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quasinaut's reviews
199 reviews
Battle Magic by Tamora Pierce
adventurous
challenging
emotional
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
4.0
Briar, Rosethorn, and Evvy find themselves in a fraught political situation that turns into a devastating war. I loved spending time with these characters and getting their individual perspectives. Plus, we were introduced to some delightful supporting characters (Parahan, Luvo, and Jimut, to name a few).
There were definitely elements that didn't get fully fleshed out, or that I thought would play a bigger part than they did, or that resolved too quickly. It felt like maybe Tamora Pierce struggled with figuring out whether she was writing for kids, teens, or adults -- or perhaps there just needed to be tighter editing for consistency.
All in all, some of my favorite character interactions and world building, with some issues around pacing and tone.
There were definitely elements that didn't get fully fleshed out, or that I thought would play a bigger part than they did, or that resolved too quickly. It felt like maybe Tamora Pierce struggled with figuring out whether she was writing for kids, teens, or adults -- or perhaps there just needed to be tighter editing for consistency.
All in all, some of my favorite character interactions and world building, with some issues around pacing and tone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Torture, Violence, and War
Moderate: Slavery, Medical content, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit
A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I was happy to return to the world inhabited by Dex and Mosscap. Mosscap's wonder at nature and humans and human nature is a delight -- though I appreciate seeing how Mosscap's constant questioning and unintentional obtuseness sometimes grates on Dex. Definitely relatable!
Not much happens, but it's just nice to see how humans have adapted to live in intentional harmony with their world, and how the people and communities that Dex and Mosscap meet along their journey welcome these two in their own ways.
Not much happens, but it's just nice to see how humans have adapted to live in intentional harmony with their world, and how the people and communities that Dex and Mosscap meet along their journey welcome these two in their own ways.
Spare by Prince Harry
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
3.75
It's tricky to separate my thoughts about the book from my thoughts about Harry and Meghan and the larger story surrounding them. The book was fine; there were through lines that we kept returning to at key points, and I suspect a lot of credit can go to the ghost writer for bringing cohesion to the book.
Overall, I found Harry to be not particularly sympathetic, mostly when he would acknowledge mistakes he's made, but without apologizing. That said, he showed the depth of his struggles from being born into the royal family and the loss of privacy, warmth, and freedom that comes with that.
On the other side of things, I'm incredibly sympathetic to Harry and Meghan as a unit. I think it's remarkable that Harry found someone who seems so extraordinarily well-matched for him.
Also, I listened to the audiobook, and it was quite entertaining hearing Harry approximate an American accent when the occasion arose. Amazing.
I wouldn't say I got much out of reading Spare, though I'm not surprised by that as I'm only rather casually interested in the royal family, but honestly I hope it was therapeutic for Harry to write.
Overall, I found Harry to be not particularly sympathetic, mostly when he would acknowledge mistakes he's made, but without apologizing. That said, he showed the depth of his struggles from being born into the royal family and the loss of privacy, warmth, and freedom that comes with that.
On the other side of things, I'm incredibly sympathetic to Harry and Meghan as a unit. I think it's remarkable that Harry found someone who seems so extraordinarily well-matched for him.
Also, I listened to the audiobook, and it was quite entertaining hearing Harry approximate an American accent when the occasion arose. Amazing.
I wouldn't say I got much out of reading Spare, though I'm not surprised by that as I'm only rather casually interested in the royal family, but honestly I hope it was therapeutic for Harry to write.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and War
Moderate: Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent
Minor: Miscarriage
Paris Daillencourt Is About to Crumble by Alexis Hall
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
It was lovely to return to the setting, characters, and structure of Bake Expectations -- and the brief call backs to "last season" were nice touches. Overall, I wish a bit more had happened in this book. For so much of it, we were trapped in Paris's mind, which absolutely made sense for the story, but I don't know, maybe we could have had Tariq's point of view, too?
Other thoughts: I liked Morag's vibe but found her treatment of Paris to be off-putting rather than endearing. Tariq was wonderful and pragmatic and wise beyond his years (in a "not very believable for a 20-year-old" way) but I loved that he was able to put his thoughts into words. His approach to Bake Expectations, saying "it's silly to go into something without knowing what you want to get out of it", was so sensible. Minor quibble, but Alexis Hall's language can be quite fun and descriptive, but at times the wordplay can be just too much.
