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magicalghoul's reviews
104 reviews
Flamer by Mike Curato
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, and Suicide attempt
Cadáver exquisito by Agustina Bazterrica
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
There's very clear parallels to the argentinian dictatorship here and the exodus of nazis to argentina— the story is about a government-blacked dehumanization of people, which entails the body of disenfranchised people being used in every sense: Even down to scientists doing experiments on humans and the multiple cases of kidnapped women giving birth in captivity and those babies being given to people in power to raise as their own.
Very chilling in how possible this scenario would be. Human rights violations are happening everyday, genocides are happening before us, what will stop governments from encouraging cannibalism if they have something to gain from it?
The use of cold, straight language is very effective. It's chilling in it's almost clinical and straight approach, and works for a character that knowingly toes moral lines to his convenience.
Very chilling in how possible this scenario would be. Human rights violations are happening everyday, genocides are happening before us, what will stop governments from encouraging cannibalism if they have something to gain from it?
The use of cold, straight language is very effective. It's chilling in it's almost clinical and straight approach, and works for a character that knowingly toes moral lines to his convenience.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Gore, Violence, Dementia, Trafficking, Cannibalism, and Death of parent
Moderate: Excrement and Vomit
Minor: Rape
A Dark and Drowning Tide by Allison Saft
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
So first of all, it's very amusing to me that I could sniff out almost immediately the danganronpa and ace attorney influence in this book.
This was such a fun trip, I think the court intrigue worked really well with the whodunnit and we got to see and know the characters pretty well. The romance at its center is its best feature though: The yearning, the crazied devotion! I did have to stop and take a couple moments while reading because I felt crazy (positive).
I did not care much for the magic system and it wasn't really fleshed out either— it felt more like a means to an end. Now, I was expecting something more on the vein of anti-stablishment/monarchy themes specially considering the narrator was from a marginalized people and the cast featured victims of imperialism but alas, the ending was very very underwhelming in that regard and did diminish my enjoyment of the rest of the book.
Would recommend it for the characters and the romance, but if you're looking for intricate magic systems and revolutionary themes you could skip this one.
Would recommend it for the characters and the romance, but if you're looking for intricate magic systems and revolutionary themes you could skip this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Colonisation, and Classism
Escape From St Hell: My Trans Life Levels Up by Lewis Hancox
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Despite having different experience re:gender than the author some of the anxieties and issues depicted here were So relatable!
I liked this entry more than the previous, and honestly I wouldn't mind to read a third entry into the series if that were ever to happen.
I liked this entry more than the previous, and honestly I wouldn't mind to read a third entry into the series if that were ever to happen.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Medical content, and Alcohol
Moderate: Deadnaming and Transphobia
Welcome to St. Hell: My Trans Teen Misadventure by Lewis Hancox
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Very nostalgic and heartwarming.
I liked the little interviews the author has with his friends and family, looking back. Also nice to see he had their support.
I liked the little interviews the author has with his friends and family, looking back. Also nice to see he had their support.
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
adventurous
emotional
funny
slow-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
2.75
I'm so sorry Miss Austen, this just wasn't for me.
Pike's narration was really good though and one of the main reasons why I finished the book when I felt it was dragging on and on. Outside of Pike's voice and a coupleof episodes I did not enjoy it.
Pike's narration was really good though and one of the main reasons why I finished the book when I felt it was dragging on and on. Outside of Pike's voice and a coupleof episodes I did not enjoy it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Crueler Mercies by Maren Chase
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Got an e-arc from netgalley and bindery books in exchange for a honest review.
The story of Vita's revenge starts slowly, but stick with it—the plot eventually falls into place, and the payoff is worth the wait.
While the tension is low until the final arc, this slow-burn approach works perfectly for Vita's compelling character development. The protagonist, a passive narrator for much of the story, patiently bides her time, making her eventual growth feel both organic and well-earned. I'm not that used to reading about this type of passive protagonists, so this was a nice change of pace.
The central f/f romance is sweet, though it did feel a bit underdeveloped. Vita's allies suffer this same fate but you'll find yourself genuinely rooting for them and hurting with them nonetheless.
