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lucybbookstuff's Reviews (374)
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Unmarked spoilers throughout.
I'll start with the good stuff.
1) The incorporation of Native culture, language, and teachings completely saved this book. That was all not only explained very well, but felt very deeply. It really reminded me of and strengthened all that I learned last year from Braiding Sweetgrass. Having that as the foundation of this book was a very wise choice. I loved reading all those parts and learning those things.
2) I do think Daunis was characterized pretty well. Some may think she seemed too young to be 18.... but Idk, I remember being 18 and... at least I and the people I knew were still idiots at that point. π I thought her inner monologue and the way she spoke were pretty accurate for an older teen, especially one in the early 2000s. I also enjoyed her scientist brain and how that kept coming back into play. She may have been a bit of a Mary Sue, but even so, her personality was very consistent.
Now for the less good stuff..... in order of importance.
1) The pacing was way off. This dragged incredibly for at least the first half. It was way too long. It definitely could have been tightened up a lot. Some of the writing was very confusing, too. I often felt like I missed things, but I think they just went unexplained.
2) I can't believe we were meant to be rooting for this SEVERELY inappropriate romance??? Like sure, it was cute, I guess. But I simply could not get over that he is a COP, essentially her SUPERIOR, and she knows almost NOTHING about his real identity. And apart from that, which is bad enough, it seemed like a switch flipped from "I hate him but I'll play the part" to "I'm annoyed he won't actually kiss me." ????? It really made no sense. And then they were warned not to actually get too close, and they were like "sigh, okay" but then proceeded anyway. π And I really did not buy them "loving" each other. I'm so glad it didn't end with them together. The romance subplot was entirely superfluous.
3) The subject matter is so important (MMIW, violence against women, racism, etc.), but I felt that the way the mystery plot was written cheapened it all. It felt like a typical, wild teen mystery caper, and thus, all of the horrible events simply felt like plot devices. Particularly the third act sexual assault?? My god did that feel cheap and glossed over. Most of Daunis's trauma did not feel properly dealt with. One could argue that she was just single-mindedly fixated on the case, but I don't buy it.
It's sad because I can tell the author really wanted to highlight these issues, and she at least got me thinking about them, but in the end, I think it was handled all wrong in the midst of this jam-packed plot.
I'm not even gonna get into the implausibility of Daunis working for the FBI in the first place ("my meth was so much better teehee" ππ)...
So yeah....... not an outright bad book. I'm excited to discuss it at book club. But I think that, in her quest to make this book interesting for teens, Boulley went a little too hard in the wrong direction. The same kind of lessons/education could have been imparted without the romance or the direct involvement in the mystery. She should have had a bit more faith in her teen audience.
Yet another entry into "time to stop reading contemporary YA." π
I'll start with the good stuff.
1) The incorporation of Native culture, language, and teachings completely saved this book. That was all not only explained very well, but felt very deeply. It really reminded me of and strengthened all that I learned last year from Braiding Sweetgrass. Having that as the foundation of this book was a very wise choice. I loved reading all those parts and learning those things.
2) I do think Daunis was characterized pretty well. Some may think she seemed too young to be 18.... but Idk, I remember being 18 and... at least I and the people I knew were still idiots at that point. π I thought her inner monologue and the way she spoke were pretty accurate for an older teen, especially one in the early 2000s. I also enjoyed her scientist brain and how that kept coming back into play. She may have been a bit of a Mary Sue, but even so, her personality was very consistent.
Now for the less good stuff..... in order of importance.
1) The pacing was way off. This dragged incredibly for at least the first half. It was way too long. It definitely could have been tightened up a lot. Some of the writing was very confusing, too. I often felt like I missed things, but I think they just went unexplained.
