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meirinasoe's reviews
167 reviews
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
"QUEER PEOPLE ARE SO MUCH MORE THAN A CISHETERO WOMAN'S FANTASY"
Another generic story about a nerdy cishet girl who's actually pretty- it's been hinted that all she needs to do is take off her glasses already.
Might've been a 3⭐️ if this cishet girl mc did not fetishize a queer couple as her coping mechanism!
It would've been meaningful had mc been queer, closeted and therefore writing queer fanfictions was her only safe haven. But nope, the mc along with the rest of the casts are spotlessly cishet, each flaunting their own cishet relationships. Not a single queer character come up on screen.
Queerness was pushed back into the world of fiction, a fantasy! Hell, not even the couple in the fanfiction she wrote are canonically queer!!!
This book is an insult, a salt to the wound to every single openly queer medias that have always gotten review-bombed, ridiculed, torn apart and called disgusting names only for having an open queer representations, while cis-straight people have profitted off of fetishizing and queerbaiting for years!!!
And YES fanfictions DO count as PLAGIARISM if you claim it as your own.
Ick!
Another generic story about a nerdy cishet girl who's actually pretty- it's been hinted that all she needs to do is take off her glasses already.
Might've been a 3⭐️ if this cishet girl mc did not fetishize a queer couple as her coping mechanism!
It would've been meaningful had mc been queer, closeted and therefore writing queer fanfictions was her only safe haven. But nope, the mc along with the rest of the casts are spotlessly cishet, each flaunting their own cishet relationships. Not a single queer character come up on screen.
Queerness was pushed back into the world of fiction, a fantasy! Hell, not even the couple in the fanfiction she wrote are canonically queer!!!
This book is an insult, a salt to the wound to every single openly queer medias that have always gotten review-bombed, ridiculed, torn apart and called disgusting names only for having an open queer representations, while cis-straight people have profitted off of fetishizing and queerbaiting for years!!!
And YES fanfictions DO count as PLAGIARISM if you claim it as your own.
Ick!
The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Finally. FINALLY a book where eloquence, intelligence, elegance and political play could be seen as a woman’s strength.
A book where a female character doesn’t have to be a “badass assassin lady with knives/swords” who’s fluent in martial arts to be considered “empowered”.
A little heavy on the worldbuilding, and could be confusing on the magic system, which was explained slowly on the way.
This book is excellent on the political tension and intrigue. One of my favourite aspects, aside of the female characters portrayal, which I enjoyed so much. Everything feels so organic, not forced or “woke” at all.
Though the romance was… barely romantic, if I may say. It was rather a letdown. This is purely personal taste, but I was expecting something a little bit more like Captive Prince. I enjoy intense character relationships, and I barely felt anything when they kissed.
So, if you prefer a book that’s heavier on the political plot with romance only as a sub-sub-sub plot, this is the perfect book for you!
But my only real con is that I feel the book is too long, and it was a little challenging to keep being invested till the end.
A book where a female character doesn’t have to be a “badass assassin lady with knives/swords” who’s fluent in martial arts to be considered “empowered”.
A little heavy on the worldbuilding, and could be confusing on the magic system, which was explained slowly on the way.
This book is excellent on the political tension and intrigue. One of my favourite aspects, aside of the female characters portrayal, which I enjoyed so much. Everything feels so organic, not forced or “woke” at all.
Though the romance was… barely romantic, if I may say. It was rather a letdown. This is purely personal taste, but I was expecting something a little bit more like Captive Prince. I enjoy intense character relationships, and I barely felt anything when they kissed.
So, if you prefer a book that’s heavier on the political plot with romance only as a sub-sub-sub plot, this is the perfect book for you!
But my only real con is that I feel the book is too long, and it was a little challenging to keep being invested till the end.
A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-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
4.0
I really don't get all the hate about this book, it was good!
I was expecting tons of gratuitous smut without plot, but instead I got a nice, cozy read.
Sure it didn't follow a definitive plot line or the traditional 3 arc structure, but it was nowhere as bad as a "badly written fan-fiction". This is more like an essay of character study.
This novella explores the aftermath of a war, and how it differently affects Feyre's sisters, like for example Elaine has adapted into the fae life but Nesta got worse, she went on dates with a lot of men as a coping mechanism.
It also shows Feyre and Rhysand reexamines their privilege, as the High Lord and Lady, that even though they won the war, lots of their were so deeply affected and weren't so lucky. Innocent people lost their lives and plenty of homes were destroyed.
Tamlin and Lucien are definitely trauma-bonding.
I'm both sad and glad when Tamlin threw Lucien's things out of his mansion in the end, cause that means Lucien would go to find healthier friendships.
I like how it hinted at Nyx's birth and would love to see how the drama unfolds in ACOSF.
4/5
I was expecting tons of gratuitous smut without plot, but instead I got a nice, cozy read.
Sure it didn't follow a definitive plot line or the traditional 3 arc structure, but it was nowhere as bad as a "badly written fan-fiction". This is more like an essay of character study.
This novella explores the aftermath of a war, and how it differently affects Feyre's sisters, like for example Elaine has adapted into the fae life but Nesta got worse, she went on dates with a lot of men as a coping mechanism.
It also shows Feyre and Rhysand reexamines their privilege, as the High Lord and Lady, that even though they won the war, lots of their were so deeply affected and weren't so lucky. Innocent people lost their lives and plenty of homes were destroyed.
Tamlin and Lucien are definitely trauma-bonding.
I'm both sad and glad when Tamlin threw Lucien's things out of his mansion in the end, cause that means Lucien would go to find healthier friendships.
I like how it hinted at Nyx's birth and would love to see how the drama unfolds in ACOSF.
4/5
A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
3.5⭐️ Round-Up!
