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shanaqui's reviews
1207 reviews
The Other World's Books Depend on the Bean Counter, Vol. 4 by Yatsuki Wakatsu
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-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? It's complicated
3.0
I'm enjoying The Other World's Books Depend on the Bean Counter in many ways, especially as in this volume we're getting to see more of the world (and the Holy Maiden realises her situation a bit better, and thankfully seems to be a bit less of a brat/less inclined to angle for Aresh). Seiichirou is ridiculously competent, but that's always fun -- I can't help but compare him a bit to Lizel, of A Gentle Noble's Vacation Recommendation.
That said... this series has some problems, and they eclipse the good stuff so much I need to talk about them at more length right now.
I am still giving it three stars, but I want to heavily caveat that: there's a lot of dubious consent and potential coercion here. I think we're perhaps supposed to understand that Seiichirou has powerful allies and could get out of the situation if he really wanted to, and that in a way he's using Aresh -- but this isn't always explicit enough. It seems like Aresh is perhaps taking advantage of Seiichirou's need for protection to be intimate with him, and that's a bit of a red flag, even if Aresh wasn't being so controlling "for Seiichirou's own good".
I'm wondering if this is better or worse in the light novel, and will be finding out since I've ordered all three! But it's worth knowing going in about the coercive control (however well-intentioned) and dubious consent, which is not really examined. There's an extent to which I can roll with that (The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System is calling) but I think one still has to look at it and admit that it's problematic.
That said... this series has some problems, and they eclipse the good stuff so much I need to talk about them at more length right now.
I am still giving it three stars, but I want to heavily caveat that: there's a lot of dubious consent and potential coercion here. I think we're perhaps supposed to understand that Seiichirou has powerful allies and could get out of the situation if he really wanted to, and that in a way he's using Aresh -- but this isn't always explicit enough. It seems like Aresh is perhaps taking advantage of Seiichirou's need for protection to be intimate with him, and that's a bit of a red flag, even if Aresh wasn't being so controlling "for Seiichirou's own good".
I'm wondering if this is better or worse in the light novel, and will be finding out since I've ordered all three! But it's worth knowing going in about the coercive control (however well-intentioned) and dubious consent, which is not really examined. There's an extent to which I can roll with that (The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System is calling) but I think one still has to look at it and admit that it's problematic.
The Other World's Books Depend on the Bean Counter, Vol. 3 by Kazuki Irodori, Yatsuki Wakatsu
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The third volume of The Other World's Books Depend on the Bean Counter certainly goes places! I found it a bit less light-hearted than the other volumes, since Seiichirou is violently beaten and left for dead, and then dragged into very certain danger for political reasons.
Aresh's devotion to him continues to be somewhat sweet, though still rather controlling. And yeah, it's to save his life -- and yeah, Seiichirou is annoyingly careless and in fact actively endangering himself to no real purpose -- but there has to be a place where it stops, and I'm not certain I believe Aresh knows that (and sometimes he crosses the line). It's really clear that they need to have a conversation about Aresh's feelings, though Seiichirou is pretty unreadable on that front, only seeming to think about what he owes Aresh.
I find it disappointing that the Holy Maiden is kind of oblivious. I wonder if she'll become more of an ally to Seiichirou now, or whether there's something deliberate and malicious under the girlishness. Her interest in Aresh is pretty annoying, but I find it uncomfortable that I'm annoyed about it -- it seems like she's set up to be hated for being interested in one of the (gay) male leads, a pattern I always hated in fic as a teen and actively avoid now.
Overall, curious where the plot is going, and where Aresh and Seiichirou's relationship will end up, but I definitely need them to communicate and examine their own feelings (preferably in the reverse of that order).
Aresh's devotion to him continues to be somewhat sweet, though still rather controlling. And yeah, it's to save his life -- and yeah, Seiichirou is annoyingly careless and in fact actively endangering himself to no real purpose -- but there has to be a place where it stops, and I'm not certain I believe Aresh knows that (and sometimes he crosses the line). It's really clear that they need to have a conversation about Aresh's feelings, though Seiichirou is pretty unreadable on that front, only seeming to think about what he owes Aresh.
