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takarakeireads's reviews
548 reviews
Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Really cool concepts that were not executed in a way that was able to hold my attention :'(
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexual content, Car accident, and Death of parent
Shorefall by Robert Jackson Bennett
The villain does this thing (magic) which causes people to kill themselves in horrible gruesome ways
adventurous
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.0
This is shaping up to be a very solid overall 4 star series.
Personally I found the beginning of this one super hard to get invested in. I was not intrigued at first by the villain (I find just supremely powerful villains kind of uninteresting idk) and it took honestly until about 40% in for me to feel the pacing pick up. From about that point forward though I was interested. There are a few chapters at the mid-way point that are bangers, and had me page-turning like crazy.
I do kind of have a bone to pick with the overall magic system in this series. I find that the way things are described there's not a lot of hard-set rules, and so a lot of the problems the characters face are overcome by them just finding some way to magic their way out of things. Because there aren't really any hard set rules, it seems like they just invent new ways to use the magic to solve their problems, which isn't super satisfying as a reader as we're not figuring things out along with them. Which is a bummer because the magic system itself is really cool, it just doesn't feel completely developed I guess. Anyway, this one def ended on more of a cliff-hanger so we shall see where the final book takes us...I fear I am most invested in Gregor's character cause he really is getting the shit end of every deal :'(
Personally I found the beginning of this one super hard to get invested in. I was not intrigued at first by the villain (I find just supremely powerful villains kind of uninteresting idk) and it took honestly until about 40% in for me to feel the pacing pick up. From about that point forward though I was interested. There are a few chapters at the mid-way point that are bangers, and had me page-turning like crazy.
I do kind of have a bone to pick with the overall magic system in this series. I find that the way things are described there's not a lot of hard-set rules, and so a lot of the problems the characters face are overcome by them just finding some way to magic their way out of things. Because there aren't really any hard set rules, it seems like they just invent new ways to use the magic to solve their problems, which isn't super satisfying as a reader as we're not figuring things out along with them. Which is a bummer because the magic system itself is really cool, it just doesn't feel completely developed I guess. Anyway, this one def ended on more of a cliff-hanger so we shall see where the final book takes us...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Animal death, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, and Grief
Minor: Child death, Domestic abuse, and Rape
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I liked this, but it leans a tad too cozy for my personal taste. This is very slice-of-life, character study esque for science fiction, so if that's what you're looking for this might be up your alley.
I also kinda felt like the moral of this book was that humans are unevolved, dumb and we suck. Which, ok, honestly fair points. However, a lot of the alien cultures we encounter in this book do have various aspects of human culture, but are often things that in our current society are considered up for debate: gender, sexuality, etc. I do think there are moments where a lot of people would see themselves in these characters and so that could be a comfort to them.
I think overall I would've enjoyed a bit more of a plot interwoven into these character dynamics.
I also kinda felt like the moral of this book was that humans are unevolved, dumb and we suck. Which, ok, honestly fair points. However, a lot of the alien cultures we encounter in this book do have various aspects of human culture, but are often things that in our current society are considered up for debate: gender, sexuality, etc. I do think there are moments where a lot of people would see themselves in these characters and so that could be a comfort to them.
I think overall I would've enjoyed a bit more of a plot interwoven into these character dynamics.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Grief
Moderate: Terminal illness, Xenophobia, and War
Minor: Drug use, Genocide, and Sexual content
From Lukov with Love by Mariana Zapata
lighthearted
slow-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
Really my main complaint is that I wish there was more actual ice skating in this book! I was looking forward to reading a romance between pairs ice skaters literally to read about the physicality of the sport. I think we were told a lot 'we know each others bodies from practice' but I wanted to read more of that on page!!!!! just felt like a missed opportunity to not add more of this in.
Still though, this is a rivals(ish)/strong dislike/animosity to friends to lovers story in the classic slow burn MZ way [sorry I just refuse to call it enemies to lovers in this setting the stakes just are not that high!] Jasmine and Lukov have known each other a long time, she grew up best friends to his sister. But they were always teasing/at each other's throats mainly due to their prickly personalities. It's actually just grumpy x grumpy
It did really feel like along the way they became friends which I liked, and not just straight to in love. Lukov is of course just a star of a man really advocating for Jasmine, looking out for her, & caring for her truly which is definitely clear. They keep this quippy banter the whole time which is fun. I did overall enjoy the storyline and where things ended! Just needed more skating!!!!!!!!
Still though, this is a rivals(ish)/strong dislike/animosity to friends to lovers story in the classic slow burn MZ way [sorry I just refuse to call it enemies to lovers in this setting the stakes just are not that high!] Jasmine and Lukov have known each other a long time, she grew up best friends to his sister. But they were always teasing/at each other's throats mainly due to their prickly personalities. It's actually just grumpy x grumpy
It did really feel like along the way they became friends which I liked, and not just straight to in love. Lukov is of course just a star of a man really advocating for Jasmine, looking out for her, & caring for her truly which is definitely clear. They keep this quippy banter the whole time which is fun. I did overall enjoy the storyline and where things ended! Just needed more skating!!!!!!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Stalking, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying and Car accident
Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I read this with my book club and I was glad to have other's input as I went. Because I did this on audio I think that my experience reading this book was a little muddled. Not because of any issues with the narration itself, but just because of the book's structure. I think having a physical/ebook to read along would've helped me understand the separation between characters, the footnotes etc. It's just a book whose storytelling is not always linear and therefore I found it a tad hard to track everything well exclusively on audiobook. I also think that being able to clearly distinguish the footnotes for the book from the story would've made some parts hit harder because as I understand it they are based in the reality of the American prison/criminal 'justice' system.
