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mahtzahgay's reviews
119 reviews
The Prince's Loving Guards by Beau Van Dalen
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I was SOOOO bored. The sex is so dull and uninteresting, which is worrying considering this entire series is meant to be a mindless, plotless erotica series.
The characters are still so boring, too. Kaiser was given slightly more attention and interest in this one, but Hal, Elwood, and Kaiser are all still such wooden and boring people to read and listen to. Also, I'm sorry, but for a series that was marketed as a poly romance, there is very little polyamory happening – while a triad isn't necessarily an endgame goal for all poly relationships, I was still expecting some sort of amicable and developed relationship between Elwood and Kaiser, but the two seem as distant as ever.
Again, if you're looking for erotica, go read some AO3 fanfiction. I can promise you that it'll likely be both better written and far more developed than this series.
The characters are still so boring, too. Kaiser was given slightly more attention and interest in this one, but Hal, Elwood, and Kaiser are all still such wooden and boring people to read and listen to. Also, I'm sorry, but for a series that was marketed as a poly romance, there is very little polyamory happening – while a triad isn't necessarily an endgame goal for all poly relationships, I was still expecting some sort of amicable and developed relationship between Elwood and Kaiser, but the two seem as distant as ever.
Again, if you're looking for erotica, go read some AO3 fanfiction. I can promise you that it'll likely be both better written and far more developed than this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Dysphoria
Minor: Violence and War
The Prince's Dearest Guards by Beau Van Dalen
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
It's plotless porn. It's fine. I found the characters both one-dimentional and boring (and also ZERO personality tbh), and the sex was pretty dull.
Honestly if you want a trans romantasy, so read Reclaimed by Seth Haddon instead, where the writing quality is far better AND you get a much more interesting fantasy world that stands on it's own regardless of the slow-burn romance. And if you just want erotica? Go find some AO3 fanfiction. Seriously.
Honestly if you want a trans romantasy, so read Reclaimed by Seth Haddon instead, where the writing quality is far better AND you get a much more interesting fantasy world that stands on it's own regardless of the slow-burn romance. And if you just want erotica? Go find some AO3 fanfiction. Seriously.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Dysphoria
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Medical content and Pregnancy
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Both harrowing and tender. One of the best works of climate dystopia fiction I've read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Terminal illness, Violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Gun violence
Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
5.0
Messiest collection of bisexuals I've ever seen. 10/10.
On a serious note, Monstrilio was a wonder to read. I'm glad I took my time with it. I was swept up in the relationship with Monstrilio each of his family members had; their unconditional and desperate love, and how failed him anyway. Joseph and Mago's intense grief for their son permeates each page – watching them scrabble to protect Monstrilio while simultaneously be unable to understand him was heartwrenching, and yet, so very, very human.
There's a lot more I could say about Monstrilio specifically, but this is ultimately a review & not an essay, so I'll leave it at this: Monstrilio's true nature being denied, or ignored, or misunderstood seemed so allegorically queer that it outshone the explicit queerness performanced by him and his family.
Occasionally I've read a book that instinctually I want to give it 5-stars, before pausing and wondering if handing out a 5-star rating cheapens it. This is not one of those books.
On a serious note, Monstrilio was a wonder to read. I'm glad I took my time with it. I was swept up in the relationship with Monstrilio each of his family members had; their unconditional and desperate love, and how failed him anyway. Joseph and Mago's intense grief for their son permeates each page – watching them scrabble to protect Monstrilio while simultaneously be unable to understand him was heartwrenching, and yet, so very, very human.
There's a lot more I could say about Monstrilio specifically, but this is ultimately a review & not an essay, so I'll leave it at this: Monstrilio's true nature being denied, or ignored, or misunderstood seemed so allegorically queer that it outshone the explicit queerness performanced by him and his family.
Occasionally I've read a book that instinctually I want to give it 5-stars, before pausing and wondering if handing out a 5-star rating cheapens it. This is not one of those books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Gore, Violence, and Cannibalism
Reclaimed by Seth Haddon
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I am going to YELL and CRY and EAT MY OWN HANDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you Mr Haddon for making a good, dense romantasy book that a) didn't make me gag the entire time reading and b) gave me the fantasy transfag romance I have always wished for.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Transphobia, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Genocide, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Medical content, Murder, Colonisation, and War
Minor: Deadnaming and Death of parent
Graveyard Shift by M.L. Rio
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I was really, really bored by this book. I didn't find the horror to be particularly interesting, and while the characters and their relationships to each other were pretty solidly developed, it didn't save the book for me.
A Spectre is Haunting Greentree by Carson Winter
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Started off very strong, but ended with a fizzle, in my opinion. While Carina's whole character arc was satisfying, I can't help but wish the ending had more to it. That being said, Winter weaves domestic violence and misogyny expertly into the novel's horror.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Stalking, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
What if we put the pen and paper down, huh? What then?
Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
4.5
Darkly humorous and intelligently witty. It took me a while to get through, and I'm still chewing on it as I write this.
This is a wonderfully written book, and one of my favourite magical realism books to date. Saadawi's characters jump off the page. They feel like real, fully-independent people who exist outside the story – as if they'll still be toiling away even once you've put the book away. I wouldn't say any of them are particularly 'loveable', except, perhaps, the old woman Elishva, whose occasional presence made me smile each time. However, I didn't find myself actively disliking any of the characters, or more importantly, wishing for their presence to quickly move on. Each moment spent within Saadawi's Baghdad was a privilege.
I do wish we spent more time with the creature given how that was the initial draw of the book. This was genuinely one of the most compelling modern interpretations of Frankenstein that I've read. The creature felt both human in motive and philosophy, and something completely alien altogether. Some of my favourite moments of the book are when we get to see those bits of insight into his relationships with some of the characters and himself.
Overall, a great read. 100% a recommended read.
This is a wonderfully written book, and one of my favourite magical realism books to date. Saadawi's characters jump off the page. They feel like real, fully-independent people who exist outside the story – as if they'll still be toiling away even once you've put the book away. I wouldn't say any of them are particularly 'loveable', except, perhaps, the old woman Elishva, whose occasional presence made me smile each time. However, I didn't find myself actively disliking any of the characters, or more importantly, wishing for their presence to quickly move on. Each moment spent within Saadawi's Baghdad was a privilege.
I do wish we spent more time with the creature given how that was the initial draw of the book. This was genuinely one of the most compelling modern interpretations of Frankenstein that I've read. The creature felt both human in motive and philosophy, and something completely alien altogether. Some of my favourite moments of the book are when we get to see those bits of insight into his relationships with some of the characters and himself.
Overall, a great read. 100% a recommended read.
Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5