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the_midwest_library's Reviews (796)
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Okay hear me out, I first read this book many moons ago when I was in high school, but frankly I can't remember any of that time. Going into it again, it was reminded why this story really didn't stick with me the first time around. Well, the themes are extremely compelling, especially the complexities of mother-daughter relationships. . . I did not find the writing style in this book to be as enthralling as The Bluest Eyes. I think if I would have read this one first, I probably would have bumped my rating to four stars, but it really just couldn't compete with how captivated I was by all aspects of her other work. It was a really really solid read, an important read and I am not the target audience and can respect that while understanding that value this novel has on others. It just wasn't my fav.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
What a beautiful book, gosh it's been ages since I've read a Toni Morrison book, highschool was the last time and I never read The Bluest Eyes.
A deceptively simple story of childhood longing towards idealized beauty standards born out of racial discrimination and white privilege. The story connects each of our characters through threads of both euphoria and devastating born from generational trauma. A must read.
A deceptively simple story of childhood longing towards idealized beauty standards born out of racial discrimination and white privilege. The story connects each of our characters through threads of both euphoria and devastating born from generational trauma. A must read.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-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:
Complicated
I'm shocking myself with this 4 star rating. I expected to enjoy this but not as much as I did. I absolutely believe that had I read the original versions it would not have been rated quite this high by me.
The writing is compelling, I swear I flew through this. The world on its face is interesting but there are some unexpected twists and turns we take along the way. I enjoyed the characters, while our main female MC is young I didn't find her too obnoxious or "YA" which was a concern of mine.
It's hard to review this book without spoiling some of the elements I think are best learning about along the way. But what I will say is this...that man is Edward Cullen and you cannot tell me otherwise hahaha 😂😂😂
The writing is compelling, I swear I flew through this. The world on its face is interesting but there are some unexpected twists and turns we take along the way. I enjoyed the characters, while our main female MC is young I didn't find her too obnoxious or "YA" which was a concern of mine.
It's hard to review this book without spoiling some of the elements I think are best learning about along the way. But what I will say is this...that man is Edward Cullen and you cannot tell me otherwise hahaha 😂😂😂
medium-paced
What a beautiful memoir, I don't pick up a ton and when I do this is the type of story I want. The contents are raw and speak to systemic issues through the authors loved experiences with sexual assault, childhood assault and trauma that became the birth of a social movement.
This was my Feb 2025 bookclub pick and I think a wonderful choice.
This was my Feb 2025 bookclub pick and I think a wonderful choice.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
This is a tough one to rate because it's so short, it feels as though we only spend a moment of time within the authors mind. This book is less than 100 pages and we follow a haunting tale as the author struggles with his own depression to the point of hospitalization. The writing is beautiful, and captivating. I think this was a really important read to really understand those who suffer from depression from a new perspective.
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
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:
Complicated
Okay so I'm really loving the world and the characters in this series and I know we are in the begining but things are falling into place and I have a feeling books 4 on are going to HITTTTTTT
This book would be a knockout if I loved battle sequences because there are some great ones, but personally I'm not really into battle sequences but honestly besides some funky dialogue (lol Philip told me it gets better and I trust him) I really loved this. I was surprised what characters I ended up enjoying in this one ...no one as much as Asher but there are some contenders for second place in my heart.
This book would be a knockout if I loved battle sequences because there are some great ones, but personally I'm not really into battle sequences but honestly besides some funky dialogue (lol Philip told me it gets better and I trust him) I really loved this. I was surprised what characters I ended up enjoying in this one ...no one as much as Asher but there are some contenders for second place in my heart.
adventurous
challenging
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:
Complicated
Okay so, this isn't quite as strong as book 1 which I gave 4 stars, so I feel good at 3.5 here. But that doesn't mean I don't love the series so far. The characters are all fantastic and I'm enjoying each of their stories. The secrets we learn in this book added to the lore of the world. However.....Phil....the dialogue plz. It's killing me hahaha but I know it gets better. Some of the dialogue sent me into orbit with how cliche it was. But these are still fabulous, and I'm excited for this series to find its footing because I've heard it only gets better!!!
informative
fast-paced
Gosh what an impactful book, short, powerful. I've also read Are Prisons Obsolete and loved that one as well. It's hard to really capture this book, it feels like something you have to experience. If you are at all interested in intersectionality, racism, social movements of reform then pick this up.
My favourite quote in the book is when the author was asked about whether she still has hope for the future. Her reply "Optimism of the will. Pessimism of the intellect." And if that doesn't sum me up as a person idk what does.
My favourite quote in the book is when the author was asked about whether she still has hope for the future. Her reply "Optimism of the will. Pessimism of the intellect." And if that doesn't sum me up as a person idk what does.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
I want to preface this by saying, I am a BIG fan of the Empire of the Wolf trilogy, so much so that I lovingly pestered Mr. Swan into sending me a physical arc of Grave Empire (I started the pestering at Tyranny of Faith so hard work really does pay off 😜). So thank you to Orbit and Richard (we are pals now first names only hahah) for sending me this. While the arc was sent to me, I'm a hater to my core, so if I'm telling you it's 5 stars, truly you have to believe me, as I don't give out 5 star ratings lightly.
