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marie_thereadingotter's reviews
1257 reviews
Something's Wrong With Us, Volume 19 by Natsumi AndÅ
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The final, finally, volume of this manga was... fine. I still feel that vol. 16 is a good place to end things. The last three volumes felt like the story was being dragged out a little too much. Another evil mother character was introduced in this final arc that I don't think needed to be there.
I am glad I read this series and the rest of the volumes are overall fantastic.
I am glad I read this series and the rest of the volumes are overall fantastic.
Living Resistance: An Indigenous Vision for Seeking Wholeness Every Day by Kaitlin B. Curtice
informative
slow-paced
3.0
I didn't know this book was going to have as much focus on god/religion as it did. I've been in the process of deconstructing from my Evangelical upbringing, and with how much focus this book had on that area it kept me from really loving this book. There is still a lot of good insight, but the religious stuff just didn't work for me.
Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan
Did not finish book. Stopped at 10%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 10%.
I don't mind unlikeable characters, and as far as I can tell everybody sucks. But being unlikable and dumb is too much.
Not to mention the atrocious depiction of women. There are two, and one is a mute.
Not to mention the atrocious depiction of women. There are two, and one is a mute.
Games with the Orc by Kathryn Moon
funny
lighthearted
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? No
3.0
I give this book a resounding 'meh'.
I am aware the point is for the plot to be minuscule, but the spicy scenes became redundant, and repetitive. There wasn't a whole lot of variety. I do like that sex work wasn't shammed, but I kind of wish the characters had more to there collective personalities than what they like to do in the bedroom. I'm not opposed to reading more from this author, or the sequel. I give this book points for creativity.
I am aware the point is for the plot to be minuscule, but the spicy scenes became redundant, and repetitive. There wasn't a whole lot of variety. I do like that sex work wasn't shammed, but I kind of wish the characters had more to there collective personalities than what they like to do in the bedroom. I'm not opposed to reading more from this author, or the sequel. I give this book points for creativity.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Why Indigenous Literatures Matter by Daniel Heath Justice
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
Rating non-fiction is always hard for me.
This was informative, and insightful. But, for me, some of the "whys" were some-what obvious. I think I also went into this expecting and hoping for more of the stories themselves.
Still worth reading, I might still buy a copy to reference back to.
This was informative, and insightful. But, for me, some of the "whys" were some-what obvious. I think I also went into this expecting and hoping for more of the stories themselves.
Still worth reading, I might still buy a copy to reference back to.
Are Prisons Obsolete? by Angela Y. Davis
informative
medium-paced
3.75
This book did little to sway my thoughts about prisons. I still fully support heavy reform for prison, but I don't know if I will ever be a full abolitionist. Learning more about the prison industry, the fact that it's an industry at all makes me want heavy reforms. This was a quick read, I typically don't read non-fiction this quickly, but this was concise enough that it made reading it easy.
Wedded to the Wanton Witch by S.L. Prater
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This was, fine. I would've liked more of a link to the first two books in the series, but overall I did like this book.
The relationship moved faster in this book, but I kind of didn't mind. They had some funny banter, and I liked that they were willing to stand up for each other when it called for it.
But I wish there had been more of a conclusion for the Glen character than we got. He was a bit of a thorn in everybody's side lurking in the background. He caused a huge problem for FMC before the start of the series, then when he shows up again he's just a nuisance, but I don't really know what sort of comeuppance he got, it didn't feel that there was any real consequence for what he did.
I do like this world, even though it feels a little underdeveloped. Or that there's another series that should be read first to explain more of it. But these are nice low-stakes romance fantasy.
The relationship moved faster in this book, but I kind of didn't mind. They had some funny banter, and I liked that they were willing to stand up for each other when it called for it.
But I wish there had been more of a conclusion for the Glen character than we got. He was a bit of a thorn in everybody's side lurking in the background. He caused a huge problem for FMC before the start of the series, then when he shows up again he's just a nuisance, but I don't really know what sort of comeuppance he got, it didn't feel that there was any real consequence for what he did.
I do like this world, even though it feels a little underdeveloped. Or that there's another series that should be read first to explain more of it. But these are nice low-stakes romance fantasy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison
emotional
mysterious
medium-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? It's complicated
3.75
I think the hype got to me on this one. It was good, I didn't hate it, but it was just fine. I know one thing that hindered my enjoyment was the character names. For the life of me I can't remember anybody's name beyond Maia, the main character. The terms and titles for everything was really hard to follow and remember. I first tried to read this as an ebook, but I decided to switch to the audiobook hoping it would help. It did to a degree, as I didn't have to guess how to pronounce anything, but it was still hard to follow who was who by the end. The narrator/voice actor did a great job, it's just that the names are so complicated that they didn't stick with me.
The overall plot and seeing Maia gain courage to do what he felt was right, in any other setting would feel more generic, but with the wold building, and the kind of character Maia is, the unwanted half-goblin child of the elf emperor, it added a layer to the story that isn't in a lot of other books with a similar plot.
One of the main things that kept this book from me loving it as much as I had hoped was the feeling that I was drowning in the character names and the world building I did feel like I was missing some of the nuance. I appreciate the in-depth world building done in this book, but I also feel like I was just thrown in the deep end of the pool and expected to swim. There was an extenisve glossary at the start of the book explaining all of that, but it's only in the physical and the ebook versions not in the audiobook. I don't think it would've helped, I wouldn't want to keep referencing the glossary whenever a new character was introduced.
I am undecided if I want to read the other books in this world. They follow other characters, and since I can't remember who was who, I don't know if I will care or not about their story. I would prefer to read more of Maia. He had finally come fully into his own at the end of the book, and I'd like to read more of him being the emperor over other characters lives.
Traitor Son by Melissa Cave
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Violence
The Rose and the Thorn by Michael J. Sullivan
adventurous
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This might actually be my least favorite World of Elan book. It's still a really great book, but it felt like the majority POV was through a character I don't care about. Hilfred (Reuben), I do not care one ounce about that character or his background. I understand why it was through his POV. Certain events had to be told from an "outside" perspective, but I still didn't care about his back story. It wasn't something I wondered after his role in Revelations was over.
All that aside, this was a plot dense book considering how short it is. One thing that can be said about Sullivan is he doesn't waste pages. There are so many books that are 500-600 pages that do not have as much plot relevant 'stuff' as books in this world/series. I do think that there could have and should have been more POV moments through Rose's eyes. Her story is so tragic and sad. I hate to think of what Ruben's father made her think that Ruben knew what was going to happen to her. He was just a kid trying to do the right thing, and his father was a selfish ass who liked to blame others for his choices.
Oddly, it felt like Royce and Hadrain took a back seat for this book. I didn't count their page time, but it must've still been at least half the book. But I didn't feel like they were the main characters of this story, and I waned them to be. I like that they have inside jokes now, and how close they've gotten in the year since they met. I totally forgot what Gwen had told Rose about her (Rose) falling in love, and since I'm using the library for this first read through I can't go back and check. Likely nothing good considering what happened to her.
I forgot what a pone Saulder is, and I wish Ruben had said something to the King about the Bishop visiting him the day before, and what he said. Ruben didn't seem like the religious type. So he couldn't have any faith in the church, not to mention Bishop Saulder was one of the people who tired to stop him from trying to rescue the Royal family.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture and Murder
Moderate: Death and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Child abuse and Death of parent