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moth_meg's reviews
155 reviews
Heaven Official's Blessing: Tian Guan Ci Fu (Novel) Vol. 1 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu
funny
lighthearted
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
3.5
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson
adventurous
dark
tense
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? Yes
4.5
A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I really enjoy Ava Reid’s writing and the worlds that she creates. I like that she writes stand alone novels, and I love the genre niche her stories land in. I absolutely adored the vivid imagery in this book. Every scene is so beautiful and dark and decaying, the language is captivating and lyrical.
In addition to the gothic mystery and romance, this story serves as an exploration of feminism within academia. Reid does a great job carrying these themes throughout the book, it’s clear that she writes very intentionally.
The concept and atmosphere are just so good. Think Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell x The Bell Jar x Crimson Peak. Finishing this book left me hungry for more gothic literature.
Side note: I also love the cover art for this book, the illustration is lovely and it captures the energy of the book perfectly.
I definitely prefer A Study in Drowning to the other book by Reid I read this year, Juniper & Thorn. The romance in this book is much more to my taste- it’s more of a slow burn and the primary focus remains on the mystery and magical elements of the plot.
It pains me to say that while I had a wonderful time reading this book, the ending was not my favorite.
To me, the ending felt too happy and neat for the genre. While gothic stories don’t necessarily need to end in tragedy, the tension that Reid does such an excellent job cultivating throughout the story seems to resolve so suddenly and completely by the end of the book that the stakes which initially seemed dire have lost their weight. The final conflict feels rushed compared to the build-up, resulting in this “perfect” ending feeling unearned.
I also wish that the psychological horror element of the book played a stronger role in the climax. I wanted more of that The Bell Jar-esque claustrophobia, with the emphasis remaining on mystery and haunting ambiguity. (view spoiler)
What I would have liked better:
1) Have Preston be unconscious when Angharad comes to help save him, have her stay in the house as it collapses and have Effy be the only one to see her, leaving Effy to discover her story only when she opens the box revealing the original manuscript. This brings back the tragedy and bitter sweetness that suits the atmosphere. Effy cannot save her hero, but she will save herself and tell Angharad’s story. Additionally, without Angharad to verify the existence of the fairy king, Effy can remain an unreliable narrator.
2) If we don’t kill off Angharad, preserve ambiguity in some other way. Let the conflict between Effy and Myrddin suggest that he really could be the fairy king without confirming it directly. Even if Effy sees him as the fairy king, he could die by getting stabbed with a shard of the mirror, or glimpse his reflection before falling to his death. Something that would kill both a human and fit the legend.
3) Remove Effy’s reunion with her roommate in favor of extending the final conflict. I wasn’t particularly attached to the roommate character after hearing nothing about her for the majority of the book, and would have perfected having those pages dedicated to adding more action and excitement to the finale.
My favorite aspect of the ending wasPreston mentioning hearing the underwater bells, the one element of the superstition that Effy never experienced . This detail leaves the reader with at least a bit of uncertainty, blurring the line between definite magic and individual experience once again.
This was ultimately still a very enjoyable read and I look forward to seeing what Ava Reid does next.
In addition to the gothic mystery and romance, this story serves as an exploration of feminism within academia. Reid does a great job carrying these themes throughout the book, it’s clear that she writes very intentionally.
The concept and atmosphere are just so good. Think Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell x The Bell Jar x Crimson Peak. Finishing this book left me hungry for more gothic literature.
Side note: I also love the cover art for this book, the illustration is lovely and it captures the energy of the book perfectly.
I definitely prefer A Study in Drowning to the other book by Reid I read this year, Juniper & Thorn. The romance in this book is much more to my taste- it’s more of a slow burn and the primary focus remains on the mystery and magical elements of the plot.
It pains me to say that while I had a wonderful time reading this book, the ending was not my favorite.
To me, the ending felt too happy and neat for the genre. While gothic stories don’t necessarily need to end in tragedy, the tension that Reid does such an excellent job cultivating throughout the story seems to resolve so suddenly and completely by the end of the book that the stakes which initially seemed dire have lost their weight. The final conflict feels rushed compared to the build-up, resulting in this “perfect” ending feeling unearned.