There's a lot of super important information in this book and I think because so many people know so little about the industrialized prison complex in America this book had to do a TON of educating along the way. That's not the author's fault, cause the information is super relevant to this story. It just is quite the mountain to climb for a novel.
While I did appreciate the variety of povs included from a world-building perspective, perhaps there were a few too many? Switching between pov tenses was a bit jarring at parts. Including so many povs did mess with the plot pacing a bit, until towards the end when things hit a better stride. I also would've preferred to spend more time with the central characters, so I didn't feel so far removed from them. For a book that discusses dehumanization so thoroughly, I would've expected really in depth character development. But I do think this comes back to the mountain this book had to climb from a factual standpoint.
Overall though I did appreciate the message of this book and think it's worth the read (just read a physical copy at least in tandem with the audio!)
There's a lot of super important information in this book and I think because so many people know so little about the industrialized prison complex in America this book had to do a TON of educating along the way. That's not the author's fault, cause the information is super relevant to this story. It just is quite the mountain to climb for a novel.
While I did appreciate the variety of povs included from a world-building perspective, perhaps there were a few too many? Switching between pov tenses was a bit jarring at parts. Including so many povs did mess with the plot pacing a bit, until towards the end when things hit a better stride. I also would've preferred to spend more time with the central characters, so I didn't feel so far removed from them. For a book that discusses dehumanization so thoroughly, I would've expected really in depth character development. But I do think this comes back to the mountain this book had to climb from a factual standpoint.
Overall though I did appreciate the message of this book and think it's worth the read (just read a physical copy at least in tandem with the audio!)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Blood, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Transphobia
A Week to Be Wicked by Tessa Dare
funny
lighthearted
medium-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
RAHHHH!!!! This was SO GOOD! Added to my short list of historical romances I will never shut up about.
Minerva and Colin fake their engagement and leave Spindle Cove in order to get Minerva to Scotland for a geology symposium because she has discovered proof of 'dragons' (probably dinosaurs) and wants to present her findings. Along the way Colin continually makes up outlandish stories about who they are to anyone they meet, all to varying degrees of success, and thus shenanigans ensue.
This is a must read for any historical romance fan, and even if you just want a silly fun romance - I highly recommend it!
Minerva and Colin fake their engagement and leave Spindle Cove in order to get Minerva to Scotland for a geology symposium because she has discovered proof of 'dragons' (probably dinosaurs) and wants to present her findings. Along the way Colin continually makes up outlandish stories about who they are to anyone they meet, all to varying degrees of success, and thus shenanigans ensue.
This is a must read for any historical romance fan, and even if you just want a silly fun romance - I highly recommend it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, and Grief
Minor: Sexism and Car accident
Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett
adventurous
mysterious
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? No
4.0
I really loved the magic system and the heist/action overall. Sancia was a great MC and I also like that there’s a mix of POVs included. I was really having a great time, then I feel like it lost a bit of oomph? at the end. I just found myself a little less engaged than with the first half-ish? of the book. I think how things are set up with END:the new merchant house has potential for the rest of the series and if that means revolution at all I’m here for it. Burn it down! Interested to see where this goes...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Slavery, Violence, Blood, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Gore, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Sexual assault
Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
phew... this is a rough book to read because Octavia is a genius and she basically predicted the world we live in now 30 years ago
The book starts in 2024... a dystopian society, told from the perspective of a teenage girl's journal, who is trying to create her own new religion. Even though some really horrible things happen in the book, the overall tone is rather matter-of-fact and for that reason the storytelling arc fell a tad flat (it's just very different from typical plot pacing that I've read, so maybe that's why). I have to see how it ends so... yeah I'll read the sequel :')
The book starts in 2024... a dystopian society, told from the perspective of a teenage girl's journal, who is trying to create her own new religion. Even though some really horrible things happen in the book, the overall tone is rather matter-of-fact and for that reason the storytelling arc fell a tad flat (it's just very different from typical plot pacing that I've read, so maybe that's why). I have to see how it ends so... yeah I'll read the sequel :')
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Death, Rape, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Gun violence, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Slavery, Grief, Cannibalism, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Classism
Exhalation by Ted Chiang
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This is one of the best short story collections I've read so far! I really love sci-fi that makes you contemplate humanity, and a lot of these stories really did that well. I initially picked this up in order to read the short story 'The Great Silence' and I actually reread that one multiple times since it's short (and fantastic!). Generally the stories are on the longer side (The Lifecycle of Software Objects in particular is almost novella length itself). I personally didn't mind this because those longer stories just allowed for a more dynamic story that really built into something beautiful. If you're newer to sci-fi I think you'll still enjoy this because nothing was too dense. A very thoughtful collection of stories.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Domestic abuse, and Gun violence
Moderate: Death, Medical content, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Animal cruelty, Drug abuse, and Car accident