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quail's reviews
412 reviews
The Luminous Dead by Caitlin Starling
tense
slow-paced
2.0
r/fantasy bingo 2024-25: Under the Surface
Hard Mode: At least half the book takes place underground or underwater (DONE)
This was very very slow going. It's been languishing on my kindle forever so I figured I'd try it out, and while the premise was really good - a caver takes on a dangerous job and the book is told from her pov with only her handler for company - I thought it was a bit clumsily written with lots of repetition, I wasn't really sold on the relationship and I found both characters quite annoying tbh lol. Solid okay.
Hard Mode: At least half the book takes place underground or underwater (DONE)
This was very very slow going. It's been languishing on my kindle forever so I figured I'd try it out, and while the premise was really good - a caver takes on a dangerous job and the book is told from her pov with only her handler for company - I thought it was a bit clumsily written with lots of repetition, I wasn't really sold on the relationship and I found both characters quite annoying tbh lol. Solid okay.
Godkiller by Hannah Kaner
adventurous
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
r/fantasy bingo 2024-25: Book club or readalong book
Hard Mode: Must read a current selection of either a book club or readalong and participate in the discussion. (DONE)
I really enjoyed this one! It was light and easy to read, and it set up a lot of intrigue in the plot so far. I enjoyed the premise of godkillers being basically mercs who, well, kill gods, and I really ended up shipping the main two characters haha, which always helps. It also had really excellent portrayal of disability, with the main character being an amputee living with chronic pain, and she has a Deaf sister. The people in the discussion threads on r/fantasy seemed to think it was too basic and boring, but idk I really enjoyed it. I'll be picking up the next book for sure!
Hard Mode: Must read a current selection of either a book club or readalong and participate in the discussion. (DONE)
I really enjoyed this one! It was light and easy to read, and it set up a lot of intrigue in the plot so far. I enjoyed the premise of godkillers being basically mercs who, well, kill gods, and I really ended up shipping the main two characters haha, which always helps. It also had really excellent portrayal of disability, with the main character being an amputee living with chronic pain, and she has a Deaf sister. The people in the discussion threads on r/fantasy seemed to think it was too basic and boring, but idk I really enjoyed it. I'll be picking up the next book for sure!
The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-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
r/fantasy bingo 2024-25: Eldritch creatures
Hard Mode: The book is not related to the Cthulhu mythos. (DONE)
I already knew I loved Jackson Bennett’s writing because I devoured the Divine Cities trilogy years ago, and the Tainted Cup did not disappoint! I picked it up on a rec from someone on the booknook comm on dw, and I’m really glad I did - it was absolutely fantastic! His worldbuilding is second to none for imagination and interest imo, and I really loved the characters a lot. It was fast-paced and hilarious, and the mystery elements weren’t overwrought or drawn out too much. Also I REALLY shipped Din and his officer who’s name I have forgotten so I was very pleased by that storyline heh. Really really good, I cannot wait for the second book!!
Hard Mode: The book is not related to the Cthulhu mythos. (DONE)
I already knew I loved Jackson Bennett’s writing because I devoured the Divine Cities trilogy years ago, and the Tainted Cup did not disappoint! I picked it up on a rec from someone on the booknook comm on dw, and I’m really glad I did - it was absolutely fantastic! His worldbuilding is second to none for imagination and interest imo, and I really loved the characters a lot. It was fast-paced and hilarious, and the mystery elements weren’t overwrought or drawn out too much. Also I REALLY shipped Din and his officer who’s name I have forgotten so I was very pleased by that storyline heh. Really really good, I cannot wait for the second book!!
The Palace Job by Patrick Weekes
1.0
r/fantasy bingo 2024-25: Criminals
Hard Mode: Features a heist. (DONE)
Unfortunately coming off the high of Tainted Cup, this book was absolutely dreadful. The characters felt very one-note, the writing was trying WAY too hard to be funny, and the worldbuilding was shallow and nowhere near detailed enough to be interesting. It also just felt very idk. Almost clumsily written? It switched very quickly between POV characters but their voices weren’t developed enough for it to be noticeable, and they have a real over-reliance on epithets like “the death priestess” to refer to their characters. Also one of the romances was like.. all of a sudden we’re told this one character has a thing for another, but they've not shown us this at all so it just comes out of left field lmao. AND ALSO like, it felt uncomfortably racist at very many points. Idk, it was just not a good book. Very evident after reading an actually good book just before it which hit a lot of the notes this one was trying for but fell very flat with.
Hard Mode: Features a heist. (DONE)
Unfortunately coming off the high of Tainted Cup, this book was absolutely dreadful. The characters felt very one-note, the writing was trying WAY too hard to be funny, and the worldbuilding was shallow and nowhere near detailed enough to be interesting. It also just felt very idk. Almost clumsily written? It switched very quickly between POV characters but their voices weren’t developed enough for it to be noticeable, and they have a real over-reliance on epithets like “the death priestess” to refer to their characters. Also one of the romances was like.. all of a sudden we’re told this one character has a thing for another, but they've not shown us this at all so it just comes out of left field lmao. AND ALSO like, it felt uncomfortably racist at very many points. Idk, it was just not a good book. Very evident after reading an actually good book just before it which hit a lot of the notes this one was trying for but fell very flat with.
