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kentanapages's reviews
555 reviews
Mad World: The Politics of Mental Health by Micha Frazer-Carroll
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism, Suicide, and Violence
Crown of Starlight by Cait Corrain
Did not finish book.
Did not finish book.
This author was caught creating fake accounts and review-bombing/downvoting other debit authors, mainly POC authors also writing retellings of mythology / similar genres, while leaving false 5-star reviews and upvoting their own debut. I will not be supporting this author.
Receipts below:
https://twitter.com/Natalie_Leif/status/1732542297936732607?t=1VrgKZTQyyyQjSHpw68aVA&s=19
https://twitter.com/XiranJayZhao/status/1732525908815487164?t=zW3IsLbieyJPaVDSn2Lv4w&s=19
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1__mO1uqIqcmupBAPKwXDzlUbZIwtY6fKf0S1Y0SNz0E/edit?usp=drivesdk
Receipts below:
https://twitter.com/Natalie_Leif/status/1732542297936732607?t=1VrgKZTQyyyQjSHpw68aVA&s=19
https://twitter.com/XiranJayZhao/status/1732525908815487164?t=zW3IsLbieyJPaVDSn2Lv4w&s=19
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1__mO1uqIqcmupBAPKwXDzlUbZIwtY6fKf0S1Y0SNz0E/edit?usp=drivesdk
Against the Loveless World by Susan Abulhawa
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher
adventurous
dark
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
This was really fun, and a very easy read that I binged in one day, swapping between listening and reading. I definitely laughed at moments and appreciated the humor, and found other moments motivating and emotional. Overall 3.75 stars for me though, reasons below.
Loved:
- the bone dog!! Not actually being alive can’t stop a dog from being a dog
- the demon hen with the attitude
- the wicked-but-wants-to-be-good fairy godmother
- the cranky yet lovable dust-wife
- the story arc of sisterhood
- quite dark, but with humor
Loved less:
- for a stand-alone (this is, right?) there was a lot just not explained (the encroaching Blight that’s devouring the lands, for example. And… cannibals.)
- a few things that felt inconsistent with the characters (a character loses someone and can’t get over it but meets someone else who speaks to the dead and never once considers asking to talk to that person?)
- I don’t always love figuring things out before the characters
- too-perfect stereotypical male hero
- almost a defense of a parent subjecting a child to abuse and trauma for the greater good. definitely a trigger warning for anyone who has experienced domestic abuse or very controlling situations, and i don’t love how it was handled
Loved:
- the bone dog!! Not actually being alive can’t stop a dog from being a dog
- the demon hen with the attitude
- the wicked-but-wants-to-be-good fairy godmother
- the cranky yet lovable dust-wife
- the story arc of sisterhood
- quite dark, but with humor
Loved less:
- for a stand-alone (this is, right?) there was a lot just not explained (the encroaching Blight that’s devouring the lands, for example. And… cannibals.)
- a few things that felt inconsistent with the characters
- I don’t always love figuring things out before the characters
- too-perfect stereotypical male hero
- almost a defense of a parent subjecting a child to abuse and trauma for the greater good. definitely a trigger warning for anyone who has experienced domestic abuse or very controlling situations, and i don’t love how it was handled
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Cannibalism
Starling House by Alix E. Harrow
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“Starlings probably had it right. that the only name worth having is the one you choose.”
This book did not disappoint. I sucked it in, absorbing it like a sentient magical house might greedily absorb the blood of its wardens. This is now officially my favorite Alix E. Harrow to date
Thank you to netgalley and macmillan audio for the early audio–it was absolutely worth ignoring my other weekend plans for!
The audio is incredible: it’s narrated by one of my favorites, Natalie Naudus (if you don’t know her, she’s narrated She Who Became The Sun & sequel, The Bone Shard Daughter & series, The Art of Prophecy (which I’m also listening to now!) AND SO MUCH MORE.
I’m not going to rehash the plot here, because you can find that in a zillion places. Instead, (cute music): these are a few of my favorite things:
This book did not disappoint. I sucked it in, absorbing it like a sentient magical house might greedily absorb the blood of its wardens. This is now officially my favorite Alix E. Harrow to date
Thank you to netgalley and macmillan audio for the early audio–it was absolutely worth ignoring my other weekend plans for!
