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theteaisaddictive's reviews
303 reviews
White Teeth by Zadie Smith
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
An absolutely masterful work of fiction, and one I can’t believe I never read until now. Very excited to read more of her books in the future!
A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
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
4.5
A delight of a book, with a magic system I found intriguing without being beaten over the head with lore dumps, and a love story well worth rooting for. I’ll be excited to read the rest of the series!
Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters
challenging
emotional
informative
sad
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
5.0
I think I want to eat this book. Ames and Reese are unlikeable, messy, flawed and beautiful characters, and that ending is wonderful; the loss of ambiguity in one sense, while the ultimate fate of their little family remains undecided for the reader. Fantastic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Transphobia, and Domestic abuse
The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
Did not finish book. Stopped at 13%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 13%.
DNF at page 70. I was really excited for this book considering how much I enjoyed Priory of the Orange Tree, and it just failed to excite me or grab my interest — way too heavy on the infodumping for me.
The Bookseller of Inverness by S.G. MacLean
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A very enjoyable read! This was a Christmas gift and not something I would’ve picked up for myself; I found it to be a real page-turner, and as my BA was in Literature and Scottish History I found the period setting really interesting as well.
The romance is definitely the weakest aspect of the novel, although understandably so as it’s nowhere near being the main focus. I did appreciate the diversity of experiences amongst the characters, and especially the prioritisation of women in what is on paper a very male-centric novel. There is, of course, a deep dramatic irony in reading about characters so devoted to the Jacobite cause and convinced that the next rising will work, in a contemporary Scotland that did not experience that successful rising.
The romance is definitely the weakest aspect of the novel, although understandably so as it’s nowhere near being the main focus. I did appreciate the diversity of experiences amongst the characters, and especially the prioritisation of women in what is on paper a very male-centric novel. There is, of course, a deep dramatic irony in reading about characters so devoted to the Jacobite cause and convinced that the next rising will work, in a contemporary Scotland that did not experience that successful rising.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
4.0
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
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? Yes
3.5
I’ve been meaning to read this for a few years now, and it didn’t disappoint! The humour in this book ties in neatly with my own, and Gideon and Harrow’s love-hate-refuse-to-admit-we’re-grudgingly-allies dynamic is a delightful read. The plot was kind of threadbare and suffered for being under explained, but I have hopes that the sequels will clarify key points. And when an already fast-paced book ramps the action up to 111 for the climax, being on the edge of my seat doesn’t even come close to describing how stressed I was finishing this book.
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
Well. I was promised low stakes, and low stakes were certainly what I received!
This book has such a fun premise, and the first few chapters are really wonderful — seeing Viv make friends, find her venue, and source the various ingredients to start the cafe. Unfortunately I found the story a tad repetitive from there — Viv and co will add something to the menu, it’ll be well-received, and the next day they’ll notice they need a bigger kitchen, or some live entertainment, add it to the cafe — and it’ll be well received. Rinse and repeat. (the gigantic direcat and the electric guitar-playing bard were very fun to read about, though)
The one main source of tension in the book is very quickly revealed to not be a big deal after all, and in fact very helpful in the denouement of the story. The Big Setpiece at the climax of the story is at least dramatically pleasing, albeit fairly easily recovered from. I know it’s ‘low-stakes’, but SOME stakes would’ve been nice, you know?
Additionally, I found the romance in this book was lacking both chemistry and tension. I honestly thought the two worked much better as friends, especially given the way their last scene plays out (bar the kiss). It’s not objectionable in any way, just . . . not especially engaging.
Really, this book could’ve done with being longer, or even just with a structure less endlessly repetitive. The writing style was fun and engaging, and I loved reading about the fantasy world, but it felt too short. This book wasn’t bad, or unenjoyable by any means — but it could have been much better than it was. This edition included the short prequel story Pages to Fill, which I found just as enjoyable because of the stakes! The tension! The conflict! And, of course, the promise of Viv’s choice to pursue Legends and Lattes.
Extra 1/4 star added on Storygraph for including a recipe at the back of the book. I love a book that includes recipes in the back.
This book has such a fun premise, and the first few chapters are really wonderful — seeing Viv make friends, find her venue, and source the various ingredients to start the cafe. Unfortunately I found the story a tad repetitive from there — Viv and co will add something to the menu, it’ll be well-received, and the next day they’ll notice they need a bigger kitchen, or some live entertainment, add it to the cafe — and it’ll be well received. Rinse and repeat. (the gigantic direcat and the electric guitar-playing bard were very fun to read about, though)
The one main source of tension in the book is very quickly revealed to not be a big deal after all, and in fact very helpful in the denouement of the story. The Big Setpiece at the climax of the story is at least dramatically pleasing, albeit fairly easily recovered from. I know it’s ‘low-stakes’, but SOME stakes would’ve been nice, you know?
Additionally, I found the romance in this book was lacking both chemistry and tension. I honestly thought the two worked much better as friends, especially given the way their last scene plays out (bar the kiss). It’s not objectionable in any way, just . . . not especially engaging.
Really, this book could’ve done with being longer, or even just with a structure less endlessly repetitive. The writing style was fun and engaging, and I loved reading about the fantasy world, but it felt too short. This book wasn’t bad, or unenjoyable by any means — but it could have been much better than it was. This edition included the short prequel story Pages to Fill, which I found just as enjoyable because of the stakes! The tension! The conflict! And, of course, the promise of Viv’s choice to pursue Legends and Lattes.
Extra 1/4 star added on Storygraph for including a recipe at the back of the book. I love a book that includes recipes in the back.
Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
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
4.25
A beautifully-written book starring the most insufferable collection of characters I’ve ever read about. Watching them make their mistakes, break apart, hurt each other, leave, grow, change, and become themselves was an experience that I practically inhaled by the end of the book. Bonus star for the prose, which is simply gorgeous.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Rape, and Animal death
An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Cole
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Racial slurs, and Racism