hwesta's reviews
426 reviews

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%.

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 

Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe

emotional informative inspiring reflective

4.0

Fast read memoir about Maia's life - from childhood on a farm with no running water and only one family nearby to a masters in comics, and all the gender and sexuality stories along the way. E shared a lot of cultural touchstones with me, and the differences around gender were a fascinating contrast. Ending was a little abrupt, I was hoping for more of a conclusion, but I guess eir life is still ongoing! 

よつばと! 1 by Kiyohiko Azuma, あずま きよひこ

adventurous funny lighthearted

• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

These books are great. Yotsuba is so fun and silly and enthusiastic about everything. The neighbours are quite distinct from each other and also fun. The language is simple and it makes a great book to learn Japanese from.

This is my second time reading it and it's a lot easier. Probably less than 5 lookups per chapter 

The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty

adventurous

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I loved the world building, the magic and Daevabad, and how everyone had their own motivations that only partly aligned with their faction's. That said, I wasn't sold on the romance between Nahri and Dara, and that undercut a lot of her decisions in the book. Everyone made lots of well motivated, interestingly bad decisions! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Slavery

Dare to Bird: Exploring the Joy and Healing Power of Birds by Melissa Hafting

3.0

Hafting is an amazing and dedicated birder, a phenomenal photographer, and a mediocre essayist. I enjoyed the photos and how they tied in the the stories, but the essays felt unfocused and didn't do a good job of convincing me of the importance of birds if I didn't already agree. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Death of parent

Legacy by Lois McMaster Bujold

3.5

Still enjoying it, but didn't find the Lakewalker camp politicking as interesting

Passage by Lois McMaster Bujold

4.0

I enjoyed the larger cast and the ensuing variety in interactions and character growth. It was a full boat! Fawn, Dag, Whit, Berry, Bo, Hawthorn, Hod, Barr and Remo all got time to shine. Dag is getting pretty good-at-everything skilled, but I'm still enjoying the ride.

Beguilement by Lois McMaster Bujold

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

Definitely a fantasy romance - I really enjoyed both the worldbuilding (malices! Groundsense! Lakewalkers vs farmers!) and the romance. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Violence, Pregnancy

Moderate: Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, War

Large age gap in main romance - she's 18, he's 54 - but enthusiastically consensual on both sides.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan

adventurous emotional lighthearted

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

3.5

I liked this! It had a little too many YA elements for my taste - a number of impetuous decisions that still turned out fine, lots of romantic drama - but still fun and interesting. I still disagree with the Xingyin about

Wenshi, I think he was pretty reasonable and don't get why she hates him so much

but I'll still try the sequel