Scan barcode
sauvageloup's reviews
526 reviews
The Only Light Left Burning by Erik J. Brown
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
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
a cracking conclusion to the duology!
pros:
- I think I actually enjoyed this more than the first, though its fairly close. there was some great original ideas, like the ice cream truck and the attitudes of the different people they bump into.
- the plot felt a bit tighter, as they were always driving towards or away from something, not just wandering (hard in an apocalypse world!).
- poor Andrew suffered a great deal of angst, as did Jamie, I thought it was well dealt with, especially the longer lasting effects of their injuries (though Jamie isnt effected much)
- I loved the side characters a lot, including the Kid, henri, cara, Taylor and jamar, rocky horror, daphne, etc. etc. and I think they were all well introduced bc i didn't struggle to remember names, they were all so different.
- I loved that henri got to see her daughters, and it was cool that Denton and Howard got their 2nd chance to be better people. and I loved the addition of Newt lol. and the ending was perfect, with the mix of the cabin for Jamie but the community for Andrew, which Jamie was embracing too.
- I continued to love Andrew especially with his jokes and coping mechanisms.
- oh and I absolutely loved the amount of queer characters we got in this one, and rocky horror was brilliant especially, I loved how his being trans was discussed, and tha he had so much personality besides it too.
cons:
- I didn't love their relationship quite as much in this one. I thought Andrew was being pretty blockheaded in not understanding why Jamie had hardened and wanted to protect them, and his paranoia and defensiveness was clearly trauma. the revelation from Andrew that Jamie was 'just scared' came within about 2 paragraphs at the end and felt pretty abrupt and like, yes obviously.
- while I thought the plot was better than the first book, it still didn't have the taut-ness of something like station 11. there were points, especially when they were tooing and froing from places where I felt like they should just get on with it and it was frustrating rather than building anticipation.
but overall, I did enjoy it a lot and I think the characters were the highlight, maybe especially the side characters. a good read.
pros:
- I think I actually enjoyed this more than the first, though its fairly close. there was some great original ideas, like the ice cream truck and the attitudes of the different people they bump into.
- the plot felt a bit tighter, as they were always driving towards or away from something, not just wandering (hard in an apocalypse world!).
- poor Andrew suffered a great deal of angst, as did Jamie, I thought it was well dealt with, especially the longer lasting effects of their injuries (though Jamie isnt effected much)
- I loved the side characters a lot, including the Kid, henri, cara, Taylor and jamar, rocky horror, daphne, etc. etc. and I think they were all well introduced bc i didn't struggle to remember names, they were all so different.
- I continued to love Andrew especially with his jokes and coping mechanisms.
- oh and I absolutely loved the amount of queer characters we got in this one, and rocky horror was brilliant especially, I loved how his being trans was discussed, and tha he had so much personality besides it too.
cons:
- I didn't love their relationship quite as much in this one. I thought Andrew was being pretty blockheaded in not understanding why Jamie had hardened and wanted to protect them, and his paranoia and defensiveness was clearly trauma. the revelation from Andrew that Jamie was 'just scared' came within about 2 paragraphs at the end and felt pretty abrupt and like, yes obviously.
- while I thought the plot was better than the first book, it still didn't have the taut-ness of something like station 11. there were points, especially when they were tooing and froing from places where I felt like they should just get on with it and it was frustrating rather than building anticipation.
but overall, I did enjoy it a lot and I think the characters were the highlight, maybe especially the side characters. a good read.
All That's Left in the World by Erik J. Brown
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
queer and apocalyptic - perfect for me!
pros:
- loved the set up and the characters, the boys both have their own struggles and their voices came through pretty clearly, esp at the start.
- enjoyed the side characters, like Henri and Cara, when they popped up.
- I liked their slow burn romance and how love crept up on both of them, it didn't feel forced.
- the world building that there was was good and interesting.
- the dialogue overall flowed well and I didn't find it cringe considering its portraying teens.
