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thereadinghammock's reviews
577 reviews
Artificial Condition by Martha Wells
funny
mysterious
reflective
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
4.5
Ok, after putting off reading MurderBot for so long, I finally get what all the hype has been about! Short but still very impactful, Martha Wells manages to cram so much into these novellas. I did read them a bit out of order, book two then book one, but MurderBot is just as funny. And I loved ART! I have heard that we get more if ART in future books, and I look forward to revisiting MurderBot's favorite research vessel again.
There's also so much social commentary packed into a very contained story. The commoditization of people and places. The autonomy or lack thereof of the constructs, despite being fully sentient AI systems. The constructs being ACTUAL AI systems and not whatever knockoff theft software we're trying to pass off as AI these days. Exploring the concepts of morality and autonomy when free choice is a conceptual gray area. So, so, so much in such short, digestible, and delightfully sarcastic and relatable packages.
There's also so much social commentary packed into a very contained story. The commoditization of people and places. The autonomy or lack thereof of the constructs, despite being fully sentient AI systems. The constructs being ACTUAL AI systems and not whatever knockoff theft software we're trying to pass off as AI these days. Exploring the concepts of morality and autonomy when free choice is a conceptual gray area. So, so, so much in such short, digestible, and delightfully sarcastic and relatable packages.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, and Violence
The Phoenix King by Aparna Verma
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I knew going into this book that it was the first in a trilogy. I knew there would be some kind of cliff hanger, adorning to leave us readers wanting more. I thought I knew where Aparna was going to leave it off, but then the story kept going, and I was like "Ok,ok,ok,ok... tell me MORE!" I'm not usually a reader who speculates as they read. I usually prefer to just immerse myself in the story and pick up on the story beats just before the characters do. There were a few moments in the back quarter that I thought I had all figured out, but then there were ✨️plot twists✨️, which I am totally here for. Keep me on my toes as a reader and definitely hooked me for quietly anticipating book 2. There was a lot of world building in the first half or so of this book, but none of it felt too heavy handed. We learned things through explaining traditions to the "outsider" characters, discoveries of information previously withheld from characters, and through general context of the characters moving through the world. I always prefer to be dropped into a bookish world and have an author trust me as a reader to figure things out as we go through the story or give me enough clues to do some googling on my own to figure it out.
I knew Elena and Yassen would end up together in some context. I really thought Yassen was being lined up to be The Prophet, but then the reveal at the end that IT WAS SAMSON THE WHOLE TIME! I was shocked! I liked seeing Yassen and Elena grow closer, especially after their shared losses at the coronation gone awry. I was so glad to see my prediction of the double-double-cross come true on that front. I was a little disappointed in Yassen and Elena finally coming together. It was only like 3 paragraphs! I would have much preferred that be drawn out a little bit more. I'm also holding out hope for a royal throuple (swords crossing please!) With Elena, Yassen, and Samson. I knew since we didn't see a body during the commotion of the ceremony at the temple that Samson didn't die. I just didn't see his role as the Prophet coming. But he clearly cares so deeply for Yassen, and I think to a certain degree Elena too. I don't see why they can't all be happy together!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and Grief
Moderate: Racism, Gun violence, Violence, Death of parent, Religious bigotry, Injury/Injury detail, and Police brutality
Minor: Xenophobia, Slavery, Mass/school shootings, Sexual content, and War
The Book of the Most Precious Substance by Sara Gran
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This book was a wild ride from start to finish. You think it's going to start slow and draw you in, but then BANG! A murder and a mysterious book to be found! Lily is a protagonist you never really like, but you come to understand is doing the best she can given a pretty awful set of life circumstances. So when this adventure of a lifetime literally drops into her lap and promises the possibility to end her string of shit luck, who wouldn't jump at the opportunity? At every phase of her journey to find the titular The Book of the Most Precious Substance, you as a reader can understand why she's doing everything.
First, for the money. Then for the adventure. Finally, for the chance to get her husband back. Every challenge along the way adds a new layer of wild mystery to the mythos and lore of this sacred and accursed book. The culmination of the hint for the book felt completely inevitable but also still managed to catch me a bit by surprise, which was just a delight. And the "magic always comes with a price" result felt apropos while still bittersweet.
First, for the money. Then for the adventure. Finally, for the chance to get her husband back. Every challenge along the way adds a new layer of wild mystery to the mythos and lore of this sacred and accursed book. The culmination of the hint for the book felt completely inevitable but also still managed to catch me a bit by surprise, which was just a delight. And the "magic always comes with a price" result felt apropos while still bittersweet.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Grief, Infidelity, and Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Medical content, Toxic relationship, and Murder
Changeless by Gail Carriger
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I love the Parasol Protectorate universe Gail has created in these books. The characters are hilarious, delightful, and run the gamut of personalities and persuasions. And a mystery that can stump even the intrepid Alexia Maccon? A juicy story indeed! Following the trail of a "mass humanity" incident to her husband's old pack in the Scottish highlands revisits a fun character from the Finishing School series (years later, mind you) and introduces several other new and fascinating characters along the way. Madame LeFoux is a delightful conundrum to Alexia, and watching the Frenchwoman flummox Alexia with her flirting was fun to watch.
