rnbhargava's reviews
367 reviews

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing medium-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

4.5

There are brief tense and subjectively sad parts but they’re brief and the sad ones read more introspective 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Xenophobia, Blood, Classism, and Sexual content

The sexual content isn’t depicted, just briefly mentioned. The xenophobia is emblematic in how humans don’t really interact with robots anymore so the premise of the narrative is novel and ideologically challenging for one of our leads.

The Girl from the Other Side: Siúil, a Rún Deluxe Edition I by Nagabe

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This is an excellent spin on essentially beauty and the beast. The kid is the beauty, the beast is teacher and the curse is upon many individuals and potentially animals. The child is so innocent and caring but there’s a sinister prophecy afoot. It’s compelling hearing about the circumstances for the world and how it relates to the child and her caretaker only known as Teacher. I’m excited to read further.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Body horror, Racism, Gaslighting, Grief, Hate crime, Terminal illness, Genocide, Animal death, Blood, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Violence, and Xenophobia

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad 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

4.25

This is a narrative about personal jealousy, racism in publishing and interrogating race politics 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Body horror, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Xenophobia, Cultural appropriation, Racism, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Murder, Mental illness, Misogyny, Blood, Stalking, Emotional abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Sexual content, Eating disorder, Medical content, Dysphoria, Alcohol, Body shaming, Bullying, War, Drug use, Grief, Biphobia, Classism, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, and Rape

The entire narrative of this book is about a White American woman excusing and justifying her actions against a college friend and writer colleague who is Chinese American plus the varying moods and swings in action to conceal what she is doing. We are in the mind of the white woman character the whole time and it’s intentionally uncomfortable to be in this character’s head. Pace yourself if you need to though this novel isn’t that long.

Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing sad 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

4.25

I loved so much about this Ramayana expansion and partial retelling. The highs and lows are dramatic and I love this book for it. I also love that the title character’s mind is where we exclusively reside in for this retelling given she’s usually depicted as a wicked stepmother type in many Ramayana variations. Seeing her extended family, early days of her marriage, her bonds with her fellow wives and the community of her adopted home Ayodhya. Seeing her build bonds and falter in others. Seeing her reconnect with others across time. I liked the recontextualizinv of Ravana too. The depiction of Rama is done for a specific reason and I kind of loved that surprising shift. I’m sure it ruffled some but I think fine, it’s merely one retelling so if you dislike it, disregard it. The family bonds really define the narrative here and it’s so good to read through. The characterizations of Kaikeyi’s fellow wives could have been expanded but then I guess it would take away from being solely Kaikeyi’s point of view. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Death, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Xenophobia, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Bullying, Classism, Grief, Racism, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Medical content, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Sexism, Violence, and War

The question of free will/manipulation is central to the abilities used by the title character and an few other individuals. The title character is asexual so depending on how you see it, the few sex scenes in the plot could be understood in a few ways. There is definite misogyny throughout the book, even from males that are mostly supportive of progressing rights for women. There’s a specific point in showing it that way. Going against the patriarchy and redefining society happens in time.

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense 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

The chapters are essentially a compilation of short stories that help the reader come to a consensus reaction about the personal history and lives of these mothers and daughters. You experience their joys and struggles regarding the dynamics in their personal relationships. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Genocide, Classism, Suicide, Gore, Death, Misogyny, Blood, Child death, Racism, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Violence, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Abandonment, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, War, Body shaming, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Ableism, Animal death, Infidelity, Murder, Racial slurs, Self harm, Toxic friendship, Blood, Toxic relationship, Bullying, and Slavery

Some of the triggers are overt, others are strongly suggested, perhaps in other countries in historical periods where long ago childhoods and family histories are elaborated on, in small country towns that could be called backward, clinging to old practices such as having a proper wife but also additional wives/concubines.