- of course I enjoyed the queer spin on the apocalypse, with it being highlighted the dangers of coming out to strangers/being clocked as queer in such an unpredictable environment, and having the romance be queer.
cons:
- I wouldn't say the writing is groundbreaking, its direct and keeps up the pace and it does paint some nice scenes, but it also felt basic and a bit clunky at times. I know its aimed at a YA audience but that doesn't excuse somewhat plain prose.
- also, apocalyptic fic is fun bc of the tropes, but I also felt maybe this didn't have a lot of originality? of course the characters being queer is an important addition, but it felt like the main or only change in the typical apocalypse storyline of - everyone dies, alone ppl find others, the group is tyrannical and bloodthirsty, characters have a dark past, spunky survivalist helps them, they go searching across the country for a lost person, eating cold food, getting shot, etc. Whereas, say, station 11 had a new angle with the comic and the preacher and the travelling musicians...
- I felt the differentiation between the boys voices got lost a bit in the middle and i forgot who i was reading for a bit as they sounded the same, which was a shame as Andrew had quite a distinct and different tone at the start.
overall, I enjoyed it a lot and liked what Brown was going for, but found it a bit lacking in writing sophistication and originality at times.
pros:
- loved the set up and the characters, the boys both have their own struggles and their voices came through pretty clearly, esp at the start.
- enjoyed the side characters, like Henri and Cara, when they popped up.
- I liked their slow burn romance and how love crept up on both of them, it didn't feel forced.
- the world building that there was was good and interesting.
- the dialogue overall flowed well and I didn't find it cringe considering its portraying teens.
- of course I enjoyed the queer spin on the apocalypse, with it being highlighted the dangers of coming out to strangers/being clocked as queer in such an unpredictable environment, and having the romance be queer.
cons:
- I wouldn't say the writing is groundbreaking, its direct and keeps up the pace and it does paint some nice scenes, but it also felt basic and a bit clunky at times. I know its aimed at a YA audience but that doesn't excuse somewhat plain prose.
- also, apocalyptic fic is fun bc of the tropes, but I also felt maybe this didn't have a lot of originality? of course the characters being queer is an important addition, but it felt like the main or only change in the typical apocalypse storyline of - everyone dies, alone ppl find others, the group is tyrannical and bloodthirsty, characters have a dark past, spunky survivalist helps them, they go searching across the country for a lost person, eating cold food, getting shot, etc. Whereas, say, station 11 had a new angle with the comic and the preacher and the travelling musicians...
- I felt the differentiation between the boys voices got lost a bit in the middle and i forgot who i was reading for a bit as they sounded the same, which was a shame as Andrew had quite a distinct and different tone at the start.
overall, I enjoyed it a lot and liked what Brown was going for, but found it a bit lacking in writing sophistication and originality at times.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Outing, and Injury/Injury detail
Queer, There and Everywhere: 23 People Who Changed the World by Sarah Prager
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
an important book with a good effort but its tone and details missed the mark somewhat
pros:
- brilliant that such a book exists and I love the idea very much
- I had heard of very few of these people so it was educational for me definitely and it made me want to learn more about them
- bringing to light lesser known queer histories is so important, not just so we remember how hard rights were fought for, but who did that fighting and how it was achieved.
- as it was written in 2017, I do wonder how the author would update it now and reflect the current situation, especially in the United states where rights have slipped backwards.
- I did appreciate that the writing was accessible and friendly to a younger audience and was not difficult at all to read in a literal sense.
- I especially liked the introduction actually highlighting where each country/region stands and its rough history, including native peoples.
- I did also appreciate how it included trans and nonbinary people a great deal and treated pronouns with great thoughtfulness. it also highlighted how trans ppl helped fight for gay rights, and then weren't supported in return - it's so important for queer ppl to back each other.
cons:
- others have highlighted that ita a fairly white and US/western focused detailing of queer history. I would have enjoyed something more on indigenous peoples and Africans, but Prager does discuss this, about how she struggled to find the detail to do it.
