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zaiphon's reviews
147 reviews
Diary of an Oxygen Thief by Anonymous
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
No. This was not for me.I love me a good unreliable narrator story. Delving into human experiences and seeing things from another's perspective is usually enjoyable for me. With this, I felt I wasted my time reading this.
There were parts I enjoyed and breaking down the toxic thought patterns and processing the raw emotions of our narrator seemed to be the point, but outside of that I gained nothing from this at all like I was hoping. I'm still unsure if Anonymous's point was for readers to invest in a character that fails to change or recongize his wrongdoings or if this is simply a study of human emotions and relationships. Either way, it falls flat for me in those areas.
There were parts I enjoyed and breaking down the toxic thought patterns and processing the raw emotions of our narrator seemed to be the point, but outside of that I gained nothing from this at all like I was hoping. I'm still unsure if Anonymous's point was for readers to invest in a character that fails to change or recongize his wrongdoings or if this is simply a study of human emotions and relationships. Either way, it falls flat for me in those areas.
Isaac's Song by Daniel Black
emotional
informative
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
4.0
This was my BOTM pick for January 2025 and I am glad I chose this. "Isaac's Song" has us follow Isaac through an emotional journey of his life as his memories depict it. His father has died and Isaac is left with pieces to put back together that he wasn't anticipating he needed to do. We follow through Isaac's point of view on his childhood struggles all the way to his struggles into his adulthood; including accepting his sexuality along with his identity as a black man in the 80s/90s.
The novel mentions pivotal moments in history, such as the AIDs crisis and Rodney King. This serves as a backdrop through the tangible words and thoughts of Isaac, which constantly put me through an emotional wringer, but one of which I appreciated.
I was moved and felt connected to a character that I don't necessarily have a shared experience to use to connect to. I felt a deep sense of empathy and even shame for the way a community was treated through this time in history.
Daniel Black's prose drew me in from start to finish. I definitely recommend to experience this story as it a shorter read but filled with a lot of though provoking content.
The novel mentions pivotal moments in history, such as the AIDs crisis and Rodney King. This serves as a backdrop through the tangible words and thoughts of Isaac, which constantly put me through an emotional wringer, but one of which I appreciated.
I was moved and felt connected to a character that I don't necessarily have a shared experience to use to connect to. I felt a deep sense of empathy and even shame for the way a community was treated through this time in history.
Daniel Black's prose drew me in from start to finish. I definitely recommend to experience this story as it a shorter read but filled with a lot of though provoking content.
The Serpent and the Wolf by Rebecca Robinson
adventurous
dark
tense
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
5.0
A slow burn that proves itself to be so much more and I didn't know I needed it until now.
We follow Vaasalisa (Vaasa), our FMC, on her wedding night to Reid of Mireh. Forced into this marriage by her family in order for more political gain, Vaasa decided to take her life into her own hands for a chance and remove an inherited curse of which she knows nothing about. Right from the beginning, we dive head first into an intriguing world, a tense political landscape, and a slow burn romance between two characters who are alike but yet have different dispositions and upbringing. Despite this - it totally works and I felt the tension and the ever growing emotions between Vaasa and Reid.
The pacing was amazing and the magic and world building had me invested in each and every page. The characters felt tangible and all played a role in our FMC and MMC's growth. Even though there was a lot to learn regarding each of the kingdoms, their way of governance, current alliances and tensions, and the history of the covens magic, I never felt as if it was too much or confusing. On top of the world building, Vaasa and Reid's relationship was a joy to read and I really enjoyed their interactions during difficult conversations. They butted heads at times, but it was necessary to push through the barriers both characters put up. I gained an understanding of Vaasa as she is processing her emotions she subconciously masks, and Reid going through his own grief and emotional baggage.
If you are looking for:
-Touch her and die
-He falls first...and is obsessed
-FMC who is intelligent and independent, but also working through a lot of emotional damage
-Magic, swords, and twists
-Found family
-An intriguing world with great foundational worldbuilding
...then you need to give this one a try.
