xyzeereads's reviews
577 reviews

Four Treasures of the Sky by Jenny Tinghui Zhang

dark sad tense slow-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

Dead Silence by S.A. Barnes

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

The Tiger and the Acrobat by Susanna Tamaro

adventurous inspiring reflective 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? Yes

5.0

The Night Guest by Fiona McFarlane

sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

sad tense medium-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

The Punkhawala and the Prostitute by Wesley Leon Aroozoo

adventurous dark sad 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

4.0

Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews

dark sad medium-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

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

funny lighthearted fast-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

4.25

Work Hard, Not Smart by Alexis Paige

funny informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

3.0

I wasn't sure what I was getting myself into, but I settled into the writing as the chapters progressed. Paige has done an excellent job of sharing her process—be it for writing, thinking, deconstructing, and manifesting—for what she calls her "creative nonfiction" work. Vignettes of her 60-day incarceration; her "toxic-whiteness" and how it affects her thinking and her writing; her awareness on racial prejudice and privilege and their detriment effect on everyday life. This may fly under the radar in the oversaturated publishing world, but I'm grateful to BookSirens for giving me the opportunity to read and review it. 

Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman

adventurous funny 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

4.25