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marlovve's reviews
169 reviews
The God and the Gumiho by Sophie Kim
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-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
3.5
Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with an E-Arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I'll be honest and say I was not feeling this book for the first few chapters. I found myself not really enjoying the writing style at first, which is my own personal preference, and I didn't feel fully engaged in the story for a while.
This absolutely changed as the story went on. Sophie Kim has done an amazing job at weaving together Korean myth and fantasy to a more modern setting. She kept certain aspects, like how the magical creatures stay hidden from the mortal world, simple but effective, and it really allowed her to focus on the more prominent parts of her worldbuilding. The culture around the gods was entertaining, and the ease at which she explained each creatures features/roles in their magical society made it easy to become immersed.
I also really liked each of the main characters! To me, the romance itself felt a little rushed, but that could be because I definitely have a preference for something a little more slowburn, but by the end of the novel I felt so invested in them that it didn't matter to me in the long run. I do wish they'd had a bit more emotional vulnerability before they were thirsting over each other (lol) but, as I said, by the end of the book I was really rooting for them. I actually really enjoyed the bittersweet ending.It definitely would have felt like a cop-out if the two of them had been allowed to freely walk into the sunset together, and Seokga having to lower himself to begging really sold how committed they were to each other. It would be interesting to see how the relationship plays out in the future with reincarnation in the mix, especially if her gender is different and how Hani's different life experience influences her in her new life, or what form she'll take in a magical sense.
Hani herself was entertaining as a main character, morally dubious at times but easy to understand and root for, and it wa slovely to see Seokga soften and open up over the course of the book.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and I'll definitely be picking up the next in the series!
I'll be honest and say I was not feeling this book for the first few chapters. I found myself not really enjoying the writing style at first, which is my own personal preference, and I didn't feel fully engaged in the story for a while.
This absolutely changed as the story went on. Sophie Kim has done an amazing job at weaving together Korean myth and fantasy to a more modern setting. She kept certain aspects, like how the magical creatures stay hidden from the mortal world, simple but effective, and it really allowed her to focus on the more prominent parts of her worldbuilding. The culture around the gods was entertaining, and the ease at which she explained each creatures features/roles in their magical society made it easy to become immersed.
I also really liked each of the main characters! To me, the romance itself felt a little rushed, but that could be because I definitely have a preference for something a little more slowburn, but by the end of the novel I felt so invested in them that it didn't matter to me in the long run. I do wish they'd had a bit more emotional vulnerability before they were thirsting over each other (lol) but, as I said, by the end of the book I was really rooting for them. I actually really enjoyed the bittersweet ending.
Hani herself was entertaining as a main character, morally dubious at times but easy to understand and root for, and it wa slovely to see Seokga soften and open up over the course of the book.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and I'll definitely be picking up the next in the series!
Is Love the Answer? by Uta Isaki
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
Thank you to Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I absolutely adored my time reading this manga! I myself identify as asexual, and Chika's feelings regarding feeling alienated from other people because of her disinterest in relationships and romance really hit home. Since there was no romance, it really gave the author the opportunity to create strong platonic bonds between Chika and her new friends, and they did such an incredible job of it! Chika's bonds with Ishii, Moto, Ito and Ume were developed beautifully, and their encouragement and support of Chika really carried this book.
I also really loved how everyone's identites were never 'perfect'. Even Chika's relationship with her sexual, romantic and gender identity isnt exactly answered by the end of the book, but it's because it's something so personal to her and something she can explore and find an answer to at any time, and everyone around her will support her along the way. This book is only the beginning of Chika discovering herself, and it's handled beautifully. The manga also did a great job at educating the reader in an organic way that never felt forced into the story, and instead helped along Chika understand different identities as well.
I do think the queer-platonic(?) relationship with Ume felt a little rushed, but it could be due to the fact that the author spent all 256 pages fleshing out everyone that it felt very sudden to me, but I appreciate that it's something the two are still working towards and it's very early days for them.
Overall, i really enjoyed this manga, and strongly recommend it to anyone looking to learn about asexuality, or even other identities, whilst also watching the main character learn and grow with them along the way.
I absolutely adored my time reading this manga! I myself identify as asexual, and Chika's feelings regarding feeling alienated from other people because of her disinterest in relationships and romance really hit home. Since there was no romance, it really gave the author the opportunity to create strong platonic bonds between Chika and her new friends, and they did such an incredible job of it! Chika's bonds with Ishii, Moto, Ito and Ume were developed beautifully, and their encouragement and support of Chika really carried this book.
I also really loved how everyone's identites were never 'perfect'. Even Chika's relationship with her sexual, romantic and gender identity isnt exactly answered by the end of the book, but it's because it's something so personal to her and something she can explore and find an answer to at any time, and everyone around her will support her along the way. This book is only the beginning of Chika discovering herself, and it's handled beautifully. The manga also did a great job at educating the reader in an organic way that never felt forced into the story, and instead helped along Chika understand different identities as well.
