masha_and_the_cat's reviews
372 reviews

The House on Infinity Loop by Bonnie K.T. Dillabough

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

4.0

Excellent, vivid worldbuilding with plenty of details to draw the reader in, a diverse cast and a likeable, relatable main character.
The book is in dire need of a good editor, though - there are superfluous and missing commas aplenty, some misplaced quotation marks, typos and formatting errors, as well as some grammar errors and plain clumsy writing (especially in the beginning of the book). 
There is also a problematic moment towards the end of the book, when a minor character, a Shaman from the Amazon, is introduced and presented as "speaking" in broken English. This doesn't make sense, given that all other characters communicate perfectly fluently through telepathy. I doubt that this was intentional on the part of the author, but it still others the native character, making him seem as less-than. Just goes to show how far we all have to go to unlearn our internalised racism. 
However, none of this detracts significantly from the reading experience. I really enjoyed spending time in Jenny and Tidbit's world, and am thankful both that the author realised her lifelong dream of becoming a writer, and that she chose to make the first book in the series free through Prolific Works.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Torture, Blood

Talk to the Tail: Adventures in Cat Ownership and Beyond by Tom Cox

funny lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

4.5

The Strange Journey of Alice Pendelbury by Marc Levy

adventurous hopeful inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Minor: Genocide, Violence, Death of parent

Under the Paw: Confessions of a Cat Man by Tom Cox

emotional funny informative lighthearted reflective medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death

Bang to Begin by Lynda Bartlett, Jethro Weyman

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

3.75

Scharlette Doesn't Matter and Goes Time Travelling by Sam Bowring

adventurous funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Cozy Up to Death by Colin Conway

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

The plot had potential, but the utterly pedestrian writing style holds it back.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Murder

Anka Brazilijanka by Mato Lovrak

emotional hopeful medium-paced

5.0

Shadow Kitty by Kurt Zimmerman, Michelle Zimmerman

hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.5

A Matter of Course by Jody Wenner

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Death of parent

Minor: Cancer, Terminal illness, Dementia