thegr8estangell's reviews
651 reviews

This Is Why They Hate Us by Aaron H. Aceves

inspiring reflective 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? Yes

4.5

The author sent me this book in exchange for a review. With that being said, I loved it. It was amazing. I loved the characters. I loved the Frank and Honest discussions on sex, sexuality, fluidity, and self. It was excellent. 

The Fires of Heaven by Robert Jordan

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This one was great. I loved it. wtf. Still too much ritual nudity. Too much boobily boobed with her breastily breasts for my taste. But plot wise? Solid. Even tho HE CUT PERRIN OUT ENTIRELY. how the hell you write out one of the main characters from a 900pg novel? 

The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez

adventurous hopeful reflective 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? Yes

4.75

Excellent. I loved it. It felt like if you crossed Lincoln in the Bardo with The Grace of Kings. I loved the way that it felt so immersive but I felt like I was around a campfire listening to the story being told to me by an elder. The plot was very interesting. I absolutely loved 

Fathomfolk by Eliza Chan

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Eh. This felt like a bloated YA book trying to be adult fantasy. The magic was cool and the world was cool but the plot didn’t really coalesce? IDK what Frick did to Nami to get her so dick-atized into doing whatever he wanted. That was really annoying. The “rebels” weren’t fleshed out well. Their motives weren’t fleshed out well. It just didn’t make a lot of sense. But the characters were cool and the magic was neat. The ham-fisted musing on apartheid could’ve been handled much better imo. 

The Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan

adventurous slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Rand was sooo much better in this one. Perrin’s story is the highlight of this one tho. Idk what Mat thought he was doing but it was a whole lotta nothing. I loved the girls storylines in this one. It was so much fun. The ritual female nudity is so strange though. It happens a lot in this series and is very off putting. This book is sometimes sexist but other times feminist. It’s strange how that pendulum swings so often in this book. Idk what’s going to happen next. 

Brother by Ania Ahlborn

dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

What… the actual fuck… was that… holy… holy shit. I just… speechless

Flamer by Mike Curato

inspiring reflective fast-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

4.25

I needed this book when I was 14. I had this exact experience when I was a 14 y.o. Boy Scout. I had those same feelings and those same fears and anxieties. I love how this book talks just like a sarcastic 14 year old boy. Like that is the way kids talked at scout camp. I loved it. I just wish I had this 15 years ago. 

Provenance by Ann Leckie

adventurous 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? Yes

4.0

The World We Make by N.K. Jemisin

adventurous reflective 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? Yes

4.25

Excellent sequel. It just picks up right where we leave off and just gets going. It’s just as good as the first one. I love seeing all the other cities. Chicago being the next city makes sense. San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dallas, Atlanta, Miami would all make awesome stories. 

Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

dark reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This may be one the greatest books of a generation. I have not been so enthralled, enraptured, engaged with a book that has such a powerful message in a long time. This book will stay with me for the rest of my life. I will not stop thinking about the message of this book. It has helped change my mind and shape my opinion on things. These kinds of books are why I love reading. These kinds of books are why I do what I do. I love this book. It will probably be my favorite book of 2024 and has entered the top 3 of my favorite books of all time.