- I think a lot of nuance was missed, that was my main issue. I'm aware I'm not the target audience (a teenager) but this was VERY broad strokes and I felt especially with the ancient figures there was a lot of.. hand waving going on. like, it was never mentioned that Joan of Arc's voices could have been schizophrenia, or could have been a ploy so she could enact her plans. that Elabalus is depicted as just a fabulous emperor and the question of the consent of her lovers isnt touched upon at all, nor how Roman's may have accepted sex with young boys, but that's not a good thing or a queer win? also sylvia rivera having to turn tricks at 10 years old fo survive... there wasnt a mention of what a tragedy that is. it was briefly mentioned how Kristina had absolutely no forward thinking ideas on women's rights, but just considered themself not quite one, but this was never discussed.
- so the tone felt off in places to me. it might be for teenagers but Prager addresses some very dark and troubled history, with rape, torture, persecution, and her inserts of sarcasm and lightheadedness feel entirely off at times. I suppose it's meant to be uplifting but I think we should acknowledge the depth of awfulness too, without forcing a lightness.
- so the book couldnt decide what it wanted to be, I think, a light and joyful touch on queer history, or addressing the horrors queer ppl have faced (like the harrowing account of Josef Kohout) and I dont think it could be both.
overall, an informative read that was both upsetting and uplifting, but had some conflict in the tone of writing when trying to convey both of these feelings.
pros:
- brilliant that such a book exists and I love the idea very much
- I had heard of very few of these people so it was educational for me definitely and it made me want to learn more about them
- bringing to light lesser known queer histories is so important, not just so we remember how hard rights were fought for, but who did that fighting and how it was achieved.
- as it was written in 2017, I do wonder how the author would update it now and reflect the current situation, especially in the United states where rights have slipped backwards.
- I did appreciate that the writing was accessible and friendly to a younger audience and was not difficult at all to read in a literal sense.
- I especially liked the introduction actually highlighting where each country/region stands and its rough history, including native peoples.
- I did also appreciate how it included trans and nonbinary people a great deal and treated pronouns with great thoughtfulness. it also highlighted how trans ppl helped fight for gay rights, and then weren't supported in return - it's so important for queer ppl to back each other.
cons:
- others have highlighted that ita a fairly white and US/western focused detailing of queer history. I would have enjoyed something more on indigenous peoples and Africans, but Prager does discuss this, about how she struggled to find the detail to do it.
- I think a lot of nuance was missed, that was my main issue. I'm aware I'm not the target audience (a teenager) but this was VERY broad strokes and I felt especially with the ancient figures there was a lot of.. hand waving going on. like, it was never mentioned that Joan of Arc's voices could have been schizophrenia, or could have been a ploy so she could enact her plans. that Elabalus is depicted as just a fabulous emperor and the question of the consent of her lovers isnt touched upon at all, nor how Roman's may have accepted sex with young boys, but that's not a good thing or a queer win? also sylvia rivera having to turn tricks at 10 years old fo survive... there wasnt a mention of what a tragedy that is. it was briefly mentioned how Kristina had absolutely no forward thinking ideas on women's rights, but just considered themself not quite one, but this was never discussed.
- so the tone felt off in places to me. it might be for teenagers but Prager addresses some very dark and troubled history, with rape, torture, persecution, and her inserts of sarcasm and lightheadedness feel entirely off at times. I suppose it's meant to be uplifting but I think we should acknowledge the depth of awfulness too, without forcing a lightness.
- so the book couldnt decide what it wanted to be, I think, a light and joyful touch on queer history, or addressing the horrors queer ppl have faced (like the harrowing account of Josef Kohout) and I dont think it could be both.
overall, an informative read that was both upsetting and uplifting, but had some conflict in the tone of writing when trying to convey both of these feelings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Xenophobia, and Murder
Moderate: Biphobia, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Genocide, Infertility, Infidelity, Sexual content, Police brutality, Outing, Dysphoria, and War
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Car accident, and Colonisation
most triggers are touched on very briefly but can be graphic in that short description
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
4.0
a highly compelling, complicated and vicious book that was mostly brilliant but fell slightly short
pros:
- I dont think I've ever read such an obviously unreliable narrator or such an asshole main character and i thoroughly found that a fascinating experience. June is a terrible human, truly, but she's also vulnerable, hurt, exquisitely lonely and very human. she has her attacks of guilt and genuinely feels for some people, like Mr Lee at the Chinese talk, and yet other times completely lacks and compassion or respect.
