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raysberry's reviews
37 reviews
The Burning God by R.F. Kuang
5.0
Holy fucking shit this wrecked me what. I cannot bring my thoughts into a coherent account so this shall serve as a placeholder until I can. Just know that this was the best book of the trilogy and that I worried my friends with the visceral ways I reacted to the twists and turns.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
3.75
So much to talk about here. First of I’m gonna say that this isn’t a cash grab. Suzanne Collins had a story to tell and I liked it well enough.
What I didn’t like: Too many songs and ballads etc. At some point my eyes just skipped parts because they were so long and felt irrelevant (though they probably had deeper meanings). I feel like the book could’ve benefited from a second POV. Though that’s highly subjective and may have undermined the message. It also felt too long at times, especially the descriptions of mundane activities served more to irritate than immerse.
What I liked: Coriolanus Snow is such an interesting protagonist. It’s truly impressive how well Collins crafts the narrative to reflect Snows reasoning and justifications while showing his errors and how he’s lying to himself. Lucy Gray is also intriguing, more so if she had a POV in her own right I think. I wish we got more of her.
The ending felt rushed. I would’ve preferred it to have been more fleshed out and instead cut what I previously mentioned. It would’ve been more satisfying that way, though I get that isn’t necessarily the point of the story.
All in all I can say that this novel is very well written. It’s just not my cup of tea in some regards which doesn’t make it bad. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys an unreliable narrator and unlikeable protagonist and doesn’t mind slower pacing.
What I didn’t like: Too many songs and ballads etc. At some point my eyes just skipped parts because they were so long and felt irrelevant (though they probably had deeper meanings). I feel like the book could’ve benefited from a second POV. Though that’s highly subjective and may have undermined the message. It also felt too long at times, especially the descriptions of mundane activities served more to irritate than immerse.
What I liked: Coriolanus Snow is such an interesting protagonist. It’s truly impressive how well Collins crafts the narrative to reflect Snows reasoning and justifications while showing his errors and how he’s lying to himself. Lucy Gray is also intriguing, more so if she had a POV in her own right I think. I wish we got more of her.
The ending felt rushed. I would’ve preferred it to have been more fleshed out and instead cut what I previously mentioned. It would’ve been more satisfying that way, though I get that isn’t necessarily the point of the story.
All in all I can say that this novel is very well written. It’s just not my cup of tea in some regards which doesn’t make it bad. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys an unreliable narrator and unlikeable protagonist and doesn’t mind slower pacing.
If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio
slow-paced
3.0
I don’t wanna get crucified by the fandom of this book so I’ll be brief.
It just wasn’t for me. I know the characters are supposed to be pretentious, it just also felt like the author was pretentious too. It was too fast and then too slow, the aesthetic was awesome but there wasn’t much substance to it. Considering the dark matters it handles, the main character felt underdeveloped until the very end. Or maybe I just couldn’t connect to people with so different lives from me.
The author wrote a book for a very specific demographic it seem, I just didn’t happen to be in it.
It just wasn’t for me. I know the characters are supposed to be pretentious, it just also felt like the author was pretentious too. It was too fast and then too slow, the aesthetic was awesome but there wasn’t much substance to it. Considering the dark matters it handles, the main character felt underdeveloped until the very end. Or maybe I just couldn’t connect to people with so different lives from me.
The author wrote a book for a very specific demographic it seem, I just didn’t happen to be in it.
This Is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone, Amal El-Mohtar
5.0
Tell me something true, or tell me nothing at all.
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I simply can’t rave about this book enough. It’s quite possible the best fantasy book I’ve read in years.
This book shows why I love fantasy. It’s incredibly well written, you can really tell the author has a background in history. It’s terrifying and sickening and captivating. The characters are horrible and made me cry for them.
I don’t give books five stars often. For that to happen they have to be on point from the beginning. They have to stick with me even after I’ve finished it.
The Poppy War does all that and more. The next book arrives in less than two days and physically have to stop myself from reading it online before that.
This book shows why I love fantasy. It’s incredibly well written, you can really tell the author has a background in history. It’s terrifying and sickening and captivating. The characters are horrible and made me cry for them.
I don’t give books five stars often. For that to happen they have to be on point from the beginning. They have to stick with me even after I’ve finished it.
