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solaris_zip's Reviews (201)
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
Heartstopper is the first queer book I read when I realise I wasn’t straight and to this day, 4 years after, holds a special place in my heart. I grew up along side Charlie and Nick, and it’s strange seeing that I’m older than them now. The book is heartwarming, exploring Nick and Charlie’s relationship (and a preview on their friends too) as teenagers adventures into the world of intimacy and love. Charlie struggling with his self confidence and body dysmorphia, and how he is battling it. The struggle of being in love and going long distance.. it’s a full package. Alice’s writing is always easy to follow and easy to relate to. From your first heart problems to problems that life throws in the way heartstopper is a graphic novel that is not only heartwarming, but gives you a place to be heard and understood not matter your age and gender or sexuality.
medium-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
I did not expect to like this book as much as I did. If you enter with the intention of looking for romance you’re severely mistaken, which I feel it’s an issue that many do. The book is set up to be a trilogy, book one introducing the characters and a bit of the world. The politics of it mostly. It can feel repetitive, perhaps even boring, but I personally found it very enjoyable. I give 4,5 rather than 5 simply because in some parts I truly struggled to understand what was going on and to remember all of the made up names.
Onto the characters. I adore Jude. A misconception of her character that I have seen a lot is people arguing “if she was so scared of the fae world why didn’t she just left?” She was scared, as she should be considering the morally grey beliefs those fairies hold, but the point is you have a girl, who saw her parents brutally pass away, and move to a world where she *doesnt belong*. But at the same time that’s the only place she knows. She has no connection to the human realm anymore. No education, nothing. She was raised to be a fae. It’s only obvious despite everything she keeps trying. And I found that admirable. How despite being scared, despite having people close to her like her twin sister, who constantly told her to stop trying to “rebel” and to just learn to live with it; she truly never gave up. She went on and fought for what she believed was right.
I liked how we saw a different face for Cardan, and I like how his and Jude’s relationship is already shifting somewhat. I despite Locke and Taryn, who went out and betrayed Jude, her own twin sister. We can argue that she was doing the same thing as Jude, survive in a world that doesn’t belong to you. But I like to argue she did the cowardly thing, of which betraying the only person who stood by your side, who almost got killed because she only wanted to defend you, the person who almost drown to make sure she was safe and what does Taryn do..? Ah yes, enstablish a relationship with Locke, of whom painted himself to be this nice guy, who helped Jude when the others tormented her and yet… perhaps he hurt her the most. Dating both her and her TWIN sister. And can we just focus on this for a second? You’re telling me, your guy wants to test your loyalty and so he decides to kiss and have a thing with your twin sister? Like Taryn… what the actual fuck? How was she even ok with this is beyond me 😭💀
Book one is a book about fighting what you want. Learning to never gave up. Learning that even family can betray you, even your own blood. Learning that friends and acquaintances might come from the most unexpected places. Learning that despite not fitting in, it’s ok. It’s ok to be different, it’s ok to fight against it. And it’s ok to feel you belong, despite people telling you otherwise.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Physical abuse, Blood, Death of parent
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"I wish you weren't here" is a book, narrated under the dual POVs of Ava and James, that follows the story of Ava, a 28 years old American woman who needs some extra credit to graduate from law school. She decides to fulfil a promise she made to her mother years before, and she decides to take these extra credits in Urbino, Italy (city that held a special significance to her mother - and later in the book to Ava too)
What I really liked about the book is how the author, Christy Schillig, manages to teleports you right into an Italian summer. I am Italian, I literally live in this country, and yet Schilling managed to make me feel nostalgic for *the* Italian summers. For how August summer nights feels. Spend under the gazebo, around the table, with the fresh summer breeze.
Christy Schilling managed to create a novel that brings you right to Italy, drinking an aperol spritz with your friends while doing an aperitivo.
I liked how the writing was smooth and easy to follow, how the chapters were short and it kept you hooked to reading again and again. I can't deny I shed some tears towards the end, as Ava and James miscommunication was getting
*hard*. But I also loved their banter. I wish we got to see more of their romance.
This is a novel about the importance of finding a family, and that it doesn't always mean blood family. That you can find love even in the most unexpected, smallest things. The importance of learning and healing from your trauma. To learn to move on and to find strength within you.
Filled with art, lingering touches and unsaid words and thoughts. Art that connects generations. Art that speaks to the soul. And fated love, where they have always been connected, just without their knowledge. Bound to lose and to find each other. I wish you weren't here is a rollercoaster of emotions, which will push you right into an Italian summer.
You can almost feel you're there, along side the characters, as the book manages to incorporate Italian and English language and elements into one. A must read !!
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
*thanks to the author for an ARC of this book*
By the words of the lovely author, Ben Anderson, “Prince of endless tides is a story about a human prince, Ernest, who possesses a magical power, granting wishes. His powers however, are stolen by an evil mermaid (also called a Mer- a monster birth by the union of two warring gods) who bites him and infect him with the mermaid deadly curse. To get back his powers back, he will have to work along side a sea witch, Killian, whom is cursed by an ancient god and he wants nothing but to be free. They are fated to help or kill each other. “
I don’t even know where to start. This book made me an emotional rollercoaster, and that’s hard to do. I cried, I laughed, I loved, I felt hatred. The story of Ernest and Killian reminds me of the concept of the red thread of fate found in east Asia culture. According to the myth, everyone's pinky finger is tied to an invisible red string that will lead them to another person with whom they will make history.
