mar's reviews
387 reviews

mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

a decently entertaining read, if you can tolerate some casual 50s sexism. definitely a product of its time in that respect - it's annoying, but i've also read way more recent scifi classics that were way more egregious about how they treated women.

i wish daneel didn't spend half of this book offpage locked in a room though. i'm here for the robot detective!!!!!

The Maid and the Crocodile by Jordan Ifueko

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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? It's complicated

4.0

Content Warnings

Haunt Sweet Home by Sarah Pinsker

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fast-paced

2.5

i think the version of the book i expected based on the blurb was more interesting than what i actually got. enjoyed the "behind-the-scenes of a reality TV ghost hunting show" parts more than the haunting itself tbh

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Prophet by Sin Blaché, Helen Macdonald

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dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I HAD SOOOO MUCH FUN WITH THIS ONE i think a lot of plot/central mystery stuff got a bit too vague and handwavy to be wholly satisfying for me but it was still such an entertaining ride, especially on the character front. had to go to work on 2 hours of sleep bc of this book. these men are so unwell

Content Warnings

Mission Child by Maureen F. McHugh

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challenging reflective slow-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

5.0

I don't think I've read a sci-fi book that felt this thoroughly human in a while.

I originally picked it up because I had the vague notion it had some interesting stuff going on with gender, and I was certainly not disappointed - Jan/Janna, the protagonist, is what I'd call genderqueer, by the end describing themselves interchangeably as both & neither a man or a woman; their journey to that realization is portrayed with a thoughtfulness and authenticity I did not expect.

There's so many more fascinating themes explored beyond just gender, though, with some of the ones I found most resonant being cultural frictions, language, and things lost in translation; longing for a nonexistent home, what it feels like to be a stranger/foreigner everywhere you go, and how those impact your sense of self.

It brought to my mind Ursula K. Le Guin's Carrier Bag Theory of Fiction - the novel as a medicine bundle, holding many things amonst which conflict is just one of the many ways they can relate to one another, a place for the untold life story rather than the Hero's story. This is one of those, this is a life story. There is no traditional plot, there's just Jan's life, sometimes grim and brutal, often slow and aimless. Won't be for everyone, I'm sure, but it touched something within me in a way I can't quite put into words.

Content Warnings