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pixiedust_'s reviews
222 reviews
Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson
4.0
i'm hear for the messy storylines !!! wow a protagonist i can actually tolerate??? in fact, i really like my girl stevie
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
1.0
DNF at 25%
So, the main character was pretty dumb, and the story made no sense. These days, it feels like people can write any random nonsense and call it "deep" or "metaphorical." Honestly, I've read better Shawn Mendes fanfics on Wattpad that were written by some 14-year-old who barely speaks English.
I don't hate the book, but I don't like or love it. It's just so bleh and boring -- forgettable. 75% of the book was utter nonsense of just filler "chapters" of random facts about things I don't give a shit about. I was still trying to figure out if the protagonist had literal amnesia or if they were just so bored in solitude that they were documenting everything. Here's a literal list of things Piranesi mentions...
<backquote>
A list of things the Other has given me
ENTRY FOR THE SEVENTEENTH DAY OF THE SIXTH MONTH IN THE YEAR THE
ALBATROSS CAME TO THE SOUTH-WESTERN HALLS
I have made a list of all the things that the Other has given me, so that I will
remember to be grateful and thank the House for sending me such an
excellent friend!
In the Year I named the Constellations, the Other gave me:
• a sleeping bag
• a pillow
• 2 blankets
• 2 fishing nets made of a synthetic polymer
• 4 large sheets of heavy-gauge plastic
• a torch. I have never used this and cannot now remember where I put
it.
• 6 boxes of matches
• 2 bottles of multivitamins
</backquote>
Boo!!!! 🥥🥥🥥 Boring !! I'm throwing coconuts cause tomatoes won't be doing much damage.
So, the main character was pretty dumb, and the story made no sense. These days, it feels like people can write any random nonsense and call it "deep" or "metaphorical." Honestly, I've read better Shawn Mendes fanfics on Wattpad that were written by some 14-year-old who barely speaks English.
I don't hate the book, but I don't like or love it. It's just so bleh and boring -- forgettable. 75% of the book was utter nonsense of just filler "chapters" of random facts about things I don't give a shit about. I was still trying to figure out if the protagonist had literal amnesia or if they were just so bored in solitude that they were documenting everything. Here's a literal list of things Piranesi mentions...
<backquote>
A list of things the Other has given me
ENTRY FOR THE SEVENTEENTH DAY OF THE SIXTH MONTH IN THE YEAR THE
ALBATROSS CAME TO THE SOUTH-WESTERN HALLS
I have made a list of all the things that the Other has given me, so that I will
remember to be grateful and thank the House for sending me such an
excellent friend!
In the Year I named the Constellations, the Other gave me:
• a sleeping bag
• a pillow
• 2 blankets
• 2 fishing nets made of a synthetic polymer
• 4 large sheets of heavy-gauge plastic
• a torch. I have never used this and cannot now remember where I put
it.
• 6 boxes of matches
• 2 bottles of multivitamins
</backquote>
Boo!!!! 🥥🥥🥥 Boring !! I'm throwing coconuts cause tomatoes won't be doing much damage.
Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
what a lovely little story :) dare i say i may love it more than hamlet? omg if i could dap up willy shakes i would!
Powerless by Lauren Roberts
adventurous
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I'm glad my expectations were non-existence. Everything bad the people said on tiktok was accurate. Although, I do have to admit it started off sooo well until about chapter 21. I don't know man, most of the chapters and the scenes felt like fillers. Which could've made the story shorter. There's absolutely no reason why it had to be 450+ pages long. 340 would've sufficed and that's damn near pushing it.
Characters
KITT
I liked Kitt in the first couple of chapters, then I simply couldn't care less. I was getting annoyed with his only descriptions being tied down to him being his father's xerox copy. Or him being the future king.
EXHIBIT A:
ׂ╰┈➤ I look up at Kitt, his blond hair appearing even lighter against the dark
suit cut close to his figure. He looks...handsome. Charming.
Like his father. He looks like his father.
2 EXAMPLES of 38 occurrences where Paedyn refers to him as "future king":
ׂ╰┈➤ Prince Kitt. As in ‘future king of Ilya’ Kitt.
ׂ╰┈➤ “Ah, yes.” The future king’s grin is teasing, startling me. “Ellie, the maid you insisted you didn’t need?”
Like Lauren, girly pop, I promise you we get it.
He's the future king and Paedyn hates him for being his father's xerox. It's okay. Movin' on.
KAI
He was alright. He had a couple of funny and cute lines. I don't hate him. I get why the girls and gays like him. He's probably the only character I tolerate. I preferred reading his povs too. I lowkey wish his storyline was more that he hated the Trials, and wouldn't participate. But he feels obligated to participate because Kitt can't for some reason - Yes, he volunteers as tribute, you see where I'm going. Might as well go the full THG plotline at this point. Then if something happens to him, I'd care more cause at least he's not a filthy rich Elite who condones these Trials.
