samusc's reviews
191 reviews

Izzy at the End of the World by K.A. Reynolds

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I picked this book up because having dealt with the death of my Mom at the same age as Izzy and autism all my life, it's like looking in a mirror (complete with walkman). The pace of the writing keeps you hooked all throughout, as Izzy, Akka, and Raven look for clues to bring their families back. I really like how Reynolds discusses dreams and grief here, and the characterization given to a truck. The acknowledgements at the end are absolutely worth reading for further context.

Cash Delgado Is Living the Dream by Tehlor Kay Mejia

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emotional funny lighthearted fast-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

5.0

The Crimson Crown by Heather Walter

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dark emotional mysterious slow-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

I enjoyed this one and am looking forward to the sequel!

A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher

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challenging dark emotional funny mysterious tense fast-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

5.0

Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle

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dark emotional funny mysterious 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

5.0

The Z Word by Lindsay King-Miller

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny 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

This book was impossible to put down. The characters are messy and given the zombie genre, the fear for their lives feels real. Rainbow capitalism kills.

Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced