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poisonenvy's reviews
744 reviews
Raising Steam by Terry Pratchett
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Just one more to go and I'm finished the whole of Discworld. I will never read any books in this amazing series for the first time again. 😢
That being said, this is my least favourite Discworld book in a long time (not my least favourite Discworld book ever though. That honour still remains with Interesting Times). It was still phenomenal? I don't know if it's because I had more issues focusing on the audiobook than usual or what. But I'm pretty sure there were reused metaphors and some scenes just seemed weirdly saccharine.
Those complaints aside, this book was still phenomenal, and Pratchett continues to prove he is a master at his craft.
That being said, this is my least favourite Discworld book in a long time (not my least favourite Discworld book ever though. That honour still remains with Interesting Times). It was still phenomenal? I don't know if it's because I had more issues focusing on the audiobook than usual or what. But I'm pretty sure there were reused metaphors and some scenes just seemed weirdly saccharine.
Those complaints aside, this book was still phenomenal, and Pratchett continues to prove he is a master at his craft.
The Memory of Souls by Jenn Lyons
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
5.0
This series just keeps getting better.
Recipe for a Perfect Wife by Karma Brown
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This was... Not great. Whether it was the simple, blunt prose, or the fact that the twist was telegraphed so loudly that at one point I went "maybe the twist is that this actually ISN'T the twist after all!", or the fact that by the end of the book I really, truly, loathed the main character, and not in the fun way, I couldn't say. Maybe it was the part where we find out that Alice Hale is actually just Karma Brown after all? Is that what I was <I>supposed</I> to take away from this book? . Who knows?
There was a <I>lot</I> in this book that just didn't work. But the recipes my book club and I tried were very tasty, and there were a bunch that I was so very eager to try in the future, so at least there's that.
There was a <I>lot</I> in this book that just didn't work. But the recipes my book club and I tried were very tasty, and there were a bunch that I was so very eager to try in the future, so at least there's that.
Execution Poems: The Black Acadian Tragedy of "George and Rue" by George Elliott Clarke
dark
emotional
medium-paced
4.0
I first picked up this poetry collection about ten years ago, for a class on Crime Fiction which I ended up dropping (it turns out that once-a-weel, three-hour classes that run until 10pm were not great for keeping the focus of a 19-year-old me). It tells the story of George and Rufus Hamilton, cousins of George Elliott Clarke, who were hanged before he was born.
I finally read it today as part of my goal to read one short story/some poetry a day. The entire boon was only 44 pages long, and so I decided to read the whole thing.
I'm hardly a great judge of poetry, and it's certainly not my place to talk about how the book handled the racism of Nova Scotia at in the early 1900s, but I thought this was well done. It was raw and brutal, filled with a lot of violence (including sexual violence). George Elliot Clarke doesn't shy away from using the rough and brutal language to describe these things, but with the occasional beautiful line that really shines.
I finally read it today as part of my goal to read one short story/some poetry a day. The entire boon was only 44 pages long, and so I decided to read the whole thing.
I'm hardly a great judge of poetry, and it's certainly not my place to talk about how the book handled the racism of Nova Scotia at in the early 1900s, but I thought this was well done. It was raw and brutal, filled with a lot of violence (including sexual violence). George Elliot Clarke doesn't shy away from using the rough and brutal language to describe these things, but with the occasional beautiful line that really shines.
Songs of Love and Death: All-Original Tales of Star-Crossed Love by Gardner Dozois, George R.R. Martin
adventurous
3.25
Last year, I read a short story nearly every day of the year. This year, I have the same goal, but my year got off to a rough start so it hasn't quite turned out that way, which is why this anthology took so much longer to read than it should have.
My rating is taken from an average of all the short stories I read. I skipped three of them because they're a part of series that are on my TBR, and I'll read them once I get to that point in their respective series.
Overall, I did... not enjoy a lot of the stories in this anthology? I picked it up initially for Robin Hobb's "Blue Boots" which did not disappoint, but I was lukewarm on most of the rest of them. Anyway, on to my individual reviews:
The Marrying Maid by Jo Beverly 2*
Frankly, I did not love this story. The whole forceful, cajoling nature of the relationship didn't set right with me, and I felt like the leads had no chemistry.
