mattiedancer's Reviews (126)

I Hope This Finds You Well: Poems

3.5

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

Writing: 3.75⭐️/5

The writing, the diction, and the word choice are not entirely dependent on Baer, as they are coming from source materials, but some poems shined through in a way only done through a good poet. Other poems, though, fell short, almost suggesting a shortness of thought or consideration given. Sometimes the source stood out more than the erasure when it should always land the other way. Overall, the collection contains truly stunning moments, but I found myself starved a bit between the stunning moments by really nothing substantial to live off of.

Approach: 3.5⭐️/5

I’m a bit torn here. The concept of the poetry is fantastic; the execution is less so. Where I didn’t love the approach was with the inclusion of some positive sources – not because of their positivity, but because the erasure form seemed to only mimic their point and not become its own thing. What I did like about the approach is what I like about all erasure poetry: it cuts away from a source to reveal something new. Certain poems in the collection did this with both ease and precision, slicing at the words to uncover something else so beautiful or so perfectly said that I couldn’t help but love it. But the poems just didn’t always do that.

Forms 3.5⭐️/5

This blends slightly with my point on the approach, but I did feel like sometimes Baer used the source too much, leaving it almost in its original form rather than pulling words back from its source to create something new. I wanted a bit more in terms of making the piece its own thing.

Who Should Read This Book?

Feminist poets
Fans of erasure poems
Those who like a bit of politics in their poetry
Those who want a bit of biteback in a poem

Content Warnings?

Misogyny, sexism, sexual harassment, sexual assault, bullying, emotional abuse, physical abuse, violence, racism, homophobia, pregnancy

Post-Reading Rating: 4⭐️/5

Some poems were truly stunning. Others definitely fell short. A short but worthwhile read.

Final Rating: 3.5⭐️/5

Content Warnings

The Awakening and Selected Stories

Kate Chopin

4.25

emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Writing: 4.5⭐️/5

This novel/collection of stories is solidly written. There are more than a few beautiful passages. I found the writing stunning, woven together in a wonderful way, and I always felt drawn into the world. The way Chopin frames Edna’s frustration in her life is beautifully done. I felt drawn into the mental state of this woman through the clarity of the writing, and I appreciated that deeply. I do think that sections were perhaps slower than necessary at times, and that pulled me from the story every once in a while.

Characters: 4.5⭐️/5

The characters are fantastically crafted. Edna in particular felt alive, with her dreams and hopes hanging in the balance as she attempted to discover her true desires. I actually enjoyed the characterization of her husband as well, as he tries (and fails) to understand what’s going on with his wife. My only complaint with the characters is that I would have loved a bit more space and time spent on her and Robert’s relationship.

Plot: 4⭐️/5

It’s a feminist story written potentially well before its time. I enjoyed the flow of events, and I was captivated throughout at various moments. However, a small complaint: I did feel lost at the treatment and story around Edna’s children. I felt like that kept pulling me from the story.

Who Should Read This Book?

Fans of classics
Fans of historical books with feminist twists
Those looking for a read dedicated to characterization and character growth.

Content Warnings?

Suicide, drowning, infidelity, sexism, racial slurs, racism, alcohol

Post-Reading Rating: 3⭐️/5

The end was a bit mixed for me.

Final Rating: 4.25⭐️/5

Content Warnings

The Way of Kings

Brandon Sanderson

5.0

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Writing: 5⭐️/5

I think Sanderson’s writing is outstanding. Rich descriptions, beautiful dialogue, and stunningly crafted characters all twine together in this novel to create some truly decadent writing. Even the fight scenes were wonderfully written, as Sanderson has a way of describing the action without the details becoming tangled in the movement.

Characters: 5⭐️/5

Sanderson could write a spin-off about probably any character in this series, and I would care enough to read it. Every character feels real in this book.

Plot: 5⭐️/5

The plot and the world in this novel are stunning. I loved learning about the world, and I loved the stories that were explored throughout. It’s a long novel, and yet the pacing is perfect, taking the time to explain each moment that needs explaining. Ugh, I just want to dive into it again.

Who Should Read This Book?

Someone looking for a remarkable high-fantasy series
Someone who likes Brandon Sanderson
Readers looking for a fantasy series with stunning writing

Content Warnings?

War, violence, blood, slavery, mental illness, suicide, suicidal thoughts, classism, grief, murder, injury, injury detail, vomit

Post-Reading Rating: 5⭐️/5

Love, love, love. Where has Sanderson been all this time?