The Poppy War does all that and more. The next book arrives in less than two days and physically have to stop myself from reading it online before that.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
slow-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
4.25
I really really liked this.
It was hard to get into at first since I’ve never read an English book this old, so I struggled to understand. But it got better over time. And the story was worth it. There’s so much nuance in Austen’s writing. The characters and story are so well crafted and inspired me to learn about this time period. It’s probably my favourite classic I’ve ever read.
(Also, how could you not love Mr. Darcy. Come on, he’s the blue print.)
The reason why it’s not higher rated is that the ending felt a little too short for me, I would’ve liked to learn a bit more about how their future is going to be. Also that there was too much focus on unlikeable side characters and not enough on the romance.
It was hard to get into at first since I’ve never read an English book this old, so I struggled to understand. But it got better over time. And the story was worth it. There’s so much nuance in Austen’s writing. The characters and story are so well crafted and inspired me to learn about this time period. It’s probably my favourite classic I’ve ever read.
(Also, how could you not love Mr. Darcy. Come on, he’s the blue print.)
The reason why it’s not higher rated is that the ending felt a little too short for me, I would’ve liked to learn a bit more about how their future is going to be. Also that there was too much focus on unlikeable side characters and not enough on the romance.
Emma by Jane Austen
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It’s too long. I felt like we were going in circles. I really enjoyed it until Emma just did not learn again and again. I can see how that’d be more interesting for someone who has a higher tolerance for arrogant/static/obnoxious characters but I do not.
Jane Austen was kinda right when she said „[Emma] is a character that no one but myself will much like.“ but that’s fine. I really liked the satire and comedy though, Austen is a really witty writer, which is why I enjoy her works generally.
Jane Austen was kinda right when she said „[Emma] is a character that no one but myself will much like.“ but that’s fine. I really liked the satire and comedy though, Austen is a really witty writer, which is why I enjoy her works generally.
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
3.75
Of all Emily Henry books this one is my least favourite. The constant flashbacks to past years are a nice concept but also slow the pace down too much. Shorter would’ve been sweeter in that case.
As always, Henry writes beautifully (especially the erotic scenes) which is the saving grace of this book because it certainly weren’t the characters.
Poppy and Gus are hard to root for. They feel unfinished, like they were still in the drafting stage. Or maybe I just didn’t like them, who’s to say.
It just takes them too long to get together.I just don’t buy that they were friends for so long with no relationship with all that apparent attraction. The revelation that they had an intimate moment before also was very obvious and not special enough to warrant the secrecy surrounding it for so long.
Emily Henry can do better, which is why I’m so harsh with this review. I enjoyed listening to this book because I enjoy her writing but everything else really isn’t that great. I suggest checking out her other works (especially beach read) over this one universally.
As always, Henry writes beautifully (especially the erotic scenes) which is the saving grace of this book because it certainly weren’t the characters.
Poppy and Gus are hard to root for. They feel unfinished, like they were still in the drafting stage. Or maybe I just didn’t like them, who’s to say.
It just takes them too long to get together.
Emily Henry can do better, which is why I’m so harsh with this review. I enjoyed listening to this book because I enjoy her writing but everything else really isn’t that great. I suggest checking out her other works (especially beach read) over this one universally.
Corpus Delicti. Ein Prozess by Juli Zeh
2.5
Very much meh. Had to read it for school and it wasn’t BAD but it also was far from great. If it wasn’t for school I would’ve DNFed it, no questions asked. The characters are cardboard cutouts and the author basically beats you with her message over and over until every last one of her readers understands that—SHOCKER—this system is BAD.
It’s kind of exhausting to read, the redeeming qualities being Kramer and some of the interactions. I like him well enough, much more than any other character.
The twist regardingMoritz’s innocence was also pretty okay, though there are some logistical qualms to be had.
All in all an okay read for school but it’s pretty obvious the author wants to lecture her readers on what to take away from the book and also on real life issues which I don’t appreciate.
It’s kind of exhausting to read, the redeeming qualities being Kramer and some of the interactions. I like him well enough, much more than any other character.
The twist regarding
All in all an okay read for school but it’s pretty obvious the author wants to lecture her readers on what to take away from the book and also on real life issues which I don’t appreciate.