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micareads123's reviews
275 reviews
How Far the Light Reaches: A Life in Ten Sea Creatures by Sabrina Imbler
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
5.0
Tamsyn Muir has done it again ðŸ˜. Each book in this series is different and more confusing than the last while managing to feel like coming home. I love this series so much.
While Gideon is about guilt and redemption and Harrow is about grief, Nona is about love, found family and necessary change.
This book had me lulled into a false sense of security in the first 1/3 before Muir, again, turned everything on its head, shifting the reader’s perspective on everything that has happened. I’m continually amazed at the intricacy and planning of this universe and story.
I NEED ALECTO NOW.
While Gideon is about guilt and redemption and Harrow is about grief, Nona is about love, found family and necessary change.
This book had me lulled into a false sense of security in the first 1/3 before Muir, again, turned everything on its head, shifting the reader’s perspective on everything that has happened. I’m continually amazed at the intricacy and planning of this universe and story.
I NEED ALECTO NOW.
Severance by Ling Ma
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Late-stage capitalism and hustle culture meet a post-apocalyptic pandemic dystopia. This is another book that captures millennial dread with painful accuracy.
Filing this next to Ripe by Sarah Rose Etter on my brain shelf.
Filing this next to Ripe by Sarah Rose Etter on my brain shelf.
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A classic for a reason. Excellently written, controversial for its time and a timeless examination of human vanity, immorality and selfishness.
From Bad to Cursed by Lana Harper
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Several People Are Typing by Calvin Kasulke
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Super fast, highly entertaining and very funny. This book is thoroughly weird and surprisingly gripping. I could not put it down.
With its narrative written completely in slack channel messages, it’s hard to know whether in 10 years this book will seem extremely dated or be regarded lovingly as a relic of the past, but for now it is a worthwhile and quick read.
With its narrative written completely in slack channel messages, it’s hard to know whether in 10 years this book will seem extremely dated or be regarded lovingly as a relic of the past, but for now it is a worthwhile and quick read.
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Modelled after a Greek tragedy, with its flawed and lost protagonist and cast of equally flawed and lost secondary characters, a murder and the subsequent unravelling of life as they know it, this book is a tragedy in the purest form of the word.
If you go into this book expecting a murder mystery, you will be disappointed. This book is long, and we find out how the murder happens halfway through. For the remainder, Tartt takes us on a deep dive into the individual fatal flaws of all characters involved and slowly picks away at all of the strings holding their lives together.
This book is an excellent study on perspective and how easily it can be distorted and on the deceptive nature of appearances. It takes a close look at humanity, and how far we can stretch the meaning of the word.
Do check content warnings for this one, as it takes many dark turns!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, and Incest
Moderate: Drug use, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Physical abuse, and Racism
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I’m sorry, this one just did not live up to the hype for me.
In terms of the romance, which really dominates the plot, I couldn’t get past the unhealthy dynamic of Patroclus essentially living for Achilles instead of carving out his own path.
But beyond that, with all of the liberties taken to differ the plot from the source material, I couldn’t understand why so much misogyny and homophobia had to play a part. Why not take liberties with that, too? It felt like homophobia was used as a tool to romanticize the relationship and tug at the reader’s heartstrings, making them more invested, which is honestly giving me a bit of ick.
I admit the ending was sad, but it wasn’t the gut punch I was expecting.
The story wasn’t all bad, it just did not live up to my expectations. I was expecting more depth and better plot development.
In terms of the romance, which really dominates the plot, I couldn’t get past the unhealthy dynamic of Patroclus essentially living for Achilles instead of carving out his own path.
But beyond that, with all of the liberties taken to differ the plot from the source material, I couldn’t understand why so much misogyny and homophobia had to play a part. Why not take liberties with that, too? It felt like homophobia was used as a tool to romanticize the relationship and tug at the reader’s heartstrings, making them more invested, which is honestly giving me a bit of ick.
I admit the ending was sad, but it wasn’t the gut punch I was expecting.
The story wasn’t all bad, it just did not live up to my expectations. I was expecting more depth and better plot development.