Final Rating: 5⭐️/5

Content Warnings

The Lost Apothecary

Sarah Penner

3.0

adventurous hopeful mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Writing: 3⭐️/5

The writing was fine, adequate, presentable. A few times Penner had some really stunning lines, but mostly the writing did what needed to be done without too much flare or finesse. A lot of sections for backstory were lengthy, giving us a bit of information by flashback and then overexplaining the emotions of the situation. But overall the writing did enough to not get in the way.

Characters: 3.5⭐️/5

I think the characters in the historical sections were much more fascinating than our modern-day protagonist. While I appreciated that Caroline had a lot going on, I also felt like her half-telling of the story made me lose a bit of interest in what was going on. I loved her research-heavy mind, but it felt stunningly unbelievable the way in which she pursued her research so easily after so long. And, while the characters were interesting, they felt a bit surface at times, almost as though we never got a true glimpse of their whole beings.

Plot: 3⭐️/5

Okay, so the concept? Super cool. The execution? Maybe that’s where I got lost. I loved everything about the apothecary. I even loved the slow unravelling of clues from Caroline’s side, but I also felt like that was the only thing that felt super fleshed out. All the details in the novel felt muddled, as though they were unclear and unformed. I also think that the end kind of undid some of the feminist points made throughout the novel, leaving kind of a sour taste in my mouth at the end.

Who Should Read This Book?

Fans of historical books that have a split POV with modern perspective
Someone looking for a cool concept over everything else
Fans of witchy history who are looking for an easy read

Content Warnings?

Pregnancy, adultery, murder, sexism, misogyny, rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, violence, abuse, child abuse, child death, death, death of parent, self-harm, suicide, suicide attempt, suicidal thoughts, terminal illness, poison, gun violence, medical trauma, classism, injury, injury detail, fire, pedophilia, incest, infertility

Post-Reading Rating: 2.75⭐️/5

I just… wanted more? I liked the concept so much but I think everything else fell pretty flat.

Final Rating: 3⭐️/5

Content Warnings

Guardians of Dawn: Zhara

S. Jae-Jones

3.75

adventurous 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

Writing: 4⭐️/5

The writing is very well done. I found it fascinating, captivating, and well-thought-out, especially the first half of the novel. Several moments of truly stunning prose stuck with me, and where it lacked, it didn’t lack for too much. Occasionally, a few scenes relied heavily on exposition or felt a bit repetitive, but it didn’t interfere greatly with my enjoyment of the novel.

It’s worth noting that S. Jae-Jones includes a note on the language used in the novel. While there were a few moments where perhaps the writing wasn’t perfectly smooth, I understand that it was likely a bit of a translation issue.

Characters: 4⭐️/5

**Contains Spoilers**

I really did love the characters. I liked Han’s himbo character. I loved reading about Zhara’s abilities. I liked the side characters and the attention given to them. That being said, one of the only things that struck me as odd was Zhara’s stepsister, Suzhan. We get so little consistent characterization of her. She acts young, and then mature, soft and innocent and then ruthless. And, while her betrayal is justified, her actions beforehand just don’t seem to coincide with how she’s explained.

Plot: 3.75⭐️/5

Alright, so the plot starts off marvellously! I love Zhara and Han’s meeting outside the bookstore, how quickly they ignite interest in each other, and how swiftly we see each character’s background and backstories: I loved all of that. And then, about halfway through the novel, the plot starts to fall off. Progressively, the story felt more and more untied, as though it lost its way. Or never had a strong sense of where it wanted to go. I also really didn’t love getting so much exposition in the epilogue explaining to us what happened to our beloved characters.

World 4.5⭐️/5

The world is really cool. I love how magic is described in the novel, I love the emphasis on books, and I adored how vibrant each moment in the world felt.

Who Should Read This Book?

Fans of young adult fantasy novels
Fans of YA looking for a cute romance

Content Warnings?

Death, sexual harassment, kidnapping, death of parent, emotional abuse, physical abuse, child abuse, gaslighting, confinement, body horror, grief, gore, toxic relationship, violence, war

Post-Reading Rating: 3.25⭐️/5

A lot of potential but it kind of fell apart around the middle of the book. It was still good, but not nearly as good as the beginning.

Final Rating: 3.75⭐️/5

Content Warnings

The Eye of the World

Robert Jordan

4.0

adventurous slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Writing: 3.75⭐️/5

This is a 1600-page first novel of a fourteen-book-plus-a-sequel series. Sometimes, the writing is nearly outstanding. At other times, it feels redundant and repetitive. It’s like a love-like-don’t-like smoothie of writing. Overall, it’s adequate, bordering on good. I applaud Jordan’s ability to work within Tolkien’s conventions, nearly calling him into the novel without actually doing that. As a Tolkien fan, I appreciate the nods to Lord of the Rings you can see here and there as well. These incredibly cute Easter Eggs were appreciated.