I find it disappointing that the Holy Maiden is kind of oblivious. I wonder if she'll become more of an ally to Seiichirou now, or whether there's something deliberate and malicious under the girlishness. Her interest in Aresh is pretty annoying, but I find it uncomfortable that I'm annoyed about it -- it seems like she's set up to be hated for being interested in one of the (gay) male leads, a pattern I always hated in fic as a teen and actively avoid now.
Overall, curious where the plot is going, and where Aresh and Seiichirou's relationship will end up, but I definitely need them to communicate and examine their own feelings (preferably in the reverse of that order).
Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
J. Sheridan Le Fanu's Carmilla is a classic, but not one I'd actually read yet, so I picked it up via Serial Reader to get myself acquainted ahead of reading a retelling that I'm curious about. As expected (and fairly typical of a vampire narrative), it's homoerotic and full of confused desire between the victim and the vampire (in this case Laura and Carmilla), but it's really open here.
Not a lot happens, the page count mostly occupies itself with building up atmosphere and that tangled, repulsive attraction that Laura has for Carmilla. Though the narrative is from Laura's point of view, and she wasn't aware of what was going on at the time, it's very very obvious, to the point that the clues seem almost too spelled out at times... It's perfectly readable, but a little long-winded at times.
I'm glad I got round to reading it, but I'm fascinated to see what modern retellings might make of it, more than anything.
Not a lot happens, the page count mostly occupies itself with building up atmosphere and that tangled, repulsive attraction that Laura has for Carmilla. Though the narrative is from Laura's point of view, and she wasn't aware of what was going on at the time, it's very very obvious, to the point that the clues seem almost too spelled out at times... It's perfectly readable, but a little long-winded at times.
I'm glad I got round to reading it, but I'm fascinated to see what modern retellings might make of it, more than anything.
The Other World's Books Depend on the Bean Counter, Vol. 2 by Kazuki Irodori, Yatsuki Wakatsu
funny
lighthearted
medium-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
4.0
The second volume of Kazuki Irodori's adaptation of The Other World's Books Depend on the Bean Counter into manga form is fun! It mostly focuses on Aresh's attempts to get Seiichirou to take care of himself better, with Aresh quickly becoming fascinated by as much as exasperated by him, along with some world building.
I do wish Aresh would talk to Seiichirou about how he feels a bit more, and tell him that he likes him and wants to spend the time with him -- and that he'd maybe be a bit less controlling, even if Seiichirou has no sense of self-preservation. The scene where Seiichirou says he's not interested in younger people is really pretty funny in a sad sort of way -- poor Aresh!
I'm not sure entirely where it's going to go, as far as weighting between plot, pining and actual relationship stands. We'll see, I guess; I'm interested enough that I'm thinking about reading the light novels.
I do wish Aresh would talk to Seiichirou about how he feels a bit more, and tell him that he likes him and wants to spend the time with him -- and that he'd maybe be a bit less controlling, even if Seiichirou has no sense of self-preservation. The scene where Seiichirou says he's not interested in younger people is really pretty funny in a sad sort of way -- poor Aresh!
I'm not sure entirely where it's going to go, as far as weighting between plot, pining and actual relationship stands. We'll see, I guess; I'm interested enough that I'm thinking about reading the light novels.
The Other World's Books Depend on the Bean Counter, Vol. 1 by Kazuki Irodori, Yatsuki Wakatsu
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
The first volume of Kazuki Irodori's manga adaptation of Yatsuki Wakatsu's light novel The Other World's Books Depend on the Bean Counter is pretty fun. I like the character designs, I find it interesting that I trust almost no one other than Seiichirou and Aresh, and I'm curious where both the relationship and the story of the Holy Maiden are going.
I will say that there's basically dubious consent sex to save someone's life here, which is worth knowing about: Aresh cures Seiichirou from an accidental overdose using magic, which he can't tolerate either, and then has to "familiarise Seiichirou with his magic" (with close contact) in order to save his life from that. He does try to obtain consent, but it's not clear that Seiichirou understands. I wonder how this bit comes across in the light novel; it's fairly skated over in the manga, beyond a few scenes. It doesn't seem like Seiichirou hates it or anything, and he still has some room to protest, but still, if you don't like that kind of scenario or find it triggering, it's useful to know.