2) I can't believe we were meant to be rooting for this SEVERELY inappropriate romance??? Like sure, it was cute, I guess. But I simply could not get over that he is a COP, essentially her SUPERIOR, and she knows almost NOTHING about his real identity. And apart from that, which is bad enough, it seemed like a switch flipped from "I hate him but I'll play the part" to "I'm annoyed he won't actually kiss me." ????? It really made no sense. And then they were warned not to actually get too close, and they were like "sigh, okay" but then proceeded anyway. π And I really did not buy them "loving" each other. I'm so glad it didn't end with them together. The romance subplot was entirely superfluous.
3) The subject matter is so important (MMIW, violence against women, racism, etc.), but I felt that the way the mystery plot was written cheapened it all. It felt like a typical, wild teen mystery caper, and thus, all of the horrible events simply felt like plot devices. Particularly the third act sexual assault?? My god did that feel cheap and glossed over. Most of Daunis's trauma did not feel properly dealt with. One could argue that she was just single-mindedly fixated on the case, but I don't buy it.
It's sad because I can tell the author really wanted to highlight these issues, and she at least got me thinking about them, but in the end, I think it was handled all wrong in the midst of this jam-packed plot.
I'm not even gonna get into the implausibility of Daunis working for the FBI in the first place ("my meth was so much better teehee" ππ)...
So yeah....... not an outright bad book. I'm excited to discuss it at book club. But I think that, in her quest to make this book interesting for teens, Boulley went a little too hard in the wrong direction. The same kind of lessons/education could have been imparted without the romance or the direct involvement in the mystery. She should have had a bit more faith in her teen audience.
Yet another entry into "time to stop reading contemporary YA." π
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I enjoyed this!
My prevailing thought about it is that, predictably, I wanted MORE. I really liked the characters, and the story was intriguing. But, being the epic fantasy girlie that I am, I would have LOVED this if it went so, so much deeper. Give me at least 3 books with multiple POVs and deep character studies, and the same plot from several different angles. Many fantasy standalones don't quite work for me, for precisely this reason. Sigh.
And this story in particular contains real potential for diving much deeper. There were so many ideas introduced that are so interesting, but never really went anywhere. And the whole mystery plot zoomed by, blink and you'll miss it. (Gotta say, though, I did NOT see the twist coming.)
BUT I do think it works well as a fast-paced fantasy read with good themes for young teens (at times, it felt almost middle-grade), and as a good palate cleanser for adults.
My prevailing thought about it is that, predictably, I wanted MORE. I really liked the characters, and the story was intriguing. But, being the epic fantasy girlie that I am, I would have LOVED this if it went so, so much deeper. Give me at least 3 books with multiple POVs and deep character studies, and the same plot from several different angles. Many fantasy standalones don't quite work for me, for precisely this reason. Sigh.
And this story in particular contains real potential for diving much deeper. There were so many ideas introduced that are so interesting, but never really went anywhere. And the whole mystery plot zoomed by, blink and you'll miss it. (Gotta say, though, I did NOT see the twist coming.)
BUT I do think it works well as a fast-paced fantasy read with good themes for young teens (at times, it felt almost middle-grade), and as a good palate cleanser for adults.
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Damn, I really wanted to give this 5. I might change it later after thinking more. But for now, I'll be honest about where I'm at and go with a perfectly respectable 4.75.
I LOVED the first half-ish of the book. Adored it. Them getting to know each other (and thus, me getting to know them both) was so insanely charming and beautiful. Their Conversations were absolutely the best part of the book.
I really enjoyed the rest of the book, too, but I found it a bit less compelling once they actually got together (funny enough, I also loved the final part, which went back to tension and turmoil). I had many a moment of "oof, they are... VERY codependent." Though the book is aware of that and discusses it. It is interesting, because I think I there is a correlation between me finding the book harder to read and Charlotte going off her meds. I have to imagine that was a purposeful writing choice. She is indeed very "fast," and Aldo is indeed very obsessed with her, and it made my brain feel quite jumbled. Which feels, while annoying, simply correct.
