tianas_littalk's reviews
467 reviews

Binti by Nnedi Okorafor

adventurous dark emotional tense 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Blood

Moderate: Racism, Xenophobia, and War

Minor: Confinement

The Trees: A Novel by Percival Everett

dark funny mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Death, Fatphobia, and Blood

Minor: Hate crime, Slavery, Police brutality, and Death of parent

His Majesty by Shon

emotional lighthearted 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content

Moderate: Toxic relationship

Make Me Rain: Poems & Prose by Nikki Giovanni

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor

adventurous challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Death of the Author alternates between Zelu's life of newfound success, her robot novel, and family interviews. Upon losing her job and facing rejection of her latest manuscript, Zelu initiates the writing of a science fiction novel centered on robots. Surprisingly, the book attains remarkable success. 

Ordinarily, I'm not a fan of multiple POV shifts, but in this case, the narrative benefited from this approach. The interviews with Zelu's family members offered a nuanced understanding of her character, which was necessary given the dysfunctional nature of their relationships. I found their behavior towards her disturbing, but her growth and increasing assertiveness were admirable. The Rusted Robots chapters were enjoyable, although the shifts between storylines occasionally caused frustration. Nevertheless, I was fully invested in both narratives, which explored complex, yet intersecting conflicts and character arcs. 

This novel is outstanding, weaving together a rich tapestry of themes and topics. It would be an excellent choice for a book club. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, and Racism

Clever Little Thing by Helena Echlin

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

From a slow burn to a full on inferno. The mystery kept me reading to learn more. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, and Gaslighting

Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

The Secret Keeper of Main Street by Trisha R. Thomas

emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Lots of entwined secrets and revelations made within this book. The story and characters were well written and believable from the main players to those who were mentioned in passing. The varying genres (historical, romance, and magical realism) that came into play throughout the story kept me invested and thoroughly entertained from the beginning to end. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Rape

Moderate: Murder

Me (Moth) by Amber McBride

dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Death of parent

Grown Women: A Novel by Sarai Johnson

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Grief

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Incest, and Physical abuse

Reel by Kennedy Ryan

emotional hopeful inspiring medium-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness

Moderate: Infidelity and Death of parent