third_bookworm's Reviews (135)

The Hands of the Emperor

Victoria Goddard

5.0

emotional reflective 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

This book sets a new standard for 5-star books for me. It felt like I was reading exactly the book I have always wanted to read, and every other book I have read has just been approximating some aspect of it. Truly cannot praise it highly enough.

The Mask of Mirrors

M.A. Carrick

4.5

adventurous mysterious 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

LOVED this. Really really fun worldbuilding (vaguely Venice-adjacent setting, several overlapping/interacting magic systems) and extremely lovable characters. I loved that miscommunication was never a plot point; there was no unnecessary drama stirred up by people not talking to each other. The characters were smart and sensible and insofar as they withheld information from each other it was for coherent, consistent reasons.

Kimmy

Alyson Greaves

3.0

dark emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

The Tainted Cup

Robert Jackson Bennett

4.5

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

This was extremely fun. I loved the main characters, and the worldbuilding was really bizarre and fun. I read the last half of it quickly and then was sad to be done with it.

Victory City

Salman Rushdie

4.0

hopeful reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Magical realism rarely clicks for me, so I wasn't surprised to not love this book, but I definitely found it more engaging than some of Rushdie's earlier writing. An interesting look at the back and forth between progressive and regressive social policies.

Metal from Heaven

August Clarke

4.75

adventurous emotional 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

Loved this book and will be recommending it to everyone I know. While there are certain aspects of it that are reminiscent of Gideon the Ninth (all the political heirs stuck in a mansion together having wild drama) mostly it was not, and I don't see the Princess Bride comparison at all, but it was still very delightful. Political intrigue, crazy interpersonal drama, wildly toxic lesbian relationships in very fun ways, really fascinating fantasy religions and worldbuilding. I love the early industrial fantasy setting as well, that was very fun. The portrayal of lesbian culture differing across class lines was so tasty to me.

Content Warnings

All About Love: New Visions

bell hooks

1.0

reflective slow-paced

This one really did not click for me. I think I'm too used to reading science writing to read philosophy. You can't just say stuff without data to back it up (no I do not know how you would possibly get data to back this up).
Anyways, I read this book bc I have heard bell hooks talked about so highly but most of this struck me as either trivial or arbitrary, and much of it was too spiritual to click well with me. I only finished it because it was short, I contemplated putting it down early many times.

Swordcrossed

Freya Marske

5.0

adventurous emotional 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

Very very fun! I loved all the main characters and the worldbuilding was very fun for me, I really enjoyed the industry-specific gods and the guild system.