postcordillera's reviews
38 reviews

Psync by Zile Elliven

This is the closest you can get to a self-indulgent anime fanfic without it being an anime fanfic. If you're fine with a Japanese international student calling a complete stranger "chibisuke" and people getting *glomped*, by all means have a go. 

Wicked Gentlemen by Ginn Hale

4.25

Memorable read as both as a dark fantasy book and as an MM book. The relationship between two leads develops organically and they have their own emotionally repressed dynamic which seems natural in the Victorian-era inspired setting. I like that they're absolute weirdos with many unattractive traits, it makes their chemistry even more special. 

Lovely book with such an intriguing world and complex characters. I only wish there were more stories set in this world. It's a bleak world they're in yet the characters have an understated dignity no matter how much suffering they've had to endure. I'll definitely recommend this book and will read Ginn Hale's other works. 

The Blueprint by S.E. Harmon

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

Both leads are flawed af and have a borderline toxic relationship. I enjoyed reading about Blue being a dipshit deep in denial. Fun read for the entertaining drama and the passive-aggressive fights. The push and pull doesn't end. 

A Deeper Blue by S.E. Harmon

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

Read this in a single setting. I like how messy and challenging and borderline toxic their relationship is. Blue is less of a dick here but if you didn't like him in the first book you wouldn't like him here either. You don't read this for the romance, you read it for the entertaining drama. 

Ugly by Roe Horvat

The prose is embarrassingly bad. 

The Island of Doctor Moreau by H.G. Wells

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

I didn't know anything about the book before going in. I had no idea that the experiments were

animal to human instead of the reverse

and somehow that makes it worse. The disturbing conclusion is that

humanity vs beast aren't binary categories but rather the ends of a spectrum that individuals move between

, and it's unsettling to not know who or what they are at that point in time. 

Disasterology 101 by Taylor V. Donovan

emotional hopeful reflective 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

3.75

Surprisingly great romance read despite the scandalous start to the relationship. I like how there isn't any melodrama and the problems the two leads face are very much just normal people stuff with nuanced ways of navigating them. Like how Cedric's OCD is accommodated by Kevin but Kevin challenges him the right amount, difficulties coming out as gay to your kids and small community, dealing with homophobia, class differences and an age difference in a relationship... It's one of the more grounded and realistic romance reads I've had this year and I really enjoyed my time with it and would recommend it to anyone who likes contemporary MM romance. 

Reawakening by Amy Rae Durreson

Better than average prose writing than the usual MM books. Epic fantasy setting that's a bit twee at times but overall a good read. I like how a dragon's hoard and strength comes from people who love the dragon. There are some shonen anime moments (lending each other strength at a critical moment) but I still enjoyed the story.

The Barbarian's Vow by Keira Andrews

adventurous emotional lighthearted 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? It's complicated

Interesting duology with a surprising amount of politics and plot. One of the better MM romances I've read so far. 

Changed: Mated to the Alien Alpha by Robin Moray

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.75

Hot and hilarious. The ending is unfortunately quite rushed but still an extremely fun romp.