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nostoat's reviews
977 reviews
Motheater by Linda H. Codega
3.75
This book suffers somewhat from the Debut Blues. The pacing is verrry slow and at some points the motivations seem somewhat confused at times. I didn't start really clicking with the narrative until about 60% of the way through, which is a looong time to really get invested in a story. I loved the characters, though, and their complicated relationships. I liked the setting, and the flowery prose. I adored that Motheater relied on passages from the Bible to direct her magic - not necessary for all witches, but something she chooses to do because it fits her understanding of the world. Ultimately I think this book could have used some heavier developmental editing, but it is an okay read, and the rich language and compelling characters made it worth sticking out the pacing and muddled motivations/plot arc for me. I will be really interested to see what Lin Codega writes next, as they can only improve from here.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Death
Order of Swans by Jude Deveraux
Did not finish book. Stopped at 7%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 7%.
The writing is sooooo bad it's like the reading equivalent of eating sticks for breakfast. And. What?? is this?? This book is pitched completely wrong. What the hell is going on here.
Cover Story by Susan Rigetti
5.0
This is a meticulously crafted book and it's so good. It's sooooo good. Read it.
Lives of the Saints by Nancy Lemann
4.0
Look it's a book about New Orleans written in the '80s. It's a particular kind of book. I picked it up on a whim off the library shelf and enjoyed the read well enough.
The House of My Mother: A Daughter's Quest for Freedom by Shari Franke
I started writing something out for this but Storygraph ate it 😠It feels wrong to rate this book so I won't be. I deeply related to Shari at many points. I respect her commitment to protecting her siblings’ privacy and right to their own stories. And I'm so happy for all of them that that part of their lives is over.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts
My Happy Marriage, Volume 1 by Akumi Agitogi, Rito Kohsaka
4.5
Cuuuuute. I love a story where someone shy and not used to good treatment is treated well for the first time and gets to blossom. Also love that the MMC is baffled by actually liking her 😂
I also appreciated how much narration/internal monologue there was in this manga, I feel like I was able to follow it soooo much better than most drawn stories.
I also appreciated how much narration/internal monologue there was in this manga, I feel like I was able to follow it soooo much better than most drawn stories.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Parasocial by Erica Henderson, Alex de Campi
Fuck yeah that was good. And fairly easy to read in print (I have trouble with that sometimes because of visual processing issues).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
The Villain Edit by Laurie Devore
4.0
This book felt disorienting, but in a way that played well. Being on a reality show is a disorienting, claustrophobic, overwhelming experience and I think this book captures that well. I found myself feeling that frustration of your mouth opening and words falling out that you know you shouldn't say right along with Jac throughout the novel as well. Rarely have I found a main character so relatable. The place this book doesn't deliver for me isn't really its fault. I struggle with plots deeply involving romance and attraction when they don't "click" for me, and this one didn't. I could understand and follow Jac's motivations through a lot of the story but her whole relationship arc with Henry baffled me, and I could tell I was missing...something.
Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett
5.0
Much stronger than the first book, which was a bit oddly paced and plotted. Dr. Wilde as always, remains one of my favorite main characters, with Wendell as a delightful foil to her. I loved the additions of Ariadne and Dr. Rose Farris in this one. Giving Emily a young mentee she doesn't know what to do with and another scholar to scrap with who is truly a SCHOLAR and not merely dithering about like Wendell is so perfect. I can't wait to see her adventure farther afield in the next book!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Blood