hwesta's reviews
387 reviews

The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Ann Older

adventurous lighthearted mysterious relaxing

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

4.0

A lighthearted sci fi mystery. I really enjoyed the setting, which evoked the 1800s (railcars, telegrams, universities) in a scifi setting (200+ years on Jupiter). The writing style took me a while to get into. Mossa and Pleiti are a delight. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Murder

Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie

5.0

Ogres by Adrian Tchaikovsky

dark hopeful

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Too grim for me, but definitely did some interesting things 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Cannibalism, Murder, Sexism, Death of parent, Gore, Gun violence, Slavery, Violence, and War

Minor: Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, and Rape

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

dark emotional mysterious sad

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

Well written but not my jam. 

Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher

dark hopeful lighthearted mysterious

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

Sweet and light and a quick read, but not as impactful for me as a bunch of Ursula's other works 

Suradanna and the Sea by Rebecca Fraimow

adventurous hopeful lighthearted mysterious

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

Pitched to me as "the one about trade routes, magical fertilizer, & one girl's centuries-long effort to impress a woman who is already in a committed relationship with a boat", I started this on a whim and immediately devoured it. I likes the main character's voice and the central premise. It was a lot of fun to see how Suradanna dealt with things and how things changed over time. 

I love how differently Suradanna and the captain reacted to their situation; the captain

retreating from society and focusing on the boat and the sea, while Suradanna continually reinvented herself.

Nice touch that the

unchanging sea eventually changed too!

また、同じ夢を見ていた by 住野よる, Yoru Sumino

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

First Japanese book read! Sweet and funny, even with long rambling sentences 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm and Bullying

Even Though I Knew the End by C.L. Polk

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

4.0

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

hopeful lighthearted relaxing

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

Heartwarming and relaxing. 

Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

challenging dark mysterious

• Loveable characters? No

3.5

Not for me, I think. The first 2/3 is being confused and trying to piece things together from hints while following around a bunch of messed-up cruel people, alternating with a bizarre alternate Gideon-the-Ninth plot. It picks up towards the end and a lot of stuff is explained/recontextualized, but not enough of an emotional payoff for me.