pedanther's reviews
486 reviews

A Fall of Stardust by Neil Gaiman

lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

3.75

The thing about the short story, which is titled "Wall: A Prologue", is that it does feel like a prologue: it kind of works as a story in itself, but there's clearly another entire story following it that we don't get to hear about. I have a suspicion (or possibly half a memory of being told once) that it really is the prologue to a novel that Gaiman never got around to writing the rest of; the fact that it first saw print in a collection of unpublished bits and bobs for charity, and not in a regular short story form, is suggestive.

The poems are all fun.

Adventures in the Dream Trade by Neil Gaiman

informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

renascentia: from the ashes by tonberrys, kuchikopi

For non-book records, review text and ratings are hidden. Only mood, pace, and content warnings are visible.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

Minor: Confinement, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Vomit, Medical content, Dementia, War

The Devil's Steps by Arthur Upfield

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Murder, Alcohol

Minor: Ableism, Alcoholism, Infidelity, Racism, Sexism, Torture, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, War, Classism

The Lady's Not for Burning by Christopher Fry

challenging funny hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment

Minor: Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Torture, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson

adventurous emotional medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Kidnapping

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Trafficking, Grief, Murder, Classism

Minor: Addiction, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Slavery, Death of parent, War, Injury/Injury detail

Begin Again by Oliver Jeffers

hopeful reflective fast-paced

3.75

Holly and Ivy by Debra Doyle, James D. Macdonald

funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

I could see exactly where the story was going from very early on, but it's the kind of story where part of the enjoyment is from seeing where it's going when the characters don't. The details are fun.

Harpist in the Wind by Patricia A. McKillip

adventurous challenging emotional 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Violence, Grief, War, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Genocide, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol

Heir of Sea and Fire by Patricia A. McKillip

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Death, Torture, Violence, Grief, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: War