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mewtiny's Reviews (21)
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Oh boy did I have Thoughts about this one.
!!Spoiler warning for this entire review!!
I'll get my gripes out of the way first:
- I wish we knew Rhys better as a character, he felt less developed then the other two leads!! We don't get to be in his head nearly as much. Also I totally get why he likes David but didn't really understood why David liked him. Or why his wife Moira liked him for that matter lol.
What we do get about him is he likes to be in control, he loves to be so devoted it borders on worship to his wife, he grew up catholic, he's mostly a nice guy but can have a pretty cold streak.
He also spends a lot of the book getting completely swallowed up by research and this being a point of contention in his marriage. I wish we had spent more time learning about his drive and his hunger??? Leaning into the crazed academic of it all??? But while he's researching, the audience is seeing David and Moira go on adventures instead. David and Moira take up most of the screentime and this is supposedly David's book so i wish we had split the povs a little more evenly.
- Moira is by FAR the best character. She's smart She's empathetic She's good at bantering and dancing she has a complicated relationship with her supernatural gifts and she's not afraid to stand her ground. However, I do feel like narratively her primary purpose is to serve as a bridge for the divorced yaoi, and make everything better + prop up the men in her life. I really wish she had a goal of her own that she was able to explore and accomplish. She kind of did but it didn't end up getting meaningful follow up. also at times she fell a little close to the black mammy stereotype in my opinion. I think if she had something to do that contributed to her own pursuits outside of the two men this would be less of an issue
- The story is very character driven and so while there is a plot it's more of an excuse to get this 3 characters in the same room to reconcile. Not a bad plot by any means but I do wish it was treated just a tad more urgently. I also thought there were some loose threads that had potential but weren't expanded on enough or was executed a little clunky-- such as the slow reveal of how shitty David's dad was, the fact that his dad was haunting their old house and they got him to leave by... telling him off I guess? The discovery of exactly what curse had befallen David and its terms, and the side character Lorena's whole thing.
- The throuple ending. I have mixed feelings about it. Rhys and David KIND OF...? cheat on Moira. Prior to the kiss she was already dropping hints she was fine with this arrangement and gave some level of consent to both men that they could work out their feelings for each other but it wasn't explicit that they could be snogging, so it felt like a bit of a low moment. Specifically because Rhys talks like he regrets choosing Moira over David. They're not exactly a mutual throuple since David is gay but he says he "has fallen for moira without wanting to take her to bed" and they form a very close bond over the course of the book. I think thats a fine and interesting concept to explore but its soured a little bit by the fact that Rhys has a line like "Oh David I should've never left you" kind of implying he should've never married Moira and I'm like HELLO??? I THOUGHT U LOVED THEM BOTH!!
all of that out of the way though what i liked about this book:
- Moira and David were both fun characters to follow and their relationship was interesting! David is a very vain and selfish character especially at the start and he does not get along with moira initially who is very giving and very much about manners so it was really fun to see them start to warm up to each other and genuinely care for each other despite their complicated feelings around everything. With David especially it felt nice to read about a character who's so flawed on purpose and learns and grows as the story goes on. I do wish they had spent a little more time with him being a selfish asshole before he became kind of pathetic, but overall he's a very enjoyable character! Moira was the best overall for sure though.
- I liked all the magic and occult shit going on and I thought it was fun to learn about the different places similar magic came from. For example David and Moira were both raised to cast magic but for Favid he was forced to utilize his raw talent to be the best he could be, and Moira's magic was taught in a more culturally integrated in the family way. And Rhys sought it out because of being catholic, I think? The description of the different kind of magic and how they were channeled was fun and I especially liked hearing about all of Moira's witchy things.
- I do still enjoy that the throuple won out in the end. Very "We're gonna fight (literal and metaphorical) demons kicking and screaming but we have love, and we have each other, and we're gonna do it together!" that was nice I liked that. I really like whatever Moira and David have going on even if its not romantic, their bond was really sweet to watch. And I like that the divorced yaoi remarried lol
- I do also quite like the plot device of a generational demon curse driving a guy closer to sickness and eventually death that was fun!! I enjoyed the stakes in this book even if they took way too long to really kick in.
I think the book had a lot of missed potential. Sucks when 1/3rd of the polycule is boring as hell and 1/3 has a shit ton of wasted potential and despite being the best character is held back by the narrative she's in.
I had a really good time with this one overall though which keeps the score high! Solid 7/10
I had a really good time with this one overall though which keeps the score high! Solid 7/10
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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:
No
This book delivers on what it's here to do: be a sweet, fluffy, lighthearted good time.