- kuang writes at the end how its loneliness that really fucks everyone up, and I think June really suffers from being in an echo chamber and violently rejecting anyone who says different as being an attack on her. She has her group chat just agreeing with her, until she does something even they cant excuse, and her publishers enable her behaviour and worsen it, by letting her bully candice, reject a sensitivity reader, alter her name and ruin the actual point of athena's narrative. June takes the first crucial step in her terrible decisions but its the publishers that nail her in her coffin.
- I liked how athena had her major flaws, but also how it was highlighted that even Own Voices can be criticised for not being "good enough" representation.
- I felt like the basic undercurrent was that you couldnt live on others approval. June wanted so desperately to be loved and adored that she did despicable things and made herself completely unhappy. athena had found a way to work the system, and she was messed up too, but her entire identity wasnt tied to public opinion like June's was.
- I liked the twists and turns, like I didnt guess it was Candice though all the signs were there, and how you had no idea where that encounter was going to go. but much of it also felt inevitable, like watching a tragedy because June got greedy and stole more so it had to all be exposed.
- I also liked how all the side characters came in, and were given roles and personalities and voices that influenced the narrative, like Daniella, Rory, June's mother, athena's mother, Geoff, candice, etc. they all threaded in and out in what seemed a very natural way.
cons:
- I did feel the book sagged a little in the middle. the pacing slipped a bit at times in the middle of June's ramblings and it didnt hit as punchily as the start and finish.
- also did feel that the ending was quite a change of tone or pacing, and felt somewhat rushed, though it was gripping to see how utterly June had lost herself (though I did wonder whether that had pushed her evil evilness beyond plausible belief.)
so overall, an impressive, and thought provoking read which was only slightly off on some pacing, I thought
pros:
- I dont think I've ever read such an obviously unreliable narrator or such an asshole main character and i thoroughly found that a fascinating experience. June is a terrible human, truly, but she's also vulnerable, hurt, exquisitely lonely and very human. she has her attacks of guilt and genuinely feels for some people, like Mr Lee at the Chinese talk, and yet other times completely lacks and compassion or respect.
- kuang writes at the end how its loneliness that really fucks everyone up, and I think June really suffers from being in an echo chamber and violently rejecting anyone who says different as being an attack on her. She has her group chat just agreeing with her, until she does something even they cant excuse, and her publishers enable her behaviour and worsen it, by letting her bully candice, reject a sensitivity reader, alter her name and ruin the actual point of athena's narrative. June takes the first crucial step in her terrible decisions but its the publishers that nail her in her coffin.
- I liked how athena had her major flaws, but also how it was highlighted that even Own Voices can be criticised for not being "good enough" representation.
- I felt like the basic undercurrent was that you couldnt live on others approval. June wanted so desperately to be loved and adored that she did despicable things and made herself completely unhappy. athena had found a way to work the system, and she was messed up too, but her entire identity wasnt tied to public opinion like June's was.
- I liked the twists and turns,
- I also liked how all the side characters came in, and were given roles and personalities and voices that influenced the narrative, like Daniella, Rory, June's mother, athena's mother, Geoff, candice, etc. they all threaded in and out in what seemed a very natural way.
cons:
- I did feel the book sagged a little in the middle. the pacing slipped a bit at times in the middle of June's ramblings and it didnt hit as punchily as the start and finish.
- also did feel that the ending was quite a change of tone or pacing, and felt somewhat rushed, though it was gripping to see how utterly June had lost herself (though I did wonder whether that had pushed her evil evilness beyond plausible belief.)
so overall, an impressive, and thought provoking read which was only slightly off on some pacing, I thought
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Racism
Moderate: Rape, Violence, and Vomit
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail by Ashley Herring Blake
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.0
a fun romance that bops along at a fast clip with enough angst to keep it interesting
pros:
- the characters are interesting and have their own complications, all of which was nicely developed and tied up well by the end.