But it's still a fact that it lessened the reading experience a bit. I especially hated reading the parts where Blake inexplicably wrote several full pages of dialogue between them, without quotes, and using "he" and "she" instead of "you" and "I". Hence, the quarter star knocked off.
But no matter what, I still loved this book and adored these characters, and I'll be recommending it far and wide.
TW: su*cide
Also... I did not do this on purpose, but it definitely added an extra layer. I happened to finish this book on the 2-year anniversary of my cousin dying from his own Bipolar Disorder. In large part because he needed his meds adjusted. And he was also an artist that struggled with his creativity while medicated. This is not a comment on medication. Just an observation. This book was very timely for me. Love you, Peter. β€οΈ
I LOVED the first half-ish of the book. Adored it. Them getting to know each other (and thus, me getting to know them both) was so insanely charming and beautiful. Their Conversations were absolutely the best part of the book.
I really enjoyed the rest of the book, too, but I found it a bit less compelling once they actually got together (funny enough, I also loved the final part, which went back to tension and turmoil). I had many a moment of "oof, they are... VERY codependent." Though the book is aware of that and discusses it. It is interesting, because I think I there is a correlation between me finding the book harder to read and Charlotte going off her meds. I have to imagine that was a purposeful writing choice. She is indeed very "fast," and Aldo is indeed very obsessed with her, and it made my brain feel quite jumbled. Which feels, while annoying, simply correct.
But it's still a fact that it lessened the reading experience a bit. I especially hated reading the parts where Blake inexplicably wrote several full pages of dialogue between them, without quotes, and using "he" and "she" instead of "you" and "I". Hence, the quarter star knocked off.
But no matter what, I still loved this book and adored these characters, and I'll be recommending it far and wide.
TW: su*cide
Also... I did not do this on purpose, but it definitely added an extra layer. I happened to finish this book on the 2-year anniversary of my cousin dying from his own Bipolar Disorder. In large part because he needed his meds adjusted. And he was also an artist that struggled with his creativity while medicated. This is not a comment on medication. Just an observation. This book was very timely for me. Love you, Peter. β€οΈ
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was so beautiful. And so, SO damn important, especially for teens (its target audience).
I only can't give it a full 5 because I am not the target audience. As with most contemporary YA I read these days, I found myself rolling my eyes and/or getting frustrated with some of the teenagery things.
I do also wish the ending were drawn out a bit more. Definitely felt rushed and slightly incomplete.
But other than that, perfect book. So well-done. So important. Kids need these stories, whether to help them understand themselves or others.
Tahir's other books were already on my TBR, but safe to say they've moved up considerably.
I only can't give it a full 5 because I am not the target audience. As with most contemporary YA I read these days, I found myself rolling my eyes and/or getting frustrated with some of the teenagery things.
I do also wish the ending were drawn out a bit more. Definitely felt rushed and slightly incomplete.
But other than that, perfect book. So well-done. So important. Kids need these stories, whether to help them understand themselves or others.
Tahir's other books were already on my TBR, but safe to say they've moved up considerably.
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was trying to decide between 4.75 and 5, but realized that the only reason I might downgrade it is because some parts of it were slow and ΓΌber-political. But that's not a complaint or a bad thing. That's just the nature of this series. And by god, the slowness was tempered by outrageous moments of high emotion; not to mention the intrigue throughout that made even the slow parts exhilarating.
So, all that to say... 5 stars it is.
I can't get over just how perfectly-constructed everything about this series is. The world is absolutely airtight. Everything down to the local sports, the naming conventions and cultural slang. The religion and the place of the gods in society. And so on and so forth. It is all SO well-done.
And then the characters... I ask for morally gray characters, and LORDT, did she deliver! So much so that it frequently caused me great distress. π But they are all fully-realized people, and no matter what vile shit they are doing, you truly understand WHY. If there's one person I wish I understood a little more, it's Ayt Mada. Wouldn't mind taking a trip inside her head. Maybe we will in book 3. But anyway. Even she is very well-constructed from the eyes of her enemies.
