spellbindingtomes's reviews
329 reviews

Babylonia by Costanza Casati

dark emotional tense slow-paced

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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Split or Swallow by Lindsay Straube
Did not finish book. Stopped at 50%.

Yea, this was not for me. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

Dictator by Robert Harris

adventurous informative reflective slow-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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Death, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, and Classism

James by Percival Everett

adventurous emotional tense fast-paced

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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism

Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment

Lustrum: by Oliver Ford Davies, Robert Harris

challenging informative tense slow-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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism

A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young

emotional mysterious slow-paced

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

2.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Prime Time Romance by Kate Robb

funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

2.5

Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati

dark emotional tense slow-paced

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

3.0

I have so many thoughts on this. It started off great. I loved the first half in Sparta and getting to know Clytemnestra and her family dynamics. My heart broke for her circumstances and I felt her rage. But then the second half in Mycenae really dragged on with very little character development. 

What bothered me the most was that we see little evidence of Clytemnestra's supposed political acumen or leadership abilities during Agamemnon's decade-long absence at Troy. Instead of showcasing her capabilities as a ruler, the story focuses on her insecurities and violent responses to anyone who opposes her.

I also would've loved to see more of her with Electra. 9 years have passed, and we see nothing of their complex mother-daughter relationship during this entire period?? I really wanted to root for Clytemnestra, but there was just something missing from her character beyond her desire for vengeance that made it really hard for me to do so. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and War

The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters

emotional sad 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? No

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cancer, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Racism, Toxic relationship, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol