pravda_iskra's reviews
70 reviews

Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

The Absolutes by Molly Dektar
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.

Overwritten to the point of being unreadable. No plot. No chemistry between the main character and the man she’s willing to throw everything away for. 

The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi

5.0

Mrs S by K. Patrick

emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated

I was ready to give up multiple times but the last few sections made up for it so I’m glad I finished. 

The Power of the Dog by Thomas Savage

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I hated the movie so my expectations for the book were low, but man did it blow me away. 

At Certain Points We Touch by Lauren John Joseph
Did not finish book. Stopped at 73%.

Overwritten, pretentious mess. Can't care for any of the characters. The main love interest is such a horrible person (openly racist, and the MC doesn't challenge him on that racism at all) that I can't bring myself to get invested in the relationship (which is also not even the main focus of the book despite the blurb). 

The New Life by Tom Crewe

challenging sad slow-paced

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

1.5

I must’ve read a different book than everyone else, because this was awful. 

The piss kink???

, the unnecessary attempt to adopt a 1890’s sense of dialogue to cover the bland, mechanical prose, and some of the most cringe, horrific sex scenes I’ve ever read in a novel. Henry is one of the most annoying characters I’ve had the misfortune of reading, and John one of the most selfish. He never once stops to consider the consequences of his actions until the last maybe 15 pages of the book. 

The Middle Daughter by Chika Unigwe

dark emotional hopeful medium-paced

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

4.5

Dykette by Jenny Fran Davis
Did not finish book. Stopped at 20%.

I’m sorry this is just so so so so so bad 

A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G. Summers

challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

3.0

Casimir is not a Russian name.