The World We Make by N.K. Jemisin

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense fast-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

4.25

I really loved this sequel. My minor issue with it is that some aspects of it just kind of end a bit conveniently. Some parts, that’s amusing. Others, it felt like a slightly hastened storyline. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Colonisation, Death, Gaslighting, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and War

Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Toxic friendship, Xenophobia, Car accident, Misogyny, Classism, Confinement, Deadnaming, Gore, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Stalking, and Toxic relationship

There are scenes where cities are put at risk en masse. There’s examples of characters that are clearly analogous to far right, kind of racist, supposedly religion based politicians. The idea of the soul of a city, the distinct things that give them personality is a big theme in this. The avatars are emblematic in the best ways possible. I overall love this duology. Frankly, I kind of hope Jemisin still makes it into a trilogy one day.

Spy x Family, Vol. 11 by Tatsuya Endo

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious relaxing sad tense fast-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief, Kidnapping, Child death, Gun violence, Violence, Car accident, and War

The main storyline in this volume has to do with Anya and her classmates being snatched by a radical group en route to a field trip. If anything like that sounds like too much for you, stay away.

Noragami Omnibus 4 (Vol. 10-12) by Adachitoka

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense 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

4.0

This volume deals a lot with the violent morality of gods and their shinki. It’s like a new round of set up and world building. I quite enjoyed it.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gore, Toxic relationship, Blood, Body shaming, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Bullying, Mental illness, Body horror, Gaslighting, Murder, Toxic friendship, Violence, Death, and Grief

The misogyny has to do with sexualizing and groping some female characters. The blood and violence is quite brutal. The mental illness is kind of emblematic about the nature of Shinki not knowing their names and the repercussions of if they learn them. The God master and Shinki servant dynamic is kind of like a Toxic friendship or relationship. It’s inherently imbalanced. The gods could potentially bully all of their Shinki quite a bit. The question of who holds the power is inherent.

The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, Grief, Alcoholism, Addiction, Biphobia, Body horror, Gun violence, Suicide, Miscarriage, Self harm, Torture, Trafficking, Body shaming, Toxic relationship, Classism, Death, Chronic illness, Pregnancy, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Blood, Infidelity, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Dysphoria, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Confinement, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Gore, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Rape, Slavery, Stalking, Mental illness, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Car accident, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Child abuse, Excrement, Ableism, Violence, and Bullying

There’s murder, sexual coercion and assault on underaged and of age characters mentioned and suggested. There’s drowning, confinement in tight, restrictive spaces, there’s mental and physical manipulation and torture. There’s hired hit men and lurkers. The plot has to do with a controversial cult that uses a lot of cultural appropriation of Asian religions and philosophies in the cult’s supposed doctrine. There are also scenes and depictions of endangering small children’s welfare. Cult characters assault female characters quite obviously as well. There are characters with mental and physical health problems. There’s suicide and murder. Look at the triggers.

Catwoman: Lonely City by Cliff Chiang

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense 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

4.0

This is an excellent, fairly character based take on Gotham City post-Batman starring older versions of several notable DC characters, obviously leaning toward the Batman corner of the universe but with a few interesting additions as well. It’s quite funny at points but also emotional, as I found myself getting quickly attached to these older aged versions of characters while they pull off “one last heist” basically. It’s an alternate Gotham that feels similar yet different in certain ways compared to the work in the “Batman: White Knight” which some might compare this too. Both Chiang’s work here in “Catwoman: Lonely City” and Sean Murphy’s “Batman:  White Knight” series of books are worth reading for the excellent writing and art respectively. Don’t feel like you have to choose. 

I really like the older aged twists on Poison Ivy, Killer Croc and Riddler. The older Two-Face isn’t that different. Barbara Gordon older aged is kind of similar to other older aged depictions of the character. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Alcohol, Misogyny, Police brutality, Self harm, Classism, Gaslighting, Murder, Blood, Confinement, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

How some people might think of some of the deaths and how they happen could be controversial. Please note potential for suicide vs mercy killing murder discussion.