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thecaffeinatedlibrary's Reviews (290)
adventurous
informative
Steve Brusatte weaves informative essay structure, with the creative narrative structure in an engaging book about one of my favourite things.
Despite knowing A LOT about the subject of dinosaurs, mass extinctions, and fossils thanks to lifelong hyperfixation, I still remained engaged throughout the entire book. The feeling akin to how I feel in a gripping novel, eager and anticipating what will happen next. I learned SO much from this (like just how many fossils are still discovered every year and how our favourite T.Rex was almost definitely feathered). Brusatte weaved the threads of the Permian extinction all the way through the titular Triassic one, seamlessly discussing the evolution and eventual downfall of these giants and what happened to the dinosaurs after the asteroid struck. Magnificent, accessible science! Not to mention, Brusatte's infectious humour and relatable stories that brought the dinosaurs themselves back to earth, along with the larger than life scientists who studied them.
This one is a must-read for any dinosaur kid out there 🦖
funny
reflective
The Rachel Incident is sardonic, fresh and full to the brim with chaos energy.
Rachel herself is wry, delightfully nervous and full of relatable intrusive thoughts. I loved her relationship with James, and how it shows how vital friendship is. I adored their connection, how they were always there for one another, and their inside jokes and shared humour.
This book touches on a few very heavy, very important, topics also. I loved how the author wove these themes in organically, they never felt too sudden or too stilted.
I think my only *wish* is that I wanted more. Caroline achieves so much here, but I just wanted a little more insight into these wild things that seemed to happen around Rachel.
For fans of the unhinged girly litfic scene 💕
Rachel herself is wry, delightfully nervous and full of relatable intrusive thoughts. I loved her relationship with James, and how it shows how vital friendship is. I adored their connection, how they were always there for one another, and their inside jokes and shared humour.
This book touches on a few very heavy, very important, topics also. I loved how the author wove these themes in organically, they never felt too sudden or too stilted.
I think my only *wish* is that I wanted more. Caroline achieves so much here, but I just wanted a little more insight into these wild things that seemed to happen around Rachel.
For fans of the unhinged girly litfic scene 💕
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Abortion
Moderate: Vomit
dark
tense
This Gilded Abyss was an atmospheric tale full of secrets and old flames.
I really enjoyed how atmospheric Thorne's writing is in this one, each new horror felt vivid and realised. The world is FASCINATING, I just found myself wanting to know more and more and more.
I did unfortunately struggle to connect with the main character, and to the romance that ensues.
Overall, if you're looking for a fun, rompy scifi/horror with a side of romance, then definitely check this one out!
I really enjoyed how atmospheric Thorne's writing is in this one, each new horror felt vivid and realised. The world is FASCINATING, I just found myself wanting to know more and more and more.
I did unfortunately struggle to connect with the main character, and to the romance that ensues.
Overall, if you're looking for a fun, rompy scifi/horror with a side of romance, then definitely check this one out!
dark
mysterious
tense
This short story was gripping, despite its teensy length of 51 minutes/30 pages.
I really enjoyed the use of shifting perspective, the use of 2nd person is purposeful and creates a real air of mystery while also bringing you closer to our protagonist and their woes.
I really enjoye the twists, even if I see them coming, and how everything came together at the end!
In summary: more lady knight books pls 🙏🏻
I really enjoyed the use of shifting perspective, the use of 2nd person is purposeful and creates a real air of mystery while also bringing you closer to our protagonist and their woes.
I really enjoye the twists, even if I see them coming, and how everything came together at the end!
In summary: more lady knight books pls 🙏🏻
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
We return to the cosy, queer-centric town of Bright Falls in Astrid, and it was just as welcoming as it was in Delilah. Ashley has a gift for writing meaningful characters and mingling that connection with romance that yearns with every page turn.