- I liked the side characters too, like Iris, Delilah, Simon, etc. Although I havent read the first book, I felt like I had plenty of context and could still get the rough outline of the various relationships.
- I liked Jordan and Astrid a lot and how they fit together worked well.
- also liked the angst and twists, as well as the backdrop of the romance with the inn and TV show adding more drama.
cons:
- some parts felt pretty unrealistic or arranged, like Jordan coming up with such an incredible design that everyone loves even though shes never designed in her life, and getting offered a TV/magazine deal over it. and Astrid being an amazing Baker even though she only did a tiny bit like 10 years ago.
- also their reactions to things, like Astrid suddenly feeling so bad for yelling at Jordan, when she did actually ruin a very expensive dress. or her mother suddenly apologising. I guess my point is the HEA felt a bit shoved in at times, rather than natural, or accepting that some things arent fixable.
but overall, it was a rly fun romp and pretty gripping.
pros:
- the characters are interesting and have their own complications, all of which was nicely developed and tied up well by the end.
- I liked the side characters too, like Iris, Delilah, Simon, etc. Although I havent read the first book, I felt like I had plenty of context and could still get the rough outline of the various relationships.
- I liked Jordan and Astrid a lot and how they fit together worked well.
- also liked the angst and twists, as well as the backdrop of the romance with the inn and TV show adding more drama.
cons:
- some parts felt pretty unrealistic or arranged, like Jordan coming up with such an incredible design that everyone loves even though shes never designed in her life, and getting offered a TV/magazine deal over it. and Astrid being an amazing Baker even though she only did a tiny bit like 10 years ago.
- also their reactions to things, like Astrid suddenly feeling so bad for yelling at Jordan, when she did actually ruin a very expensive dress. or her mother suddenly apologising. I guess my point is the HEA felt a bit shoved in at times, rather than natural, or accepting that some things arent fixable.
but overall, it was a rly fun romp and pretty gripping.
The Silent Wife by Karin Slaughter
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
4.0
Really excellent writing and v compelling
pros:
- the writing was gripping and I never quite knew where the story was going until the very end.
- I liked the characters overall, especially Will, and I thought they behaved pretty realistically, especially with Faith's rambling and all their complicated relationships between each other.
- I appreciated that even though this was a late book and mixed 2 series, I still had a good feel for what had gone on most of the time, which is quite impressive
- the case was very compelling and you were 100% gunning for this awful guy to be caught.
- it definitely made me want to go back to the start of the series and see how will and Sara had got to where they are.
cons:
- the details were just... so graphic and explicit and disturbing at times that I struggled with it, and it lingered in my mind with horrible images. that's the main reason I'm hesitant to read more of her work.
- also, from an outside perspective, Jeffrey is just a shit head and I had no love for him at all. I assume his history with Sara somehow redeems him but I loathed him in this context and didnt feel any connection to his chapters
- there were a lot of characters (also cus i was coming in fresh to the series) so i lost track sometimes, esp when just surnames were used randomly.
- I had kind of hoped the title meant that Jeffrey was corrupt like Daryl said and Sara had kept silent about it, that seemed like a cool use of the title and the story, but it didn't link in like that.
- I did like the ending, though felt like some other reviewers that it was a bit abrupt/awkwardly tied in maybe?
overall, very well written and compelling but struggled with the graphicness.
pros:
- the writing was gripping and I never quite knew where the story was going until the very end.
- I liked the characters overall, especially Will, and I thought they behaved pretty realistically, especially with Faith's rambling and all their complicated relationships between each other.
- I appreciated that even though this was a late book and mixed 2 series, I still had a good feel for what had gone on most of the time, which is quite impressive
- the case was very compelling and you were 100% gunning for this awful guy to be caught.
- it definitely made me want to go back to the start of the series and see how will and Sara had got to where they are.
cons:
- the details were just... so graphic and explicit and disturbing at times that I struggled with it, and it lingered in my mind with horrible images. that's the main reason I'm hesitant to read more of her work.