She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
r/fantasy bingo 2024-25: Author of Colour
Hard Mode: Must be a debut novel published in the last five years (DONE)
This was an interesting book! I think it suffered from being over-recommended like so many other books, for me. The writing was okay, lots of telling you how the characters feel in their heads which felt really repetitive. Unfortunately Ouyang was made in a lab for me, so I gave it an extra point for him lol. It seems to want to be like a war story but then it skips over most of the juicy fighting parts!! Also I'm not sure I agree with people touting it as a sapphic romance cos the main character has a complicated relationship with her gender, idk idk. It's interesting from an almost corruption arc perspective, though, I'll give it that. I heard there was more Ouyang in the next book, so I might eventually pick it up, but I'm not in a rush.
Hard Mode: Must be a debut novel published in the last five years (DONE)
This was an interesting book! I think it suffered from being over-recommended like so many other books, for me. The writing was okay, lots of telling you how the characters feel in their heads which felt really repetitive. Unfortunately Ouyang was made in a lab for me, so I gave it an extra point for him lol. It seems to want to be like a war story but then it skips over most of the juicy fighting parts!! Also I'm not sure I agree with people touting it as a sapphic romance cos the main character has a complicated relationship with her gender, idk idk. It's interesting from an almost corruption arc perspective, though, I'll give it that. I heard there was more Ouyang in the next book, so I might eventually pick it up, but I'm not in a rush.
Stormsong by C.L. Polk
emotional
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
5.0
r/fantasy bingo 2024-25: Romantasy
Hard Mode: The main character is LGBTQIA+ (DONE)
Another sequel, and another book where I couldn't remember for the life in me what the fuck happened in the first one, lmao. However, I absolutely loved it! Again, really interesting, fun worldbuilding, and I really loved the main character Grace, she was so cool. I can't wait to read the next one, so I'll be attempting to slot it in somewhere for sure.
Hard Mode: The main character is LGBTQIA+ (DONE)
Another sequel, and another book where I couldn't remember for the life in me what the fuck happened in the first one, lmao. However, I absolutely loved it! Again, really interesting, fun worldbuilding, and I really loved the main character Grace, she was so cool. I can't wait to read the next one, so I'll be attempting to slot it in somewhere for sure.
The Red Scholar's Wake by Aliette de Bodard
3.0
r/fantasy bingo 2024-25: Space Opera
Hard Mode: Written by an author of marginalized gender identity (e.g. women, trans people, non-binary people). (DONE)
I ended up not really liking this book, which was unusual because I generally enjoy de Bodard's stuff. Idk, the romance was boring and didn't feel realistic, and I wanted to know more about the worldbuilding but it was pretty shallow. Very meh and disappointing!
Hard Mode: Written by an author of marginalized gender identity (e.g. women, trans people, non-binary people). (DONE)
I ended up not really liking this book, which was unusual because I generally enjoy de Bodard's stuff. Idk, the romance was boring and didn't feel realistic, and I wanted to know more about the worldbuilding but it was pretty shallow. Very meh and disappointing!
Ninefox Gambit by Yoon Ha Lee
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
r/fantasy bingo 2024-25: Character with a Disability
Hard Mode: A main character has a physical or mental disability. (DONE)
My god, this book was a HARD read! I'm not sure if it's cos I don't really read much harder sci-fi or because I've been reading on my very tiring commute, but it took me aaages to get through. I absolutely loved it though, oh my god?? The characters are SUCH Quail Bait(tm), especially Shuos Jedao, and the politics and weird weaponry/space body horror shit were sooo much up my alley! I can't wait to read the next books, and I came out of it shipping Jedao/Cheris something rotten, holy shit.
Hard Mode: A main character has a physical or mental disability. (DONE)
My god, this book was a HARD read! I'm not sure if it's cos I don't really read much harder sci-fi or because I've been reading on my very tiring commute, but it took me aaages to get through. I absolutely loved it though, oh my god?? The characters are SUCH Quail Bait(tm), especially Shuos Jedao, and the politics and weird weaponry/space body horror shit were sooo much up my alley! I can't wait to read the next books, and I came out of it shipping Jedao/Cheris something rotten, holy shit.
Sing the Four Quarters: A Quarters Novel by Tanya Huff
adventurous
lighthearted
slow-paced
3.0
r/fantasy bingo 2024-25: Bards
Hard Mode: The character is explicitly called a bard. (DONE)
This one was another very meh book tbh! The main relationship was boring and I didn't buy it, and the characters were incredibly unlikeable. Idk maybe I'd have enjoyed it if I read it when I was younger? But as it was, not for me, although I did like the Bard magic stuff.
Hard Mode: The character is explicitly called a bard. (DONE)
This one was another very meh book tbh! The main relationship was boring and I didn't buy it, and the characters were incredibly unlikeable. Idk maybe I'd have enjoyed it if I read it when I was younger? But as it was, not for me, although I did like the Bard magic stuff.
Kushiel's Chosen by Jacqueline Carey
adventurous
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
5.0
r/fantasy bingo 2024-25: Dreams
Hard Mode: The dream is not mystical or unusual, just a normal dream or nightmare. (DONE)
I was really looking forward to going back to this series and this book absolutely did not disappoint! I loved it as much as the first book, if not more - there was so much chewy politics and travelling and relationship drama with Phedre and Joscelin, oh my god! As usual, I'm really looking forward to the next ones in the series!
Hard Mode: The dream is not mystical or unusual, just a normal dream or nightmare. (DONE)
I was really looking forward to going back to this series and this book absolutely did not disappoint! I loved it as much as the first book, if not more - there was so much chewy politics and travelling and relationship drama with Phedre and Joscelin, oh my god! As usual, I'm really looking forward to the next ones in the series!