Needless to say, I adored this fun, delighted romance between Astrid and Jordan. These two were just ADORABLE. Their interactions were hilarious, swoon-worthy, and all-around excellent. Not to mention Delilah's cameos, and her heartfelt queer sister to queer sister pep talk with Astrid, this was just wonderful.
I love that Ashley weaves in themes that really normalise these characters, that she gives them flaws and internal conflicts that create these raw, authentic characters that so many people can see themselves in. It's something I adored about Delilah Green Doesn't Care, and I was very happy to see that continue in Astrid.
If you're in the mood for sapphic Gilmore Girls vibes, then you absolutely have to try The Bright Falls series.
Needless to say, I adored this fun, delighted romance between Astrid and Jordan. These two were just ADORABLE. Their interactions were hilarious, swoon-worthy, and all-around excellent. Not to mention Delilah's cameos, and her heartfelt queer sister to queer sister pep talk with Astrid, this was just wonderful.
I love that Ashley weaves in themes that really normalise these characters, that she gives them flaws and internal conflicts that create these raw, authentic characters that so many people can see themselves in. It's something I adored about Delilah Green Doesn't Care, and I was very happy to see that continue in Astrid.
If you're in the mood for sapphic Gilmore Girls vibes, then you absolutely have to try The Bright Falls series.
adventurous
This was just delightful! Action packed and cosy, it's the perfect book to liven up a Sunday afternoon.
I'm very excited to continue with the series, and to learn more about Murderbot and their shenanigans!
I'm very excited to continue with the series, and to learn more about Murderbot and their shenanigans!
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
Vague spoilers ahead.
This book. This freaking book.
Shelley Parker-Chan masterfully mixes the queer experience with the historic backdrop in SWBTS, and this continues in new wonderful and tragic ways in the sequel. It is stunning in its prose and pacing, and so well researched. The settings are vivid, from the smells to the backdrops of pirate ships. It spits in the face of gender, and gender roles, and challanges mysgony in every breath. I was angry, I was distraught, and I was heartbroken, but it was also so strangely beautiful and hopeful, in spite of all the darkness. This is a book about power, ambition, desire, and what you would do to seize your fate.
The character arc of each of these characters is astronomical, particularly in our main protagonist, Zhu Yuanzhang. Zhu has done nothing but survive for her entire life, but in HE, we begin to see her learn the costs of her will, her pursuit of greatness. We see Zhu learn about herself, own herself and her body, and learn to accept and give love to those she cares for. We see her learn and grow, and when we finally see her wants come to fruition, it feels so right.
Ouyang is a character I have EXTREMELY complicated feelings about. General Ouyang leads a tragic life from start to finish. Ouyang's desires juxtaposed against Zhu's reveal several similarities, but I think Ouyang is Zhu if she never learned to see outside of herself. The way these two characters balance against each other? Magic. Ouyang's entire arc just hurt, hurt in a way that made me want to hug my friends closer.
Baoxiang is a can of worms that I was not expecting from this book. His melodrama and flair and just sheer toxicity were like a bomb going off. It hurt to watch, but it hurt more to look away. Baoxiang was the quiet one, the one no one saw coming. His quiet ascent was bone chilling, but his bitter-sweet downfall brought forth Zhu's merciful side beautifully. I found myself relating to him one sentence, wanting to hug him in another, and then being horrified the next.
And that ENDING. Perfect. No notes.
This book. This freaking book.
Shelley Parker-Chan masterfully mixes the queer experience with the historic backdrop in SWBTS, and this continues in new wonderful and tragic ways in the sequel. It is stunning in its prose and pacing, and so well researched. The settings are vivid, from the smells to the backdrops of pirate ships. It spits in the face of gender, and gender roles, and challanges mysgony in every breath. I was angry, I was distraught, and I was heartbroken, but it was also so strangely beautiful and hopeful, in spite of all the darkness. This is a book about power, ambition, desire, and what you would do to seize your fate.