Rebecca Robinson debuted with such a strong story and I am excited to see where this goes next. The cliffhanger this ended on has me anxiously waiting!
We follow Vaasalisa (Vaasa), our FMC, on her wedding night to Reid of Mireh. Forced into this marriage by her family in order for more political gain, Vaasa decided to take her life into her own hands for a chance and remove an inherited curse of which she knows nothing about. Right from the beginning, we dive head first into an intriguing world, a tense political landscape, and a slow burn romance between two characters who are alike but yet have different dispositions and upbringing. Despite this - it totally works and I felt the tension and the ever growing emotions between Vaasa and Reid.
The pacing was amazing and the magic and world building had me invested in each and every page. The characters felt tangible and all played a role in our FMC and MMC's growth. Even though there was a lot to learn regarding each of the kingdoms, their way of governance, current alliances and tensions, and the history of the covens magic, I never felt as if it was too much or confusing. On top of the world building, Vaasa and Reid's relationship was a joy to read and I really enjoyed their interactions during difficult conversations. They butted heads at times, but it was necessary to push through the barriers both characters put up. I gained an understanding of Vaasa as she is processing her emotions she subconciously masks, and Reid going through his own grief and emotional baggage.
If you are looking for:
-Touch her and die
-He falls first...and is obsessed
-FMC who is intelligent and independent, but also working through a lot of emotional damage
-Magic, swords, and twists
-Found family
-An intriguing world with great foundational worldbuilding
...then you need to give this one a try.
Rebecca Robinson debuted with such a strong story and I am excited to see where this goes next. The cliffhanger this ended on has me anxiously waiting!
Finale by Stephanie Garber
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
(3☆'s for Finale, and 3 ☆'s for overall series)
I'm not a quitter, so despite there being elements I didn't fully mesh with in this trilogy for me, I wanted to see it through to the end. Overall, I was just not vibing with the writing, pacing, and how some character developments were handled.
I'll just summarize my positive and negatives(light spoilers listed below)
+Jacks
+The idea of fates and magic and how they fit into the Caraval universe and world building
-Pacing for me felt too slow when it needed to move forward but then too fast paced with the twists when it would have been better to slow down and really absorb the details we are being given
-SPOILER, The fact it took two sentences to end the Fallen Star when it felt like he had so much to give to the story and multiple layers to his character that weren't explored
-SPOILER, something did not agree with me on how the "love triangle" was handled and Jacks's story ended like that? Naw..
+Scarlett and Julian felt reminiscent to themselves as we were first introduced to them in Caraval. Despite it being a rocky start at the beginning, I enjoyed having more interactions in Scarlett's POV.
-But on that note, Nicolas's involvement in the story felt kind of silly compared to everything else going on.
I was hoping for more depth in the characters and their interactions, so by the end, I didn’t feel as satisfied as I’d expected. The romance follows a typical YA fantasy pattern, which isn’t a problem for me, but it felt like there was potential there that was never fully realized. That lingering sense of "something more" is what kept me going through the trilogy, though I’m still unsure if the connected series will deliver what I’m hoping for. (Convince me if I would be missing out!)
I'm not a quitter, so despite there being elements I didn't fully mesh with in this trilogy for me, I wanted to see it through to the end. Overall, I was just not vibing with the writing, pacing, and how some character developments were handled.
I'll just summarize my positive and negatives(light spoilers listed below)
+Jacks
+The idea of fates and magic and how they fit into the Caraval universe and world building
-Pacing for me felt too slow when it needed to move forward but then too fast paced with the twists when it would have been better to slow down and really absorb the details we are being given
-SPOILER, The fact it took two sentences to end the Fallen Star when it felt like he had so much to give to the story and multiple layers to his character that weren't explored
-SPOILER, something did not agree with me on how the "love triangle" was handled and Jacks's story ended like that? Naw..