I also wish that the psychological horror element of the book played a stronger role in the climax. I wanted more of that The Bell Jar-esque claustrophobia, with the emphasis remaining on mystery and haunting ambiguity. (view spoiler)
What I would have liked better:
1) Have Preston be unconscious when Angharad comes to help save him, have her stay in the house as it collapses and have Effy be the only one to see her, leaving Effy to discover her story only when she opens the box revealing the original manuscript. This brings back the tragedy and bitter sweetness that suits the atmosphere. Effy cannot save her hero, but she will save herself and tell Angharad’s story. Additionally, without Angharad to verify the existence of the fairy king, Effy can remain an unreliable narrator.
2) If we don’t kill off Angharad, preserve ambiguity in some other way. Let the conflict between Effy and Myrddin suggest that he really could be the fairy king without confirming it directly. Even if Effy sees him as the fairy king, he could die by getting stabbed with a shard of the mirror, or glimpse his reflection before falling to his death. Something that would kill both a human and fit the legend.
3) Remove Effy’s reunion with her roommate in favor of extending the final conflict. I wasn’t particularly attached to the roommate character after hearing nothing about her for the majority of the book, and would have perfected having those pages dedicated to adding more action and excitement to the finale.
My favorite aspect of the ending was
This was ultimately still a very enjoyable read and I look forward to seeing what Ava Reid does next.
The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi
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? It's complicated
2.0
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
funny
mysterious
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
The Martian by Andy Weir
adventurous
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
4.5
The Elite by Kiera Cass
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? No
2.0
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
emotional
reflective
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
2.75
This is a book where I am confident that every complaint I have was an intentional choice by the author- but that doesn’t help the fact that I just did not enjoy reading it.
Never Let Me Go includes traditional elements of the science fiction and dystopian genres, but the narrative is more similar to that of a philosophical character study.
I found it frustrating to get a window into this messed-up reality and see our main character remain complacent. This is likely a commentary on how real people born into unjust systems don't always question them; not everyone breaks the rules, instead, they focus on how they can improve their situations while remaining within the constraints of the system.
Many of the emotional beats of the story read as cold and clinical. Again, I am sure this is meant to illustrate the consequences of the environment in which the characters were raised, but it impeded my ability to connect to the story.
Before I get unfairly negative, I will admit this book raises some interesting questions. Ishiguru encourages the reader to consider the impact of nature and nurture, scientific advancement, and the ethics of the “greater good” narrative.
I found a lot more meaning in the conversations that I had about this book than I did within the text itself. I had the lucky experience of reading this with a book club, and it was really fun to talk about.
Ultimately the slow pacing and slice-of-life storytelling style weren’t to my taste.
Never Let Me Go includes traditional elements of the science fiction and dystopian genres, but the narrative is more similar to that of a philosophical character study.
I found it frustrating to get a window into this messed-up reality and see our main character remain complacent. This is likely a commentary on how real people born into unjust systems don't always question them; not everyone breaks the rules, instead, they focus on how they can improve their situations while remaining within the constraints of the system.
Many of the emotional beats of the story read as cold and clinical. Again, I am sure this is meant to illustrate the consequences of the environment in which the characters were raised, but it impeded my ability to connect to the story.
Before I get unfairly negative, I will admit this book raises some interesting questions. Ishiguru encourages the reader to consider the impact of nature and nurture, scientific advancement, and the ethics of the “greater good” narrative.
I found a lot more meaning in the conversations that I had about this book than I did within the text itself. I had the lucky experience of reading this with a book club, and it was really fun to talk about.
Ultimately the slow pacing and slice-of-life storytelling style weren’t to my taste.
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
I read this book a year ago and I've already forgotten almost everything about it... that can't be a good sign.
------
I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with Cassandra Clare (I should just stop reading her books, I know, I'm sorry!), but my curiosity was piqued when friends told me that this prequel series to The Mortal Instruments was much better than the original installments.
After reading it, I agree... to an extent. The historical setting makes me vibe more with the urban fantasy elements, and I enjoyed the steampunk aesthetics. I imagine this would be pretty easy to get into without much knowledge of the rest of the universe. In my opinion, there is also a noticeable improvement in Clare's prose. The imagery and atmosphere in this book are solid, and the dialogue and scenes flow together more smoothly than what I remember from the other books.
