stephblair's reviews
676 reviews

The Little Red Chairs by Edna O'Brien

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, and Kidnapping

Beloved by Toni Morrison

4.0

The King of Infinite Space by Lyndsay Faye

dark emotional mysterious sad 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

3.0

Ace by Angela Chen

hopeful informative inspiring reflective

5.0

Goodnight Beautiful by Aimee Molloy

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? Yes

2.0

Sometimes you should quit while you’re ahead and that’s what should have happened before this duology was written 

Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala

mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.0

Blackfish City by Sam J. Miller

adventurous hopeful 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

4.0

I really liked this book. The characters and premise were so interesting. 

However, I did think there were some weird pacing issues with the big reveal and action moments and I think those moments would have been more impactful if the pacing had been more consistent. 

The Survivors by Jane Harper

dark emotional mysterious tense

• 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

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0