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tascaraudo's reviews
62 reviews
Das Amulett von Ruwenda by Julian May, Bea Reiter, Marion Zimmer Bradley
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Read in German.
THE MAP IS ALMOST USELESS... so many places are mentioned that are not named on the map. Idk where we are?? Where are we going??
Not a fan of Tolivar, who rags on his mom for giving up her magic item 'freely' and uses that to justify his own use and ownership of it, only to also be coerced into giving it up and not seeing any hypocrisy or whatever thwre. Also in the beginning it is said he's angry and hateful towards most of his family and he changes his mind so suddenly with no real explanation, which confused me.
The love story between Orogastus and Haramis confused me bc it seems like it was caused by magic? It isn't based on anything real, in a sense, and both of them are more or less aware of it but don't even try to lift the magic or address that in any way. It just seemed like "theyre in love so their interactions are all the more fraught" but for me as a reader I did not feel the love and did not appreciate the tension that was supposed to be there.
Humans are benevolent rulers and managers of various kinda-human races, and these are largely ecstatic to be under the authority of a human. Which, like, fine I guess. Not my cup of tea to hear "all the races were primitive and beat each other up but the humans at least helped to make peace between them and now they are the bosses!!"
I guess there is loads of potential in this universe what with the spaceships on other planets .
THE MAP IS ALMOST USELESS... so many places are mentioned that are not named on the map. Idk where we are?? Where are we going??
Not a fan of Tolivar, who
The love story between
Humans are benevolent rulers and managers of various kinda-human races, and these are largely ecstatic to be under the authority of a human. Which, like, fine I guess. Not my cup of tea to hear "all the races were primitive and beat each other up but the humans at least helped to make peace between them and now they are the bosses!!"
I guess there is loads of potential in this universe what with the
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Gaslighting
Minor: Sexism, Slavery, Vomit, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, and War
The best characters are the Pirate King and Queen Jiri who are unfortunately not present for much of the story
Die Nacht der roten Katze by Catherine Ashley Morgan
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
relaxing
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
4.0
Enjoyable little murder mystery. Personally not a fan of the main character or her love interest. Things tie up very neatly at the end.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, Car accident, and Murder
Minor: Sexual content, Blood, and Stalking
Glennkill by Leonie Swann
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I love the concept of reading stories from the perspective of non-human entities (see Ancillary Justice, Raptor Red) and so this was so fun!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Suicide, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction and Drug use
Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson
emotional
sad
tense
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Stalking, and Alcohol
Metro 2033 by Dmitry Glukhovsky
dark
mysterious
slow-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
2.0
Translation riddled with errors. Main character bland as hell and dumb of ass, and not in an endearing way.
Most interesting action Arty takes is tokill a man halfway through the book but it is never mentioned again. Otherwise he exists purely for other characters to order around and use for their own purposes.
Most fascinating aspect happensat the very end with the truth(?) about dark ones and the possibility of following up that story with anything is immediately ruined lol.
Lots of potential here to more fully flesh out the world. For example: what the hell are women doing here while all the men get murked by each other and mutant horrors? Extreme paucity of even Mentioning Women at all in this story, and they clearly have absolutely no relevance to any of the plot or even the existence of humanity aside from having children I guess. I want to know what they're doing. No women characters have a plot or a goal or any characterization other than being pretty, or frail, or old and shrill, or squealing like pigs.
Do not recommend.
Most interesting action Arty takes is to
Most fascinating aspect happens
Lots of potential here to more fully flesh out the world. For example: what the hell are women doing here while all the men get murked by each other and mutant horrors? Extreme paucity of even Mentioning Women at all in this story, and they clearly have absolutely no relevance to any of the plot or even the existence of humanity aside from having children I guess. I want to know what they're doing. No women characters have a plot or a goal or any characterization other than being pretty, or frail, or old and shrill, or squealing like pigs.
Do not recommend.
The Devil and Miss Prym by Paulo Coelho
dark
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Short little story about the nature of Human Beings as Good or Evil, or perhaps both.
The Song of the Dodo: Island Biogeography in an Age of Extinctions by David Quammen
funny
informative
medium-paced
5.0
Loved it
Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie
adventurous
dark
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
4.5
I enjoyed this very much! Was startled by the sudden shift in Seivarden's behavior, idk that I believed her allegiance to switch so quickly but enjoyed the characters and the unique perspective of the MC.
BIG warning for execution/mass murder. The MC is also essentially a slave to the Radch empire.
BIG warning for execution/mass murder. The MC is also essentially a slave to the Radch empire.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Slavery, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Genocide, Mental illness, Xenophobia, and War
Minor: Body horror, Blood, and Vomit
The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The writing was familiar to me, the way things people and places are described is short and rich with imagery. As a habitual skimmer, the fast-paced nature of the writing forced me to go back and actually read in order to understand what was going on.
The book really starts with a bang, and you will never be bored.
The book really starts with a bang, and you will never be bored.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide
Moderate: Drug use, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Kidnapping, and Murder
Minor: Sexual assault