+Scarlett and Julian felt reminiscent to themselves as we were first introduced to them in Caraval. Despite it being a rocky start at the beginning, I enjoyed having more interactions in Scarlett's POV.
-But on that note, Nicolas's involvement in the story felt kind of silly compared to everything else going on.
I was hoping for more depth in the characters and their interactions, so by the end, I didn’t feel as satisfied as I’d expected. The romance follows a typical YA fantasy pattern, which isn’t a problem for me, but it felt like there was potential there that was never fully realized. That lingering sense of "something more" is what kept me going through the trilogy, though I’m still unsure if the connected series will deliver what I’m hoping for. (Convince me if I would be missing out!)
A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Read this on a whim as a break between another trilogy I am reading and wow am I glad I did. I loved all of this!
Magic sent in a backdrop of early 1900s era England, we follow dual POVs throughout the story of Robin and Edwin, one from a background of magic and the other who is not. We are dropped into the world of magic and its history right alongside Robin and I thought the pacing of that was great. On top of the mystery and action packed into the plot, there is also romance filled with tension and spicy scenes. The spice fit in well within the pacing as well and I didn't feel it was thrown in there as a "nice to have" or in a place that didn't make sense.
I loved the characters and miss them already. I most likely will be continuing the series and curious to read more from this author soon!
Magic sent in a backdrop of early 1900s era England, we follow dual POVs throughout the story of Robin and Edwin, one from a background of magic and the other who is not. We are dropped into the world of magic and its history right alongside Robin and I thought the pacing of that was great. On top of the mystery and action packed into the plot, there is also romance filled with tension and spicy scenes. The spice fit in well within the pacing as well and I didn't feel it was thrown in there as a "nice to have" or in a place that didn't make sense.
I loved the characters and miss them already. I most likely will be continuing the series and curious to read more from this author soon!
Legendary by Stephanie Garber
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This book could have been a bit shorter. Some of the problems I had with this one are similar to when I read Caraval. I'm thinking that this writing is just not for me.
There were a lot of predicatable twists that made the suspense fall flat. I felt Scarlett and Julian were unrecongizable, which frustrated me. I was afraid of that after reading Caraval and realized this book was switching POVs. Based on a pattern, I am guessing the reason they feel like a foreign version of theirselves from in Caraval is to prepare for twists in Finale. It just made me detach myself from that part of the story. I felt like multiple times there would be back to back chapters that felt repetitive. Much like Caraval, I experienced that whiplash of twists at the last 50-60 pages.
I definitely think this would hit for a specific kind of readers, but nothing I would re-read for sure.
Am I going to read Finale? Yes, because now I am committed and just need to read the last one and see it through to the end. I'm doing it for Dante and Jacks.
There were a lot of predicatable twists that made the suspense fall flat. I felt Scarlett and Julian were unrecongizable, which frustrated me. I was afraid of that after reading Caraval and realized this book was switching POVs. Based on a pattern, I am guessing the reason they feel like a foreign version of theirselves from in Caraval is to prepare for twists in Finale. It just made me detach myself from that part of the story. I felt like multiple times there would be back to back chapters that felt repetitive. Much like Caraval, I experienced that whiplash of twists at the last 50-60 pages.
I definitely think this would hit for a specific kind of readers, but nothing I would re-read for sure.
Am I going to read Finale? Yes, because now I am committed and just need to read the last one and see it through to the end. I'm doing it for Dante and Jacks.
Behooved by M. Stevenson
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thanks to Net Galley for the digital arc copy!
Behooved follows our FMC, Bianca Liliana, who struggles with believing in herself and finding her inner strength. Her country of Damaria is working with neighboring country Gildenheim on keeping the peace and negotiations which happen to include - offering Bianca as the bride to heir apparent Aric. An assasination attempt gone wrong sends these two on an adventure to secure the crown. On top of this, magic cursed Aric and he turns into a horse (or majestic white stallion, however you want to look at it). Once sunset approaches, he is able to temporarily turn back into a human form. I wasn't sure about this element, but it totally worked!
