spellbindingtomes's reviews
354 reviews

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

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Content Warnings

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

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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, 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

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Content Warnings

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

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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, 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

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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, Alcohol

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

adventurous emotional sad slow-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Death, Gore, Homophobia, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

Imperium: by Robert Harris

informative tense slow-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Classism

The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez

adventurous dark emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

Thrum by Meg Smitherman

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting