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ursa_arlo's reviews
57 reviews
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Out by Natsuo Kirino
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
In Deeper Waters by F.T. Lukens
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
A Burning by Megha Majumdar
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.25
I really liked this book, especially the slow unraveling of Myself's mystery and the descriptions of the House, but I think I was led astray by all of the positive reviews.
Because, while Piranesi is a good book with an interesting format and mystery, I have read similar books that are similar in subject that hit a little harder and push the boundaries a little further. (A personal favourite is Beneath the world, a sea.) So ultimately I was a bit disappointed by the end.
Because, while Piranesi is a good book with an interesting format and mystery, I have read similar books that are similar in subject that hit a little harder and push the boundaries a little further. (A personal favourite is Beneath the world, a sea.) So ultimately I was a bit disappointed by the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Death, Kidnapping, and Abandonment
Minor: Blood
The Wize Wize Beasts of the Wizarding Wizdoms by Nagabe
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
It hurts me to give this manga such a low rating because I really wanted to like it but it was very underwhelming.
I like the format of shorter stories but I wish these characters had more time to be fleshed out because they all had interesting relationships and personalities. It'll also forever be a waste that Nagabe didn't do more with the magic aspect of the setting.
What the other reviews say about the toxicity of the portrayed relationships is also 100% true. Unfortunately, the manga relies on a few very harmful relationship tropes found in other anime and manga (e.g. dubcon, characters who look like siblings (but aren't technically) with sexual tension, etc). A warning of this would've been nice and this manga should certainly not be advertised to teens.
P.S. I did read the relationship between the younger and older dragon more as a father/son relation because of the explicit mention that the younger one is an orphan. But because this book is explicitly advertised as BL, I understand why people interpreted it differently.
I like the format of shorter stories but I wish these characters had more time to be fleshed out because they all had interesting relationships and personalities. It'll also forever be a waste that Nagabe didn't do more with the magic aspect of the setting.
What the other reviews say about the toxicity of the portrayed relationships is also 100% true. Unfortunately, the manga relies on a few very harmful relationship tropes found in other anime and manga (e.g. dubcon, characters who look like siblings (but aren't technically) with sexual tension, etc). A warning of this would've been nice and this manga should certainly not be advertised to teens.
P.S. I did read the relationship between the younger and older dragon more as a father/son relation because of the explicit mention that the younger one is an orphan. But because this book is explicitly advertised as BL, I understand why people interpreted it differently.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, and Outing
Minor: Vomit
Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
While I don't think the mystery of this book is as good as the one in the first book, I do think that the way that it builds on the story improves the first book.
The characterization and exploration of characters from book 1 is brilliant, showing us a different side to characters we only really saw before in the context of the Andie investigation. It makes them more real, three dimensional and nuanced. The same happens to pip; negative aspects of her character are amplified and shown in a new light. The ending is also devastating. If you've read the first book, you have to read this one too.
The characterization and exploration of characters from book 1 is brilliant, showing us a different side to characters we only really saw before in the context of the Andie investigation. It makes them more real, three dimensional and nuanced. The same happens to pip; negative aspects of her character are amplified and shown in a new light. The ending is also devastating. If you've read the first book, you have to read this one too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Stalking
Moderate: Murder, Car accident, and Drug use
Minor: Dementia
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
mysterious
tense
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? No
4.0
This was a very solid read. The mystery is intriguing, there are a lot of clues that both divert and lead you to the heart of the mystery, and you won't want to put this book down! However, as someone who loves mystery novels while disliking thrillers, I do wish that the clues hinting to the ending would've been more transparent. Such as Pip actually showing us the different notes rather than just telling us about their contents so we could've picked up on the difference in handwriting or some behavioural clues in the two perpetrators. I understand why because Pip is a biased investigator who is involved personally with her suspects which makes her judgement about them emotional.
So, overall a solid read, I may just not be a fan of the genre.
So, overall a solid read, I may just not be a fan of the genre.
A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Gaslighting, Grief, Mental illness, Animal cruelty, Blood, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Drug use, Addiction, Alcoholism, and Sexual content
Minor: Alcohol and Racism