Characters: 4.5⭐️/5

I like the characters, and I like that – as far as this one goes – they do feel relatively different. I could feel the intention Jordan put into his characters, even minor ones, even near-NPC ones. I felt deeply that if he’d had the time or the desire, he could have written a whole tale on each of the people the crew meets along their journey with ease. Despite relying on a few sexist and/or misogynistic tropes to propel attributes of his female characters, Jordan also created compelling women. Moraine, Nynaeve, and Egwene are all wonderful to read about and have in this tale.

Plot: 4⭐️/5

Think Lord of the Rings, but not. We have a chosen group – an unlikely band of heroes – who embark on adventure after a party goes wrong, compelled to chase after the Dark One, a presence threatening the entire world. It’s a sweater made from LOTR material, but it fits differently. The complexity of the world is just as thought out as LOTR, branching into its own tale in the details. A few qualms I had with the plot: the predictability of the Chosen One made me hope Jordan was going to “pull one over on me” (he didn’t) and the final battle felt a bit odd in pacing. Also, the reliance on “the Pattern” or “the Wheel” felt far too convenient, almost pulling at the threads of our story and unravelling it into a bundle of “so what?” When everything is dictated by the Pattern, then what’s the point of the story?

All in all, I enjoyed reading it, and I am excited to start book two.

Who Should Read This Book?

Fans of LOTR
Fans of lengthy high-fantasy novels
Fans of Sanderson, who don’t mind a bit more exposition in their worldbuilding
Someone without commitment issues (fourteen books and a prequel require commitment)

Content Warnings?

War, blood, injury, injury detail, gaslighting, gore, murder, sexism, misogyny, grief,

Post-Reading Rating: 4⭐️/5

Let’s start book two!

Final Rating: 4⭐️/5

Content Warnings

Immortal Longings

Chloe Gong

4.75

adventurous dark medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Writing: 5⭐️/5

I love Chloe Gong’s writing. I think she has immaculate control over her language. I love her descriptions, even when they’re dark or gory. In this novel, her writing really brought the world to life. I felt like I could see the city, see the participants running about, could smell the food and the stink in the alley. I enjoyed reading this novel thoroughly.

Characters: 4.75⭐️/5

Now again, I’m a big Chloe Gong fan, so maybe there’s a bit of bias here, but Gong writes characters incredibly well. Specifically, she writes morally grey characters with pure ease, crafting their motives, their situations, and their desires into the story with ease. I would’ve loved a touch more from our side characters – as well as to not have our background characters feel so background – but these are small gripes.

Plot: 4.5⭐️/5

Alright, Antony and Cleopatra retelling. How does Chloe Gong just reimagine Shakespearean tales in the most interesting way possible? I don’t know, but I do love. The longing, the love, the competition, the forced trust, the game: all of it is so brilliantly written, you can’t help but love it. My only gripe is with the ending, with her twist which leaves us wondering how are two main characters will move forward in love (because they will, right?). I felt like it didn’t need to happen in the way that it happened, strictly for the sense that I knew exactly what had happened to Anton, and I don’t know why that wasn’t a plan Calla and him created, instead of it being a betrayal. I understand that it echoes the betrayal Antony goes through at Cleopatra’s hands, but it felt forced the way it happened – and a little obvious. All in all though, this is a small complaint for a brilliant plot.

Who Should Read This Book?

Fans of Chloe Gong
Fans of Shakespeare and fantasy novels
Fans of enemies to lovers
Fans of Hunger Games, but want it magic

Content Warnings?

Death, murder, blood, injury, injury detail, gore, child death, sexual content, death of parent, cursing, suicidal thoughts, toxic relationship

Post-Reading Rating: 5⭐️/5

Hi, Chloe. Um, I need the next one pretty, pretty please.

Final Rating: 4.75⭐️/5

Content Warnings

The Curse of Saints

Kate Dramis

4.25

adventurous medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Writing: 4⭐️/5

Alright, the writing is above adequate. At times, it really pushes the characters and plot in a nice, even beautiful, way. I think there were a few moments where the writing fell a bit flat, but overall, I had few issues with the writing.

Characters: 4.5⭐️/5

**Spoilers Below**

Kind of split on this one. On one hand, the characters were incredibly rich and interesting. On the other, it fell a bit into the trope of near-teens being incredibly powerful quickly. Both main characters hold head positions in the kingdom and, at times, act incredibly childish in spite of such prestigious positions. However, the three main characters we follow were fairly well-fleshed and fascinating, making their little immaturities a small issue that I was ready to ignore/accept. I liked the relationship between the characters and how slowly it grew – though maybe that also carried on a bit too long. I did like the fact that the enemies portion of the enemies-to-lovers trope felt real and raw. I really believed that these two people would not love each other.

