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pages_with_panda's reviews
165 reviews
Ophelia After All by Racquel Marie
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
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
5.0
Amazing!
This healed my inner child and I wish I had books like this growing up. Ophelia felt like looking at a younger me (I was the boy-crazy friend of the group). The experience of questioning yourself are universal, but this book did such a good job including a variety of races (Pakistani, Black, Puerto Rican, Korean) and sexualities (Asexual, BiRomantic, BiSexual, Pansexual, Queer)...I probably missed a few though.
The friend group felt fleshed out and real, but some of their dialogue did sound like "therapy-speak," or too mature for high-schoolers. I enjoyed most of their banter though, and loved the group overall.
I also liked the discussions Ophelia had about being Cuban and how much Spanish was used (and not translated).
The miscommunication trope does a lot of work here, but I think it was a bit realistic for high-schoolers.
Overall, loved it.
"Mostly, I want to ask if it was worth it. if that small moment between her and girl, who she shared beds and rings and nightmares with, was worth losing the version of herself that her family had in mind from the time she was young. To let who she really was breathe for a minute or two."
"Things may be changing, but this change feels like too much. What happens when you tell the girls who trust and love you, that you realized that you sometimes looked at them the ways they expect boys to. Does everything; every borrowed lipstick and shared dressing room, and cheek kiss become suspect? Corrupted by some illusion of straightness? Illusion of straightness."
This healed my inner child and I wish I had books like this growing up. Ophelia felt like looking at a younger me (I was the boy-crazy friend of the group). The experience of questioning yourself are universal, but this book did such a good job including a variety of races (Pakistani, Black, Puerto Rican, Korean) and sexualities (Asexual, BiRomantic, BiSexual, Pansexual, Queer)...I probably missed a few though.
The friend group felt fleshed out and real, but some of their dialogue did sound like "therapy-speak," or too mature for high-schoolers. I enjoyed most of their banter though, and loved the group overall.
I also liked the discussions Ophelia had about being Cuban and how much Spanish was used (and not translated).
The miscommunication trope does a lot of work here, but I think it was a bit realistic for high-schoolers.
Overall, loved it.
"Mostly, I want to ask if it was worth it. if that small moment between her and girl, who she shared beds and rings and nightmares with, was worth losing the version of herself that her family had in mind from the time she was young. To let who she really was breathe for a minute or two."
"Things may be changing, but this change feels like too much. What happens when you tell the girls who trust and love you, that you realized that you sometimes looked at them the ways they expect boys to. Does everything; every borrowed lipstick and shared dressing room, and cheek kiss become suspect? Corrupted by some illusion of straightness? Illusion of straightness."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Biphobia, Acephobia/Arophobia, Lesbophobia, Outing
Minor: Racism, Islamophobia
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Solid gothic story set in Mexico.
The atmosphere was plenty unselling and creepy. The mystery had me hooked at the beginning, but unfortunately the story dragged a bit in the middle. Some of the most unsettling scenes were less to do with the supernatural and more to do with the people.
Loved the 'Yellow Wallpaper' references and the build-up though! I also didn't mind the romance, I thought it was cute.
I do agree with some critiques that say this was an "American story with a Mexican setting." There were very small references to Mexican culture but nothing too substantial.
The atmosphere was plenty unselling and creepy. The mystery had me hooked at the beginning, but unfortunately the story dragged a bit in the middle. Some of the most unsettling scenes were less to do with the supernatural and more to do with the people.
Loved the 'Yellow Wallpaper' references and the build-up though! I also didn't mind the romance, I thought it was cute.
I do agree with some critiques that say this was an "American story with a Mexican setting." There were very small references to Mexican culture but nothing too substantial.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Gun violence, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Suicide, Gaslighting
Moderate: Death, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Cannibalism, Murder
Uncommon Measure: A Journey Through Music, Performance, and the Science of Time by Natalie Hodges
slow-paced
2.0
Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
emotional
hopeful
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
5.0
Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book felt like someone pushed me into a dark alley in the middle of winter and then punched me in the throat before stealing my jacket. 5/5.
The first chapter had me in literal tears...The themes of colonization and oppression were so very in our faces but sometimes I think we need books to spell it out for us. I don't think the obviousness of the story detracted from it's lessons. The magic was so interesting and unique, and the twist blew my mind.
The characters felt real and flawed and I loved all of them so much!!
