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hwesta's reviews
411 reviews
Winter's Gifts by Ben Aaronovitch
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.5
I liked this book fine, but missed Peter Grant's voice (and narrator).
The Year Without Sunshine by Naomi Kritzer
inspiring
lighthearted
5.0
Inspiring, made me want to set up the sort of community described in the story
A Broken Blade by Melissa Blair
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Not for me. A friend liked it so I stuck it out, but I was continually frustrated by both the writing and the characters.
The writing felt like it was constantly spelling out for me things I had already picked up on. Maybe some of this was the audiobook narrator?
Kira was frustrating. She didn't feel like she was 60 years old with 30 years experience in her role. (leader of the order! Which she hates. How did she get it then?). Given her desperation to overthrow the king, she hasn't put any thought to what it should be replaced with, or who she could work with to do this, or building any sort of network of allies. She has enough money to fund an underground railway, but doesn't get paid much and is not involved with the organization.
TheKillian reveal at the end is almost enough to make me want to read more, since he seems to have a plan and a team and generally be better suited to the task.
The writing felt like it was constantly spelling out for me things I had already picked up on. Maybe some of this was the audiobook narrator?
Kira was frustrating. She didn't feel like she was 60 years old with 30 years experience in her role. (leader of the order! Which she hates. How did she get it then?). Given her desperation to overthrow the king, she hasn't put any thought to what it should be replaced with, or who she could work with to do this, or building any sort of network of allies. She has enough money to fund an underground railway, but doesn't get paid much and is not involved with the organization.
The
The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles by Malka Older
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Delightful! Mossa and Pleiti and the coze scifi mystery vibe continue to be a lot of fun. The mystery was less weighty but no less interesting and used the setting well.
The language is so fun - there's lots of words that aren't from modern English that fit the setting. Borrowing from other languages (erai), modifications of existing terms (grab the situation), or just new words that fit nicely. I love it
The language is so fun - there's lots of words that aren't from modern English that fit the setting. Borrowing from other languages (erai), modifications of existing terms (grab the situation), or just new words that fit nicely. I love it
Starling House by Alix E. Harrow
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I haven't enjoyed the other gothic books I read, but I liked this one. Opal and Arthur are interesting characters, and I enjoyed the variations on the starling house story. Bev and Charlotte were great.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Translation State by Ann Leckie
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
This book is so weird and I love it so much.
It was great to learn about the Presger Translators. I didn't feel the ending held up to how cool the rest of the book was.
It was great to learn about the Presger Translators. I didn't feel the ending held up to how cool the rest of the book was.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Death, Police brutality, Death of parent, Abandonment, Colonisation, and War
Lots of thoughts of dismemberment or mentions of it happening to human-like persons in the past
Ancillary Mercy by Ann Leckie
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
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
5.0
I liked this better the second time/in audiobook even more than the first. I enjoyed slowing down and picking up on more of the subtleties and character moments
Zeiat is still a hoot and I love Sphene
Zeiat is still a hoot and I love Sphene
All The Hidden Paths by Foz Meadows
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This was fun but more dramatic!-emotion!-bad-things-constantly-happening-to-the-main-characters than my taste. Markel is still a delight. Asrien grew on me a lot, to the point where I was more invested is his arc than Vel and Cae's.
The Dark Lord's Daughter by Patricia C. Wrede
adventurous
lighthearted
3.5
This was a fun read. A bunch of the initial setup played heavily into dark lord tropes, but it went on to mess with them in enjoyable ways. I was disappointed in the ending because the central tension of if Kayla and her family were retuning to Earth wasn't resolved or meaningfully addressed. I liked the main cast and want to see what happens to them next!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Cancer, Confinement, Slavery, Murder, and War
Witch King by Martha Wells
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
- 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