The audio is incredible: it’s narrated by one of my favorites, Natalie Naudus (if you don’t know her, she’s narrated She Who Became The Sun & sequel, The Bone Shard Daughter & series, The Art of Prophecy (which I’m also listening to now!) AND SO MUCH MORE.
I’m not going to rehash the plot here, because you can find that in a zillion places. Instead, (cute music): these are a few of my favorite things:
- the use of a story within the story as a central theme; I love books within books!
- imperfect, flawed and plausible characters you can’t help but fall in love with
- an opinionated sentient magical/haunted house
- a ferocious & ferociously lovable cat alternatively referred to as The Hellcat and Bast
- a poignant depiction of the rugged love that can exist between siblings
- queer character rep, including a bi male MC
- a look at smalltown southern history that confronts the racist & prejudice past (and present)
- white characters modeling how we can realize our own blindness, make mistakes with the best of intentions, and realize why intentions don’t always matter (and then listen & strive to do better)
- the perspective swaps between the first person view of Opal, a fairly unreliable narrator (and the inclusion of footnotes correcting her misstatements!), and a third person perspective of other characters
- a slow burn reluctant romance that had me (not a romance lover) rooting so hard for them to JUST FREAKING KISS
- Opal loves reading, especially racy retellings of fairy tales (Alix, if you want to write some racier fanfic versions of your retellings, I WILL READ THEM)
- the town librarian is basically a heroine (generally true)
- the examination of storytelling, and how the storyteller really matters
- small town grittiness with some victorian gothic vibes
“She’s not eating, she’s not sleeping… I don’t even think she’s READING. I’ve never seen her like this.”
Brainwyrms by Alison Rumfitt
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Actual review to come. Immediate reaction What the f did I just read, I am disturbed. This is some f#@ked up sh!t. Every trigger warning. it’s horrifying it’s just so disturbing i read it in one sitting
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child death, Hate crime, Incest, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Vomit, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Eating disorder, Excrement, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Suicide, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Chronic illness, and Pedophilia
Minor: Body shaming, Ableism, Deadnaming, Islamophobia, Xenophobia, Animal death, and Dysphoria
Weird, There’s not a content warning specific to “graphically depicted parasite fetish” :)
The Fractured Dark by Megan E. O'Keefe
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I burned through this second book in the series so fast I didn't realize how long it was until checking my StoryGraph stats afterwards.. it's long! I went into this already in love with the characters and very invested in them and their cause, heartbroken over part of the ending of book 1, and eager to see what happens.
And it delivered!
Having the relationship between the two MCs "reset" the way it did actually allowed for some of the playful banter that was so fun through book one to start over and happen again; I thought I might find this tedious, and there were moments when I was like OMG STOP WITH THE ANGST but overall it was mostly just engaging and kept me reading.
The plot was wild! There was political intrigue, backstabbing, espionage... the majority of the book things were quite tense, and it felt propulsive. I had to keep reading, even if I was stressed about some part. However there were also these moments of levity and of joy that really helped.
I did NOT expect the ending, really the last 25% had one major reveal after another, and I was hooked. A few parts felt a bit like I had to suspend disbelief more than usual, but I just made the choice to be onboard.
I didnt' love this book as much as the first, but I also recognize how hard middle books in a trilogy are; this book bridged the gap while not having really any long sections that were boring or dragged on too long (for me, at least).
I am very much looking forward to the last book, and impressed that they're coming out back to back to back like this! You're going to spoil us SFF trilogy fans :)
And it delivered!
Having the relationship between the two MCs "reset" the way it did actually allowed for some of the playful banter that was so fun through book one to start over and happen again; I thought I might find this tedious, and there were moments when I was like OMG STOP WITH THE ANGST but overall it was mostly just engaging and kept me reading.
The plot was wild! There was political intrigue, backstabbing, espionage... the majority of the book things were quite tense, and it felt propulsive. I had to keep reading, even if I was stressed about some part. However there were also these moments of levity and of joy that really helped.
I did NOT expect the ending, really the last 25% had one major reveal after another, and I was hooked. A few parts felt a bit like I had to suspend disbelief more than usual, but I just made the choice to be onboard.
I didnt' love this book as much as the first, but I also recognize how hard middle books in a trilogy are; this book bridged the gap while not having really any long sections that were boring or dragged on too long (for me, at least).
I am very much looking forward to the last book, and impressed that they're coming out back to back to back like this! You're going to spoil us SFF trilogy fans :)
Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0