sphynxreads's reviews
766 reviews

Fence, Vol. 4: Rivals by C.S. Pacat

hopeful lighthearted relaxing fast-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'm back, all feral for these boys and the palpable tension between all of them honestly.

The Color of Revenge by Cornelia Funke

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

A solid entry into the Inkworld series! This feels quite different from the original trilogy in that it doesn't have Cornelia Funke's lyrical prose and the Inkworld feels a lot less dark. But I liked how this wasn't as politically driven as Inkspell and Inkdeath and focused more on the wonder, whimsy, and magic of the world. The new characters were such a delight to read about! I had my doubts going into a story centered on Orpheus, as his character is endlessly annoying in the original trilogy. But I was invested in the story as I got to know more about Dustfinger and Nyame, the Black Prince. Definitely worth the read for fans of the trilogy.

Ang Kapangyarihang Higit sa Ating Lahat by Ronaldo S. Vivo Jr.

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.0

Aggressive in its honesty and brutal in its storytelling, Kapangyarihan is my first Ronaldo Vivo Jr. novel. And what an introduction this is to his work! Admittedly I struggled a bit with the language, but from what I was able to absorb, I was gripped by his casual yet intentional use of imagery and common Filipino idioms and expressions to convey the dark reality of police brutality even way before the war on drugs entered Filipino vocabulary in the mainstream. I especially liked his endnote where he details the importance of give the voiceless a medium through which to tell their stories. A stark reminder that many of our country's problems have deep roots in its flawed systems and corrupt institutions.

Something is Killing the Children, Vol. 1 by James Tynion IV

dark mysterious medium-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

3.5

An intriguing start to the series! Interesting character and beautiful art as well.

Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone by Brené Brown

inspiring reflective medium-paced

3.0

This is probably my least favorite Brené Brown book I've read to date. I like her approach towards holding your own while have empathy for people you disagree with, but there was hardly anything particularly thought-provoking about this book. This easily could have been a short talk or blog post.

Land of Stories: A Treasury of Classic Fairy Tales by Jacob Grimm, Chris Colfer

adventurous hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.5

A beautifully illustrated fairy tale collection. It was so nice to revisit these stories of my childhood, many of which I forgot significant details about.

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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? Yes

3.5

This is probably one of the most deeply unserious books I have ever read and yet it still has Backman's signature charm! While I liked the humor well enough and definitely laughed out loud multiple times (Zara, the diva that you are), it became rather tiresome towards the end. It has a lot of hard-hitting quotes and emotional scenes to be sure, but having already read Beartown, I can't help but feel that this just simply pales in comparison. I was anticipating some semblance of the sobfest some fans seem to experience, but alas, maybe I have a heart of stone. Still, I have to respect just how much of a twisty ride this was, oddily reminiscent of Ellen Raskin's The Westing Game. This is also Backman's most unique work that I've read to date.

Spy x Family, Vol. 11 by Tatsuya Endo

funny tense fast-paced

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

4.0

As always, the perfect blend of humor, heart, and high stakes.

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.5

Well, Morgan Matson, I believe you just got yourself a new fan. This book was so heartfelt and sincere that despite many scenes feeling intentionally written to make one cry, it doesn't feel cheap. What a beautiful story about grief, complicated friendships, and the comfort that comes from being loved. I am looking forward to read more books from this author.

Fence, Vol. 3 by C.S. Pacat

lighthearted fast-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

3.5

I don't know what it is but this volume just wasn't as charming as the previous ones.