Rooftops by Carrie Vaughn 4*
One of my favourites in the anthology. That might just be because I'm an absolute sucker for superhero stories though. The slow build of the relationship and the slow reveal of her relationship with her boyfriend were both very satisfying.
Hurt Me by M.L.N. Hanover 3.5*
I actually don't know how I feel about this one, and it's been too long since I initially read it to properly deconstruct whatever feelings I had.
Demon Lover by Cecelia Holland 2*
Yet another story that I didn't care for with a romance that makes me cringe. Nothing like "You can't do better than me, I'm the only one who wants you" to really set the tone of a relationship.
The Wayfarer's Advice by Melinda M. Soodgrass 3.5*
This story was not for me, I can admit that much. I actually liked it a fair amount despite that, and I both like and loathed the ending.
Blue Boots by Robin Hobb 5*
Am I biased because Hobb is my favourite author, RotE my favourite series, and this story the reason I picked up this anthology? Maybe. But even without all that, this was an extremely well-written story that I loved a lot, and probably would've been my favourite of the anthology even without all my implicit biases.
The Thing About Cassandra by Neil Gaiman 3*
I just don't care much for Gaiman's writing style, ever, even if I normally like his plots. Though, I didn't especially care for this one's plot, and the ending seemed forced.
After the Blood by Marjorie M. Liu 2.5*
This story was extraordinarily difficult for me to get into, and even once I started, it struggled to hold my attention.
His Wolf by Lisa Tuttle 3*
I almost loved this story. It had a strong start and I was riveted. But the second half of the story has major pacing issues. It would have been better served as a novella (or even a full-length novel) than as a short story.
Courting Trouble by Linnea Sinclair 3.5*
I'm not much of a sci fi fan, and so I didn't love this one as much as others might have. It's another case of this story is just not for me. But it was punchy and fun and action packed, and I still enjoyed my time with it.
The Demon Dancer by Mary Jo Putney 2*
I didn't enjoy the prose. I didn't much love the story.
Under/Above The Water by Tanith Lee 4*
The prose was lovely and the story was unique and interesting, but perhaps overly complicated. I think it will benefit from a second read, but I was pretty lost at times. Still, this was one of the better stories in this collection.
Kaskia by Peter S. Beagle 3*
The prose was good, the pacing was good and consistent, and I probably would have loved it if I enjoyed this type of story. Alas.
Man in the Mirror by Yasmine Galeriorn 4*
This Ii actually enjoyed. The prose and the pacing were both alright, though I would've liked to see more of Galen's changing feelings. I was left with questions, but short stories don't always answer all your questions, and I was pretty satisfied regardless.
My rating is taken from an average of all the short stories I read. I skipped three of them because they're a part of series that are on my TBR, and I'll read them once I get to that point in their respective series.
Overall, I did... not enjoy a lot of the stories in this anthology? I picked it up initially for Robin Hobb's "Blue Boots" which did not disappoint, but I was lukewarm on most of the rest of them. Anyway, on to my individual reviews:
The Marrying Maid by Jo Beverly 2*
Frankly, I did not love this story. The whole forceful, cajoling nature of the relationship didn't set right with me, and I felt like the leads had no chemistry.
Rooftops by Carrie Vaughn 4*
One of my favourites in the anthology. That might just be because I'm an absolute sucker for superhero stories though. The slow build of the relationship and the slow reveal of her relationship with her boyfriend were both very satisfying.
Hurt Me by M.L.N. Hanover 3.5*
I actually don't know how I feel about this one, and it's been too long since I initially read it to properly deconstruct whatever feelings I had.
Demon Lover by Cecelia Holland 2*
Yet another story that I didn't care for with a romance that makes me cringe. Nothing like "You can't do better than me, I'm the only one who wants you" to really set the tone of a relationship.
The Wayfarer's Advice by Melinda M. Soodgrass 3.5*
This story was not for me, I can admit that much. I actually liked it a fair amount despite that, and I both like and loathed the ending.