- also, from an outside perspective, Jeffrey is just a shit head and I had no love for him at all. I assume his history with Sara somehow redeems him but I loathed him in this context and didnt feel any connection to his chapters
- there were a lot of characters (also cus i was coming in fresh to the series) so i lost track sometimes, esp when just surnames were used randomly.
- I had kind of hoped the title meant that Jeffrey was corrupt like Daryl said and Sara had kept silent about it, that seemed like a cool use of the title and the story, but it didn't link in like that.
- I did like the ending, though felt like some other reviewers that it was a bit abrupt/awkwardly tied in maybe?
overall, very well written and compelling but struggled with the graphicness.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Violence
all the warnings, for everything
Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A very well executed (lol) book but somehow missed the mark slightly for me.
pros:
- it was gripping, especially as it got going more in the second half
- the women were complex and i liked them and how they were written, especially Saffy
- it did all tie together cleverly, with Blue and Saffy coming together and all of it folding back onto itself into the past.
- Ansel was presented as complex too, with his possible capacity for love shown with Blue.
- the writing was technically very good and there were some lovely turns of phrase and descriptions.
cons:
- I understood what Kukafka was trying to achieve (reviewer on book said it flipped the power from serial killer back to victim), but I didn't feel it quite got it, though it made good pushes towards it. Ansel doesn't get to spread his nonsense Theory, or escape, or get to control his death, but he also gets large swathes of the book dedicated to his thoughts and I felt this went against what she was trying to do. Some chapters, absolutely, but not the huge chunk of book he was given. Rather, I would have liked to learn more about Izzy, or the other Girls, who we got one speculative paragraph about at the end.
- I also found the imaginations a bit annoying, I guess it was meant to be accepted as real, being a bit meta inside the book, but it annoyed me that all these assumptions were made about the girls' future would have been lives that could have been totally wrong.
- I also personally didn't relate to the almost feeling of pressure that she stresses about mothering and babies, and the compulsion they cast on women. she doesn't have Saffy not feel it, but theres a lot of 'women feel a divine connection when they have a baby' which didn't work for me at all, women are more than that.
- also many of the girls imagined lives included high flying jobs, that ansel robbed them of I guess, but everyone has value without some amazing glass breaking job.
- ALSO I felt the attempts at mentions of politics (which I agreed with!) were v heavy handed, with racism in the police discussed by Saffy and the public's obsession with serial killers, and misogyny in general. completely agreed, but felt like it was shoved in the readers face a bit, without trusting them to understand at all.
so I don't know, I enjoyed particular chunks a lot, and found other bits quite frustrating, but I have given it 4, bc it was so compulsive reading and well written. just didn't connect with me emotionally at all rly.
pros:
- it was gripping, especially as it got going more in the second half
- the women were complex and i liked them and how they were written, especially Saffy
- it did all tie together cleverly, with Blue and Saffy coming together and all of it folding back onto itself into the past.
- Ansel was presented as complex too, with his possible capacity for love shown with Blue.
- the writing was technically very good and there were some lovely turns of phrase and descriptions.
cons:
- I understood what Kukafka was trying to achieve (reviewer on book said it flipped the power from serial killer back to victim), but I didn't feel it quite got it, though it made good pushes towards it. Ansel doesn't get to spread his nonsense Theory, or escape, or get to control his death, but he also gets large swathes of the book dedicated to his thoughts and I felt this went against what she was trying to do. Some chapters, absolutely, but not the huge chunk of book he was given. Rather, I would have liked to learn more about Izzy, or the other Girls, who we got one speculative paragraph about at the end.
- I also found the imaginations a bit annoying, I guess it was meant to be accepted as real, being a bit meta inside the book, but it annoyed me that all these assumptions were made about the girls' future would have been lives that could have been totally wrong.
- I also personally didn't relate to the almost feeling of pressure that she stresses about mothering and babies, and the compulsion they cast on women. she doesn't have Saffy not feel it, but theres a lot of 'women feel a divine connection when they have a baby' which didn't work for me at all, women are more than that.
