buttondragon's reviews
76 reviews

Lakesedge by Lyndall Clipstone

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dark mysterious 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? It's complicated

2.0

I read this on a whim because it was available on audiobook and it was marked as LGBT and Gothic literature, both things i very much like. Personally, I don’t think it really fits either category. Really enjoyed the start of this book, but oh boy it dragged. Somewhere around the 30% mark I started noticing really repetitive descriptions and dialogue. The main character is… a bit annoying to be honest. Refuses help, wants to protect everyone else, even if accepting help would make things easier for everyone. Lots of passing mentions of side characters sexualities being queer, buuuut our main romance is still the usual guy and girl. Very little world building is done, and what there is doesn’t always track chapter to chapter. I’m sure some people will really enjoy this book, and I’d say go for it. Do keep in mind there is a LOT of (TW: Self Harm)
cutting of the arms and wrists mentioned as means of handling an evil lake.
Threw me for a loop a bit.
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Mimosa by Archie Bongiovanni

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funny reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • 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

a pretty quick and easy read about queer 30-somethings being friends and being ‘messy’, to put it lightly. art and use of color were pretty great throughout, honestly the biggest issue for me was the plot. our main four are all struggling with their “messes” (divorce that involved cheating/being a nonbinary single parent, balancing jobs that dont mesh well together, trying to date one’s boss while keeping the job, and… planning the event and not being a great friend?) and not all of them get the same amount of time devoted to them. it feels a bit lopsided to be sure. but hey, worth a read if you want messy queer folks being messy!
Sadako-San and Sadako-Chan by Noriaki Sugihara, Kōji Suzuki

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lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.75

very simple, but very very cute! 
They Were Here Before Us: A Novella in Pieces by Eric LaRocca

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dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Paradise Rot by Jenny Hval

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dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Real Queer America: LGBT Stories from Red States by Samantha Allen

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adventurous inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

god i love being queer
Sleeping Beauties, Vol. 1 by Stephen King, Owen King

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dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

The Daughters of Ys by M.T. Anderson

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adventurous dark 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? Yes

5.0

Love love love the art of this. the color pencil illustrations are beautiful, and the color usage to convey mood is expertly done. i wasnt familiar with the folktale the story was based on, but i can see why it has stuck around. definitely worth a read, and a place in your personal library if you are an art lover!
Never Open It: The Taboo Trilogy by Ken Niimura

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adventurous emotional medium-paced

4.0

gorgeous art and interesting takes on each of the stories!
Hell: The People and Places by Seymour Chwast, Steven Heller

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informative medium-paced

2.5

really interesting concept (looking at how various cultures view ‘Hell’ or their version of the afterlife), but all of it felt very surface level. every topic was given about a paragraph of information, and even then some of the information wasn’t anything new.