shalini_rasamdaa's reviews
735 reviews

Bound by Ravens by Jesikah Sundin

fast-paced

3.0

The Hexologists by Josiah Bancroft

adventurous challenging inspiring mysterious fast-paced

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

4.5

I’d guessed that this story would have old-timey steampunk vibes based on the cover design and I was so glad to be right. I didn’t realize the two people featured were a couple though, and that’s a big YES for me - there just aren’t enough Battle Couples in fantasy that start the story happily married, kicking ass together and staying alive and married at the conclusion of the story. 

The story follows a pair of established sort-of detectives that use magic to solve the cases that come their way. Naturally along comes a big case full of secrets and conspiracies and hidden enemies (it’s not an old-timey detective story if there’s no royal intrigue amirite?).  I have to admit, it was a little slow-going at first because of all the exposition in order to build the world, but as the exposition dwindled and the mystery picked up, I found myself thoroughly enjoying the ride. Classism is explored as is greed and rebellion, but only on a surface level. Things get really dark towards the end, especially because we know stuff like this happens in real life and rarely does justice prevail. 

While The Hexologists reads exactly like a set-up to a series (hence half-star knockoff), I think it has a lot of promise and fun in its future, and I look forward to the next one.

 

The Utterly Uninteresting and Unadventurous Tales of Fred, the Vampire Accountant by Drew Hayes

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

 I was surprised to learn that this was published in 2014 - for some reason the book’s 

execution seemed rather dated to me, like early 90s fantasies with sad nerds and 

hot manic pixie dream girls. The episodic style and predictable plot just doesn’t work for me and the characters are too one-dimensional.  I really wanted to like this more than I did, but ultimately this was a two-star read for me with an extra star for the unconventional vamp character. 

Dead Silence by S.A. Barnes

dark emotional inspiring mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket by Edgar Allan Poe

adventurous challenging medium-paced

2.0

jfc poe wtf were you thinking

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Coolie Woman: The Odyssey of Indenture by Gaiutra Bahadur

challenging emotional informative reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery by Brom

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

5.0

 

Yeah this is one of those 10/5 books for me, the kind that makes you feel bereft when it’s over. I 

spent most of this book in a state of terror for Abitha, wondering what will happen, knowing the history of such women and what happens to them. I loved her and rooted for her from the outset, a young woman out of her depth and doing her very best to survive in a hostile environment. She is clever and strong and completely unsubtle with her independent nature. 

In stories like these the religious leaders are often the antagonists, so it was refreshing to me that the reverend was in fact one of Abitha’s strongest supporters while still maintaining the rigid Puritan system of religious control (this contrast was very well done). 

The story is very emotional - flitting from Abitha’s POV to Slewfoot’s POV. You’ll get emotional yourself, following Abitha’s triumphs and eventual downfall as a human, due to the vicious people she is surrounded by. The townspeople are a terrifying, malicious species, far worse than any bloodthirsty demon. I didn’t particularly like Slewfoot, but in his way he is a tragic yet heroic character who also holds on to his true nature despite the attempts of others to subvert him. 

I’m glad that Abitha got her revenge - and what a satisfying revenge it was. 

The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent

fast-paced

3.0

The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

adventurous challenging dark fast-paced

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

5.0

The Surviving Sky by Kritika H. Rao

adventurous challenging dark emotional medium-paced

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

4.0

 I enjoyed this story a lot. The worldbuilding is fascinating, the earthrage concept is interesting. 

The magic system is also unique to me. The main characters, Ahilya and Iravan’s relationship is fraught, and it is realistic that two such characters - an arrogant woman and a prideful man - will be at constant loggerheads, being equally motivated to change things for the better in their ashram but approaching their goal from opposite ends. I like the exploration of a system that, while keeping people alive, is still a system with class divisions and an over-emphasis on community responsibilities where “The Greater Good” runs rampant to the point of choking individual expression. Such an environment will eventually face cracks and failures with the various systemic issues and that is exactly what happens.  I wouldn’t say I am head-over-heels for this story, but I am curious enough to explore the sequel.