- also many of the girls imagined lives included high flying jobs, that ansel robbed them of I guess, but everyone has value without some amazing glass breaking job.
- ALSO I felt the attempts at mentions of politics (which I agreed with!) were v heavy handed, with racism in the police discussed by Saffy and the public's obsession with serial killers, and misogyny in general. completely agreed, but felt like it was shoved in the readers face a bit, without trusting them to understand at all.
so I don't know, I enjoyed particular chunks a lot, and found other bits quite frustrating, but I have given it 4, bc it was so compulsive reading and well written. just didn't connect with me emotionally at all rly.
Girl, Goddess, Queen by Bea Fitzgerald
adventurous
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Writing is definitely aimed at YA, but it's a fun and gripping romp through the myths and I enjoyed it.
pros:
- persephone is fun and fiery, she shoves the story along and doesnt take no for an answer. I like how she comes into her power and acknowledges her own capacity for ruthlessness as a queen.
- the side characters of the nymphs, styx and the other gods were well portrayed and fun/ complicated depending on their role.
- Zeus and demeter felt well represented as well, and I liked how persephone responds to their actions.
- the plot had some twists I didn't guess like persephone being the one to cause the famine , and I enjoyed how the myth was subverted or fitted in alongside the world/ characters Fitzgerald set up.
- I also enjoyed most of the tropes, including marriage of convenience, only one bed, soft boy and ruthless girl, arranged marriage, etc.
cons:
- we got snippets of Hades' past and trauma but I wish there had been a bit more. he mostly felt molded around persephone, which made them a good fit but didnt make him feel 100% his own person .
- sometimes persephone's internal dialogue was a bit dramatic and oblivious or so in denial it felt a bit silly. but I feel that its YA so I'm not the target audience really.
pros:
- persephone is fun and fiery, she shoves the story along and doesnt take no for an answer. I like how she comes into her power and acknowledges her own capacity for ruthlessness as a queen.
- the side characters of the nymphs, styx and the other gods were well portrayed and fun/ complicated depending on their role.
- Zeus and demeter felt well represented as well, and I liked how persephone responds to their actions.
- the plot had some twists I didn't guess
- I also enjoyed most of the tropes, including marriage of convenience, only one bed, soft boy and ruthless girl, arranged marriage, etc.
cons:
- we got snippets of Hades' past and trauma but I wish there had been a bit more. he mostly felt molded around persephone, which made them a good fit but didnt make him feel 100% his own person .
- sometimes persephone's internal dialogue was a bit dramatic and oblivious or so in denial it felt a bit silly. but I feel that its YA so I'm not the target audience really.
Faebound by Saara El-Arifi
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
3.75
I want to give this higher but it just didnt quite grab me in.
pros:
- loved the descriptions and worldbuilding, esp. with Mosima, outfits, landscapes and the fae creatures. Really beautiful and vivid.
- the plot twists were interesting and (mostly) surprising and kept you on your toes! especially liked Yerran getting Pila the obeah
- I liked the depth of the characters, with Yeeran not believing in prophercy like Lettle does and it being a sticking point even as they love each other, and Yeeran's relationships with Salawa and Furi.
- the side characters, like Komi, Golan, the prince, Furi and Rayan (kind of) were all interesting and explored, and all came into play.
- also enjoyed how different the characters were and their voices, with Lettle being impulsive and lighthearted compared to serious Yeeran. and the obeah's voices were brilliantly done, funny and sweet and a bit alien too.
- the start was gripping and you really feel for lettle, yeeran and everyone in the war. its emotive and worrying for the characters when everything goes to shit for them!
- I also liked that this was more adult and didnt shy from the violence of war and death and adult relationships (quite in contrast to the prev YA fantasy bk I read).
READ).
- It also felt like a new spin on tropes like fae, curses, prophecy, etc.
cons:
- mostly, I just didn't get very gripped overall. I picked it up and put it down and wasn't especially compelled. I cant really say why, maybe the stakes were lower mid and later in the book?
