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valetparkering's reviews
262 reviews
The Viral Underclass by Steven W. Thrasher
4.5
These systems are intertwined!!
You do not own your body, you are your body and you exist in community with others! The rhetoric we use to talk about responsibility matters!
You do not own your body, you are your body and you exist in community with others! The rhetoric we use to talk about responsibility matters!
Hammajang Luck by Makana Yamamoto
4.0
Very gay, very trans
A bit repetitive (and sometimes painfully obvious) on the emotional motivations of the various characters. Angel kept being described as icy so much that she was basically a sculpture in my mind.
Definitely plenty of skill on show that I'm ready to read whatever the author's got next
A bit repetitive (and sometimes painfully obvious) on the emotional motivations of the various characters. Angel kept being described as icy so much that she was basically a sculpture in my mind.
Definitely plenty of skill on show that I'm ready to read whatever the author's got next
Wake Up and Open Your Eyes by Clay McLeod Chapman
3.5
Worst sin is probably being a skosh too long. That first section with Noah was about twice as long as it needed to be and there were a few too many nearly identical rotations with Asher and his family. The last section where it switched to second person, I'm extremely predictable was probably my favorite part.
The political messaging is obvious, but I really liked the endingwhere it becomes explicit that the demons are taking advantage of anger, the rhetoric starts mirroring the Right. Did the media commentator at the end say wake up and open your eyes directly? missed opportunity if not.
I listened on audio and all of the voice actors were very talented. Love the more audiodrama feel.
I need to take a peek at the physical edition because the -gaslights- interjection just felt so good every time.
The political messaging is obvious, but I really liked the ending
I listened on audio and all of the voice actors were very talented. Love the more audiodrama feel.
I need to take a peek at the physical edition because the -gaslights- interjection just felt so good every time.
This Fatal Kiss by Alicia Jasinska
3.75
Pretty cute, upper YA.
The exact setting was a little fuzzy. Thought it would be more pre-Industrial revolution but I think it's supposed to be close to modern day.
Story pauses frequently to explain the various monsters and spirits that pop up, so that can be a little jarring.
Going in, I thought this was a standalone but issues with the third love interest are unresolved and the epilogue sets up for a sequel.
The romance was very compelling between Kazik and Gisela. Once again affirming my belief that enemies to lovers just works better in speculative fiction.
And since Aleksy is possessed, makes me wonder how we're going to resolve that particular thread. If they go in the monsterfucker direction... might be interesting. But I don't think staying in Aleksy's body is an option.
The exact setting was a little fuzzy. Thought it would be more pre-Industrial revolution but I think it's supposed to be close to modern day.
Story pauses frequently to explain the various monsters and spirits that pop up, so that can be a little jarring.
Going in, I thought this was a standalone but issues with the third love interest are unresolved and the epilogue sets up for a sequel.
The romance was very compelling between Kazik and Gisela. Once again affirming my belief that enemies to lovers just works better in speculative fiction.
Cress by Marissa Meyer
3.75
enjoyed this quite a bit more than Scarlet. The timeline didn't clash as much with the development between Cress and Thorne. Quietly allowed a few weeks to pass and Cress already had a crush on Thorne so I was more ready to accept their whole thing.
The political plot was also moving at a good pace. There's a lot of perspectives and people to catch up, but it never felt overly burdened.
The political plot was also moving at a good pace. There's a lot of perspectives and people to catch up, but it never felt overly burdened.
Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu
5.0
Two ways to get me to like your book: mess with form and include second person
Yes, this book is About something, and it never stops being About that. But I don't think it makes the book whiny or self centered.
I appreciate how Yu stuck with the metaphor so tightly all the way through. I liked how the cop show and reality kept weaving together.
Yes, this book is About something, and it never stops being About that. But I don't think it makes the book whiny or self centered.
I appreciate how Yu stuck with the metaphor so tightly all the way through. I liked how the cop show and reality kept weaving together.
Severance by Ling Ma
4.5
I'll just say what everyone else is saying: this is scary reading after/in the midst of covid.
I liked Candice's voice and the structure as a whole. Working in an adjacent industry, really feeling the ennui
I liked Candice's voice and the structure as a whole. Working in an adjacent industry, really feeling the ennui
The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera
4.75
I really enjoy the juxtaposition of mythic figures and modern settings. This was snarky and heartfelt and politically pointed. There were several small moments with Hej that made me really sad.
That perspective change 90% in oh my god????
The ending was a bit quick for me
That perspective change 90% in oh my god????
The ending was a bit quick for me
She Is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran
3.75
The family dynamics were interesting. Jade dealing with feeling like an outsider in her own culture was compelling.
I don't totally understand the motivations of the different ghosts.
I never felt the horror vibe all the way, maybe because Jade is manufacturing parts of it. The dreams felt a bit repetitive.
I don't totally understand the motivations of the different ghosts.
I never felt the horror vibe all the way, maybe because Jade is manufacturing parts of it. The dreams felt a bit repetitive.
Walk the Vanished Earth by Erin Swan
2.0
Primary sin: being boring
secondary sin: was getting a kind of gender essentialist vibe, didn't really like the pregnancy=destiny thing and repopulating the race.
Additionally thought it was weird how Eva just stopped being a person while she was with Paul, even if she did reclaim her agency after the Collapse.
Don't know if she was intentionally referencing Deer Woman, hard to tell for what end if she was because the whole thing is drowned in this particular MFA writing style
secondary sin: was getting a kind of gender essentialist vibe, didn't really like the pregnancy=destiny thing and repopulating the race.
Additionally thought it was weird how Eva just stopped being a person while she was with Paul, even if she did reclaim her agency after the Collapse.
Don't know if she was intentionally referencing Deer Woman, hard to tell for what end if she was because the whole thing is drowned in this particular MFA writing style