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josefinceh's reviews
79 reviews
Waking Gods by Sylvain Neuvel
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
The second book in the Themsis files. Following the employees at the EDC after the discovering and learning to control Themsis, the ancient giant robot with backwards legs. The atmosphere gets tenser when another giant robot appears in the middle of London and standing in silence as the characters try to figure out how to react.
The book really has a lot of good mixed with a lot of "meh". The characters of the story just didn't come across as clearly and honestly lost a lot of their personality, or the traits that had been established in the previous book. This became especially clear with Kara and Vincent whom, I felt, made a pretty much total reset as characters.
It's also worth noting that the recordings format that the books have didn't work as well as in the previous book, especially since there were a lot more characters at play which made some "recordings" a bit confusing and I often mixed up which character said what.
What I was disappointed by: Karas development
I was really frustrated with how Kara was built up to be this really strong character but kinda became a pushover and just there to move the plot forward. She was strongly against both children and marriage and ended up having both (a very frustrating recurring thing in media), the only point to have her around was to bring Eva into the story, and then when the brought Eva in and introduced her to Vincent, Kara's role was over, and so she was killed of.
What I liked: Mr Burns, More about the mystery interviewer, Rose Franklin
let's start with Mr. Burns, probably my favourite and most interesting character of the entire book, I don't really have much to say about him, I just really enjoyed the chapters where he was around.
Mystery Interviewer, I was really surprised that he also was killed of, I do still like that you get some Insight into his life, his son and how he ended up doing what he was doing. Especially liked the part of him basically saying "I don't work for anyone, people just think I'm scary either way"
Rose was also a high point for me, I loved her development as the characters and her understandable struggle with coming back to life not knowing what had happened. I do wish that her talking to Mystery Interviewer from beyond the grave would be a recurring thing, that he would be some support for her even after death.
What I wished for it: Strip it down and focus on fewer things instead of trying to deal with everything that could be important for the next book.
The book really has a lot of good mixed with a lot of "meh". The characters of the story just didn't come across as clearly and honestly lost a lot of their personality, or the traits that had been established in the previous book. This became especially clear with Kara and Vincent whom, I felt, made a pretty much total reset as characters.
It's also worth noting that the recordings format that the books have didn't work as well as in the previous book, especially since there were a lot more characters at play which made some "recordings" a bit confusing and I often mixed up which character said what.
What I was disappointed by: Karas development
What I liked: Mr Burns, More about the mystery interviewer, Rose Franklin
Mystery Interviewer, I was really surprised that he also was killed of, I do still like that you get some Insight into his life, his son and how he ended up doing what he was doing. Especially liked the part of him basically saying "I don't work for anyone, people just think I'm scary either way"
Rose was also a high point for me, I loved her development as the characters and her understandable struggle with coming back to life not knowing what had happened. I do wish that her talking to Mystery Interviewer from beyond the grave would be a recurring thing, that he would be some support for her even after death.
What I wished for it: Strip it down and focus on fewer things instead of trying to deal with everything that could be important for the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Ableism and Body horror
Minor: Grief
Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Light, entertaining and a treat for the imagination.
I can definitely see what makes Vernes stories come up again and again through generations. The descriptions of the environments are probably my favorite part, I felt myself getting dragged into the world so vivid despite the simple descriptions.
I can definitely see what makes Vernes stories come up again and again through generations. The descriptions of the environments are probably my favorite part, I felt myself getting dragged into the world so vivid despite the simple descriptions.
Cheese in the Trap, Season 3 by Soonkki
emotional
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Whilst I still enjoyed the third season just like the first two I did find this one to be a little messier when it came to the different characters and subplots it deals with. It feels like a lot had to be thrown in and explained to give the reader all the context for the final season.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Stalking
Minor: Child abuse
The Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Probably not my favourite of the Poirot stories that I have read but still a light fun mystery. Definitely enjoyed the mingling love stories that surrounds the main plot of the story.
Listened to an audiobook version read by Pheobe Judge on the podcast "Pheobe reads a mystery".
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
Moderate: Grief
Burial Rites by Hannah Kent
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent
Moderate: Animal death, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Cheese in the Trap, Season 2 by Soonkki
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Violence, and Stalking
Moderate: Body shaming and Homophobia