I like this better than I thought I would!!!
This is more action and politically-packed more than romance, but it only makes it better because I could barely connect to the romance!
I even liked Feyre better than the previous two books as she became so bitter, salty and vengeful in the Spring court. Her friendship with Lucien also really shines through here, it was very precious. I think Lucien has become my favourite.
But my favourite sequence is the meeting of the High Lords, especially when Tamlin arrived, IT WAS A GEM!!! and should be done more.
Would I continue reading the rest of the series? I thought, YES.
I like this better than I thought I would!!!
This is more action and politically-packed more than romance, but it only makes it better because I could barely connect to the romance!
I even liked Feyre better than the previous two books as she became so bitter, salty and vengeful in the Spring court. Her friendship with Lucien also really shines through here, it was very precious. I think Lucien has become my favourite.
But my favourite sequence is the meeting of the High Lords, especially when Tamlin arrived, IT WAS A GEM!!! and should be done more.
Would I continue reading the rest of the series? I thought, YES.
Bingo Love by Tee Franklin
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
So boring and too PC for me. It's a political statement over a romance story, so boring.
Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Fangirl, Vol. 2: The Manga by Sam Maggs, Gabi Nam, Rainbow Rowell
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
"They kinda gay"
No, they kinda QUEERBAITING
(Look, ik that Simon and Baz are canonically queer in their own books, but not in this one)
Cheesy hetero cliché shit.
No, they kinda QUEERBAITING
(Look, ik that Simon and Baz are canonically queer in their own books, but not in this one)
Cheesy hetero cliché shit.
Fangirl, Vol. 1: The Manga by Sam Maggs, Gabi Nam, Rainbow Rowell
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
"QUEER PEOPLE ARE SO MUCH MORE THAN A CISHETERO WOMAN'S FANTASY"
Another generic story about a nerdy cishet girl who's actually pretty- it's been hinted that all she needs to do is take off her glasses already.
Might've been a 3⭐️ if this cishet girl mc did not fetishize a queer couple as her coping mechanism!
It would've been meaningful had mc been queer, closeted and therefore writing queer fanfictions was her only safe haven. But nope, the mc along with the rest of the casts are spotlessly cishet, each flaunting their own cishet relationships. Not a single queer character come up on screen.
Queerness was pushed back into the world of fiction, a fantasy! Hell, not even the couple in the fanfiction she wrote are canonically queer!!!
This type of media is an insult, a salt to the wound to every single openly queer medias that have always gotten review-bombed, ridiculed, torn apart and called disgusting names only for having an open queer representations, while cis-straight people have profitted off of fetishizing and queerbaiting for years!!!
I bet this cishet mc is gonna end up with one of the 2 cishet dudes thus form an entirely immaculate cisheterosexual relationship.
And YES fanfictions DO count as PLAGIARISM if you claim it as your own.
Ick!
Another generic story about a nerdy cishet girl who's actually pretty- it's been hinted that all she needs to do is take off her glasses already.
Might've been a 3⭐️ if this cishet girl mc did not fetishize a queer couple as her coping mechanism!
It would've been meaningful had mc been queer, closeted and therefore writing queer fanfictions was her only safe haven. But nope, the mc along with the rest of the casts are spotlessly cishet, each flaunting their own cishet relationships. Not a single queer character come up on screen.
Queerness was pushed back into the world of fiction, a fantasy! Hell, not even the couple in the fanfiction she wrote are canonically queer!!!
This type of media is an insult, a salt to the wound to every single openly queer medias that have always gotten review-bombed, ridiculed, torn apart and called disgusting names only for having an open queer representations, while cis-straight people have profitted off of fetishizing and queerbaiting for years!!!
I bet this cishet mc is gonna end up with one of the 2 cishet dudes thus form an entirely immaculate cisheterosexual relationship.
And YES fanfictions DO count as PLAGIARISM if you claim it as your own.
Ick!
The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
The Story of the Hundred Promises by Neil Cochrane
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
3.0
First of all, this is a very, VERY loose queer Beauty & the Beast retelling.
I think that the readers who pick this up and expecting a straight up queer BatB retelling is going to be disappointed. The only things connected to the original lore was its uses of the magical transformation and the "Enchanter' character.
That being said, I enjoy the layers and complexity of the story, the callouts for rigid laws and societal norms, with plenty of LGBTQ+ identities being represented in a queernormative world.
The Enchanter's role here is explored more and I think e should be a 2nd main character aside from Darragh.
I liked how we could delve deeper into eir past, and the exploration of eir gender. It's like a story within a story.
Though it was a bit weird when the book decided to use the dead pronouns and gender for the MC?
I am aware that the author's trying to do a 'before' thing, but it would be more trans-friendly if the book uses the current/preferred pronouns and gender for a trans-character, even when referring about the past.
(I am not trans but I discussed it with my trans friend, but I'm open up to learning more).
I think that the readers who pick this up and expecting a straight up queer BatB retelling is going to be disappointed. The only things connected to the original lore was its uses of the magical transformation and the "Enchanter' character.
That being said, I enjoy the layers and complexity of the story, the callouts for rigid laws and societal norms, with plenty of LGBTQ+ identities being represented in a queernormative world.
The Enchanter's role here is explored more and I think e should be a 2nd main character aside from Darragh.
I liked how we could delve deeper into eir past, and the exploration of eir gender. It's like a story within a story.
Though it was a bit weird when the book decided to use the dead pronouns and gender for the MC?
I am aware that the author's trying to do a 'before' thing, but it would be more trans-friendly if the book uses the current/preferred pronouns and gender for a trans-character, even when referring about the past.
(I am not trans but I discussed it with my trans friend, but I'm open up to learning more).