It's hard to evaluate exactly what I think of this series yet, but I'm looking forward to reading more and wondering about the light novel (which may contain some more detail and context), so it's a good start for me!
I will say that there's basically dubious consent sex to save someone's life here, which is worth knowing about: Aresh cures Seiichirou from an accidental overdose using magic, which he can't tolerate either, and then has to "familiarise Seiichirou with his magic" (with close contact) in order to save his life from that. He does try to obtain consent, but it's not clear that Seiichirou understands. I wonder how this bit comes across in the light novel; it's fairly skated over in the manga, beyond a few scenes. It doesn't seem like Seiichirou hates it or anything, and he still has some room to protest, but still, if you don't like that kind of scenario or find it triggering, it's useful to know.
It's hard to evaluate exactly what I think of this series yet, but I'm looking forward to reading more and wondering about the light novel (which may contain some more detail and context), so it's a good start for me!
You Have Not Yet Heard Your Favourite Song: How Streaming Changes Music by Glenn McDonald
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
In a way, it's really hard for me to know how to rate/review Glenn McDonald's You Have Not Yet Heard Your Favourite Song, because he could tell me that Spotify has an arts-and-crafts department just for employees and I'd have to believe him -- and when it comes to math (as when he discusses Spotify's payment model), anyone can blind me with science, I'm afraid.
What I can say is that McDonald clearly has a passion for music, and believes that streaming is fair, equitable, and good for music going forward -- or at least not worse for it than any of the other models we've had of music getting into people's hands. He's fascinated by the diversity of music, and eager for Spotify and other services to bring that music to people and let them try it.
In some ways, I'd rather he stuck to that part, because when he talks about the revenue models etc, it's always with the caveat that he had nothing to do with that. As such, it's all very back-of-the-napkin. He also outright contradicts some of the reporting about Spotify (e.g. that they commissioned some music for a flat fee to fill up playlists, so they don't have to pay out when those songs are listened to) where I don't know who is right or wrong at all. My instinct is that McDonald is definitely working hard to protect Spotify and cast it in the right light, which seems to be out of love, and may or may not be truly accurate.
What I can say is that McDonald clearly has a passion for music, and believes that streaming is fair, equitable, and good for music going forward -- or at least not worse for it than any of the other models we've had of music getting into people's hands. He's fascinated by the diversity of music, and eager for Spotify and other services to bring that music to people and let them try it.
In some ways, I'd rather he stuck to that part, because when he talks about the revenue models etc, it's always with the caveat that he had nothing to do with that. As such, it's all very back-of-the-napkin. He also outright contradicts some of the reporting about Spotify (e.g. that they commissioned some music for a flat fee to fill up playlists, so they don't have to pay out when those songs are listened to) where I don't know who is right or wrong at all. My instinct is that McDonald is definitely working hard to protect Spotify and cast it in the right light, which seems to be out of love, and may or may not be truly accurate.
Rocket to the Morgue by Anthony Boucher
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Rocket to the Morgue is the first book by Anthony Boucher that I've read, though there's a previous book in this series that I think provides a bit more context for some of the characters. It's mostly readable as a standalone, though, and makes fascinating use of Boucher's involvement in SF/F pulps: some of the characters are pretty clearly very closely related to people like Heinlein and L. Ron Hubbard, and there's a lively knowledge of how the market worked in those days that shapes the mystery and the characters.
That does add a large amount of the interest, though, and I wonder how it feels for those who have absolutely no interest in the genre, or no interest in that era of the genre (which I'm sure means more to my mother than it does to me).
I did enjoy some of the characters, though; the detective's relationship with his wife and children are a surprisingly tender touch, from the start right through the story. It's especially rare in a mystery novel, where often the wife and children are just waiting at home at the end of the day -- but here the detective gets involved with bathing, changing and feeding the baby. It was rather sweet, and seemed to be written by an experienced father.
The mystery itself is a locked room mystery, but the explanation wasn't too contrived and it all hung together well enough for me. I'm not wildly enthusiastic, but I would be curious to read the first book and any follow-ups, or at least give a couple of them a try.
That does add a large amount of the interest, though, and I wonder how it feels for those who have absolutely no interest in the genre, or no interest in that era of the genre (which I'm sure means more to my mother than it does to me).