The mass humanity incident being related to a mummified preternatural was a fun twist, but what threw me for a loop was that ending revelation and argument that followed. While I do fully understand Connell's confusion and disbelief that the child could be his, the vitriol he spat at Alexia and his dismissal of anything she might say to defend herself was horrific and left such a sour taste in my mouth as a reader.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Pregnancy, Gun violence, and Sexual content
Nimona by ND Stevenson
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
After LOVING the Netflix movie, I wanted to see how the original comic compared. While it's got all the same vibes, and same general outcome, they're clearly two different media. But in a good way. I loved the movie for all it's jokes and messages about mental health and how the folks in charge don't always have our best interests at heart; and the comic had very similar vibes too, but it's clear characters and characterizations were changed quite a bit from the original in the adaptation from the original web comic, but thankfully, done in a way that captured the essence of those characters and made them just as loveable and enjoyable in either format.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Violence
That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Human by Kimberly Lemming
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Another fun romp to Boohail, this time to find out what happened to Cinnamon's missing little sister Cherry!! I have to admit, I wasn't expecting to resolve that tragedy in this series. Poor Dante just wants to escape the lovesick fools parading all around Boohail, so he sets out to find his fated mate in the big wide world. But first, a pit stop at an old family friend's island all but slaps him in the face with his mate, quite unexpectedly. Cherry, meanwhile, has been stuck on this damned island for 5 YEARS and wants nothing more than to never the stoic blue dragon she's been trapped by ever again and is wiling to do just about anything to escape.
So much of their shenanigans together could have been solved with much better communication, but given their both lack of knowledge--Dante's being a lack of how to woo a human or general knowledge of human women, and Cherry's being literally any current events happening in the world at large because she's been trapped on an island for the last 5 years--it was comical, if not a bit frustrating at times. I loved the cameo from Alexis the sword, even getting her own POV chapter! As always with the Mead Mishaps series, there's some larger nefarious plot to overthrow, and it's never quite what you expect until you stumble upon in. The secret underground monster kidnapping and forced gladiatorial matches (under a magical influence) were totally not what I was expecting from this one, but also right in line with the magical incel cult from book two and the goddess-who-was-actually-a-litch from book one.
So much of their shenanigans together could have been solved with much better communication, but given their both lack of knowledge--Dante's being a lack of how to woo a human or general knowledge of human women, and Cherry's being literally any current events happening in the world at large because she's been trapped on an island for the last 5 years--it was comical, if not a bit frustrating at times. I loved the cameo from Alexis the sword, even getting her own POV chapter! As always with the Mead Mishaps series, there's some larger nefarious plot to overthrow, and it's never quite what you expect until you stumble upon in. The secret underground monster kidnapping and forced gladiatorial matches (under a magical influence) were totally not what I was expecting from this one, but also right in line with the magical incel cult from book two and the goddess-who-was-actually-a-litch from book one.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Drug use, Alcohol, Trafficking, and Racism
Seduction of a Psychopomp by Elsie Winters
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Been dying to know what's going on behind that cool, calm, collected, downright stoic façade Grim has? He is a man of few words, fewer facial expressions, but many thoughts. After agreeing to an arranged marriage (because who has time to date with you're a painfully shy guardian of souls), Victor finds himself quickly married because his bride-to-be is unfortunately dying and his Reaper magic is her last hope.
Celeste finds herself waking up from her magically induced coma to walk down the aisle for her wedding to a tall, gloomy stranger but she knows it's her last hope. When said tall, gloomy stranger turns out to be her knight in shadow armor, she quickly realizes this marriage is going to more than just a marriage of convenience and that suits her just fine.
Elsie is a slow burn queen! There a reason the subtitle is "Erogenous Hand Holding and Other Ways to Tame your Reaper." For being married for almost 3/4 of the book, the mooning over each other while Celeste's health recovers has Celeste nearly crawling out of her skin. I was cheering her on as she hatched "Operation Seduce Victor" and celebrated as she started to win him over with every small gesture of physical affection she could encourage from the stoic Grim. As always, Elsie's dual POV makes everything more enjoyable when you get to see Celeste trying to puzzle Victor out for a few chapters and then get the hilariously formal other side of the story from Victor himself.
And how could I forget the rest of the HILARIOUS Boundlands gang?? We may only get them for a few chapters, but oh my goddess how I missed Elara & Levi (and now their little boy Lysander!!) and Sidney, Jordan, Huck, & Pidgey!! Well and truly, gang is al here and I love those ridiculous weirdos so much.
