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onthesamepage's reviews
1036 reviews
The Husky & His White Cat Shizun: Erha He Ta De Bai Mao Shizun (Novel) Vol. 3 by Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou
emotional
sad
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? Yes
5.0
Those Beyond the Wall by Micaiah Johnson
dark
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? Yes
4.0
The Wolf at Bay by Charlie Adhara
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-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? Yes
4.0
All The Hidden Paths by Foz Meadows
adventurous
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
If you want to know if this book has infidelity before picking it up: it doesn't
When I started this, I was worried it would either be too much like the first book. It is, in some ways—there are political machinations, murders, and two characters who find themselves in a relationship but still haven't figured out how to navigate it. But it was different enough that I had a good time reading.
Considering where we left Cae and Vel, it makes sense that the story focuses on dealing with trauma and grief, and what that can do to a relationship. Cae has lost two family members within a short period, and clings harder to Vel because he feels he has nobody left. Vel is still working through his own ordeals, as well as the guilt of being the reason behind said deaths. Cae doesn't blame him, but that distinction doesn't matter to his spiraling brain.
I will admit that I got frustrated with both of them after a certain point. Their relationship isn't smooth sailing by any means, but a lot of it could be avoided with clear communication from one of them. Instead, they continue to willfully misunderstand each other. And the thing is, their relationship is facing real difficulties. But somehow, by the end, Vel realizes he does love Cae, and suddenly all the problems just went away. There was no more mention of uncertainty or communicating, because being in love fixed everything. I wish the author had handled that differently, but I still enjoyed the rest of the story.
When I started this, I was worried it would either be too much like the first book. It is, in some ways—there are political machinations, murders, and two characters who find themselves in a relationship but still haven't figured out how to navigate it. But it was different enough that I had a good time reading.
Considering where we left Cae and Vel, it makes sense that the story focuses on dealing with trauma and grief, and what that can do to a relationship. Cae has lost two family members within a short period, and clings harder to Vel because he feels he has nobody left. Vel is still working through his own ordeals, as well as the guilt of being the reason behind said deaths. Cae doesn't blame him, but that distinction doesn't matter to his spiraling brain.
I will admit that I got frustrated with both of them after a certain point. Their relationship isn't smooth sailing by any means, but a lot of it could be avoided with clear communication from one of them. Instead, they continue to willfully misunderstand each other. And the thing is, their relationship is facing real difficulties. But somehow, by the end, Vel realizes he does love Cae, and suddenly all the problems just went away. There was no more mention of uncertainty or communicating, because being in love fixed everything. I wish the author had handled that differently, but I still enjoyed the rest of the story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Murder
Ten Thousand Stitches by Olivia Atwater
One of the things I appreciated is the commentary on classism. The author isn't afraid to show the darker aspects alongside the softer ones, and it makes for a great balance. I loved getting to see Effie grow, from a servant who is constantly mindful not to do or say the wrong thing, bottling up all the anger and injustice, to someone who let that righteous anger work for her and for those like her. I also really loved Lord Blackthorn—he's a slightly different flavor of faerie than we saw in the first book, mostly because he is trying to be good and help people. I continue to really enjoy watching faeries not understand humans, and the shenanigans that inevitably result from those misunderstandings.
lighthearted
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
4.0
Atwater always finds a way to suck me into her stories. I will admit that I wasn't quite sure which direction the romance would take, but the way she subverted the traditional beats of the Cinderella story really worked for me. It takes a while before the story really gets going, but I didn't end up minding that too much.
But there was a subtle, terrible energy to his stance which every servant knew instinctively on sight—it was the bone-deep conviction that he deserved things, and that correspondingly, anyone who denied him those things deserved to be hurt in any way he saw fit. Men who thought they deserved things were always capable of the worst sort of violence.
One of the things I appreciated is the commentary on classism. The author isn't afraid to show the darker aspects alongside the softer ones, and it makes for a great balance. I loved getting to see Effie grow, from a servant who is constantly mindful not to do or say the wrong thing, bottling up all the anger and injustice, to someone who let that righteous anger work for her and for those like her. I also really loved Lord Blackthorn—he's a slightly different flavor of faerie than we saw in the first book, mostly because he is trying to be good and help people. I continue to really enjoy watching faeries not understand humans, and the shenanigans that inevitably result from those misunderstandings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Classism
Moderate: Sexual harassment
The Unbalancing by R.B. Lemberg
hopeful
reflective
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? Yes
3.0
I keep seeing new books published by this author, and they usually mention the Birdverse. I'm honestly not sure if this was the right book to start with—it's not the first one, but it's unclear to me if the books need to be read in order. I did think the way the worldbuilding was handled felt a bit clunky, so maybe there is a clear first book and I just didn't know it.
