leitnerkev's reviews
659 reviews

The Other Valley by Scott Alexander Howard

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

3.0

An enjoyable read that nevertheless let me down. The premise is high concept and so I was hoping for an exploration of fate and reality and consequences. We get some of those concepts as context as the plot progresses but ultimately the story is an old one - a chance at rewriting one's life and the rejection of regreat. Ennobling, in a way, but ultimately a waste of the exciting world which was built for what seemed like a lab for an idea book. This was not, unfortunately, and idea book. It was a love story, both between characters and for the MC to herself.

Flee North: A Forgotten Hero and the Fight for Freedom in Slavery's Borderland by Scott Shane

Go to review page

4.0

Firestarter by Stephen King

Go to review page

adventurous dark tense fast-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

3.0

I mean it's a fun classic King thriller, good pacing, accessible and punchy writing but it is hard to excuse King's penchant for sexualizing young girls. I think this 8 yr old was naked 3 different times and he was insistent on characters talking about her beauty. It's creepy. I think modern King is better about this stuff but yikes it's cringey reading back in his catalouge.

The Splinter in the Sky by Kemi Ashing-Giwa

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-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? Yes

3.5

This is a nice, fun political thriller set in space. The story moves well and the characters are worth rooting for. Ashing-Giwa's prose is clear and accessible. I had some minor quibbles with it - 1) the MC's easy access almost instantly to the God-Emperor of an empire, with no barriers at all, was just unbelievable, really, and 2) the surprise twist about 90% of the way through the book (no spoilers!) truly felt tacked on for story length/added twist, idk.

But, largely enjoyable so 3.5 stars. Though I do have to say it failed my fundamental test of Science Fiction - that space needs to be a part of the story, as in the realities of a interstellar space empire need to impact the story. If the story could happen on a planet, or even a continent (which this one could), then it's not really Science Fiction. It's a political thriller set in space.

Last Night in Montreal by Emily St. John Mandel

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad slow-paced