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synth3ticas's Reviews (39)
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is an intro book to a series. There's a lot of exposition throughout the entirety of the book about who the main characters are and the prophecy that awaits our main character throughout that it's hard to treat it like anything else honestly. And it makes sense, really; there are other books in the series that are--hopefully--going to further the FMC's (leaving her unnamed just because it's an important aspect of her character identity and a somewhat major plot point of the book so it's considered a spoiler) journey as she grapples with the fact that she might be used to help the big bad in the book cause unimaginable chaos...or quite the opposite...but it is something that she's going to have to choose. But the book was more-ish in a way that I can't explain, so much so that I read the entire forty-two chapters (1 through 41 + the epilogue) in an entire day because I couldn't put it down, which is why---despite it being a major exposition dump for the first book--I can't give it less than a 3.5 despite some aspects irritating me a little lmao.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, War
informative
fast-paced
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
I enjoyed this, but the pace went very quick. I genuinely wish there was more, but what was put on the page wasn't atrocious so small victories I suppose lmao.
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The first volume of Dandadan was so fun. I really enjoyed it! The premise going into the manga is so absurd when you read a summary of it; like Okarun believes in aliens, Momo believes in ghosts, and they basically challenge each other's beliefs and end up finding out that both exist after Okarun gets cursed by a yokai and Momo gets psychokinesis from an alien abduction. It seems insane, but it was executed in a way that had me laughing from the absurdity rather than at the fact that it was absurd. And the sci-fi and paranormal elements were taken seriously when they needed to be too; there are high stakes from finding out what they find out, there are high stakes of Okarun being cursed by Turbo Granny and the reversal of it is something that gets taken seriously but it also keeps in mind that Momo and Okarun are opening up to each other as well as going through some weird shit together. It was just really fun, definitely recommend this.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I loved this one. The whole "inspired by my idol who I don't know is in disguise" trope was really well executed in this one. Had me kicking my feet like a school girl.
This one hurt a lot. It was so beautifully written. A lot of people have complaints about Patroclus being one dimensional, but honestly? The book feels like Patroclus recounting and remembering everything about Achilles; what made him kind, what made him brave, and what made him beloved. It feels like someone retelling their fate and their story knowing how it all will end. And it's beautiful. I loved it every step of the way. Especially for a debut novel in its entirety.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Honestly, I wasn’t sure what I was going to think about this one. The story of Pygmalion and Galatea was always one that I was interested in reading, especially in retellings, because it’s kind of a strange one that I feel like you can interpret in so many different ways, so I was quite surprised with Madeline Miller’s retelling. Really, Pygmalion is a man who so desperately wants to make a statue his wife because–at least, in the version of the myth that Madeline Miller is referencing–that he creates his ideal woman solely based on the thought of prostitutes and women that are disgusting to him. Galatea is supposed to be his perfect woman, free of all the things that make women in the world already full of sin and disgust. Pygmalion uses that aspect of Galatea’s creation to excuse his shitty behavior and dehumanization of her and it left me so anxious while reading because of the fact that this man is the incel of incels in this story. His happiness is solely based on Galatea doing nothing but pleasing him at all times; no thoughts of her own, no words that could be said that he wouldn’t take offense to, no wants that she should want for herself. It’s a haunting reality to live through honestly and it was a good read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism
adventurous
lighthearted
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:
Complicated
I feel like this is so biased because of the fact that I like Ace as a character since I first saw him in the manga, but one thing I've always wanted to know about him was how his crew started in the first place and this does a good job at explaining it. The reasoning behind a 4.5 and not a perfect 5 is because it's a shorter read and I wished there was more of it