renstrange's reviews
179 reviews

Metal from Heaven by August Clarke

adventurous mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.0

3 stars feels generous, but the first half of the book was pretty good. unfortunately, it takes over half of the book to even get to the blurb. the world-building in this book is confusing. i get the sense the author has all the answers, but they didn’t bother to put them on the page. i still don’t understand what ichorite is, exactly what it means to be lustertouched, and why that gives you powers. i also don’t have a strong sense of who marney is. how did she become the whip spider? i love the communist ideals and overt lesbianism, but it just wasn’t enough to carry this story

Freedom's Children: Young Civil Rights Activists Tell Their Own Stories by Ellen S. Levine

challenging emotional informative inspiring medium-paced

5.0

This is 1000% going to be one of the most impactful books I read this year. Hearing about the events of the Civil Rights Movement from people who were involved in it as children was such an emotional experience, as well as educational. You will be left thinking about these people, what they did, and what they went through for a long time to come.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Police brutality

Moderate: Hate crime and Murder

Minor: Rape

Witnesses to Freedom: Young People Who Fought for Civil Rights by Belinda Rochelle

emotional informative inspiring

4.5

This is a really effective text to teach fifth graders about the Civil Rights Movement. It focuses on the children and teens who fought in the movement to help them connect to what they are reading. It also doesn’t shy away from the difficult truths, both then and now. It also incorporates photos of the children and events described. I even learned some things, even though I thought I was well-educated on the Civil Rights Movement!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Police brutality

Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

adventurous challenging dark hopeful tense medium-paced

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

5.0

i mean, it’s octavia e. butler. what more do you want me to say?

Nightwood by Djuna Barnes

challenging reflective slow-paced

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

3.5

the characterization was stronger in the latter half of the book. also, there are two uses of the n-word (both by the doctor, a white character)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell

adventurous dark funny lighthearted tense medium-paced

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

4.0

this book ventures a little too close to cozy for my taste, but the weirdness and tension mostly made up for it. also, shesheshen is autistic because i say so

A Dark and Drowning Tide by Allison Saft

adventurous dark mysterious tense 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? Yes

4.5

this was an exquisite story. the writing was lush, the characters real, and the action thrilling. i kind of like the twist on a typical fantasy story this takes, where sylvia would be the protagonist in another novel and lorelei the love interest. (a take which makes more sense once you’ve finished the book). i also enjoyed the romance.

that said, i wish there had been more investigating of ziegler’s murder than just asking questions and accepting the answers as truth. and the middle dragged a little. also, i wish there was a map so i could visualize the geography of the world a little better. 

but overall, this was a good book. i definitely feel like this isn’t the end of their story. could a sequel be in our future, perhaps?

Carmilla and Laura by S.D. Simper

dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

oh i ate this up. if you love the original classic novella but wanted it to be even more explicitly gay, then you have to read this. this book is enthralling, the romance exquisite, and the characters true to sheridan’s original. it’s so well written too! this is what self-published books should be! and what a perfect book to be my first completed read of the year. 10 out of 10, would read again

Lucy Undying by Kiersten White
Did not finish book. Stopped at 17%.

this is not the first kiersten white novel i’ve dnf’d. her writing style just doesn’t click with me. i looked at some other reviews that spoil later twists and omg that would’ve pissed me off so bad. i’m so sad because i keep trying to find the perfect sapphic vampire story, but this one was not it. also, i kind of can’t stand iris.

Circe by Madeline Miller

adventurous dark emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

this was an incredible book. i can’t believe i waited so long to read it. this novel speaks directly to my soul. i love circe so much and i just want the best for her.