This was a slowburn with banter and excitement that had me hooked! Some spice is included, but it doesn't encompass the entirety of the plot. There were some moments that felt like it slowed down the momentum for me during the middle part of the novel, but otherwise I thought the pacing was perfect. I really love fantasy novels that have elements of "on the road"/journey and this definitely had that. Wish there was a map to go along with it!
While Bianca is fighting through her feelings, coming to understand the true political landscape of her country and her parents views, and trying to make sense of the chaos, she also deals with a chronic ailment. I thought that was interesting to her character and shone a little bit of light on chronic pain. It didn't overshadow anything or go into major details and it was more of something that was there in the realistic way a person would be reminded of chronic pain day to day in their life.
Really enjoyed this one and looking forward to reading more from this author!
Behooved follows our FMC, Bianca Liliana, who struggles with believing in herself and finding her inner strength. Her country of Damaria is working with neighboring country Gildenheim on keeping the peace and negotiations which happen to include - offering Bianca as the bride to heir apparent Aric. An assasination attempt gone wrong sends these two on an adventure to secure the crown. On top of this, magic cursed Aric and he turns into a horse (or majestic white stallion, however you want to look at it). Once sunset approaches, he is able to temporarily turn back into a human form. I wasn't sure about this element, but it totally worked!
This was a slowburn with banter and excitement that had me hooked! Some spice is included, but it doesn't encompass the entirety of the plot. There were some moments that felt like it slowed down the momentum for me during the middle part of the novel, but otherwise I thought the pacing was perfect. I really love fantasy novels that have elements of "on the road"/journey and this definitely had that. Wish there was a map to go along with it!
While Bianca is fighting through her feelings, coming to understand the true political landscape of her country and her parents views, and trying to make sense of the chaos, she also deals with a chronic ailment. I thought that was interesting to her character and shone a little bit of light on chronic pain. It didn't overshadow anything or go into major details and it was more of something that was there in the realistic way a person would be reminded of chronic pain day to day in their life.
Really enjoyed this one and looking forward to reading more from this author!
Caraval by Stephanie Garber
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I have conflicted feelings on this. Apart from what was a slow start for me (the first 100 pages felt repetitive), I also have some complicated feelings with the way this novel ended:
• The twists twisted...a little too rough at times. Once one major event happened, it was like a row of dominos toppling over hitting you with all these revelations. I didn't get a chance to digest everything.
• The world of Caraval was interesting to me, but it didn't feel fleshed out. It was as if I was only getting glimpses of what Caraval expectations were versus the reality.
• The side characters didn't feel tangible.
• Some major twists resolved themselves quickly and it felt sort of anti-climatic. Without spoiling too much, I was contemplating what would happen next and then all of a sudden, a character appears and is casually like "Oh yeah , these things are actually all good now haha thanks Scarlett". I guess I was hoping for more buildup to the resolution.
• It looks like Book 2 is in another character's POV and I didn't feel ready to switch that up yet. I am hoping we can see more details of Scarlett's character and building a stronger foundation for the other side characters.
Am I going to continue the series? Yes. Am I hoping the narrative gets stronger and more depth appears in book 2? Also yes.
• The twists twisted...a little too rough at times. Once one major event happened, it was like a row of dominos toppling over hitting you with all these revelations. I didn't get a chance to digest everything.
• The world of Caraval was interesting to me, but it didn't feel fleshed out. It was as if I was only getting glimpses of what Caraval expectations were versus the reality.
• The side characters didn't feel tangible.
• Some major twists resolved themselves quickly and it felt sort of anti-climatic. Without spoiling too much, I was contemplating what would happen next and then all of a sudden, a character appears and is casually like "Oh yeah , these things are actually all good now haha thanks Scarlett". I guess I was hoping for more buildup to the resolution.
• It looks like Book 2 is in another character's POV and I didn't feel ready to switch that up yet. I am hoping we can see more details of Scarlett's character and building a stronger foundation for the other side characters.
