s_sheppard18's reviews
307 reviews

The Christian as Minister by

informative medium-paced

4.0

A Little Light Mischief by Cat Sebastian

lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.0

It Takes Two to Tumble by Cat Sebastian

emotional hopeful medium-paced

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

3.5

Overall, just what I was looking for out of a queer period romance. This one requires a good bit of suspension of disbelief on several plot points, the most grating of which being how Ben was able to juggle his position as a vicar with caring for the children for so long. In general though, the story does what it sets out to do, and the audiobook performance was enjoyable.

Lay Servant Ministries Basic Course Participant's Book by Sandy Jackson, Brian Jackson

informative slow-paced

3.0

The Lord Is My Courage: Stepping Through the Shadows of Fear Toward the Voice of Love by K.J. Ramsey

challenging dark emotional inspiring slow-paced

4.0

A heartbreakingly authentic account of finding courage in Christ, in the midst of the desolation of spiritual abuse. I really related to this story, as an ex-vangelical Christian who finally did find my way back to a healthy church. KJ Ramsey is vulnerable and honest in her account of the toll spiritual abuse can take and in the healing that can come from the unshakable love we get from Jesus.

We Are All Ghosts in the Forest by Lorraine Wilson

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious reflective 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

4.0

I have a hard time rating this one- for me it's a 3.5 star for the majority of the book, but rounded up to a 4 star for the ending. Firstly, I have to say that the atmosphere of We Are All Ghosts in the Forest feels much more fantasy than science fiction, to me. The true "scifi" elements- a communications apocalypse, breakdown of the internet, widespread disease, etc- were all tempered by the kind of hands-waving magical fantasy I'd expect in a fantasy spec fic novel, particularly the concept of the fragmented internet ghosts which are rather poorly explained. The only thing that really makes this a scifi novel is that the background societal collapse is related to the internet. Everything else about this book is fantasy.

I mean, c'mon, she talks to bees, the forest is sentient, she does literal magic although she resists the title of "witch," how much more fantasy do you need to call it fantasy?

I get it, though. This isn't a traditional post-apocalyptic "how do we rebuild society?" kind of novel. This is a story that lives and dies by vibes alone.

And, I have to say, despite the confusion I had at the beginning, the vibes are immaculate. It was somehow spooky and cozy at the same time, and the care Katerina shows for the other characters is truly heartwarming. At it's core, this is a story of a hurting, traumatized woman trying her best to protect herself while also caring for everyone around her, and it tells that story incredibly well. 

I've seen other reviews complain that it's too slow, but the pace didn't feel slow at all to me. Sure, there were parts that seemed to serve more to set the atmosphere than advance the plot, but I personally think it works. I quite enjoyed how things were tied up at the end, even if

Katerina's homecoming was rather unrealistic, considering she had just been run out of town by an angry mob with guns.

I'm one of those that just wants the happily ever after, even if I need to suspend my disbelief a little.

Alpha of Mortal Flesh by Ben Alderson

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

4.0

I listen to Ben Alderson audiobooks at night before I go to sleep, and I have to say that this one really puts the "Dark" in "Darkmourn," enough so that I ended up not listening to it while falling asleep.

The depictions of domestic abuse were tastefully done but still a little much for a bedtime romance story.

Despite that, this book still fits well in the series and was exactly what I've come to expect and love from Alderson: boy meets monster, enemies-to-lovers, paranormal gay romance. It's tropey, it's predictable, and it's an entertaining delight.

This particular novel really hits on the question of what makes a monster? Who defines what's monstrous and why? I appreciated that overarching theme; it added some nice existential philosophy. 

In Transit: Being Non-Binary in a World of Dichotomies by Dianna E. Anderson

hopeful informative slow-paced

4.0

"No one can determine for you who you are." -Dex Anderson, In Transit

As someone quietly investigating their own gender identity, this has been an absolutely pivotal book for me to read. I really appreciated the anecdotes, and relate a lot to the author's experiences as an ex-vangelical as well as their experiences as a nonbinary person. I liked that this book included some information about gender theory, but it was pretty basic and accessible, for someone who has very limited experience with the subject. There were parts of the history and theory that confused me a bit, but I'm attributing that to me, rather than to the author.

That being said, this book is very white academic, as other reviewers have pointed out. I understand this is part-memoir, so of course a white academic is going to write from a white academic perspective, but you're still very aware of it while reading.

Overall, this was a great read for me, and for where I am in my gender identity journey. Definitely enjoyed and recommend it. 

Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle

dark emotional hopeful sad tense 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

4.5

As a queer person who was raised in conservative Christianity, and especially as a queer person who accidentally joined a conservative fundamentalist Christian cult at 18, Camp Damascus deeply resonated with me. From the description, I was expecting to relate to the main character, but I absolutely wasn't expecting to feel like I was reading a transcription of my own thoughts from that time in my life. For the entire first half of the novel, I was repeatedly struck by things the protagonist would say that felt like they were coming straight from the 18/19 year old version of myself.

I took off 1/2 a star because at times it felt like I was reading a YA novel because of how often things felt over-explained, the repeated use of "my friend" after dialogue started to drive me a little crazy, and I was confused by the narrator calling her parents by their first names or mom/dad interchangeably. All of that feels a bit nitpicky though, and absolutely does not take away from the fact that this novel hits me right where it hurts, in the best way.

I've seen some reviews mention that they think the protagonist's

quick change from total devotion to utter disillusionment is unrealistic, but I can say as someone who has both exited a fundamentalist cult and deconstructed their faith, the way this falls together for Rose is entirely believable to me.

Overall, Rose's journey is very real, aside from the supernatural horror of it all. 

Some other notes: I loved the trio that forms in the second half and was delighted by the catharsis of the ending. The vibes I got at the beginning were very stepford-wives/unreality, and it was effectively unsettling. The second half felt like an action movie with horror thrown in, but it was a great ride. The little bits of humor throughout were a nice touch. 

Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

5.0

I probably don't have anything to say about this novel that hasn't already been said, so I'll make this brief: haunting, romantic, mysterious, unsettling. Loved it.