Take a photo of a barcode or cover
virgilsaeneid's reviews
337 reviews
What to Eat During the Apocalypse by Vladimir Stefan
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
An ARC provided by Netgalley.
What To Eat During The Apocalypse was a quick-paced comedy that was rather fun. The writing style felt adjacent to Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy and is good for fans of Douglas Adams. I especially liked the inclusion of the recipes at the end- I'll probably try some out when I get the chance.
This book fell flat for me on two aspects though- characterization and pacing. I wasn't particularly compelled by the characters, and I disliked being in the main characters head. The pacing of the story was consistent until about 70% in- where it rapidly picked up pace with a timeskip that was barely explained. This definitely knocked down my enjoyment, so ultimately I give this book 3/5 stars.
What To Eat During The Apocalypse was a quick-paced comedy that was rather fun. The writing style felt adjacent to Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy and is good for fans of Douglas Adams. I especially liked the inclusion of the recipes at the end- I'll probably try some out when I get the chance.
This book fell flat for me on two aspects though- characterization and pacing. I wasn't particularly compelled by the characters, and I disliked being in the main characters head. The pacing of the story was consistent until about 70% in- where it rapidly picked up pace with a timeskip that was barely explained. This definitely knocked down my enjoyment, so ultimately I give this book 3/5 stars.
Bitter Passage: A Novel by Colin Mills
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Netgalley ARC given in exchange for an honest review.
I described this book to my friend as "major Captain Robert Walton from Frankensteincore", which honestly is the most accurate description of this book I can give. Bitter Passage is reminiscent of the bleak, nihilistic tones of Frankenstein, and an excellent read for anyone interested in moral degradation of humans.
While I found the first ~30% of this book rather slow with indistinct characterisation, it grew on me the further Mills explored spiralling humanity and the futility of it all. This isn't a book I think I would usually read, but it was striking and contemplative, and something I would definitely recommend to any lover of the classics. 4/5 stars.
I described this book to my friend as "major Captain Robert Walton from Frankensteincore", which honestly is the most accurate description of this book I can give. Bitter Passage is reminiscent of the bleak, nihilistic tones of Frankenstein, and an excellent read for anyone interested in moral degradation of humans.
While I found the first ~30% of this book rather slow with indistinct characterisation, it grew on me the further Mills explored spiralling humanity and the futility of it all. This isn't a book I think I would usually read, but it was striking and contemplative, and something I would definitely recommend to any lover of the classics. 4/5 stars.
House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Behind You Is the Sea by Susan Muaddi Darraj
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Conversations with Monsters: On Mortality, Creativity, and Neurodivergent Survival by Charlotte Amelia Poe
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
5.0
Thank you Netgalley for providing this ARC.
Conversations With Monsters feels like a love letter to every struggling artist who's ever been called "different." It feels like a friend sitting down with you and holding your hand. As my first creative non-fiction read, I found Conversations With Monsters a delightful read that I devoured in less than an hour. As a twenty-year-old writer struggling with anxiety, depression, and finding my place in the world as a neurodivergent person, every page of Poe's book had me pointing at paragraphs that described my experience in such an innate way. I genuinely believe this is one of my most annotated books- both because I adore Poe's writing style and because I felt so incredibly seen. This book almost felt like reading back my own experiences, especially when Poe discusses how they would delete their anxiety and struggle with maths in a moment, but not their autism. And I sat up straight in my seat and pointed at the page because you get it!! You get it!! (Hard agree on removing the struggle with maths, because I have been grappling with my dyscalculia longer than I can remember. The same goes for the anxiety, I'm tired of having social interactions feeling sick to my stomach.)
Conversations With Monsters is a quintessential read in my not-so-humble opinion. Like you must read it. I demand you read it. Because I'm simply going to be thinking about this book forever now. This was one of the easiest 5 star-ratings I've given to a book. From its lyrical prose to its neurodivergent-friendly structure, Conversations With Monsters is a welcoming exploration of love, grief, and autism.
Conversations With Monsters feels like a love letter to every struggling artist who's ever been called "different." It feels like a friend sitting down with you and holding your hand. As my first creative non-fiction read, I found Conversations With Monsters a delightful read that I devoured in less than an hour. As a twenty-year-old writer struggling with anxiety, depression, and finding my place in the world as a neurodivergent person, every page of Poe's book had me pointing at paragraphs that described my experience in such an innate way. I genuinely believe this is one of my most annotated books- both because I adore Poe's writing style and because I felt so incredibly seen. This book almost felt like reading back my own experiences, especially when Poe discusses how they would delete their anxiety and struggle with maths in a moment, but not their autism. And I sat up straight in my seat and pointed at the page because you get it!! You get it!! (Hard agree on removing the struggle with maths, because I have been grappling with my dyscalculia longer than I can remember. The same goes for the anxiety, I'm tired of having social interactions feeling sick to my stomach.)
Conversations With Monsters is a quintessential read in my not-so-humble opinion. Like you must read it. I demand you read it. Because I'm simply going to be thinking about this book forever now. This was one of the easiest 5 star-ratings I've given to a book. From its lyrical prose to its neurodivergent-friendly structure, Conversations With Monsters is a welcoming exploration of love, grief, and autism.
Circe by Madeline Miller
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Termush by Sven Holm
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Winter in Sokcho by Elisa Shua Dusapin
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5