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lakeofstars's reviews
21 reviews
Schoolgirl by Osamu Dazai
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
perhaps it's because i'm not a romantic (and also not the intended teenage audience lol) but i truly felt like the non-platonic interactions were the weakest part of the book. did not feel much chemistry nor find the trope-laden progression believable. which sucks because i do really want to care for each individual character but the sheer Presence of romance that i was so duly uninterested in was really putting me off.
but believe me when i say i drank up (hehe) what we were given about the world and enjoyed arthie as a protagonist. this book had a fun plot outline with relevant themes and engaging prose. and i LOVE a good arthurian undertone. it really is a shame that the contrived romantic tension was so egregious. i had other (pretty major) issues with the painful pacing, characterization choices, stakes (hehe), and certain plot points but none had my eye twitching the way it did every time a m/f duo that didn't explicitly view each other as siblings interacted.
a bitter rant? maybe, but.
but believe me when i say i drank up (hehe) what we were given about the world and enjoyed arthie as a protagonist. this book had a fun plot outline with relevant themes and engaging prose. and i LOVE a good arthurian undertone. it really is a shame that the contrived romantic tension was so egregious. i had other (pretty major) issues with the painful pacing, characterization choices, stakes (hehe), and certain plot points but none had my eye twitching the way it did every time a m/f duo that didn't explicitly view each other as siblings interacted.
a bitter rant? maybe, but.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Blood, Colonisation, and Violence
Anatomy: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
this was delightful
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Sexism, and Medical content
Moderate: Death
Minor: Vomit
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
i need to discuss this right now
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Alcoholism, Antisemitism, Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, Addiction, Alcohol, Homophobia, Incest, Racism, and Drug use
Moderate: Racial slurs and Antisemitism
Minor: Suicide, Vomit, and Sexual assault
The Atlas Paradox by Olivie Blake
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
improved significantly on some of the first's flaws, but the rest seem to have intensified. a tentative rating, will likely change as i think more. in which direction though, i dont know.
however, i am So glad that we were given more reina content, her and callum were a hilarious duo. AND GIDEON!
however, i am So glad that we were given more reina content, her and callum were a hilarious duo. AND GIDEON!
The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
this premise seems to be catered to me specifically (magic/science intersection, a promise of intense philosophical debates, the desire/greed for knowledge being a major motivation, morally grey characters, sophisticated prose, setting is THE LIBRARY OF ALEXANDRIA??) yet the execution left Much to be desired. it ended up feeling like an early draft of a book that could be a masterpiece with more editing. was still a fun read though, i am curious to see what happens next considering everything in this book seemed to primarily serve as preparation for its successors.
overall, mid.
overall, mid.
Time for Bed by Mem Fox
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Babel by R.F. Kuang
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
5.0
yeah it's "telling" more than "showing" sometimes that's the point... those sections are primarily either robin convincing himself that his relationships are strong and positive and he is exactly where he should be, or r.f. kuang not giving audiences the chance to misconstrue the experiences of her marginalized characters the way that the setting and people around them consistently does.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexism, War, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Violence and Gun violence
Minor: Vomit
Moon and Sun: A Selection of the Rubaiyat of Molana Jalal al-Din Rumi by Rumi
inspiring
reflective
5.0