solitaryfairy's reviews
179 reviews

Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati

dark emotional tense 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

4.0

I love reading about greek mythology from the pov of women because traditionally it's mostly men but women played a big role as well.
Clytemnestra is an extremely strong character that manages to acquire power in a patriarchal society. There were times tho where I got extremely frustrated with her because she is frankly a terrible mother who clearly favors one child above the others and then gets pissed when Electra points it out to her.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Misogyny, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Rape and Lesbophobia

Minor: Suicide

Romanov by Nadine Brandes

adventurous dark emotional 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

5.0

Even though you know Anastasia is going to die, you will not expect it when it happens. I liked how unpredictable the book was in that way and things never went the way I expected.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement and Death

The Binding by Bridget Collins

emotional mysterious tense 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

4.5

I will say, it's not really about what it seems like in the first part. It's devastating and frustrating at times but, like, in a good way. I feel like the book description gives away too much because you only learn some of it pretty late and it's a great plot twist if you don't know.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, and Suicide

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Rape, and Vomit

Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White

dark emotional tense 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Transphobia, Violence, Vomit, Religious bigotry, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Child abuse, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Grief, and Dysphoria

You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron

dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

This book really takes you on a ride. It's a perfect balance of dark and terrifying vibes and just a bit of humor. Bayron's writing is amazing and on point, the characters are interesting and authentic. If you like a good scare, read this book.

Red Queen by Christina Henry

adventurous dark emotional 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 Children of Jocasta by Natalie Haynes

sad tense 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

4.0

So it is a good book. But if you know the story of Oedipus the foreshadowing is downright cruel, it made me want to scream. I really enjoyed Ismene's story and because I didn't really know much about the original stories there were definitely some plot twists that I didn't expect.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Child death, Incest, Miscarriage, and Violence

Alice by Christina Henry

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

4.5

This book had gripped me from the very beginning. It's so well written and I think the author did a great job at exploring the trauma etc.

I found the ending a bit unsatisfying tho tbh cause defeating the Jabberwock was so easy. But she did mention that herself and I do think it kinda fit for the book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Death, Gore, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, and Classism

Moderate: Pedophilia, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Cannibalism, and Murder

Wings of Ebony by J. Elle

adventurous emotional fast-paced

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

4.0

Not a usual read for me but I enjoyed it.

The Circus Train by Amita Parikh

emotional hopeful 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

4.5

I feel like the first half of the book was more character focused and about halfway through the plot really started. And I liked that because I had time to really get to know the characters before everything went down and it made me feel more for them later.

It was also really nice seeing a disabled mc. There was a big focus on healing and trying to find a way for Lena to walk again and I do think it should be mentioned that for a lot of disabled people curing their disability is not the goal. So while keeping that in mind there is of course another side as well and I think both narratives deserve to and should be told.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism and Antisemitism

Moderate: Bullying, Death, and War