Characters are charming, story is fine for what it is, and the vibes are very cozy. Writing dips a little middlegrade sometimes despite being listed as a YA but otherwise is very solid prose-wise.
Quality wise it's definitely clunky, the characters can be a little flat or silly at times, the pacing isn't always up to par, ect. But If you're just looking for something cute to fill the time I recommend it !
6.5/10
Characters are charming, story is fine for what it is, and the vibes are very cozy. Writing dips a little middlegrade sometimes despite being listed as a YA but otherwise is very solid prose-wise.
Quality wise it's definitely clunky, the characters can be a little flat or silly at times, the pacing isn't always up to par, ect. But If you're just looking for something cute to fill the time I recommend it !
6.5/10
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I had a okay time reading it but that's because I was cringing at many points and laughing at the writing. The characters were pretty flat and the writing style was almost middlegrade at times which felt at odds with the overly sexual relationship writing.
I will say. This shit is not a romance this is a horny teenagers month long fever dream where a beautiful mer person shows up right after the teens bf breaks up with him and the merperson is like lets get back at your stupid shitty ex!!! And then they make out a lot about it.
Because of that I like that (spoiler) the two love interests didn't actually stay together in the end because staying together would mean one of them having to leave their home behind and they were like "well i do love u but im also 16 so. rip." I wasn't expecting that tbh but I'm here for it.
I think all of the side characters kinda sucked or were chronically underutilized which was unfortunate.
Overall was just kind of a nothing burger book. I didn't have a bad time reading it but I wouldn't particularly recommend this to anyone and I shan't be picking this or the other authors works up again.
4.5/10
I will say. This shit is not a romance this is a horny teenagers month long fever dream where a beautiful mer person shows up right after the teens bf breaks up with him and the merperson is like lets get back at your stupid shitty ex!!! And then they make out a lot about it.
Because of that I like that (spoiler)
I think all of the side characters kinda sucked or were chronically underutilized which was unfortunate.
Overall was just kind of a nothing burger book. I didn't have a bad time reading it but I wouldn't particularly recommend this to anyone and I shan't be picking this or the other authors works up again.
4.5/10
emotional
reflective
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
I was down for the teenage angst but why did this have to leave off on a cliffhanger and then have 3 boring bonus chapters after.... The journey there was interesting though! I think i liked focusing on the simons more then the two main characters lol
6.5/10
6.5/10
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is a fine enough read. For the most part the interpersonal drama is compelling, though I found it to drag a little despite its Somewhat short page count.
The insta-love doesn't make a lot of sense to me since their first proper meeting involves Basie screaming at Kit over his mothers pie pans and Basie is Not Nice for awhile going forward. I can believe that Kit grew to like and understand Basie overtime since it was clear Basie was very obviously troubled and grieving but to fall in love immediately ?? Idk about that lol
I also didn't love that Kitalso ended up being immortal i think it undermined some of the messaging around grief
Overall though I thought the writing was charming and the grief and drama the main characters go through compelling. 6.5/10
The insta-love doesn't make a lot of sense to me since their first proper meeting involves Basie screaming at Kit over his mothers pie pans and Basie is Not Nice for awhile going forward. I can believe that Kit grew to like and understand Basie overtime since it was clear Basie was very obviously troubled and grieving but to fall in love immediately ?? Idk about that lol
I also didn't love that Kit
Overall though I thought the writing was charming and the grief and drama the main characters go through compelling. 6.5/10
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I think this book is an interesting look into some of the real lives and struggles of LGBT people in Victorian England within the framework of Pride and Prejudice.
As a Pride and Prejudice retelling / remix I do feel it does an okay job, in that it accomplishes what it sets out to do but sacrifices a lot of the emotional meat that makes Pride and Prejudice so compelling. I find Darcy's character in particular to be a bit lacking. Still an enjoyable cast for what it is though.
I think as someone who is trans and queer myself this story felt very paint by numbers transgender struggles and experience, but I don't think there's anything wrong with that. I suspect this book would be much more of a treasure to a younger trans teen or an ally wanting to understand their friend or family a little better within a familiar and fun framework.
I think this book excels at being informative, but for me personally it doesn't have a lot of depth. For this I rate it a 5.5/10
As a Pride and Prejudice retelling / remix I do feel it does an okay job, in that it accomplishes what it sets out to do but sacrifices a lot of the emotional meat that makes Pride and Prejudice so compelling. I find Darcy's character in particular to be a bit lacking. Still an enjoyable cast for what it is though.
