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leahsammon's reviews
9 reviews
The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System: Ren Zha Fanpai Zijiu Xitong (Novel) Vol. 1 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu
funny
lighthearted
slow-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
4.5
A fun read with a really enjoyable plot. Having the main character be from a completely different life than the setting he ends up in and giving him a System to interact with made the dynamics in the book very entertaining.
The characters are loveable and the relationships the main character forms are very wholesome.
The characters are loveable and the relationships the main character forms are very wholesome.
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
adventurous
challenging
dark
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? Yes
5.0
If you are not aware of the tragedies of the Opium Wars that this book is based on, you will not be ready for this book. I thought I knew how far the author would go but I was wrong.
The quality of writing in this book is so genuinely incredible, I couldn't put it down. As each part ticks over you become more and more victimised by the war and Rin's experience of it and by the end I genuinely felt broken. I could predict every choice she would make and all I could do was watch without turning away.
This book is heartbreak that you can't run away from once you open it. It's all about actions and consequences and the person you become in the face of them. The things you most need to know are always the hardest to face, and that's precisely what this book is
The quality of writing in this book is so genuinely incredible, I couldn't put it down. As each part ticks over you become more and more victimised by the war and Rin's experience of it and by the end I genuinely felt broken. I could predict every choice she would make and all I could do was watch without turning away.
This book is heartbreak that you can't run away from once you open it. It's all about actions and consequences and the person you become in the face of them. The things you most need to know are always the hardest to face, and that's precisely what this book is
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Violence, and War
The Unbroken by C.L. Clark
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
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
4.5
I loved this book sm.
I struggled a bit at first, because it's upsetting as hell to see how brainwashed touraine was and how much hatred she held towards her own people and herself and I kept putting it down.
What made me pick it back up, every time, was because of how it made me feel. I could look away from Touraines rich awakening and Luca's stubbornness and the Qazali people refusing to back down after so much torment.
This book is so intensely true to the reality of colonialism, especially French colonialism in Africa, and yet, I never once felt confronted by it. Instead, I felt something close to empathy watching touraine unpack everything she'd been brain washed into believing and become someone who fought for herself.
I only wish that the dynamics between her and luca had been a bit more convincing. I often felt like the depths of their feelings for each other just didn't align with the progression of their relationship. It barely affects my thoughts on the book though because it was so much more about their individual characters.
I struggled a bit at first, because it's upsetting as hell to see how brainwashed touraine was and how much hatred she held towards her own people and herself and I kept putting it down.
What made me pick it back up, every time, was because of how it made me feel. I could look away from Touraines rich awakening and Luca's stubbornness and the Qazali people refusing to back down after so much torment.
This book is so intensely true to the reality of colonialism, especially French colonialism in Africa, and yet, I never once felt confronted by it. Instead, I felt something close to empathy watching touraine unpack everything she'd been brain washed into believing and become someone who fought for herself.
I only wish that the dynamics between her and luca had been a bit more convincing. I often felt like the depths of their feelings for each other just didn't align with the progression of their relationship. It barely affects my thoughts on the book though because it was so much more about their individual characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat
dark
tense
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
No one, and I mean NO ONE has absolutely nailed the enemies to lovers trope the way C S Pacat did in this book.
I devoured this book. This book had everything I wanted and more. The characters had me thinking in every page, the storytelling was amazing, and the visuals and world building let me absorb this book without pause.
The main characters had me in an absolute chokehold and unravelling them through the book was a huge highlight.
I devoured this book. This book had everything I wanted and more. The characters had me thinking in every page, the storytelling was amazing, and the visuals and world building let me absorb this book without pause.
The main characters had me in an absolute chokehold and unravelling them through the book was a huge highlight.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Slavery, and Torture
The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Really intricate world building with a whole range of characters POVs to tell the story. Multiple storylines that seem separate at the beginning but come together throughout the book to reach a focal point.
The pacing was a bit slow for me but the gorgeous visuals and interesting storyline kept me going
The pacing was a bit slow for me but the gorgeous visuals and interesting storyline kept me going
Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The book is exactly what it promises, angry feminism in pacific rim with ancient Chinese myths.
The main character is poor, disabled, and angry. She doesn't take any shit from anyone and isn't afraid to break rules.
This book brings queerness, feminism, disabled rep, and polyamory right to the forefront and tells an interesting story all the while.
However, this is definitely a debut novel. The writing is very tell not show and the flow is often choppy where I felt like something was happening then something else was happening and there wasn't much transition from one to the other.
Regardless, a book worth reading
The main character is poor, disabled, and angry. She doesn't take any shit from anyone and isn't afraid to break rules.
This book brings queerness, feminism, disabled rep, and polyamory right to the forefront and tells an interesting story all the while.
However, this is definitely a debut novel. The writing is very tell not show and the flow is often choppy where I felt like something was happening then something else was happening and there wasn't much transition from one to the other.
Regardless, a book worth reading
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
A genuinely incredible book that had me on the edge of my seat the whole time.
Stunning world building, very complex characters and plot but in a way that had me entranced the whole way through.
Stunning world building, very complex characters and plot but in a way that had me entranced the whole way through.
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.75
An amazing book about the physiological effects of trauma and how healing the mind can heal the body.
A small warning that it discusses a lot of heavy topics experienced by previous patients but written in a way that I wasn't triggered.
Supported by decades of research and personal experience, I found this book really inspiring and the author provides so much insight into what goes on in the human mind.
I struggled with reading this sometimes because the language could be very academic but it didn't deter me from reading it.
A small warning that it discusses a lot of heavy topics experienced by previous patients but written in a way that I wasn't triggered.
Supported by decades of research and personal experience, I found this book really inspiring and the author provides so much insight into what goes on in the human mind.
I struggled with reading this sometimes because the language could be very academic but it didn't deter me from reading it.
Crown of Feathers by Nicki Pau Preto
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
If Mulan-inspired wartime fantasy is your jam then this is a great place to go. This book sets the scene from multiple perspectives of different characters experiencing a war and their different personalities and viewpoints makes for an interesting read.
The language is simple and lets you focus on the story itself. I appreciated the normalised queerness because it elevated rather than distracted from the plot.
Especially appreciated that not all of the characters were motivated by JusticeTM
The language is simple and lets you focus on the story itself. I appreciated the normalised queerness because it elevated rather than distracted from the plot.
Especially appreciated that not all of the characters were motivated by JusticeTM