Celeste finds herself waking up from her magically induced coma to walk down the aisle for her wedding to a tall, gloomy stranger but she knows it's her last hope. When said tall, gloomy stranger turns out to be her knight in shadow armor, she quickly realizes this marriage is going to more than just a marriage of convenience and that suits her just fine.
Elsie is a slow burn queen! There a reason the subtitle is "Erogenous Hand Holding and Other Ways to Tame your Reaper." For being married for almost 3/4 of the book, the mooning over each other while Celeste's health recovers has Celeste nearly crawling out of her skin. I was cheering her on as she hatched "Operation Seduce Victor" and celebrated as she started to win him over with every small gesture of physical affection she could encourage from the stoic Grim. As always, Elsie's dual POV makes everything more enjoyable when you get to see Celeste trying to puzzle Victor out for a few chapters and then get the hilariously formal other side of the story from Victor himself.
And how could I forget the rest of the HILARIOUS Boundlands gang?? We may only get them for a few chapters, but oh my goddess how I missed Elara & Levi (and now their little boy Lysander!!) and Sidney, Jordan, Huck, & Pidgey!! Well and truly, gang is al here and I love those ridiculous weirdos so much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Chronic illness
Minor: Medical trauma, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment
A Blue Ribbon Romance by C.M. Nascosta
funny
lighthearted
medium-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
5.0
When you love a book or series, being able to revisit those stories with fresh eyes is always exciting. Whether it's reading with someone who's new to the story and getting their reactions or getting the story from another perspective, it brings so many new layers to the original you fell in love with.
That's exactly what ABRR is! I fell in love with Rourke and Violet two summers ago, and getting to see their story from the other side of the milking bench was just as funny, sweet, and riddled with anxiety of a different flavor. And this version had the extra special benefit of even more helpings of Lurielle!!
The humor, Cambric Creek cameos, and emotional honestly gut punches that give CM such a unique author voice were here in spades. I loved getting to revisit a familiar story and have it feel so shiny and new again!
That's exactly what ABRR is! I fell in love with Rourke and Violet two summers ago, and getting to see their story from the other side of the milking bench was just as funny, sweet, and riddled with anxiety of a different flavor. And this version had the extra special benefit of even more helpings of Lurielle!!
The humor, Cambric Creek cameos, and emotional honestly gut punches that give CM such a unique author voice were here in spades. I loved getting to revisit a familiar story and have it feel so shiny and new again!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
The Hidden Witch by Molly Knox Ostertag
dark
emotional
sad
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? It's complicated
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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
5.0
This was an excellent mix of magical realism, wacky hijinks, emotional honesty, and found family I would love to be a part of. I was hooked with Mika's sense of humor in chapter one; her millennial humor was perfect and so, so relatable. Once you add into the mix the delightfully eccentric residents of Nowhere House? You would have needed to pry it from my cold dead hands. This checks so may of my wheelhouse boxes. Witches? Check. Adorable, snarky, sassy, and smart women (and a few men too)? So many checks. A fiercely protective found family? Big ol' check! A not insignificant romantic grumpy/sunshine subplot? A sneaky lil check there too! Diverse cast of characters? Present and accounted for!
I don't know if I could pick any favorite character in the book. I loved them all for different reasons. Ian for his enthusiasm for everything. Ken's calm, solid presence in the household. Mika for her willingness to think outside the box and question the status quo. Lucie's amazing kindness and love. Rosetta for her passion for learning. Terracotta for her fierceness--both loyalty and stubbornness! Altamira for her innocent wonder and the comedic timing that children can effortlessly nail. And Jamie for his loyalty to the people he loves (and a sexy Irish accent to boot, thank you audiobook narrator!)
I loved the characterization of magic in this book as well. While a mostly silent "character", the fact that it had characterization at all was a nice touch the author added. That it was mischievous by nature; that the more witches around, the more magic was attracted to them; and that intrinsically it wants to be utilized. That it truly is an extension of the witches themselves. But that left unchecked or ignored, can get destructive in it's pursuit of attention.
I don't know if I could pick any favorite character in the book. I loved them all for different reasons. Ian for his enthusiasm for everything. Ken's calm, solid presence in the household. Mika for her willingness to think outside the box and question the status quo. Lucie's amazing kindness and love. Rosetta for her passion for learning. Terracotta for her fierceness--both loyalty and stubbornness! Altamira for her innocent wonder and the comedic timing that children can effortlessly nail. And Jamie for his loyalty to the people he loves (and a sexy Irish accent to boot, thank you audiobook narrator!)
I loved the characterization of magic in this book as well. While a mostly silent "character", the fact that it had characterization at all was a nice touch the author added. That it was mischievous by nature; that the more witches around, the more magic was attracted to them; and that intrinsically it wants to be utilized. That it truly is an extension of the witches themselves. But that left unchecked or ignored, can get destructive in it's pursuit of attention.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Abandonment and Death
Minor: Death of parent, Sexual content, and Grief