This is really my first serious foray into the adult epic fantasy era that I know I'm entering. And I couldn't have asked for a better series for that. Absolute perfection.
So, all that to say... 5 stars it is.
I can't get over just how perfectly-constructed everything about this series is. The world is absolutely airtight. Everything down to the local sports, the naming conventions and cultural slang. The religion and the place of the gods in society. And so on and so forth. It is all SO well-done.
And then the characters... I ask for morally gray characters, and LORDT, did she deliver! So much so that it frequently caused me great distress. π But they are all fully-realized people, and no matter what vile shit they are doing, you truly understand WHY. If there's one person I wish I understood a little more, it's Ayt Mada. Wouldn't mind taking a trip inside her head. Maybe we will in book 3. But anyway. Even she is very well-constructed from the eyes of her enemies.
This is really my first serious foray into the adult epic fantasy era that I know I'm entering. And I couldn't have asked for a better series for that. Absolute perfection.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
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:
Complicated
I'm feeling all sorts of things right now. Not even sure how to sort through them, but I'll try.
First, for what I didn't love:
- This was missing some of what I loved most about Celeste Ng's other books. Which is, a wide cast of characters, and good reasons to love, hate, and understand all of them. The (fewer) characters in this were well-constructed, but pretty unambiguously good people, and it didn't go quite as deep as I'm used to with her writing.
- While the themes were spot-on and very impactful, the actual plot was a bit flimsy. I didn't really understandwhy Bird's dad never told him anything that could help him understand and/or stay as safe as possible, or any actual practical reason to get Bird to New York or why it was worth the risk. Of course, I'm glad that happened in the end, but I wasn't very convinced by the "why" or "how" of it.
And now for what I did love:
- As always, her writing is just gorgeous and so emotional. Even though this book didn't quite measure up to her others for me, she remains one of my favorite contemporary fiction writers.
- The themes and commentary. It was tremendously uncomfortable and impactful to read about this dystopian USA that isn't that far off from reality. I was really touched by all the acts of rebellion,especially the guerilla art installations, and the network of rebel librarians, and of course the ending. Especially right now with what's going on in Gaza (May 2024), this book really hammered home the importance of not being a bystander. Of doing something in your own small (or big) way, rather than accepting it and just being glad it isn't happening to you. Of holding onto hope.
It can be so easy for the scales to tip and fascism to take hold, but it can also take just small actions by everyday people to effect real change. I need that reminder sometimes.
First, for what I didn't love:
- This was missing some of what I loved most about Celeste Ng's other books. Which is, a wide cast of characters, and good reasons to love, hate, and understand all of them. The (fewer) characters in this were well-constructed, but pretty unambiguously good people, and it didn't go quite as deep as I'm used to with her writing.
- While the themes were spot-on and very impactful, the actual plot was a bit flimsy. I didn't really understand
And now for what I did love:
- As always, her writing is just gorgeous and so emotional. Even though this book didn't quite measure up to her others for me, she remains one of my favorite contemporary fiction writers.
- The themes and commentary. It was tremendously uncomfortable and impactful to read about this dystopian USA that isn't that far off from reality. I was really touched by all the acts of rebellion,
It can be so easy for the scales to tip and fascism to take hold, but it can also take just small actions by everyday people to effect real change. I need that reminder sometimes.
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is a very interesting story, and I'm glad that someone took the time to examine this character in legend rather than leaving her to hatred and possible misunderstanding. I definitely learned a lot about Hindu myths in general, and the culture of ancient India. I think this book is well-executed and was very thoughtfully done. And some ace rep, whoop whoop!! π₯³
However, for a couple of reasons, it just didn't quite align with what makes a book "unputdownable" for me. For my brain and my experience, I found it quite slow and not very gripping.