- too many characters a bit. I forgot who people were, incl. the prince and sode characters, Hosta and the guy Yeeran killed.
- some of the plot twists were a bit obvious, or they felt like they were trying to shock but didnt manage it. I didnt feel much about the queen dying bc we'd already had like 500 elves die bc of yeeran and the fae prince and the prophercy made it seem like it was just *shrug* inevitable
- wasnt super keen on te actual prophercy bits either. loved lettle's character and how she interacted with prophercy but I'm not one to rly enjoy foregone conclusions/tragedies so a bit blah if Rayan does die like in the prophercy. also thought Rayan would push more about Lettle's completely random toing and froing without explanation??
- also thought Furi and Yeeran moved a bit fast.
but overall, I did enjoy this! esp the feel of originality, the diverse (incl. nb) characters, and the worldbuilding, and I would like to know what happens in the next book.
pros:
- loved the descriptions and worldbuilding, esp. with Mosima, outfits, landscapes and the fae creatures. Really beautiful and vivid.
- the plot twists were interesting and (mostly) surprising and kept you on your toes!
- I liked the depth of the characters, with Yeeran not believing in prophercy like Lettle does and it being a sticking point even as they love each other, and Yeeran's relationships
- the side characters, like Komi, Golan, the prince, Furi and Rayan (kind of) were all interesting and explored, and all came into play.
- also enjoyed how different the characters were and their voices, with Lettle being impulsive and lighthearted compared to serious Yeeran. and the obeah's voices were brilliantly done, funny and sweet and a bit alien too.
- the start was gripping and you really feel for lettle, yeeran and everyone in the war. its emotive and worrying for the characters when everything goes to shit for them!
- I also liked that this was more adult and didnt shy from the violence of war and death and adult relationships (quite in contrast to the prev YA fantasy bk I read).
READ).
- It also felt like a new spin on tropes like fae, curses, prophecy, etc.
cons:
- mostly, I just didn't get very gripped overall. I picked it up and put it down and wasn't especially compelled. I cant really say why, maybe the stakes were lower mid and later in the book?
- too many characters a bit. I forgot who people were, incl. the prince and sode characters, Hosta and the guy Yeeran killed.
- some of the plot twists were a bit obvious, or they felt like they were trying to shock but didnt manage it. I didnt feel much about
- wasnt super keen on te actual prophercy bits either. loved lettle's character and how she interacted with prophercy but I'm not one to rly enjoy foregone conclusions/tragedies so a bit blah if
- also thought Furi and Yeeran moved a bit fast.
but overall, I did enjoy this! esp the feel of originality, the diverse (incl. nb) characters, and the worldbuilding, and I would like to know what happens in the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Women & Power: A Manifesto by Mary Beard
challenging
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
Bit too short to really address anything in depth, but a good starting point.
pros:
- some interesting thoughts on where modern western misogyny comes from and its portrayal in ancient Greek and Roman texts like the Odyssey, Agamemnon and Lysistrata.
- also a look at how modern female politicians are treated and compared to their male counterparts, and the different types of power.
- also looked at how women tend to lower their voice or wear suits to fit in with men in power.
cons:
- Beard says in the afterword that further she would like to dig into how these power dynamics worked, etc. which I wish had been somewhat included in the text. She didnt really offer how things could be changed exactly, only that power should be reconsidered, not women.
overall, a good read, just wish it had been longer and had more depth!
pros:
- some interesting thoughts on where modern western misogyny comes from and its portrayal in ancient Greek and Roman texts like the Odyssey, Agamemnon and Lysistrata.
- also a look at how modern female politicians are treated and compared to their male counterparts, and the different types of power.
- also looked at how women tend to lower their voice or wear suits to fit in with men in power.
cons:
- Beard says in the afterword that further she would like to dig into how these power dynamics worked, etc. which I wish had been somewhat included in the text. She didnt really offer how things could be changed exactly, only that power should be reconsidered, not women.
overall, a good read, just wish it had been longer and had more depth!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Murder