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caseythereader's reviews
1749 reviews
Annie LeBlanc Is Not Dead Yet by Molly Morris
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-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
3.25
Thanks to Wednesday Books for the free copy of this book.
- ANNIE LEBLANC IS NOT DEAD YET is an inventive, high concept YA novel: a magical town brings back one person from the dead for 30 days every ten years. This year, Wilson gets to bring back her BFF Annie, who died by accidental drowning a few years ago.
- Despite the fantasy element, this book is really a coming of age character study. The central trio of friends were broken apart by Annie’s death, and now they’re forced back together as the clock ticks down.
- Unfortunately, I’m not sure the author pulled it off. It feels like Wilson hardly spends any time with Annie while she’s back. Even when they go out to parties together they’re often separated. And (SPOILERS!!) no one asked Annie what felt like the most obvious question to me until nearly the end of the book, and all the misunderstandings were cleared up in a matter of minutes once Annie answered it.
- ANNIE LEBLANC IS NOT DEAD YET is an inventive, high concept YA novel: a magical town brings back one person from the dead for 30 days every ten years. This year, Wilson gets to bring back her BFF Annie, who died by accidental drowning a few years ago.
- Despite the fantasy element, this book is really a coming of age character study. The central trio of friends were broken apart by Annie’s death, and now they’re forced back together as the clock ticks down.
- Unfortunately, I’m not sure the author pulled it off. It feels like Wilson hardly spends any time with Annie while she’s back. Even when they go out to parties together they’re often separated. And (SPOILERS!!) no one asked Annie what felt like the most obvious question to me until nearly the end of the book, and all the misunderstandings were cleared up in a matter of minutes once Annie answered it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Vomit, Grief, and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual content
The Fireborne Blade by Charlotte Bond
adventurous
tense
fast-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 Tor Dot Com Books for the free copy of this book.
- THE FIREBORNE BLADE is a compact novella with a fantastic story packed into it. Dragons! Lady Knights! Magic! Plot twists! Hints of sapphism!
- The story unfolds between accounts of other knights attempting to slay other dragons, which widened the world in an entertaining way rather than via information dump at the start of the book.
- It’s hard to discuss a novella with a plot twist without giving too much away, but know that I devoured this book and enjoyed every moment. I’m looking forward to reading more from Bond in the future.
- THE FIREBORNE BLADE is a compact novella with a fantastic story packed into it. Dragons! Lady Knights! Magic! Plot twists! Hints of sapphism!
- The story unfolds between accounts of other knights attempting to slay other dragons, which widened the world in an entertaining way rather than via information dump at the start of the book.
- It’s hard to discuss a novella with a plot twist without giving too much away, but know that I devoured this book and enjoyed every moment. I’m looking forward to reading more from Bond in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gore, Blood, Vomit, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Translation State by Ann Leckie
adventurous
mysterious
slow-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? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Blood, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Knife River by Justine Champine
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
4.0
Thanks to the Dial Press for the free copy of this book.
- KNIFE RIVER is a murder mystery that’s mainly a character study of two sisters forced into a life they never wanted.
- I loved the dynamics in this book, with both sisters being prickly and loving in their own ways.
- There’s honestly so much at play in this book. Small towns, queerness, familial relations, leaving vs staying, being forced to grow up too soon. And all of this as the women begin to uncover what might have really happened to their mom all those years ago.
- Also, it isn’t named in the book, but Liz reads as autistic to me. I loved that Jess simply knew this was the way her sister was and met her there.
- I did figure out whodunnit before the end but not the how, and the how was so devastating I lost my breath for a moment.
- KNIFE RIVER is a murder mystery that’s mainly a character study of two sisters forced into a life they never wanted.
- I loved the dynamics in this book, with both sisters being prickly and loving in their own ways.
- There’s honestly so much at play in this book. Small towns, queerness, familial relations, leaving vs staying, being forced to grow up too soon. And all of this as the women begin to uncover what might have really happened to their mom all those years ago.
- Also, it isn’t named in the book, but Liz reads as autistic to me. I loved that Jess simply knew this was the way her sister was and met her there.
- I did figure out whodunnit before the end but not the how, and the how was so devastating I lost my breath for a moment.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Sexual content, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Lesbophobia, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Cancer
To Shape a Dragon's Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose
- Listen, if you’re going to read a dragon academy book this year, make it TO SHAPE A DRAGON’S BREATH. Not only is it beautifully written and set in a detailed, complexly built alternate history, but it goes fully in on colonization and its fallout and effects.
- Anequs is the newest entry in the pantheon of bright, strongminded girls in fantasy. She knows what she wants and will do what it takes to get there, pushing back against the Anglish’s attempts to force her down.