Other thoughts: I liked Morag's vibe but found her treatment of Paris to be off-putting rather than endearing. Tariq was wonderful and pragmatic and wise beyond his years (in a "not very believable for a 20-year-old" way) but I loved that he was able to put his thoughts into words. His approach to Bake Expectations, saying "it's silly to go into something without knowing what you want to get out of it", was so sensible. Minor quibble, but Alexis Hall's language can be quite fun and descriptive, but at times the wordplay can be just too much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Abandonment
Into Every Generation a Slayer is Born: How Buffy Staked Our Hearts by Evan Ross Katz
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
Informative and thorough, if sometimes repetitive. I think this could have benefited from a different structure -- earlier chapters recapped each season one by one, while later chapters delved into specific topics like sexuality and race and language. I liked how interviews and quotations were threaded throughout, but I think it would have worked well to also interweave the plot summaries and commentary together rather than go through them separately.
It was interesting to see which characters and elements were given more attention while others were barely mentioned (like, I'm not saying we need to spend a lot of time on, say, Wesley, but I think he was mentioned maybe once, in passing?). It felt like we were at the whims of the author and his interests -- which is fine! It's his book! -- but I was looking for something a little different.
It was interesting to see which characters and elements were given more attention while others were barely mentioned (like, I'm not saying we need to spend a lot of time on, say, Wesley, but I think he was mentioned maybe once, in passing?). It felt like we were at the whims of the author and his interests -- which is fine! It's his book! -- but I was looking for something a little different.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Melting Stones by Tamora Pierce
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book just didn't grab me. I listened to the audiobook and while most of the narration and music were well executed, I found some of the voices were annoying.
I didn't understand why it would be a surprise that a volcano was brewing. In general, I wanted more depth -- I would have liked to see more of Oswin and his ingenuity, and learned more about Nori and the other orphaned children. One bright spot? Seeing how Evvy gradually grew to care for the islanders, especially Meryem.
I didn't understand why it would be a surprise that a volcano was brewing. In general, I wanted more depth -- I would have liked to see more of Oswin and his ingenuity, and learned more about Nori and the other orphaned children. One bright spot? Seeing how Evvy gradually grew to care for the islanders, especially Meryem.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death, Physical abuse, Death of parent, and War
Gwinna by Barbara Helen Berger
4.25
A beautifully illustrated chapter book about a girl whose unusual origins leads her to a life of adventure and music and nature. Quite lovely and slow, though the plot often felt so passive -- like events happened to Gwinna rather than her taking action for herself.
The Lazy Genius Way: Embrace What Matters, Ditch What Doesn't, and Get Stuff Done by Kendra Adachi
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Some solid advice, with a few Lazy Genius principles that will be useful and actionable. I appreciate Kendra's pep-talk-y approach but alas, with 13 principles, that's a few too many for me to effectively keep track of.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder
Minor: Emotional abuse
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.0
I listened to this in bits and pieces over the past few months. There were some truly touching moments and memories connected through food and culture and disagreement and grief and love. I'm glad I listened to the audiobook, narrated by the author, especially so I could hear the pronunciations of the Korean names and foods. Unfortunately, as happens with audiobooks for me, I've already forgotten many of the details, with only a few notable, heart-rending passages -- like the discovery of photos in the kimchi fridge -- sticking with me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Abortion
The Will of the Empress by Tamora Pierce
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I love seeing Daja, Tris, Sandry, and Briar come back to each other! Where the Circle Opens books asked them all to behave like adults (despite being 13/14), this book realistically portrays them as 18-year-olds who are flirting and developing crushes, dealing with trauma, and getting on each other's nerves.
In addition, I like seeing the court intrigue that plays out with the empress, rife with friendships and betrayals while the four foster siblings are reknitting together as they're submerged in an environment unknown to them. All in all, a solid plot featuring these four almost-adults as well as some fantastic new side characters, like Gudruny, Zhegorz, and Ambros.
In addition, I like seeing the court intrigue that plays out with the empress, rife with friendships and betrayals while the four foster siblings are reknitting together as they're submerged in an environment unknown to them. All in all, a solid plot featuring these four almost-adults as well as some fantastic new side characters, like Gudruny, Zhegorz, and Ambros.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Kidnapping
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: War