mikuriina's reviews
48 reviews

Ways of Seeing by John Berger

challenging informative reflective slow-paced

5.0

Dressing by Michael DeForge

challenging dark reflective fast-paced

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

3.0

First Year Healthy by Michael DeForge

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

4.0

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

emotional inspiring reflective slow-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

5.0

this book is beautiful 

Tinder by Sally Gardner

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, and War

Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault

Minor: Sexual content

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

3.25

this book is lacking in characters. there are a few named figures who have enough relevance to feel like they exist, but the rest are there to serve the plot and die immediately after with very little personality to show for it

i really liked lila -- i have a major soft spot for masculine women, especially when they're deeply flawed. kell was alright but i felt kind of annoyed by him because i thought rhy and holland were far more intriguing but they barely got to be fleshed out. the villains were nothing

i'll probably give the second book a shot because i did enjoy the writing (when the plot picked up), i just hope the characters beyond lila and kell are given some more attention

also, anyone who tells you this is an lgbt book is a fraud! there is one lgbt character whose sexuality is alluded to at the beginning of the book and never comes up again, it's barely anything. i got my hopes up before being hit in the face with straight romance teases

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment

Starve Acre by Andrew Michael Hurley

dark mysterious 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Child death

Moderate: Child abuse and Gore

Minor: Ableism

The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

adventurous dark funny tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

emotional hopeful inspiring sad fast-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

3.5

the rating i've given might seem mediocre but i really enjoyed this book, despite its flaws. i found it difficult to get into silvera's writing style but the narrative itself ended up hitting me hard and left me sobbing at the end; if you can suspend your disbelief, it's a fun, emotionally-destroying read!

The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

4.0