite good, though different from the previous ones. Always nice to visit Cleric Chih and Almost Brilliant
Quite good, though different from the previous ones. Always nice to visit Cleric Chih and Almost Brilliant
The Kingdom of Copper by S.A. Chakraborty
slow-paced
3.0
Whew that's a long book. I feel like it dragged on, though I'm not sure what could be trimmed.
A lot happened! 5 years passed since the end of the previous book, and things are very different at the end of this one. Like the previous one, I wasn't going to read the sequel and then the last few chapters changed my mind.
Still a fascinating world, but getting Everyone Sucks Here vibes from the different factions vying for power.
A lot happened! 5 years passed since the end of the previous book, and things are very different at the end of this one. Like the previous one, I wasn't going to read the sequel and then the last few chapters changed my mind.
Still a fascinating world, but getting Everyone Sucks Here vibes from the different factions vying for power.
Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
- 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
5.0
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
Did not finish book. Stopped at 46%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 46%.
While I like video games, this book had too many real world problems rendered in detail for me. I hated Sadie and Dov's relationship - he's a decade older than her 19 years and her professor when they start dating, and never divorces his wife despite saying he will repeatedly. The kink scenes try to convince me that it's consensual but Sadie doesn't seem enthusiastic and there are definitely parts she doesn't seem to want. Once they make the first game, Sadie gets sidelined when they pressure her into picking money and a short deadline sequel over creative freedom and royalties. And then Sam gets the spotlight and she's sidelined to make the shitty sequel. If I wanted to read about abusive profs and sexism in gaming I'd read the news.
Ran out of time and had to return to the library
Ran out of time and had to return to the library