Slight spoilers regarding the characters:
Some are calling this an Oppressor/Oppressed romance but I wouldn't boil it down to just that trope. Both characters grew so much and the romance is such a small part of the story.
The first chapter had me in literal tears...The themes of colonization and oppression were so very in our faces but sometimes I think we need books to spell it out for us. I don't think the obviousness of the story detracted from it's lessons. The magic was so interesting and unique, and the twist blew my mind.
The characters felt real and flawed and I loved all of them so much!!
Slight spoilers regarding the characters:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Colonisation, Classism
Moderate: Genocide, Violence
Minor: Infertility, Sexual harassment
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Sunrise On The Reaping by Suzanne Collins
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
The Musings of a Muse: Forgive or Forget by Neesha Ofori-Atta
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Received this ebook for free from a Storygraph giveaway.
This assignment had more twists than a bad novel.
The premise for this sounded interesting - muses are given 'assignments' to inspire people, and one muse in particular (Kanadra) is sent on an assignment to Earth against her will to inspire human Ariyah. We see snippets of Kanadra's past as she's figuring out what to do in the present, but unfortunately this book was a miss for me. It took me about a month to finish because I just could not get into it.
The writing and the dialogue were super awkward and clunky. The characters were one-dimensional and unlikeable, and the story was a jumbled mess.
We get thrown from scene to scene with little to no explanation. The transitions were trash and we don't get any kind of descriptions of anything; character or scene-wise. The plot is supposed to be about solving a mystery, but the main characters don't actually do anything. Everyone gives them everything and tells them everything. It got to a point where I was just like, what the hell. Sure. Of course these high-schoolers can run a license plate.
Speaking of the kids, they were completely unlikeable and just boring. There would be emotional moments that were glossed over so quickly they didn't even matter, and such unreal character reactions, even for fantasy. Characters just go along with whatever. I genuinely didn't care about any of them. Cared even less about the main characters. Ariyah is a cruel bully and Kanadra is your typical sarcastic, sassy, female main character that gets away with whatever.
This book did an incredibly poor job of handling grief and forgiveness. At no point did I feel any kind of empathy to Ariyah.
MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD:
SPOILERS: The ending really pissed me off. You're telling me Ariyah just forgave him??? Your telling me generations of her family has been killed and she FORGAVE HIM?? I don't care how powerful Kanadra's powers were, that was such bullshit. We're completely ignoring the fact that Black women were systematically murdered by this klan of 'witch hunters?' And nothing is said about it? Absolutely no kind of acknowledgement about it? And then Kanadra is going to go on her merry way and enact her revenge? What the fuck. Ariyah should've been allowed to kill someone.
Also, the ending felt rushed with a ton of random twists dumped in, but these twists fall apart as soon as you start asking any kind of questions.
Won't be picking up the sequel.
This assignment had more twists than a bad novel.
The premise for this sounded interesting - muses are given 'assignments' to inspire people, and one muse in particular (Kanadra) is sent on an assignment to Earth against her will to inspire human Ariyah. We see snippets of Kanadra's past as she's figuring out what to do in the present, but unfortunately this book was a miss for me. It took me about a month to finish because I just could not get into it.
The writing and the dialogue were super awkward and clunky. The characters were one-dimensional and unlikeable, and the story was a jumbled mess.
We get thrown from scene to scene with little to no explanation. The transitions were trash and we don't get any kind of descriptions of anything; character or scene-wise. The plot is supposed to be about solving a mystery, but the main characters don't actually do anything. Everyone gives them everything and tells them everything. It got to a point where I was just like, what the hell. Sure. Of course these high-schoolers can run a license plate.
Speaking of the kids, they were completely unlikeable and just boring. There would be emotional moments that were glossed over so quickly they didn't even matter, and such unreal character reactions, even for fantasy. Characters just go along with whatever. I genuinely didn't care about any of them. Cared even less about the main characters. Ariyah is a cruel bully and Kanadra is your typical sarcastic, sassy, female main character that gets away with whatever.
This book did an incredibly poor job of handling grief and forgiveness. At no point did I feel any kind of empathy to Ariyah.
MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD:
Also, the ending felt rushed with a ton of random twists dumped in, but these twists fall apart as soon as you start asking any kind of questions.
Won't be picking up the sequel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Violence, Blood, Death of parent
Moderate: Alcoholism, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Murder
Minor: Ableism, Bullying, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Injury/Injury detail