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amy_reading_23's reviews
94 reviews
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Ultimately it's about Em, a professor who finds it easier to deal with the fae than humans (and is very likely autistic) who comes to a remote Nordic island to research the regional fae for her book. What she doesn't expect is for an unexpected guest to join her who actually (although she'd begrudgingly admit it) helps her along as she connects with the people and fae there.
I enjoyed all the lore and fae elements of this book, and I thought it was well written.
One thing that annoyed me a little though is why not just call this place Iceland? That is essentially where it is, and I know this is an alternate world with some differences to ours - but London and Wales still exists, so why not Iceland? As someone with an interest in the Huldufolk (the hidden ones) and Icelandic heritage, I would have liked it to be more firmly rooted there. However I understand why it isn't called Iceland - since the fae (despite the name) are different to the Icelandoc Huldufolk, and are more a culmination of Nordic and European legends and
Overall though this was a good read, a great way to start off the new year, and I'm interested to give the second one a try too.
Moderate: Confinement, Self harm, Violence, Blood, and Kidnapping
Minor: Animal death, Body horror, Toxic relationship, Grief, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
4.0
Overall, this was a lot more thought provoking than I thought it'd be. It's an interesting read and I'd be interested to know what happens next. Maybe I will try and anime again...
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gun violence, Car accident, and Murder
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Yoshimoto's writing is beautiful and reflective, and not afraid to shy away from difficult subjects. I liked that every protagonist of these stories were female, and yet had such different voices and varied backgrounds. There were some really candid moments that surprised me (like the whole hole conversation) but it didn't put me off. I enjoyed all of the stories for different reasons and I think some of them will stay with me for a long time. I've already noticed myself thinking back on some of them.
If you're looking for a heartfelt Japanese book which isn't superfluous then this is the one I'd recommend.
Minor: Child abuse, Confinement, Rape, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
Whether the protagonist is really pregnant or not I guess that doesn't matter as much because what the book is really about is how women are treated in Japan at work Vs when they're pregnant. It does have some interesting social commentary but I wish it went deeper into it.
I've read three Japanese books this year and I'm not sure if this is a cultural thing or due to the translation or if its just the books I've been reading, but the characters seem quite passive to me and we don't get to see the full interior of their personalities. I think that's a shame as it makes it a bit harder to really empathise with the characters. The protagonist in this book feels a bit one dimensional. She likes going to gigs in her free time and watching movies and she's obviously got some feminist ideas, but a part from that, even after reading the book, I don't feel like I really know her. That's why the book only got 3 stars for me. It was a fine read, but for me it was missing something.
Trigger warning for fatphobia, the character talks about wanting to lose weight a lot and frequent exercising.
Moderate: Fatphobia
Minor: Sexual assault
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The professor relationship is toxic and even in the pre-word trigger warnings it tells you it is an inappropriate relationship. However the students still idolise this professor right to the very end, which is kind of problematic. I wouldn't want a young person reading this book to think student/teacher relationships are okay. And although it is very clearly not okay and a toxic relationship, those in the relationship never seem to fully realise that. I had hoped it would be more like A Dowry of Blood where the characters realise they are in an abusive relationship and take revenge on the abuser. But instead the professor gets away with a lot, and the author even says in an interview at the end that she finds this character the most interesting.
This didn't totally sit right with me. This, or the fact that there were quite a few explicit sex scenes and even an orgy in the book. Carmilla is only 21 and we never find out how old Laura is but I'm guessing she is 18 since she has started uni, so to have these scenes performed by such young characters was a bit uncomfortable too. I got through this by hoping Laura was older than I assume.
I'm not sure if this book fits into the YA genre of if it is a 'New Adult' book.
It's still an interesting novel that explores dark themes in a mostly readable way. I think the ode to poetry was nice and made me want to read more poetry again. I did also like that the main character was plus size and this wasn't made into a big thing, it was natural that other characters found her and her curves beautiful and attractive. That was nice. But the ending felt very rushed to me and we hardly got to see the character "Isis".
Overall I'm just not sure what to make of this book.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
3.75
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The world was interesting but I feel like it could have been dove into so much more. We only really skirted the issues. I feel like this is because the relationships of the characters were given more weight than the actual plot and setting.
I also wasn't sure about the characters. They were too quick to pivot on their values.
I'd almost like to see a prequel of the book about Shaan and Isaac at blood working school so we can get more of an idea of how the magic system works and what it was like growing up in this world. I also wish that it hadn't been so rushed that Sam wad made a nobel. I feel like if we had spent more time with him as an unblooded character living in the slums then we could have gotten a better sense of world-building and the realities of living in this society as an unblooded.
I thought the political themes were interesting, and it was nice to see queer/trans/poly/POC represented. Overall though I feel like a lot more could have been teased out of this book. I wonder where the author is going to go with the next one.
Definitley read it if you want a romantasy book with an interesting magical system, political themes, and a bridgerton vibe, but don't go into this thinking it's a vampire book.
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Racism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Rape
Did not finish book. Stopped at 24%.
4.0
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Fatphobia