PAEDYN
She was a decent protagonist, very watered-down Katniss. I can see her being played by 2013-2016 Chloe Grace Moritz. I have nothing to say. She's... fine. I don't have anything to say about her. Unmemorable.
Writing Style
ׂ╰┈➤ The story is simple to read. I'm pretty sure my 12-year-old cousin can read it. Which is fine, not everybody is meant to be Shakespeare or the Bronte sisters.
ׂ╰┈➤ There's a lot of redundancy. Paedyn always wants us to know that she's gotta "pretend" and "play the part" and "look the part." And I feel like she could've just spent more time playing and looking the part, rather than just saying it.
Would I recommend the book to someone?
No.
Are there any alternatives to the book?
Just read the original, The Hunger Games, or watch the films! Also the maze runner, cause the maze made me think of The Maze Runner.
Characters
KITT
I liked Kitt in the first couple of chapters, then I simply couldn't care less. I was getting annoyed with his only descriptions being tied down to him being his father's xerox copy. Or him being the future king.
EXHIBIT A:
ׂ╰┈➤ I look up at Kitt, his blond hair appearing even lighter against the dark
suit cut close to his figure. He looks...handsome. Charming.
Like his father. He looks like his father.
2 EXAMPLES of 38 occurrences where Paedyn refers to him as "future king":
ׂ╰┈➤ Prince Kitt. As in ‘future king of Ilya’ Kitt.
ׂ╰┈➤ “Ah, yes.” The future king’s grin is teasing, startling me. “Ellie, the maid you insisted you didn’t need?”
Like Lauren, girly pop, I promise you we get it.
He's the future king and Paedyn hates him for being his father's xerox. It's okay. Movin' on.
KAI
He was alright. He had a couple of funny and cute lines. I don't hate him. I get why the girls and gays like him. He's probably the only character I tolerate. I preferred reading his povs too. I lowkey wish his storyline was more that he hated the Trials, and wouldn't participate. But he feels obligated to participate because Kitt can't for some reason - Yes, he volunteers as tribute, you see where I'm going. Might as well go the full THG plotline at this point. Then if something happens to him, I'd care more cause at least he's not a filthy rich Elite who condones these Trials.
PAEDYN
She was a decent protagonist, very watered-down Katniss. I can see her being played by 2013-2016 Chloe Grace Moritz. I have nothing to say. She's... fine. I don't have anything to say about her. Unmemorable.
Writing Style
ׂ╰┈➤ The story is simple to read. I'm pretty sure my 12-year-old cousin can read it. Which is fine, not everybody is meant to be Shakespeare or the Bronte sisters.
ׂ╰┈➤ There's a lot of redundancy. Paedyn always wants us to know that she's gotta "pretend" and "play the part" and "look the part." And I feel like she could've just spent more time playing and looking the part, rather than just saying it.
Would I recommend the book to someone?
No.
Are there any alternatives to the book?
Just read the original, The Hunger Games, or watch the films! Also the maze runner, cause the maze made me think of The Maze Runner.
The Adventures of Pinocchio by Bob Blaisdell, Carlo Collodi
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
3.75
No Such Person by Caroline B. Cooney
4.0
The characters are really great. I love the neighbourhood boys — except Stu for obvious reasons. That twist was insane but I'm proud of the neighbourhood boys for saving Miranda. And her sister. But I keep wondering where the rest of the kids Miranda's age are. Like where are the girls?
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
3.0
The book started off quite slow, then it picked up in part four. Most of the things that happened weren't really exciting. The chapters that had the story about the king with the three princesses were lowkey confusing, but I guess the girls who get it, get it. I would've given it 4 or at least 5 stars because of the plot twist and the gaslighting for 200 pages. But because it didn't make me eager to read all the time, I only give it 3 stars.
One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus
5.0
This novel kept me on my freaking toes!! At the edge of my goddamn seat! I loved it so freaking much and sometimes I couldn't sleep because I just wanted to know hat happened in the next chapter. I loved the characters in the novel more than the TV series. Having their inner monologues and thoughts available made it easier to understand them. Like Addy was more likable in the novel — she's way more of a bad ass and she's actually so sweet. Cooper’s story and life has more depth in the novel.
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
1.0
I hated this hook. There's more realism than fiction, and mostly I enjoy books that allow me to get out of my comfort zone, and escape reality. Also, it feels like Lily Blossom Bloom (God it still sounds bad saying it after so many weeks of not reading it) was romantisizing Ryle Cincaid (or whatever tf his name is) and his abusiveness. I couldn’t even finish it. It just drained the life out of me every single time I opened it up to read.