I do think the queer-platonic(?) relationship with Ume felt a little rushed, but it could be due to the fact that the author spent all 256 pages fleshing out everyone that it felt very sudden to me, but I appreciate that it's something the two are still working towards and it's very early days for them.
Overall, i really enjoyed this manga, and strongly recommend it to anyone looking to learn about asexuality, or even other identities, whilst also watching the main character learn and grow with them along the way.
Number Call by Nagisa Furuya
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Thank you to Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I had a good time with this manga! The story flowed nicely and the number 8 being a connection between the two main characters was unique. The development of their relationship was sweet, and the occasional chnage of POV from Eito to Hatta was a nice bit of insight into the other's mindset.
As usual, it has the usual small conflict of most BL protagonists, where they think 'I'm not gay, but I like you', but it's actually not too prominent in this, and the two of them seem to overcome this quickly, which was super refreshing!
I think the weakness was in the side characters; I felt like the friends were barely there, only occasionally popping in for funny dialogue or contextualising some small things. Though with only 196 pages, I understand the author would want to focus on the relationship between their two main characters instead.
Overall, this was short and sweet, and I enjoyed my time with this manga!
I had a good time with this manga! The story flowed nicely and the number 8 being a connection between the two main characters was unique. The development of their relationship was sweet, and the occasional chnage of POV from Eito to Hatta was a nice bit of insight into the other's mindset.
As usual, it has the usual small conflict of most BL protagonists, where they think 'I'm not gay, but I like you', but it's actually not too prominent in this, and the two of them seem to overcome this quickly, which was super refreshing!
I think the weakness was in the side characters; I felt like the friends were barely there, only occasionally popping in for funny dialogue or contextualising some small things. Though with only 196 pages, I understand the author would want to focus on the relationship between their two main characters instead.
Overall, this was short and sweet, and I enjoyed my time with this manga!
Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
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? Yes
4.5
Thank you SO much to Netgalley, Peachtree and Pixel+Ink for an E-Arc of this title in exchange for an honest review! All opinions in this review are my own.
I was so happy to receive a copy of this book! This follows Miles who is a trans kid growing up in the deep south navigating a feud between his and the Davies' family, and things take a dark turn quite quickly.
I will say that this felt like the most political book Andrew Joseph White has written so far, and I am all here for it. He also really nails in the idea of there being no perfect victims, and even some of the villainous characters of this book end up being sympathetic, even if I would still enver condone their actions. The themes of corruption and the inherited trauma throughout the core characters of this book were heartbreaking and so realistic. It really drills in the idea that some of these people really feel like there's no way out, and Cooper's development over the course of the book is probably the best example of these themes.The fact that, after Miles accidentally kills Noah, his first solution is more violence really shows what's going through his head and how the culture of the town and the actions taken against him have impacted him. He definitely was not a perfect victim, and despite his flaws it was terrible hearing about his death was the nail in the coffin.
Miles as the main character felt so raw and real. His struggles and flaws were fleshed out wonderfully throughout the book, and his actions, whilst not always the most logical or morally 'good', really makes you remember that this is just a kid in an awful situation.
The side characters were also great, and Miles' relationship with his parents was very realistic. I think the author mentions this was based on his own relationship with his parents during his transition and it really shows through. Saint was also so interesting, despite the fact he never actually talks in the novel.
Overall, I had a wonderful time with this book. I could probably go on and on in this review about the things I loved, I cannot recommend this enough.
I was so happy to receive a copy of this book! This follows Miles who is a trans kid growing up in the deep south navigating a feud between his and the Davies' family, and things take a dark turn quite quickly.
I will say that this felt like the most political book Andrew Joseph White has written so far, and I am all here for it. He also really nails in the idea of there being no perfect victims, and even some of the villainous characters of this book end up being sympathetic, even if I would still enver condone their actions. The themes of corruption and the inherited trauma throughout the core characters of this book were heartbreaking and so realistic. It really drills in the idea that some of these people really feel like there's no way out, and Cooper's development over the course of the book is probably the best example of these themes.
Miles as the main character felt so raw and real. His struggles and flaws were fleshed out wonderfully throughout the book, and his actions, whilst not always the most logical or morally 'good', really makes you remember that this is just a kid in an awful situation.
The side characters were also great, and Miles' relationship with his parents was very realistic. I think the author mentions this was based on his own relationship with his parents during his transition and it really shows through. Saint was also so interesting, despite the fact he never actually talks in the novel.
Overall, I had a wonderful time with this book. I could probably go on and on in this review about the things I loved, I cannot recommend this enough.