The magic system is really interesting, and the story focused a lot on self-discovery, which was nice to see. But a large component of this is also the romance between the two main characters, and I just didn't buy into it. It was very insta-love, and it pulled focus away from the very real disaster looming on the horizon. On the one hand there was a lot of urgency to find a solution, but then there would be the distraction of jealous exes, and a couple that doesn't know what they want from each other and is trying to figure it out. The character interactions often felt stilted for this reason.
I didn't enjoy the writing enough to read more books in the series, but I would recommend it if you're interested in queernorm fantasy worlds.
The magic system is really interesting, and the story focused a lot on self-discovery, which was nice to see. But a large component of this is also the romance between the two main characters, and I just didn't buy into it. It was very insta-love, and it pulled focus away from the very real disaster looming on the horizon. On the one hand there was a lot of urgency to find a solution, but then there would be the distraction of jealous exes, and a couple that doesn't know what they want from each other and is trying to figure it out. The character interactions often felt stilted for this reason.
I didn't enjoy the writing enough to read more books in the series, but I would recommend it if you're interested in queernorm fantasy worlds.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness
Moderate: Child abuse
Hammajang Luck by Makana Yamamoto
adventurous
funny
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? Yes
3.5
Me 80% in: I really don't see how I'm supposed to root for this romance at all
Me by the end: ...well, shit
Okay, so, it got me eventually. It's not that I disliked any of the characters, mind—the cast is very fun and heartwarming. But knowing that the setup involves Edie teaming back up with the person who sold them out, and then having Angel act fairly cold throughout, makes it difficult to think of a scenario where I'd be hoping that they'd get a second chance. The author managed it, though. The reasoning is a bit on the cliché side, but I guess it worked for me anyway.
The same can be said for the entire plot, really. It doesn't do anything super different in terms of execution or writing. There is a lot of diversity when it comes to the characters, and I appreciated all the cultural references, but all in all this was pretty predictable. I had fun with it, though, which is really the most important part.
Me by the end: ...well, shit
Okay, so, it got me eventually. It's not that I disliked any of the characters, mind—the cast is very fun and heartwarming. But knowing that the setup involves Edie teaming back up with the person who sold them out, and then having Angel act fairly cold throughout, makes it difficult to think of a scenario where I'd be hoping that they'd get a second chance. The author managed it, though. The reasoning is a bit on the cliché side, but I guess it worked for me anyway.
The same can be said for the entire plot, really. It doesn't do anything super different in terms of execution or writing. There is a lot of diversity when it comes to the characters, and I appreciated all the cultural references, but all in all this was pretty predictable. I had fun with it, though, which is really the most important part.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Cancer, Sexual harassment
A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine
I can easily see myself rereading this series just to enjoy the writing, which is absolutely stunning. And then there are the themes. On top of everything the author started to explore in A Memory Called Empire, this book heavily deals with "othering", and what it takes for the other to be seen as something deserving of life and respect.
There keeps being this conversation in online spaces about colonizer romances in books, and how bad they are, and as is usually the case, the conversation lacks all nuance. The romances in this duology are fascinating examples of what a story can do with a colonizer romance. I loved loved loved the constant tension between Mahit and Three Seagrass. Mahit understandably struggles with her role in the universe after everything that has happened, as well as the constant push and pull from loving Teixcalaan to recognizing that Teixcalaan is out to colonize the entire universe and thinks everyone outside of the Empire is a barbarian (Mahit included). Reconciling the two things proves to be extremely difficult, and it doesn't help that Three Seagrass fails to see her fully: just a clever barbarian, without considering all the layers to their dynamic, and how much Mahit actually has control over.
Much like the first book, there are a lot of complicated political machinations, but now there are also aliens, and they are fascinating. Exploring them alongside the characters made for a compelling read. I loved all the new POVs the author gave us, and the new characters. Twenty Cicada has to be my favourite, though—he was different from other Teixcalaanli, including following some type of religion, and I almost wish that we could get a book that explores other parts of the Empire than what we've seen so far.
adventurous
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? Yes
4.0
To ravage, to slaughter, to usurp under false titles—this they name empire; and where they make a desert, they call it peace.
I can easily see myself rereading this series just to enjoy the writing, which is absolutely stunning. And then there are the themes. On top of everything the author started to explore in A Memory Called Empire, this book heavily deals with "othering", and what it takes for the other to be seen as something deserving of life and respect.