I did enjoy some of the characters, though; the detective's relationship with his wife and children are a surprisingly tender touch, from the start right through the story. It's especially rare in a mystery novel, where often the wife and children are just waiting at home at the end of the day -- but here the detective gets involved with bathing, changing and feeding the baby. It was rather sweet, and seemed to be written by an experienced father.
The mystery itself is a locked room mystery, but the explanation wasn't too contrived and it all hung together well enough for me. I'm not wildly enthusiastic, but I would be curious to read the first book and any follow-ups, or at least give a couple of them a try.
Scarhaven Keep by J.S. Fletcher
mysterious
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? No
3.0
J.S. Fletcher's Scarhaven Keep is a fairly standard classic mystery, with the expected sort of elements: a mysterious disappearance, a picturesque site for a mystery, issues of inheritance, mistaken identity/impersonation, amateur detectives, and even a damsel in distress and a touch of romance.
It does all of those things perfectly competently for the period, without really standing out. I did appreciate that the female character who ends up in distress is actually not super distressed about it, probably more level-headed than the guys, and certainly there was no swooning. I appreciated that quite a bit.
Overall, it's not one that stands out for me, but it was enjoyable in the way I find many classic mysteries: it did mostly what was expected of it, and there's a happy ending for the "goodies" (except, of course, in that someone has been killed). I wouldn't turn down reading something else by Fletcher.
It does all of those things perfectly competently for the period, without really standing out. I did appreciate that the female character who ends up in distress is actually not super distressed about it, probably more level-headed than the guys, and certainly there was no swooning. I appreciated that quite a bit.
Overall, it's not one that stands out for me, but it was enjoyable in the way I find many classic mysteries: it did mostly what was expected of it, and there's a happy ending for the "goodies" (except, of course, in that someone has been killed). I wouldn't turn down reading something else by Fletcher.
Lovers at the Museum: A Short Story by Isabel Allende
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I think this is the only thing I've read by Allende, and I didn't know what to expect. It was... fine? Too short, really; sometimes I prefer reading someone's long work before I quite know how to judge their short work, and this might be one of those times. No idea what I think.
A Mudlarking Year: Finding Treasure in Every Season by Lara Maiklem
informative
medium-paced
2.0
I liked Lara Maiklem's Mudlarking a lot, as I recall, and I was fascinated by the bits and pieces of historical information, the unfiltered nature of it all. Those same aspects felt more irritating here in this book, though -- there's no organisation to it, just the turning of the seasons, so there's a lot of repetition.
In the end, I think the problem is that it comes out more as autobiography than history or even a discussion of mudlarking, and thus is just generally not my thing. There are still the same fascinating snippets, albeit with some info that I'm certain is repeated from Mudlarking, but... it doesn't feel like anything new, and I don't like Maiklem enough as a person (on this level of acquaintance, anyway) to be spending this much time with her. I especially don't care enough about her kids, their process of going up, and how often she'll leave them and her wife and just go down to the foreshore because she feels like it.
She's mostly responsible, as mudlarks go, in relation to protection of the environment and archaeology -- at the very least, she's smarter than to say in print that she breaks the rules -- and critical of other mudlarks who are less responsible, but she's also kind... exclusive? She seems to feel that parts of the river belong to her, and she won't tell others where she found something, and that attitude hits wrong.
So... all in all, just not for me.
In the end, I think the problem is that it comes out more as autobiography than history or even a discussion of mudlarking, and thus is just generally not my thing. There are still the same fascinating snippets, albeit with some info that I'm certain is repeated from Mudlarking, but... it doesn't feel like anything new, and I don't like Maiklem enough as a person (on this level of acquaintance, anyway) to be spending this much time with her. I especially don't care enough about her kids, their process of going up, and how often she'll leave them and her wife and just go down to the foreshore because she feels like it.
She's mostly responsible, as mudlarks go, in relation to protection of the environment and archaeology -- at the very least, she's smarter than to say in print that she breaks the rules -- and critical of other mudlarks who are less responsible, but she's also kind... exclusive? She seems to feel that parts of the river belong to her, and she won't tell others where she found something, and that attitude hits wrong.
So... all in all, just not for me.