The character arc of each of these characters is astronomical, particularly in our main protagonist, Zhu Yuanzhang. Zhu has done nothing but survive for her entire life, but in HE, we begin to see her learn the costs of her will, her pursuit of greatness. We see Zhu learn about herself, own herself and her body, and learn to accept and give love to those she cares for. We see her learn and grow, and when we finally see her wants come to fruition, it feels so right.
Ouyang is a character I have EXTREMELY complicated feelings about. General Ouyang leads a tragic life from start to finish. Ouyang's desires juxtaposed against Zhu's reveal several similarities, but I think Ouyang is Zhu if she never learned to see outside of herself. The way these two characters balance against each other? Magic. Ouyang's entire arc just hurt, hurt in a way that made me want to hug my friends closer.
Baoxiang is a can of worms that I was not expecting from this book. His melodrama and flair and just sheer toxicity were like a bomb going off. It hurt to watch, but it hurt more to look away. Baoxiang was the quiet one, the one no one saw coming. His quiet ascent was bone chilling, but his bitter-sweet downfall brought forth Zhu's merciful side beautifully. I found myself relating to him one sentence, wanting to hug him in another, and then being horrified the next.
And that ENDING. Perfect. No notes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Deadnaming
dark
mysterious
tense
Tamsyn Muir just knows how to bring dark, eerie stories to life. Undercover is grimy, tense and mysterious and I loved every second of it!
I was enthralled by the atmospheric prose, the underground setting, the character dynamics. Everything came together so hauntingly well that when the plot came to a head, I was staring into space in sheer shock. Tamsyn has this absolute gift for the Big Reveal. The little stepping stones that lead up to the twists in her books are just always brilliantly written. Hidden in plain sight, unsuspecting and ready fo wreak havoc on the reader. Undercover is no different in this.
In Undercover we have ghouls, a secret underground, lost loves, and secrets (so many secrets). Complete with Tamsyn's signature snark, you'll love this one if you're a fan of her other works.
I was enthralled by the atmospheric prose, the underground setting, the character dynamics. Everything came together so hauntingly well that when the plot came to a head, I was staring into space in sheer shock. Tamsyn has this absolute gift for the Big Reveal. The little stepping stones that lead up to the twists in her books are just always brilliantly written. Hidden in plain sight, unsuspecting and ready fo wreak havoc on the reader. Undercover is no different in this.
In Undercover we have ghouls, a secret underground, lost loves, and secrets (so many secrets). Complete with Tamsyn's signature snark, you'll love this one if you're a fan of her other works.
reflective
In Anna Kate Blair's The MoDERN we follow Sophia as she ponders her bisexuality in a heterosexual-presenting relationship in the glossy world of modern art in New York.
It is deeply introspective and reflective of the queer, particularly the bi/pan, experience. Our main character ponders her existence in the community in a seemingly straight relationship, and the frequent dismissal of her sexuality. The relationships Sophia makes along the way, the way she rediscovers herself forces the reader to look within themselves. It is easy to relate to her feelings of inadequacy, and the different ways in which queerness presents.
It is quite a slow paced story, but it gains pace towards the end. I personally would have preferred the pace maintain that slow steadiness, so that myself as a reader could really sit with the wonderings and feelings this novel brings but this definitely could be just me.
If you're after a queer book that ponders queerness, I highly recommend giving this one a go!
It is deeply introspective and reflective of the queer, particularly the bi/pan, experience. Our main character ponders her existence in the community in a seemingly straight relationship, and the frequent dismissal of her sexuality. The relationships Sophia makes along the way, the way she rediscovers herself forces the reader to look within themselves. It is easy to relate to her feelings of inadequacy, and the different ways in which queerness presents.
It is quite a slow paced story, but it gains pace towards the end. I personally would have preferred the pace maintain that slow steadiness, so that myself as a reader could really sit with the wonderings and feelings this novel brings but this definitely could be just me.
If you're after a queer book that ponders queerness, I highly recommend giving this one a go!
dark
emotional
tense
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Murder