I think as someone who is trans and queer myself this story felt very paint by numbers transgender struggles and experience, but I don't think there's anything wrong with that. I suspect this book would be much more of a treasure to a younger trans teen or an ally wanting to understand their friend or family a little better within a familiar and fun framework.
I think this book excels at being informative, but for me personally it doesn't have a lot of depth. For this I rate it a 5.5/10
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
10 YR OLDS COMMITTING VIOLANCE LETS GOOOOOOO !!!!!!
In earnest though I just really enjoy the writing style of Alanna, I think it's very charming and has a sass to it I quite enjoy. I think Alanna is a great protagonist, and her cast of friends are quite fun too. I like the world we are exploring and the background plot of threats to the crown mixed with the primary plot of Alanna working her way through knight training is really enjoyable.
My only gripes are the ending felt a little weird tonally and a little rushed?? And some of the writing surrounding gender is a little weird for my personal taste. But overall a very fun book I quite liked it.
7.5/10
In earnest though I just really enjoy the writing style of Alanna, I think it's very charming and has a sass to it I quite enjoy. I think Alanna is a great protagonist, and her cast of friends are quite fun too. I like the world we are exploring and the background plot of threats to the crown mixed with the primary plot of Alanna working her way through knight training is really enjoyable.
My only gripes are the ending felt a little weird tonally and a little rushed?? And some of the writing surrounding gender is a little weird for my personal taste. But overall a very fun book I quite liked it.
7.5/10
emotional
mysterious
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
I liked the atmosphere and the concepts a lot. The descriptions of the circus are really cool and lovely. But a lot of the characters are very hollow and boring. Barely anything really happens? Until suddenly like 3 guys are dead and we don't fully get a resolution for it?
The romance is so very stale there's no chemistry there and the male lead was kind of a dick who pissed me off a lot, the emotional cheating and leading on of his first girlfriend made me really not want to root for him. I feel like the prose is good but the structure confusing and the disappointment larger then any of the other books I've read.
Overall it just feels like a slog to get through because there's very little stakes, the characters are not very likeable, and barely anything happens.
3.5/10
The romance is so very stale there's no chemistry there and the male lead was kind of a dick who pissed me off a lot, the emotional cheating and leading on of his first girlfriend made me really not want to root for him. I feel like the prose is good but the structure confusing and the disappointment larger then any of the other books I've read.
Overall it just feels like a slog to get through because there's very little stakes, the characters are not very likeable, and barely anything happens.
3.5/10
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I think Cinder really feels like setup for the next books so it feels a little hard to rate it without reading everything else first, but I will still try.
I think the world building set up here is interesting, and will hopefully be more thoroughly explored in the coming books. I want to learn more about why cyborgs are discriminated against, and more about the lunars.
I think Cinder herself is a fine protagonist, and I like prince Kai despite finding them a little awkward together. This is a YA however, so some of that is to be expected.
I think I can really sum up my thoughts by saying I put down this book going "ok, what's next?"
I'm definitely invested but it didn't spur any strong emotions within me.
Tentative 6/10
I think the world building set up here is interesting, and will hopefully be more thoroughly explored in the coming books. I want to learn more about why cyborgs are discriminated against, and more about the lunars.
I think Cinder herself is a fine protagonist, and I like prince Kai despite finding them a little awkward together. This is a YA however, so some of that is to be expected.
I think I can really sum up my thoughts by saying I put down this book going "ok, what's next?"
I'm definitely invested but it didn't spur any strong emotions within me.
Tentative 6/10
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-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:
Complicated
Spunky protag whos a little shit for survival reasons? check. siblings who only have eachother ? check. weird ass haunted house? check. lots of mysteries to chew on? check. emotionally stunted bitch ass man who does in fact care a lot? check !!!
starling house is by no means a masterpiece and the pacing can really drag in places but i personally found the characters to be generally pretty loveable, the romance to be believable, and the mystery fun to follow. I enjoyed piecing together what happened through multiple different accounts and interpretations of the same story.
A little clunky in execution in general but this book is a vast improvement from this author's debut book The Ten Thousand Doors of January and I hope this author continues to improve their craft, I think they have a lot of potential!
Overall rated a 3.5/5 or a 7/10
starling house is by no means a masterpiece and the pacing can really drag in places but i personally found the characters to be generally pretty loveable, the romance to be believable, and the mystery fun to follow. I enjoyed piecing together what happened through multiple different accounts and interpretations of the same story.
A little clunky in execution in general but this book is a vast improvement from this author's debut book The Ten Thousand Doors of January and I hope this author continues to improve their craft, I think they have a lot of potential!
Overall rated a 3.5/5 or a 7/10