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kauliflower's reviews
109 reviews
The Fever Code by James Dashner
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
oh my god. oh. my. god. the subtle twists? the reveals? the betrayals? i'm in awe. this was the perfect ending to a perfect series.
The Lost Ryū by Emi Watanabe Cohen
3.75
this book was not what i expected.. in a good way. i struggled at times due to plot holes but this book, at its core, was a heart-wrenching discussion about intergenerational trauma, purpose, race and the consequences of war. i truly feel as though my own words wouldn't do this book justice, so i've collected quite a few quotes to share its message with you all!
"Cheating at what?"
"At-at being! At existing! I was a fake Japanese person in America, and here, I'm a fake American."
"I'm not half anything. I'm not divided into parts, I'm just me: one single person that's a bunch of things all at once. And a mixed dragon would be like that, too. The two of us could be lots of things together, and neither one of us would have to pick a side."
"In America, race is everything. For some people, it's all they understand - it's the only thing they care about. And I don't fit. I can't be both - I have to be either, which sort of means I'm neither. Does that make sense? People don't know whether or not they're supposed to hate me - if I'm part of us or part of them. Like, even though there's no war anymore, everyone still wants to tell me which part of myself I'm allowed to be."
"Papa reminded the ryū of the consequences of a nation's pride."
"The Imperial Government was so in love with those old legends of chaos and war."
"All he'd ever done was try to fix something that was already broken. Shouldn't he get an apology in return? Why did grown-ups never acknowledge their own mistakes, when those were usually the mistakes that mattered most?"
"That's what hope is, I think: remembering that there are stories we haven't told yet."
"Cheating at what?"
"At-at being! At existing! I was a fake Japanese person in America, and here, I'm a fake American."
"I'm not half anything. I'm not divided into parts, I'm just me: one single person that's a bunch of things all at once. And a mixed dragon would be like that, too. The two of us could be lots of things together, and neither one of us would have to pick a side."
"In America, race is everything. For some people, it's all they understand - it's the only thing they care about. And I don't fit. I can't be both - I have to be either, which sort of means I'm neither. Does that make sense? People don't know whether or not they're supposed to hate me - if I'm part of us or part of them. Like, even though there's no war anymore, everyone still wants to tell me which part of myself I'm allowed to be."
"Papa reminded the ryū of the consequences of a nation's pride."
"The Imperial Government was so in love with those old legends of chaos and war."
"All he'd ever done was try to fix something that was already broken. Shouldn't he get an apology in return? Why did grown-ups never acknowledge their own mistakes, when those were usually the mistakes that mattered most?"
"That's what hope is, I think: remembering that there are stories we haven't told yet."
She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
my lesbian heart giggled
Sweet & Bitter Magic by Adrienne Tooley
this book was so refreshing - it took me out of a slump, and helped me come to terms with certain aspects of my own life. in my opinion, this was so much more than a 'romantasy', the discussions of selfishness and grief throughout were incredible?? i really didn't expect them but they added so much depth to both the characters and the story itself.. but the romance made me squeal too sorry.
i actually cried several times during this book. i adored the writing; it was gorgeous, concise when necessary and flowery in the best way when needed (this coming from someone who actively avoids young adult books because of the writing).
i want to add more, and maybe i will in the future, but for now? have more gay.
*copied from my goodreads review*
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
okay hi, i recently came out as a lesbian after previously identifying as bisexual for about.. 6 years? i decided to pick up some more sapphic romances (.. more than usual) and everything's been hitting different, including this book, so yes, my review may be influenced by this recent life experience.
"Living with the feeling that the world was on fire, Wren now knew, was nothing compared to watching it burn."
this book was so refreshing - it took me out of a slump, and helped me come to terms with certain aspects of my own life. in my opinion, this was so much more than a 'romantasy', the discussions of selfishness and grief throughout were incredible?? i really didn't expect them but they added so much depth to both the characters and the story itself.. but the romance made me squeal too sorry.
"..the freckles across her nose more pronounced than ever. Tamsin wanted to count every single one, commit them all to memory so that even when she closed her eyes, she would see a constellation of Wren."
i actually cried several times during this book. i adored the writing; it was gorgeous, concise when necessary and flowery in the best way when needed (this coming from someone who actively avoids young adult books because of the writing).
"Was it silly to mourn a place that had ultimately been temporary? Did that lack of permanence make it somehow less of a home?"
i want to add more, and maybe i will in the future, but for now? have more gay.
"Something loosened in Wren's chest. "You feel?"
Tamsin took a step toward her, "When I'm with you, I do."
*copied from my goodreads review*