1) This read like someone telling me their life story around a campfire. And as charming as that sounds... in real life, I would fall asleep. Or zone out into a different dimension. And that is a me problem, for sure, but it's still a problem that kept me from really getting into this book. I had the same feeling with both of Madeline Miller's books, so I think it's just a narrative decision in some myth retellings that doesn't work for me personally. The telling was so matter-of-fact that I never really got a sens of stakes, nor did I get emotionally invested. Oral history is incredibly important, and there is certainly a place for stories that emulate that. It just doesn't really mesh with my brain, unfortunately.
2) At this point in my life, I'm not really drawn to simple stories with feminism as a main theme. Only because I am already very firm in my feminist beliefs, and so stories like this often just feel preachy to me. I obviously believe they are important and need to exist, but they are not for me. I just don't need them in order to strengthen or embolden my own beliefs. Nor do I feel the need to bolster my feminine rage. At least not right now.
Again, all of that is a me problem & personal preferences, and nothing wrong with the book. I definitely recommend it to those who are big into myth retellings (especially if they loved Circe) and/or those who like to consume feminist stories in this era or all eras of their life. More power to ya. βπ»
Edit about a year later: May 2025. Downgrading from 4 to 3.75. I just read Morgan Is My Name and it's making me think about the other feminisy myth retellings I've read. 4 stars is just too generous for how boring I found them all. However, this one gets an extra quarter star for the ace rep. π
However, for a couple of reasons, it just didn't quite align with what makes a book "unputdownable" for me. For my brain and my experience, I found it quite slow and not very gripping.
1) This read like someone telling me their life story around a campfire. And as charming as that sounds... in real life, I would fall asleep. Or zone out into a different dimension. And that is a me problem, for sure, but it's still a problem that kept me from really getting into this book. I had the same feeling with both of Madeline Miller's books, so I think it's just a narrative decision in some myth retellings that doesn't work for me personally. The telling was so matter-of-fact that I never really got a sens of stakes, nor did I get emotionally invested. Oral history is incredibly important, and there is certainly a place for stories that emulate that. It just doesn't really mesh with my brain, unfortunately.
2) At this point in my life, I'm not really drawn to simple stories with feminism as a main theme. Only because I am already very firm in my feminist beliefs, and so stories like this often just feel preachy to me. I obviously believe they are important and need to exist, but they are not for me. I just don't need them in order to strengthen or embolden my own beliefs. Nor do I feel the need to bolster my feminine rage. At least not right now.
Again, all of that is a me problem & personal preferences, and nothing wrong with the book. I definitely recommend it to those who are big into myth retellings (especially if they loved Circe) and/or those who like to consume feminist stories in this era or all eras of their life. More power to ya. βπ»
Edit about a year later: May 2025. Downgrading from 4 to 3.75. I just read Morgan Is My Name and it's making me think about the other feminisy myth retellings I've read. 4 stars is just too generous for how boring I found them all. However, this one gets an extra quarter star for the ace rep. π
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Frick.
Okay. A lot of this was very slow. I know and appreciate that it was intentional, because this was all just setup for the main event. But it did make the reading experience somewhat arduous. Hence the half star off.
But everything else about it was absolutely incredible.
The worldbuilding especially was fabulous. She explained everything, from the magic, to international relations, to local history, to the religion, to the favorite sport. And none of it felt unnatural or ham-fisted. An absolute masterclass in worldbuilding and exposition.
I wouldn't say I'm attached to any of the characters just yet, but I'm very much interested in them, and they are well-rounded and feel very real. The same with the relationships between them.
I've never really been interested in mafia type stories, so, while I believed everyone saying this series rocks, I was a bit skeptical of whether it would work for me. It definitely was something new that I had to get used to, and I often struggled to understand what the point of it all is, it was done so well that it still hooked me.
I'm all in! I've heard that the series only goes up from here, so let's gooooo!!!
Okay. A lot of this was very slow. I know and appreciate that it was intentional, because this was all just setup for the main event. But it did make the reading experience somewhat arduous. Hence the half star off.
But everything else about it was absolutely incredible.