In contrast, the antagonist fares better: His cruelty is disturbingly realistic and nuanced, avoiding cartoonish villainy and capturing the multi-faceted nature of abusers.
This solid antagonist along with the well-crafted worldbuilding is what I think ultimately made the narrative work, it provided a strong foundation for the complex political intrigue and warring factions that drive the latter halves of the plot, making it all feel very grounded.
The story of Vita's revenge starts slowly, but stick with it—the plot eventually falls into place, and the payoff is worth the wait.
While the tension is low until the final arc, this slow-burn approach works perfectly for Vita's compelling character development. The protagonist, a passive narrator for much of the story, patiently bides her time, making her eventual growth feel both organic and well-earned. I'm not that used to reading about this type of passive protagonists, so this was a nice change of pace.
The central f/f romance is sweet, though it did feel a bit underdeveloped. Vita's allies suffer this same fate but you'll find yourself genuinely rooting for them and hurting with them nonetheless.
In contrast, the antagonist fares better: His cruelty is disturbingly realistic and nuanced, avoiding cartoonish villainy and capturing the multi-faceted nature of abusers.
This solid antagonist along with the well-crafted worldbuilding is what I think ultimately made the narrative work, it provided a strong foundation for the complex political intrigue and warring factions that drive the latter halves of the plot, making it all feel very grounded.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Cannibalism, and Death of parent
Moderate: Child death
El Buzón de las Impuras by Francisca Solar
Este libro de ficción histórica toma el incendio de la Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús de 1863 en Chile, evento que personalmente desconocía por completo.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
Clubs de Lectura 2025: Febrero
Este libro de ficción histórica toma el incendio de la Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús de 1863 en Chile, evento que personalmente desconocía por completo.
Al principio, la escritura me pareció algo rígida y aburrida de leer. Pero los personajes (tanto héroes/heroínas y antagonistas) están TAN bien logrados, tri-dimensionales y distintivos, que mediante ellos la lectura se hace amena.
Me ocurrió algo similar con la sub-trama de los gringos: La sufrí al principio sin entender por qué se incluían tales detalles que sólo parecían diagonales a la trama principal, pero que luego cobraron sentido al ver cómo el destino de estos diplomáticos se cruzó con el de las mujeres víctimas en el incendio de la compañía, personificado en la ficción en las historias de Fatima y Max.
Una vez la trama llega al fatídico día se mantiene un excelente sentido de tensión e intriga a lo largo de la narrativa a tal punto que ese día debí seguir leyendo hasta el final para no quedarme en vela sin saber el destino de los personajes que tanto me habían encariñado.
La puntuación que le doy es en gran parte a la gran labor de investigación, periodismo y divulgación realizado por la autora en su intento por humanizar esta parte olvidada de la historia de Chile. Creo que hay detalles de la narrativa (como el estilo algo tieso, cambios de POV irregulares e inclusión poco orgánica de detalles históricos) que pueden perdonarse cuando el resultado es un libro con una misión tan noble y que se disfruta muchísimo.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Misogyny, Racism, Slavery, Religious bigotry, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Infidelity
La sed by Marina Yuszczuk
La primera parte me gustó mucho y aunque tuve mis dudas sobre las segunda, una vezAlma se encuentra con la vampira , me volvió a enganchar por completo.
El contraste de la fuerza del duelo en una de las voces narrativas en contraste con un personaje que no se inmuta con la muerte que causa y la muerte a su alrededor fue bastante interesante.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Clubs de Lectura 2025: Febrero
La primera parte me gustó mucho y aunque tuve mis dudas sobre las segunda, una vez
El contraste de la fuerza del duelo en una de las voces narrativas en contraste con un personaje que no se inmuta con la muerte que causa y la muerte a su alrededor fue bastante interesante.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Suicide attempt, and Murder
What the Woods Took by Courtney Gould
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Well built characters, fascinatic monsters, really good action writing and moving emotional beats. Would've loved more down time with some the characters as they bonded, though, but that would be it. Solid YA read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, and Grief
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Religious bigotry