Am I going to continue the series? Yes. Am I hoping the narrative gets stronger and more depth appears in book 2? Also yes.
The New Life by Tom Crewe
emotional
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
"The New Life" is a historial fiction containing characters who are loosley based off of actual historical figures. Set in the 1890s, during the time of Oscar Wilde's infamous trial, we explore the narrative through the eyes of our two MMC's - John Addington and Henry Ellis . The aforementioned characters are based on John Addington Symonds and Henry Havelock Ellis and focuses on their piece of published work "Sexual Inversion" and the reaction of the public at the time. I enjoyed getting the opportunity to learn more information about these particular people and parts of history I would otherwise not have known.
However, I did have some issues with the way the characters were fictiously portrayed. There were a lot of historical information of the people these characters were based of that was simply not mentioned or grazed over (especially regarding Henry Havelock). The author mentions that he did intend to use the historical aspect as simply a foundation to build his story up from there. I can understand then that this novel intended to focus the narrative directly to the key points important in this story. With that being said, I felt in some places the story tended to drag. I think focusing on dissecting and further exploring these characters lives, thoughts, and choices would have made this more thoughtful. Otherwise, it felt a repetitive narrative at times and weakened the impact.
Overall, this is an interesting read and would recommend this to anyone looking for a book that has thought provoking aspects and challenges you to face other perspectives.
However, I did have some issues with the way the characters were fictiously portrayed. There were a lot of historical information of the people these characters were based of that was simply not mentioned or grazed over (especially regarding Henry Havelock). The author mentions that he did intend to use the historical aspect as simply a foundation to build his story up from there. I can understand then that this novel intended to focus the narrative directly to the key points important in this story. With that being said, I felt in some places the story tended to drag. I think focusing on dissecting and further exploring these characters lives, thoughts, and choices would have made this more thoughtful. Otherwise, it felt a repetitive narrative at times and weakened the impact.
Overall, this is an interesting read and would recommend this to anyone looking for a book that has thought provoking aspects and challenges you to face other perspectives.
The Resurrectionist by A. Rae Dunlap
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
First read of 2025 did not disappoint! A. Rae Dunlap just gained herself a new fan!
"The Resurrectionist" is a blend of coming of age, historical fiction, and dark academia vibes set in the backdrop of mid 1800s Edinburgh. Our MC, James, sets out to follow his hearts desire of embracing a career in the medical field (much to the dismay of his family). The novel seamlessly blends together themes of found family, adventure, twists, historial events, and romance all in one. The result is an intriguing narrative and addictive story that I couldn't put down. The writing was detailed, witty, and transported me within the city of Edinburgh alongside James and the gang. Each chapter moved the plot forward in a perfect pace and there was never a dull moment. Dunlap was able to portray romance and James's acceptance of his sexuality as something natural; it wasn't the sole focus of the plot nor the only relevant point in his character. As she mentioned in her author's note, the romance develops organically alongside other story lines within the overall narrative. A refreshing read that exceeded my expectations. I cannot wait to see what Dunlap has in store for us next!
"The Resurrectionist" is a blend of coming of age, historical fiction, and dark academia vibes set in the backdrop of mid 1800s Edinburgh. Our MC, James, sets out to follow his hearts desire of embracing a career in the medical field (much to the dismay of his family). The novel seamlessly blends together themes of found family, adventure, twists, historial events, and romance all in one. The result is an intriguing narrative and addictive story that I couldn't put down. The writing was detailed, witty, and transported me within the city of Edinburgh alongside James and the gang. Each chapter moved the plot forward in a perfect pace and there was never a dull moment. Dunlap was able to portray romance and James's acceptance of his sexuality as something natural; it wasn't the sole focus of the plot nor the only relevant point in his character. As she mentioned in her author's note, the romance develops organically alongside other story lines within the overall narrative. A refreshing read that exceeded my expectations. I cannot wait to see what Dunlap has in store for us next!