Blue Boots by Robin Hobb 5*
Am I biased because Hobb is my favourite author, RotE my favourite series, and this story the reason I picked up this anthology? Maybe. But even without all that, this was an extremely well-written story that I loved a lot, and probably would've been my favourite of the anthology even without all my implicit biases.
The Thing About Cassandra by Neil Gaiman 3*
I just don't care much for Gaiman's writing style, ever, even if I normally like his plots. Though, I didn't especially care for this one's plot, and the ending seemed forced.
After the Blood by Marjorie M. Liu 2.5*
This story was extraordinarily difficult for me to get into, and even once I started, it struggled to hold my attention.
His Wolf by Lisa Tuttle 3*
I almost loved this story. It had a strong start and I was riveted. But the second half of the story has major pacing issues. It would have been better served as a novella (or even a full-length novel) than as a short story.
Courting Trouble by Linnea Sinclair 3.5*
I'm not much of a sci fi fan, and so I didn't love this one as much as others might have. It's another case of this story is just not for me. But it was punchy and fun and action packed, and I still enjoyed my time with it.
The Demon Dancer by Mary Jo Putney 2*
I didn't enjoy the prose. I didn't much love the story.
Under/Above The Water by Tanith Lee 4*
The prose was lovely and the story was unique and interesting, but perhaps overly complicated. I think it will benefit from a second read, but I was pretty lost at times. Still, this was one of the better stories in this collection.
Kaskia by Peter S. Beagle 3*
The prose was good, the pacing was good and consistent, and I probably would have loved it if I enjoyed this type of story. Alas.
Man in the Mirror by Yasmine Galeriorn 4*
This Ii actually enjoyed. The prose and the pacing were both alright, though I would've liked to see more of Galen's changing feelings. I was left with questions, but short stories don't always answer all your questions, and I was pretty satisfied regardless.
Snuff by Terry Pratchett
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
5.0
This is it. The last of the City Watch books. And while I'm sure I'll see Vimes and co in one of two remaining Discworld books I have left, I can't believe this is the end of this subseries.
Thank you Terry Pratchett for so many laughs with the Anhk-Morpork City Watch. I love them so much.
Thank you Terry Pratchett for so many laughs with the Anhk-Morpork City Watch. I love them so much.
I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
One of the many, many things I love about Terry Pratchett is that even with his children's/YA novels, he's not afraid to tackle heavy topics like abuse and loss. It really does just make me a little doe-eyed over him.
This was yet another entry into the Tiffany Aching story, and it was exquisite. I loved how things ended up with Tiffany and Roland a lot. I loved everything about this. I'm so excited to see Tiffany grow up into a fierce young woman.
I can't believe I'm almost done this wonderful series.
This was yet another entry into the Tiffany Aching story, and it was exquisite. I loved how things ended up with Tiffany and Roland a lot. I loved everything about this. I'm so excited to see Tiffany grow up into a fierce young woman.
I can't believe I'm almost done this wonderful series.
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
2.5*
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe gives a snapshot into the life of a small railway town in the American south during the depression and beyond, mostly following the lives of the Threadgoode family (in particular Idgie and Ruth) and the black family that worked for them. About half the story takes place in the 30s and 40s, told through short scenes, and experts from the delightful Weems Weekly and the Birmingham News. The other half of the story takes place in the 80s, following Evelyn Couch, a middle-aged woman struggling with menopause and a general dissatisfaction in a life lived as a woman who tried very hard not to make waves, and her weekly visits with the aging Ninny Threadgoode in an old folks home.
When I first started this book, I was delighted. I was not expecting this to be a queer novel at all, and yet the romantic relationship between Idgie and Ruth is very clear. There is, in fact, a lot about this book that I enjoyed quite a bit. Most of the characters are entertaining and fun, and the story was told in a unique but interesting way.
Where it loses a ton of stars for me is in the egregious and blatant racism that begins to crop up, not just in how characters are treated -- which can be expected in a book set in Alabama in the 1930s -- but also in how their depicted. Like the dark skinned twin who stabbed his light-skinned twin brother in the arm 5 times when he was 5 years old and then became a nogoodnik to his light-skinned brothers exemplary life as a well-respected train porter. Or the Good Guy KKK member. At times it was blatant enough that I probably would have put this book down and not picked it up again if I hadn't been reading it for Book Club.