The worldbuilding especially was fabulous. She explained everything, from the magic, to international relations, to local history, to the religion, to the favorite sport. And none of it felt unnatural or ham-fisted. An absolute masterclass in worldbuilding and exposition.
I wouldn't say I'm attached to any of the characters just yet, but I'm very much interested in them, and they are well-rounded and feel very real. The same with the relationships between them.
I've never really been interested in mafia type stories, so, while I believed everyone saying this series rocks, I was a bit skeptical of whether it would work for me. It definitely was something new that I had to get used to, and I often struggled to understand what the point of it all is, it was done so well that it still hooked me.
I'm all in! I've heard that the series only goes up from here, so let's gooooo!!!
adventurous
challenging
informative
medium-paced
Very fascinating. I binge read from the summit to the epilogue because it was so damn gripping. And emotional. And sickening. I nearly cried on a couple occasions. I was variably angry, horrified, and flooded with dread on others.
Such a tragedy. And yet, I can't help but think about how avoidable it all is... I was never interested in mountaineering before, but now I think one must be truly deranged to even consider it on these most formidable peaks. This book definitely got me thinking about not only the practicality of it, but the ethics.
As always, Krakauer is a fantastic reporter and writer. This book had been on my radar for a while, but I don't think I ever fully knew or appreciated until recently that Krakauer was PRESENT for the disaster and not just reporting about it. That detail definitely moved it up my TBR.
I definitely recommend it. It's not a 5 because of the slow start and lots of confusing details, and I also wondered about his decision to write this so immediately after it happened. I think I agree with the decision, but it does beg some questioning. Though it did heighten the emotional experience of reading it, which I definitely appreciate.
EDIT: I'm back to write down other musings I've had. I just watched the Everest movie and it was kind of silly, but in the end, still affecting. I do wish they'd done an adaptation of Jon's book rather than whatever it is that they did lol. But whatever. Mainly I wanted to say that seeing Krakauer portrayed in the film really got me thinking...
Those expeditions were taken out by a literal perfect storm of circumstances, and yet the stars still aligned to have one of the least scathed survivors be the guy who had the most skill and training to tell us the biggest picture of what happened up there. And now we have this book, and a semi-comprehensive knowledge of how it all went to shit. If he hadn't been on that expedition, if he hadn't been one of the stronger climbers, if he hadn't turned around moments after summitting... we might never have known what happened. At least not in any comprehensible compilation of information.
Idk, man... just makes you think.
Such a tragedy. And yet, I can't help but think about how avoidable it all is... I was never interested in mountaineering before, but now I think one must be truly deranged to even consider it on these most formidable peaks. This book definitely got me thinking about not only the practicality of it, but the ethics.
As always, Krakauer is a fantastic reporter and writer. This book had been on my radar for a while, but I don't think I ever fully knew or appreciated until recently that Krakauer was PRESENT for the disaster and not just reporting about it. That detail definitely moved it up my TBR.
I definitely recommend it. It's not a 5 because of the slow start and lots of confusing details, and I also wondered about his decision to write this so immediately after it happened. I think I agree with the decision, but it does beg some questioning. Though it did heighten the emotional experience of reading it, which I definitely appreciate.
EDIT: I'm back to write down other musings I've had. I just watched the Everest movie and it was kind of silly, but in the end, still affecting. I do wish they'd done an adaptation of Jon's book rather than whatever it is that they did lol. But whatever. Mainly I wanted to say that seeing Krakauer portrayed in the film really got me thinking...
Those expeditions were taken out by a literal perfect storm of circumstances, and yet the stars still aligned to have one of the least scathed survivors be the guy who had the most skill and training to tell us the biggest picture of what happened up there. And now we have this book, and a semi-comprehensive knowledge of how it all went to shit. If he hadn't been on that expedition, if he hadn't been one of the stronger climbers, if he hadn't turned around moments after summitting... we might never have known what happened. At least not in any comprehensible compilation of information.
Idk, man... just makes you think.
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