The event of the book take place within a week from each other. And yet the book doesn’t feel rush at all. Ernest and Killian have such a strong bond, such a strong connection, that I truly forgot they got to know days prior. It kinda blows you away how much love these two hold for the other, and I wish to find the same within this lifetime.
Onto the characters. I love them. That’s it. Seriously. I never enjoyed reading about two characters so much. From the witty comments and remarks by Ernest side, to discovering Killian soft edges. Killian, gods I love him. Ernest too. They need to be protected. I loved how their romance isn’t fast paced. It’s a slow burn, where they learn how to deal with their own issues, emotions and past situations. The character development is on point.
This is my first book I read from the author and from the Darkmourn world. I found the book fast paced, for being 555 pages long, which is a good thing. Well written, the writing flows like water and it keeps you hooked from start to end. The world-building was also fun to get lost into it. From the Mer people, to the gods and all… it was such a new experience and I enjoyed a lot!
The smut scenes were great. I hate reading smut, it always feels oddly too much, like it’s there to fill a hole. Not in this book though. The two characters had so much tension between each other I felt it onto my own skin. The scenes were more than good, teasing, funny, sexy and lighthearted to read.
Prince of endless tides is a tale of love, of heartbreak, of betrayal, of loss, but also of finding. Finding the joy of love again, joy of life, joy of living. Filled with humour, angst and gut-wrenching emotion (with a touch of spice) the book will leave you staring staring at the ceiling in hopes for a sequel or something to fill the void Ernest and Killian will leave within you. Favourite book of the year.
Thanks to the author for an ARC of this book 💞
Manumission a slow pacing book, about a female warrior, general Truda (an elf) who starts to question the rules of her society when she meets a human man scheduled for his death. I found the storyline unique, a different approach to the classic elf x human trope. The narrator and 1st POV is a woman warrior who is headstrong, fierce, a leader. I liked reading about Truda. I liked the way she was portrayed.
Manumission a slow pacing book, about a female warrior, general Truda (an elf) who starts to question the rules of her society when she meets a human man scheduled for his death. I found the storyline unique, a different approach to the classic elf x human trope. The narrator and 1st POV is a woman warrior who is headstrong, fierce, a leader. I liked reading about Truda. I liked the way she was portrayed.
The world building was interesting! We have a 180 shift. The author throws away the idea of a male dominated society. This society is dominated by women, elf women. The female characters were strong, and despite their femininity they did not lost their dominant trait. I liked that.
What I didn’t like:
- The breeding situation. It makes you question if these women are actually free at all despite living in a female dominated world. The queen, doesn’t give the choice for the “strongest women” of the bunch. They *must* reproduce, they must keep the line going. A reproduction that has no autonomy, and considering it’s a magic society, the fact they haven’t manage to reproduce by magic alone, and require human men for such tasks (keep in mind men are the minority in this society) shows that they are indeed not free, from this aspect at least.
- Erik. There wasn’t much characterisation for him. Besides that he is a human man, close to his 30th birthday, he is beautiful and has a compassionate heart. I wish we had explore more of his character.
- First POV. I truly feel that the book would have been easier to read if we saw under Erik prospective. If we got to see his side of the story and not just Truda. I wanted more emotional scenes I suppose. Without a shadow of doubt this two characters *went through it*, in different ways but both experienced a lot. And I wished we explored the emotional side of their situation a bit more.
- Plot. There was a lot of secondary plot, which wasn’t a bad thing, but sometimes it took you away from the “main” focus -Erik and Truda. Which resulted in their romance scenes being set aside a bit. The first 30% of the book was a bit slow as I kept waiting for advancement in their interactions.
In conclusion; I feel that the book, which such a rich and intense story and world building, has a solid foundation to be great! There are lots of interesting path ways the author can take, and I’m very interested in seeing what she is going to do for the second book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, War, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Abortion
*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an advance reader copy of this book*
The Absinthe Underground is a sapphic novel, filled with magic, heist adventure and even fae fantasy.
One of the reasons why I immediately got attracted by this book is for the Art Nouveau style front cover. Me being an art student, I was just in heaven.
I found the book light, wholehearted and beautiful to read.
For the first time I found a sapphic book where the characters aren't sexualised. Aren't made for men. The romance between Esme and Sybil is sweet, innocent and it makes your heart flutter. A best friends to lovers that are both so in love but so blind at the same time. Two girls which have totally different backgrounds, but despite so, they are as close as ever.
I found the heist part slightly slow, as there aren't many suspenseful moments, but that gives a sense of comfort almost. It's a journey about two friends, soon lovers, who for each other's love decide to go on extreme ends, even on a heist in the fae world.
Overall, it was a sweet read. And one of my favourite books of the year. If you're looking for a fantasy, sapphic, fae fantasy book this is the book of the year!
slow-paced
The book is rather slow pace. Some things dragged too long, the slow burn was seriously a slow burn. Sometimes too much. There was so much miscommunication, so much not talking between the characters I wanted to rip my hairs out. The ending of the book was rather stale in the sense that it just kept dragging and dragging, and after we reached what we were all waiting for (not gonna do spoilers but something between Persephone and hades) it almost seemed the book was stuck on a loop? Keep repeating the same things all over again? I enjoyed seeing a more “strong” Persephone, one of the issuers of these types of retailing is falling for the good innocent girl x bad boy trope. This book didn’t.