Also, sad, middle-aged woman pulls herself up by her bootstraps by joining a pyramid scheme was certainly something to behold.
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe gives a snapshot into the life of a small railway town in the American south during the depression and beyond, mostly following the lives of the Threadgoode family (in particular Idgie and Ruth) and the black family that worked for them. About half the story takes place in the 30s and 40s, told through short scenes, and experts from the delightful Weems Weekly and the Birmingham News. The other half of the story takes place in the 80s, following Evelyn Couch, a middle-aged woman struggling with menopause and a general dissatisfaction in a life lived as a woman who tried very hard not to make waves, and her weekly visits with the aging Ninny Threadgoode in an old folks home.
When I first started this book, I was delighted. I was not expecting this to be a queer novel at all, and yet the romantic relationship between Idgie and Ruth is very clear. There is, in fact, a lot about this book that I enjoyed quite a bit. Most of the characters are entertaining and fun, and the story was told in a unique but interesting way.
Where it loses a ton of stars for me is in the egregious and blatant racism that begins to crop up, not just in how characters are treated -- which can be expected in a book set in Alabama in the 1930s -- but also in how their depicted. Like the dark skinned twin who stabbed his light-skinned twin brother in the arm 5 times when he was 5 years old and then became a nogoodnik to his light-skinned brothers exemplary life as a well-respected train porter. Or the Good Guy KKK member. At times it was blatant enough that I probably would have put this book down and not picked it up again if I hadn't been reading it for Book Club.
Also, sad, middle-aged woman pulls herself up by her bootstraps by joining a pyramid scheme was certainly something to behold.
The Name of All Things by Jenn Lyons
adventurous
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
I was slow in reading this book. Not because it's bad, but because I listened to the whole thing on audio and my life imploded and I had very little opportunity to read on audio.
Anyway, again, an excellent addition to the Chorus of Dragons series. The audiobook had some mixing mistakes (at least two footnotes were replaced by a repeat of the footnote before it, so I guess I'll never know what they say, and I'm pretty sure an entire passage is omitted in the last part of the book). I don't know how I feel about one (two?) of the romances in it, though I think I suspect how it will resolve and I guess I'm tentatively here for it haha. I'm WILLING TO SEE if it grows on me.
Anyway, this was fun. Disappointed it took me almost a month to read, but I'm excited to continue on with the series once I read a couple of other things I've been putting off.
Anyway, again, an excellent addition to the Chorus of Dragons series. The audiobook had some mixing mistakes (at least two footnotes were replaced by a repeat of the footnote before it, so I guess I'll never know what they say, and I'm pretty sure an entire passage is omitted in the last part of the book). I don't know how I feel about one (two?) of the romances in it, though I think I suspect how it will resolve and I guess I'm tentatively here for it haha. I'm WILLING TO SEE if it grows on me.
Anyway, this was fun. Disappointed it took me almost a month to read, but I'm excited to continue on with the series once I read a couple of other things I've been putting off.
The Ruin of Kings by Jenn Lyons
adventurous
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
I finished this book almost a month ago, and read it mostly on audio, so very little of it stuck.
I am forever annoyed by epistolary stories that don't read like letters/recountings/etc. You know the ones that are like "This is a letter or a journal entry" and then just proceed to tell the story like a usual narrative, with a little flavour text at the beginning or ends of chapters? This is why this book lost a full star.
Other than that one thing though, I very much enjoyed this story. I loved the characters, I loved their relationships, I'm enjoying the world building even if I'm sure I'm missing a lot in audio form.
Overall, I'm very excited to continue this story.
I am forever annoyed by epistolary stories that don't read like letters/recountings/etc. You know the ones that are like "This is a letter or a journal entry" and then just proceed to tell the story like a usual narrative, with a little flavour text at the beginning or ends of chapters? This is why this book lost a full star.
Other than that one thing though, I very much enjoyed this story. I loved the characters, I loved their relationships, I'm enjoying the world building even if I'm sure I'm missing a lot in audio form.
Overall, I'm very excited to continue this story.