Plot: 4.5⭐️/5

I want to give the plot a better mark, but the beginning was a lot of convenience in order to get our characters into another country. It was nice to see everyone in their element originally, but, plot-wise, it felt a bit weird where the novel started. I liked the second half of the book a lot more. The stakes increased, the drama unfolded, and our slow-burn romance finally ignited. I will also say there were some twists and turns I wasn’t expecting, or didn’t really think would happen, and I loved not knowing anyone’s next move.

Who Should Read This Book?

Fans of romance-fantasy novels
Fans of ACOTAR, TOG, Fourth Wing
Those looking for plot-first books that still provide a bit of spice 🌶️

Content Warnings?

Sexual content, blood, violence, murder, death, death of parent, war, torture, kidnapping, grief, vomit

Post-Reading Rating: 5⭐️/5

I am ready to watch this girl burn the world.

Final Rating: 4.25⭐️/5

Content Warnings

On Balance

Sinéad Morrissey

4.25

emotional reflective

Plot or Character Driven: N/A

Strong character development: N/A

Loveable characters: N/A

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: N/A

Writing: 4.75⭐️/5

Morrissey maintains a captivating claim on the poetic language. I enjoyed reading this collection, always curious about the diction Morrissey would choose to convey her images and emotions. Several times throughout this collection I had to stop to consider the language used, and many lines I wrote down, keeping close for later. During some poems, Morrissey lost me a bit – a very small and slight complaint.

Approach: 4⭐️/5

I’m torn on this mark, because so many times did Morrissey choose brilliant approaches to her work, crafting her themes, her meanings, her emotions carefully in partnership with the poem. However, some poems fell short for me, falling back on a lack of or a looser form that didn’t always help the poem hit as hard. Overall, still enjoyable.

Who Should Read This Book?

Fans of poetry
Those interested in history and poetry
Those who love somewhat narrative poems with strong imagery
Those who like a touch of feminism in their poetry

Content Warnings?

Post-Reading Rating: 4⭐️/5

A hopeful feeling.

Final Rating: 4.25⭐️/5

The Invisible Library

Genevieve Cogman

4.75

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Writing: 4.5⭐️/5

On the cover of this book, it claims to be a book “in which to wallow.” I would say the writing is a decadence in which to wallow. Genevieve Cogman nails the voice of Irene, a woman dedicated to the study and preservation of language and books. Several moments of the novel were truly stunning in the prose. A few mistakes and awkward moments close to the end of the novel are the only reason this writing is not a five. Well, that and the fact that the plot required more exposition than I might have loved.

Characters: 5⭐️/5

I actually loved nearly every character in this story. I felt the history, the motivations, the development, and deep thought behind each character. Irene was a fascinating character through and through. Kai was interesting as well and I can’t wait to learn more about him. Even **Spoilers** Bradamant was fascinating to learn about and, even as she was betraying our crew, I couldn’t help but like her in an offhanded way.

Plot: 4.75⭐️/5

The world (see below) is nearly as complex as the plot. I was fairly hooked from the moment Cogman had her character’s main mission be all about attaining and retaining one-of-a-kind literature. Where I felt slightly confused, I feel Cogman did a decent job of explaining, even when she had to sacrifice a bit of fluidity in the prose to do so. Thoroughly fascinating and enjoyable.

World 4.75⭐️/5

The world is as fascinating as it is large, complex, and completely weird. I loved the alternate dimensions, loved the state of the library being at the crux of it all, and I loved the fact that the book had everything from fae, vampires, and werewolves to zeppelins, alligators with laser beams, and computers. The breadth of the world was remarkable and always interesting – however, it definitely could feel overwhelming and a bit confusing, which is my only small, wee, teeny-tiny complaint.

Who Should Read This Book?

Fans of fantasy mixed with sci-fi
Fans of complex fantasy worlds
Fans of characters who love (or live in) academia
Lovers of books and fantasy novels
Someone looking for a new, unique read and isn’t afraid of a complex world state.

Content Warnings?

Body horror, blood, death, injury, injury detail, toxic relationship, murder, animal cruelty (minor), animal death (minor), violence, gore, sexual content (minor)

Post-Reading Rating: 5⭐️/5

Pretty much immediately knew I was ordering the whole series. And I’m excited to return to this world.

Final Rating: 4.75⭐️/5

Content Warnings

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