What a way to open up this world, Nema's Hell truly it was brilliant. I immediately was drawn to our main cast of characters, especially Peter and Retana. Peter's story, a simple one on its face: a soldier of some prestige found himself stationed at a remote outpost where strange things are happening. The woods are screaming, quite literally, and sightings of monsters are on everyone's mind.
Retana is a political ambassador for a race of mer-people, representing the Sova Empire and her interests. While not quite a simple trip, it soon turns fraught with dark magic threatening the mortal world.
The story is dark, creepy, and addictive. I'm not a horror reader, but I am a Grimdark fantasy lover and so this world is right up my alley. Check trigger warnings if you don't love the ookie spooky.
I am a firm believer in publication order and so while not required, I do think your reading is only enhanced for the better if you read this series after Empire of the Wolf, as it takes place 200 years in the future and is directly set in the same world and as a direct result of things that occured in EotW.
I'm really excited to see where this one goes. This book is not without flaws, I do think some of the larger plot concepts towards the end of the book with varying beings and otherworldly events and "things" were a scooch clunky. There was a moment where I was taken out of the book in the midst of a larger plot reveal/explanation due to the phrasing choices but I was pulled back in not two paragraphs later and was desperate for more. So for me, all is forgiven and now I demand book 2 😜
I was highly highly impressed with how this world expanded in such tangible ways. In HOLY SHIT ways, in WHAT AM I READING ways. Richard Swan thank you for writing these books for me and only for me, because I just eat them up 👀👀👀.
What a way to open up this world, Nema's Hell truly it was brilliant. I immediately was drawn to our main cast of characters, especially Peter and Retana. Peter's story, a simple one on its face: a soldier of some prestige found himself stationed at a remote outpost where strange things are happening. The woods are screaming, quite literally, and sightings of monsters are on everyone's mind.
Retana is a political ambassador for a race of mer-people, representing the Sova Empire and her interests. While not quite a simple trip, it soon turns fraught with dark magic threatening the mortal world.
The story is dark, creepy, and addictive. I'm not a horror reader, but I am a Grimdark fantasy lover and so this world is right up my alley. Check trigger warnings if you don't love the ookie spooky.
I am a firm believer in publication order and so while not required, I do think your reading is only enhanced for the better if you read this series after Empire of the Wolf, as it takes place 200 years in the future and is directly set in the same world and as a direct result of things that occured in EotW.
I'm really excited to see where this one goes. This book is not without flaws, I do think some of the larger plot concepts towards the end of the book with varying beings and otherworldly events and "things" were a scooch clunky. There was a moment where I was taken out of the book in the midst of a larger plot reveal/explanation due to the phrasing choices but I was pulled back in not two paragraphs later and was desperate for more. So for me, all is forgiven and now I demand book 2 😜
I was highly highly impressed with how this world expanded in such tangible ways. In HOLY SHIT ways, in WHAT AM I READING ways. Richard Swan thank you for writing these books for me and only for me, because I just eat them up 👀👀👀.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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:
No
Phil you silly sob, you really did the dang thing. And, guess what? I quite liked it!!!!
Okay so, this is a series that imo has a lot to love, we have horny elves (Tolkien did not prepare me for that), a Nevernight x Hogwarts magical school, a brooding spicy sad boy (think Fitz mixed with Logan Nine Fingers), and a political system that is one spark away from going up in smoke. Oh, and dragons.
The beginning of this book had me sat, I LOVED the whole front like third of this book, really nice setup and a plot that felt really unique while playing with some well known tropes. The middle was a bit slower but nothing I can't forgive and I thought the ending was really nice, setting us up for the rest of the world.
Overall, I think this is a unique series, I can't quite decide if the series has truly found its footing yet, it's like I'm 80% of the way in the door but I just want someone to come along and yank me in so I can really get that last 20%.
Let's see where this one takes me!
Okay so, this is a series that imo has a lot to love, we have horny elves (Tolkien did not prepare me for that), a Nevernight x Hogwarts magical school, a brooding spicy sad boy (think Fitz mixed with Logan Nine Fingers), and a political system that is one spark away from going up in smoke. Oh, and dragons.
The beginning of this book had me sat, I LOVED the whole front like third of this book, really nice setup and a plot that felt really unique while playing with some well known tropes. The middle was a bit slower but nothing I can't forgive and I thought the ending was really nice, setting us up for the rest of the world.
Overall, I think this is a unique series, I can't quite decide if the series has truly found its footing yet, it's like I'm 80% of the way in the door but I just want someone to come along and yank me in so I can really get that last 20%.
Let's see where this one takes me!