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iellv's reviews
70 reviews
Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.25
what the hell did i get myself into? 4.8 for emotional devastation, but I'm rating this 4.5 because this is titled assassin's apprentice but we didn't get a training montage. i'm half jk; i picked this up FOR the emotional suffering, but i would have liked to see specifically how fitz's training went and a bit more of him and the fool--though i suppose we have a whole trilogy of just the two of them? there was a lot of time spent on the Other training montage that i feel definitely took away a crucial part of life in buckkeep, but I can appreciate that that was kind of the point. anyway this book drove me insane and i'm glad i took my time with it. because what do you mean it's going to keep getting worse? god say it isn't so! the character work on this was so brilliant that every little unfortunate thing that happens in this gd book feels three times more devastating than they would have any right to be if someone less capable wrote this book. im prescribing cbt and shock therapy to burrich btw. fitz needs help too but burrich can get it first.
this is far from the most coherent review. i have much more to say, but all in all this was a very solid beginning and i have developed a very deep admiration for robin hobb's character writing. i'm still waiting patiently for more interesting and compelling worldbuilding and political intrigue. the political intrigue is fine, but nowhere near as exciting as others i've already encountered, but that might change as fitz grows older? i'm not too optimistic considering the type of person regal is, and how dull buckkeep is compared to jhaampe.
this is far from the most coherent review. i have much more to say, but all in all this was a very solid beginning and i have developed a very deep admiration for robin hobb's character writing. i'm still waiting patiently for more interesting and compelling worldbuilding and political intrigue. the political intrigue is fine, but nowhere near as exciting as others i've already encountered, but that might change as fitz grows older? i'm not too optimistic
README.txt: A Memoir by Chelsea Manning
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
Delta of Venus by Anaïs Nin
Did not finish book.
Did not finish book.
Might pick this up again some other time! It took too long for me to finish this on account of life stuff so it's not really the ideal read anymore atp. I'll try again next year.
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
4.0
I read this when I was in high school. She was indeed the moment, but I'm leaving a conservative rating because while I watched the show and appreciated it as an adult, I can't say the same about the book yet. I'll re-read this again one day for sure for sure!
Revelator by Daryl Gregory
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.5
Strong middle, okay beginning, weak end. I’m surprised it took a turn for the deeply okay. Maybe I expected too much horror? The character development felt flat and unconvincing to me. Sunny was unconvincing. Whatever this book tried to do in the end was done way better. Just go read Sharp Objects, honestly.
This sounds so harsh djfjdjd there were genuinely some banger parts and lines, but I’m tired and overall I’m disappointed in the book so I’m a bit pissy about it.
Kiiiiind of in love with Stella though. Who knew I’d be into women who brandish shotguns in churches??? I certainly didn’t. God I’m so gay
This sounds so harsh djfjdjd there were genuinely some banger parts and lines, but I’m tired and overall I’m disappointed in the book so I’m a bit pissy about it.
Kiiiiind of in love with Stella though. Who knew I’d be into women who brandish shotguns in churches??? I certainly didn’t. God I’m so gay
Blackshirts and Reds: Rational Fascism and the Overthrow of Communism by Michael Parenti
medium-paced
5.0
Second to the last chapter is a lot less relevant, considering a bigger problem rn is people spouting familiar class relations talking points without bothering to go the extra mile. It was entertaining though and very interesting to see Parenti’s scathing (very deserved) observations of these ABC intellectuals. Anyway where would some of us be without Parenti!
The Woods All Black by Lee Mandelo
Did not finish book. Stopped at 7%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 7%.
Mama this is embarrassing. I am the target audience for this type of book (trans characters? monsterfucking? horror? historical setting?? hello??) but the writing style is grating. I’m gonna be honest… it’s kinda bad. Almost every sentence is structured strangely if not just passive. Mandelo overuses personification, which is especially noticeable because he is already a bit too descriptive—and that’s coming from someone who enjoys purple prose. I also caught at least 5 instances of questionable word choice before dropping this. 10 pages is a new low for me but I cannot be blamed for this. Each sentence felt circular bc of the poor rhythm too, if that makes sense. So many issues with clarity… and for what? For the chance to misuse big words? And despite all of these notes, the writing is still somehow dry? Fascinating.
I read abt the crazy age gap though. Bullet dodged ig! Jesus. Sorry to everyone who’s eating this up though I’m honestly kinda jealous. I’d fully intended to power through the writing but I am god’s weakest soldier.
I read abt the crazy age gap though. Bullet dodged ig! Jesus. Sorry to everyone who’s eating this up though I’m honestly kinda jealous. I’d fully intended to power through the writing but I am god’s weakest soldier.
The Reformatory by Tananarive Due
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.75
When I tell you I screamed over a timestamp.
What do I even say? I want to rate this 5 stars, I really do. This was extremely well thought out and well-written. Personally, I thought the pacing was almost perfect (I didn’t think it was too slow. Honestly I kind of wished this book was a bit longer), and I loved how seemingly different Robbie’s and Gloria’s chapters were in tone, but they all showed the fear, frustration, sorrow, and rage that made up the siblings’ shared suffering. No matter that they were both so far apart from one another. I’m only rating this 4.75 because I would have loved a longer ending! There was so much to cover in this book; I desperately needed a breather at the end. There were also more details I’d hoped to encounter, but that might just be because I have a general preference for very reflective books.
I am also not 100% sold on the decision to make Haddock THE villain to the point where all others paled in comparison. Personally I would have liked to know more about the neighbors, but I also understand that there was no way Tananarive could have included that without ruining the pacing of this book. Though I am surprised that Loehmann just fell off. I don’t think he could have helped any other way besides securing that slot for Gloria and Miz Lottie, but I thought it was funny that he just fell off and readers would likely completely forget about him, as I did.
What do I even say? I want to rate this 5 stars, I really do. This was extremely well thought out and well-written. Personally, I thought the pacing was almost perfect (I didn’t think it was too slow. Honestly I kind of wished this book was a bit longer), and I loved how seemingly different Robbie’s and Gloria’s chapters were in tone, but they all showed the fear, frustration, sorrow, and rage that made up the siblings’ shared suffering. No matter that they were both so far apart from one another. I’m only rating this 4.75 because I would have loved a longer ending! There was so much to cover in this book; I desperately needed a breather at the end. There were also more details I’d hoped to encounter, but that might just be because I have a general preference for very reflective books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, and Vomit