- I loved that this book got at how colonization and wh*te s*premacy hurts everyone - Native people, poor people, women, queer people, neurodivergent people, literally anyone who dares to not conform in any small way.
- I will concede that it’s a bit overlong, with some scenes feeling repetitive. Yet at the same time, I didn’t want it to be over. I could have followed the daily doings of Anequs and her friends forever (and look forward to continuing to do so in the sequel!)
- Anequs is the newest entry in the pantheon of bright, strongminded girls in fantasy. She knows what she wants and will do what it takes to get there, pushing back against the Anglish’s attempts to force her down.
- I loved that this book got at how colonization and wh*te s*premacy hurts everyone - Native people, poor people, women, queer people, neurodivergent people, literally anyone who dares to not conform in any small way.
- I will concede that it’s a bit overlong, with some scenes feeling repetitive. Yet at the same time, I didn’t want it to be over. I could have followed the daily doings of Anequs and her friends forever (and look forward to continuing to do so in the sequel!)
Yoke of Stars by R.B. Lemberg
challenging
emotional
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? No
3.75
Thanks to Pride Book Tours for the free copy of this book.
- YOKE OF STARS is a small novella with a huge world packed inside.
- The universe of this book has one of the most unique creation stories I’ve ever read, and a fascinating social/cultural system among its many peoples.
- It took me a few chapters to understand what was going on, given how unlike anything I’ve read this is. I honestly can’t even explain it succinctly. You just have to explore it for yourself.
- Lemberg’s prose is beautiful, and you truly feel that these characters are giving their oral histories to you.
- YOKE OF STARS is a small novella with a huge world packed inside.
- The universe of this book has one of the most unique creation stories I’ve ever read, and a fascinating social/cultural system among its many peoples.
- It took me a few chapters to understand what was going on, given how unlike anything I’ve read this is. I honestly can’t even explain it succinctly. You just have to explore it for yourself.
- Lemberg’s prose is beautiful, and you truly feel that these characters are giving their oral histories to you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Abortion, and Pregnancy
The Monsters We Defy by Leslye Penelope
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Racism, Slavery, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Intermezzo by Sally Rooney
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thanks to FSG Books for the free copy of this book.
- INTERMEZZO is Sally Rooney’s most ambitious work yet. It digs deep into the lives of four complicated, messy people who all to some degree have no idea what they are doing.
- Rooney is so good at keeping the reader engaged even when “nothing” is happening. Long conversations, extended mental monologues. When something does happen in this book, it’s often a character making a bad, barely defensible choice. And yet, I was compelled to keep reading.
- One of the central pieces of this book is ableism, both external and internal. Ivan doesn’t have an on-page diagnosis but he reads autistic to me, and Sylvia has chronic pain following an accident. Much of the emotional turmoil of the story centers on the characters’ feelings about it all. It’s a lot to chew on, and I’m still turning it all over in my head.
- INTERMEZZO is Sally Rooney’s most ambitious work yet. It digs deep into the lives of four complicated, messy people who all to some degree have no idea what they are doing.
- Rooney is so good at keeping the reader engaged even when “nothing” is happening. Long conversations, extended mental monologues. When something does happen in this book, it’s often a character making a bad, barely defensible choice. And yet, I was compelled to keep reading.
- One of the central pieces of this book is ableism, both external and internal. Ivan doesn’t have an on-page diagnosis but he reads autistic to me, and Sylvia has chronic pain following an accident. Much of the emotional turmoil of the story centers on the characters’ feelings about it all. It’s a lot to chew on, and I’m still turning it all over in my head.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, Cursing, Drug abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Flawless Girls by Anna-Marie McLemore
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Thanks to Macmillan for the free copy of this book.
- Anna Marie McLemore delivers another atmospheric, emotional, deeply queer story with FLAWLESS GIRLS.
- I loved the imagery of this book. McLemore winds together the opulence and eerie atmosphere beautifully, and I could envision it all as I was reading.
- There isn’t a whole lot to FLAWLESS GIRLS. The plot is one-track and unfolds pretty linearly among the few fully drawn characters. It’s really all about the beauty and the feelings here.
- Anna Marie McLemore delivers another atmospheric, emotional, deeply queer story with FLAWLESS GIRLS.
- I loved the imagery of this book. McLemore winds together the opulence and eerie atmosphere beautifully, and I could envision it all as I was reading.
- There isn’t a whole lot to FLAWLESS GIRLS. The plot is one-track and unfolds pretty linearly among the few fully drawn characters. It’s really all about the beauty and the feelings here.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Blood