There keeps being this conversation in online spaces about colonizer romances in books, and how bad they are, and as is usually the case, the conversation lacks all nuance. The romances in this duology are fascinating examples of what a story can do with a colonizer romance. I loved loved loved the constant tension between Mahit and Three Seagrass. Mahit understandably struggles with her role in the universe after everything that has happened, as well as the constant push and pull from loving Teixcalaan to recognizing that Teixcalaan is out to colonize the entire universe and thinks everyone outside of the Empire is a barbarian (Mahit included). Reconciling the two things proves to be extremely difficult, and it doesn't help that Three Seagrass fails to see her fully: just a clever barbarian, without considering all the layers to their dynamic, and how much Mahit actually has control over.
Much like the first book, there are a lot of complicated political machinations, but now there are also aliens, and they are fascinating. Exploring them alongside the characters made for a compelling read. I loved all the new POVs the author gave us, and the new characters. Twenty Cicada has to be my favourite, though—he was different from other Teixcalaanli, including following some type of religion, and I almost wish that we could get a book that explores other parts of the Empire than what we've seen so far.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, War
Moderate: Genocide
Our Deadly Designs by Kalyn Josephson
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The more I think about this book, the more disappointed I am by it. I really enjoyed This Dark Descent, but the sequel loses a lot of the elements that made it a fun read for me. The characters make one stupid decision after another, fueled almost entirely by lack of communication, which was shocking since that was one of the things I appreciated so much about the first book. The relationships all break in some form, and never quite get put back together again. It's not that the author didn't try, it's just that it felt so unconvincing.
Mikira spends a lot of the book floundering between two love interests. One makes her blush uncontrollably with every single teasing remark, and the other...I can't tell why he's even in the running, to be honest. It doesn't really get resolved either way. I kept waiting to like Talyana, but she has one character trait, and it is hating anything and everything connected to Damien, except Mikira because Mikira is innocence personified. Her unreasonable hatred got tedious very quickly. Her "banter" with Reid felt weak. There's just nothing about her that I liked, honestly.
Then there's Damien, who is so different from the person I got to know that it felt like whiplash. The decisions he made didn't even make sense—he is someone who carefully considers everything, and has usually thought 5 steps ahead of everyone else. But now he chooses a very weird alliance, followed by turning on people in a way that feels extreme, unless he is possessed by a demon—but that's Arielle, and yet she seems more in control of her faculties than Damien at this point.
Arielle's story did continue to be interesting, at least, and I enjoyed getting to see that part of the story unfold. As to the rest of the plot, now that there is no more race to fall back on, all we are left with is politics, and it was kind of feeble.
Mikira spends a lot of the book floundering between two love interests. One makes her blush uncontrollably with every single teasing remark, and the other...I can't tell why he's even in the running, to be honest. It doesn't really get resolved either way. I kept waiting to like Talyana, but she has one character trait, and it is hating anything and everything connected to Damien, except Mikira because Mikira is innocence personified. Her unreasonable hatred got tedious very quickly. Her "banter" with Reid felt weak. There's just nothing about her that I liked, honestly.
Then there's Damien, who is so different from the person I got to know that it felt like whiplash. The decisions he made didn't even make sense—he is someone who carefully considers everything, and has usually thought 5 steps ahead of everyone else. But now he chooses a very weird alliance, followed by turning on people in a way that feels extreme, unless he is possessed by a demon—but that's Arielle, and yet she seems more in control of her faculties than Damien at this point.
Arielle's story did continue to be interesting, at least, and I enjoyed getting to see that part of the story unfold. As to the rest of the plot, now that there is no more race to fall back on, all we are left with is politics, and it was kind of feeble.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Violence
The Wild Huntress by Emily Lloyd-Jones
adventurous
sad
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
4.0
Shocking nobody, the cat was my favourite character. But the other three were good, too.
While I love Moira Quirk's narration, part of me regrets listening to this instead of reading it physically—I tend to zone out a bit during audiobooks, and I don't get the opportunity to highlight specific sections, which feels like a shame in this case. This is my fourth book by the author, and once again she manages to put together a solid story, with compelling characters. I was interested in all three POV characters, and never had the feeling that I wanted to hear more from one perspective over another. Getting to see their friendships (and more) develop was just lovely. And then there's the backdrop of a hunt and a competition, which is an easy sell.
I probably should have anticipated the painful moments (four books in, you'd think I'd know), but it managed to take me by surprise.
While I love Moira Quirk's narration, part of me regrets listening to this instead of reading it physically—I tend to zone out a bit during audiobooks, and I don't get the opportunity to highlight specific sections, which feels like a shame in this case. This is my fourth book by the author, and once again she manages to put together a solid story, with compelling characters. I was interested in all three POV characters, and never had the feeling that I wanted to hear more from one perspective over another. Getting to see their friendships (and more) develop was just lovely. And then there's the backdrop of a hunt and a competition, which is an easy sell.
I probably should have anticipated the painful moments (four books in, you'd think I'd know), but it managed to take me by surprise.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death
Moderate: Dementia