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angelkisses's reviews
195 reviews
Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
Our Hideous Progeny by C.E. McGill
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is a gothic historical horror novel, featuring an unconventional female protagonist. TW for animal cruelty, murder and implied sexual assault. Mary is the great-niece of Victor Frankenstein. A brilliant scientist in her own right, she is married to Henry, a geologist. The story follows the two collaborating on papers together (with Mary credited only as an illustrator, not as an equal contributor) as they struggle to make a name for themselves within the scientific community. The story also deals with grief, primarily with Mary and Henry and the loss of their child. McGill’s observations about the patriarchal expectation that women have an innate desire for motherhood and childrearing are astute, cutting right to the core of the issue. To put it simply, I would describe this book as a dark academia sapphic historical romance crossing a female protagonist that challenges the status quo with the “mad scientist” trope (a la Promethean Horrors edited by Xavier Aldana Reyes). The character archetypes of the primary sapphic relationship reminded me of The Handmaiden (which makes sense considering that was adapted from a Victorian historical fiction novel, set around the same time).
The plot twists are another positive. I was genuinely surprised at the direction of the narrative climax (AKA the final battle) and preferred it to the alternative, as in how the characters originally planned to resolve the issue. I definitely underestimated McGill and I’m glad they committed to that ending because it feels a lot more cathartic. Getting justice any other way would have felt cheap.
This work is extremely intertextual, directly referencing the story of Frankenstein within the narrative. This worked for me, but it may not for those who are less keen on academia and the study of literature from this time period. McGill also inserts quotations before each chapter. These are either from Frankenstein or alternatively from Percy Shelley and Lord Byron’s poetry, as well as other contemporary writings, such as pertains to the science explored in the novel. These quotes have direct narrative significance and people may lose out on the novel’s intricacies without knowledge of these literary topics. Also, the quotes may take the reader out of the story as it breaks up the flow. It gets meta which can be confusing. It is also very slow paced. Again, not necessarily a negative but readers should keep in mind that it is a slow crawl before a singularly explosive moment releases the tension. It would definitely benefit from a reread after researching referenced material. This would lead the reader to be better equipped to understand the subversive and transformative value this novel creates through retelling AKA a form of ‘translation.’
Thank you to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, Doubleday and Netgalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
challenging
emotional
sad
fast-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Mental illness, and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
Your Driver Is Waiting by Priya Guns
challenging
dark
funny
medium-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? It's complicated
4.5
short chapters and witty observations keep the first two thirds of this book moving along but the last act (the climactic betrayal) is so chock fill with intense action (a la the Taxi Driver comparison) that it works.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Violence
Flux by Jinwoo Chong
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The Laughter by Sonora Jha
dark
sad
tense
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexism, Islamophobia, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Sexual violence
Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-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
4.5
Sexy cute adorable interracial sapphic relationship between two women of colour + queer chosen family (also potentially polyamorous sapphic couple?) + women in STEM. Grace and Yuki have my entire heart. the nicknames they give each other are so sweet 🥺 ("honey girl" "my siren" "rose girl") LIKE! sugar sweet romance that deals with mental health, academic burnout & parental expectations!!!!
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
5.0
NO WORDS. the perfect ending to the series of epic fuck ups that is june hayward's entire trajectory over this novel. kuang is brutal in this scathing critique of the publishing industry and the white individuality/superiority complex. i knew from the first page i wanted to buy my own copy of this book so i could cover it in annotations, SCREAMING at june to gain some self awareness or pointing out the ways in which her ideology reflects white supremacist beliefs like "reverse racism." there is seriously a whole essay in here about how this book captures the essence of white feminism, applying it specifically to the field of literature.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Racism
Minor: Racial slurs and Sexual assault