However, I was surprised that the narrative structure was VERY similar to City of Bones. Not only is this set in the same universe, but it involves many of the same character archetypes, dynamics, and story beats.
A brief list of common elements between this book and The Mortal Instruments:
1. The main character is a girl who previously believed herself to be human and newly discovered the magical world and her own latent magic abilities. This works well for the original series since the reader is also being introduced to the world for the first time. We don't NEED this formula again here because we are already familiar with the world, so why not try something new? One of my favorite subplots in <i>TMI</i> was Clary's mom's backstory of growing up as a shadowhunter, then choosing to leave. This type of story could have been great to explore in more depth.
2. Primarily set at a shadowhunter institute. I know this is part of the world-building in the shared universe, but aren't there other locations to explore? Not to mention that the two institutes are similar beyond what makes sense- as they are both run by a relatively small number of people. In <i>TMI</i> we get the impression that other institutes are larger, and the one in New York is currently understaffed and past its former glory. So why isn't the one in historical London larger and more populated? At least show us a different <i>flavor</i> of the same setting.
3. Love triangle between a bad boy and a sensitive boy... not only is Will Herondale just Jace in a different font, but they are also BLOOD RELATIVES. I'm not saying I can't appreciate some multi-generational lore (see <i>Wuthering Heights</i>), but that only works when there's a larger theme / we can see how the events of the past inform the future. Will being an angsty bad boy love interest in no way shapes Jace's arc as an angsty bad boy love interest, they just both happen.
4. Evil brother plot twist. I have no idea why this happens twice.
The most noteworthy distinction beyond the time period is that this book is significantly less unhinged than The Mortal Instruments. Did I complain about the crazy plot elements in the original series? Yes, absolutely. But those weird things-- yeah, even thedouble incest fakeout jumpscare -- made the books more dynamic and interesting to read.
To me, the original books are winning when it comes to overall reading experience.
------
I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with Cassandra Clare (I should just stop reading her books, I know, I'm sorry!), but my curiosity was piqued when friends told me that this prequel series to The Mortal Instruments was much better than the original installments.
After reading it, I agree... to an extent. The historical setting makes me vibe more with the urban fantasy elements, and I enjoyed the steampunk aesthetics. I imagine this would be pretty easy to get into without much knowledge of the rest of the universe. In my opinion, there is also a noticeable improvement in Clare's prose. The imagery and atmosphere in this book are solid, and the dialogue and scenes flow together more smoothly than what I remember from the other books.
However, I was surprised that the narrative structure was VERY similar to City of Bones. Not only is this set in the same universe, but it involves many of the same character archetypes, dynamics, and story beats.
A brief list of common elements between this book and The Mortal Instruments:
1. The main character is a girl who previously believed herself to be human and newly discovered the magical world and her own latent magic abilities. This works well for the original series since the reader is also being introduced to the world for the first time. We don't NEED this formula again here because we are already familiar with the world, so why not try something new? One of my favorite subplots in <i>TMI</i> was Clary's mom's backstory of growing up as a shadowhunter, then choosing to leave. This type of story could have been great to explore in more depth.
2. Primarily set at a shadowhunter institute. I know this is part of the world-building in the shared universe, but aren't there other locations to explore? Not to mention that the two institutes are similar beyond what makes sense- as they are both run by a relatively small number of people. In <i>TMI</i> we get the impression that other institutes are larger, and the one in New York is currently understaffed and past its former glory. So why isn't the one in historical London larger and more populated? At least show us a different <i>flavor</i> of the same setting.
3. Love triangle between a bad boy and a sensitive boy... not only is Will Herondale just Jace in a different font, but they are also BLOOD RELATIVES. I'm not saying I can't appreciate some multi-generational lore (see <i>Wuthering Heights</i>), but that only works when there's a larger theme / we can see how the events of the past inform the future. Will being an angsty bad boy love interest in no way shapes Jace's arc as an angsty bad boy love interest, they just both happen.
4. Evil brother plot twist. I have no idea why this happens twice.
The most noteworthy distinction beyond the time period is that this book is significantly less unhinged than The Mortal Instruments. Did I complain about the crazy plot elements in the original series? Yes, absolutely. But those weird things-- yeah, even the
To me, the original books are winning when it comes to overall reading experience.