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galacticvampire's reviews
350 reviews
Beware the Nameless by Zoraida Córdova
4.25
My favorite part of this book is that it finally embraces all the silliness in Star Wars.
There are some dramatic moments, of course, but I think the Middle Grade books are the perfect space to be a little less serious in the tragedy that is The High Republic.
The cast is a little too big at times and the conclusion stretches a little too much for my taste, but the experience of following a bunch of pre teens in such a wacky planet was a delight.
I didn't know I needed a nerdy and anxious Hutt until I met Churo but now I need 10 more books of him.
There are some dramatic moments, of course, but I think the Middle Grade books are the perfect space to be a little less serious in the tragedy that is The High Republic.
The cast is a little too big at times and the conclusion stretches a little too much for my taste, but the experience of following a bunch of pre teens in such a wacky planet was a delight.
I didn't know I needed a nerdy and anxious Hutt until I met Churo but now I need 10 more books of him.
Juniper & Thorn by Ava Reid
I think this book suffers from my expectations going in, as it was highly recommended for me.
I do really enjoy the dark themes and the gory atmosphere. I think the characterization and setting are both really unique and well described. Every single scene in the theatre made me wish I was there to see the ballet with my own eyes.
There's something to be said about a narrative that follows someone so sheltered and manipulated. You can feel first hand the story of healing and breaking from abuse and accepting yourself.
BUT it's exactly Marlinchen's blandness that results in most of what I felt lacking. I didn't dislike her necessarily, but the world is so rich and we have to see it through the eyes of someone incredibly dull, resulting in many moments where I felt the story didn't really reach its potential and stayed superficial.
Her romance is so boring I kept waiting for any big reveal about it, but it honestly read like a juvenile YA, and the plot twist was so predictable I spent the entire time trying to figure out another possibility because there was no way it would be it. (It was)
Still, I really enjoyed the ending and the writing made for some really interesting moments, in which I could really feels the city and its surviving magic flourish.
4.25
You should know, of course, that there are only two kinds of mothers in stories, and if you are a mother, you are either wicked or you are dead.
I think this book suffers from my expectations going in, as it was highly recommended for me.
I do really enjoy the dark themes and the gory atmosphere. I think the characterization and setting are both really unique and well described. Every single scene in the theatre made me wish I was there to see the ballet with my own eyes.
There's something to be said about a narrative that follows someone so sheltered and manipulated. You can feel first hand the story of healing and breaking from abuse and accepting yourself.
BUT it's exactly Marlinchen's blandness that results in most of what I felt lacking. I didn't dislike her necessarily, but the world is so rich and we have to see it through the eyes of someone incredibly dull, resulting in many moments where I felt the story didn't really reach its potential and stayed superficial.
Her romance is so boring I kept waiting for any big reveal about it, but it honestly read like a juvenile YA, and the plot twist was so predictable I spent the entire time trying to figure out another possibility because there was no way it would be it. (It was)
Still, I really enjoyed the ending and the writing made for some really interesting moments, in which I could really feels the city and its surviving magic flourish.
Ain't I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism by bell hooks
This is probably my favourite bell hooks book so far. As expected, it is quite dense, but I think she strikes a perfect balance between not pulling her punches and being didactic .
Focusing on the exclusion of black women from feminist spaces, it's eye opening to see for how long the issues we have to this day have been ongoing.
5.0
"In an imperialist racist patriarchal society that supports and condones oppression, it is not surprising that men and women judge their worth, their personal power, by their ability to oppress others."
This is probably my favourite bell hooks book so far. As expected, it is quite dense, but I think she strikes a perfect balance between not pulling her punches and being didactic .
Focusing on the exclusion of black women from feminist spaces, it's eye opening to see for how long the issues we have to this day have been ongoing.
"The "evilness" of a given black woman may merely be the facade she presents to a sexist-racist world that she realizes would only exploit her if she were to appear vulnerable."
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
5.0
Absolutely insane. I loved every second of it even thought I already knew the biggest plot twist.
Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells
5.0
Finally, an adventure in space!
I absolutely loved the creepiness of an abandoned space station with weird things happening, and the contrast between Murderbot and other androids/units goves eben more opportunity to the exploration of themes like sentience and human rights.
As always, Murderbot is a delightful narrator and Martha Wells strikes a perfect balance between tension and humour.
I absolutely loved the creepiness of an abandoned space station with weird things happening, and the contrast between Murderbot and other androids/units goves eben more opportunity to the exploration of themes like sentience and human rights.
As always, Murderbot is a delightful narrator and Martha Wells strikes a perfect balance between tension and humour.
Trespass Against Us by Leon Kemp
3.25
Really creepy and atmospheric. While it doesn't really go into HORROR or is particular scary, it has some unique ways to grow tension and explore the paranormal activities happening.
The characters are a little bland, and the "mistery" was so predictable that it was unnerving how blind the cast was about it. Still, it was fun and the narrator was quite good.
The characters are a little bland, and the "mistery" was so predictable that it was unnerving how blind the cast was about it. Still, it was fun and the narrator was quite good.
Artificial Condition by Martha Wells
5.0
Murderbot continues being the anxiety representation we always needed. And now, somehow, I'm shipping two aroace robots and one of them doesn't even have a corporeal form.
The overall plot slowly gets more complex while the novella itself remains funny and intelligent.
The overall plot slowly gets more complex while the novella itself remains funny and intelligent.
Six of Sorrow by Amanda Linsmeier
3.5
This is a YA version of a good thriller horror, so basically Pretty Little Liars if it was fantasy.
The premise is really good, and so is the set-up: six girls born in the same day have to reunite cold friendships when they begin to disappear and come back with creepy symptoms.
The writing manages to capture the weird and the gory even in the softer tone of YA, and the world building had a lot of potential. I really wanted to know more about Sorrow and the magic.
But the execution makes it for a weak and superficial story. It's creepy, but the reason is silly. The whole deal with the mothers doesn't make much sense and the ending is very anticlimactic. Overall, it is fun and different but not really memorable.
The premise is really good, and so is the set-up: six girls born in the same day have to reunite cold friendships when they begin to disappear and come back with creepy symptoms.
The writing manages to capture the weird and the gory even in the softer tone of YA, and the world building had a lot of potential. I really wanted to know more about Sorrow and the magic.
But the execution makes it for a weak and superficial story. It's creepy, but the reason is silly. The whole deal with the mothers doesn't make much sense and the ending is very anticlimactic. Overall, it is fun and different but not really memorable.
Sister, Maiden, Monster by Lucy A. Snyder
4.75
Whether you like this book or not, it will certainly be an unique experience.
This is pure gore and sex and body horror, which for me means it was great. A pandemic that evolves into a lovecraftian zombie apocalypse that was actually orchestrated by aliens with religious complexes? Absolutely wild. Every description is grotesque and tackles themes of sexuality, feminism, religion, capitalism and ecology.
The vibes are GREAT and so is the writing... The plot could be worked on. It's a very short book that tries to say a lot while also evolving a weird concept, so a lot felt superficial. The first two parts were very very interesting, but the final one felt a little too metaphorical and the pace suffered with a badly structured ending.
Still, I'm thrilled to read more from the author because this was a wild ride.
This is pure gore and sex and body horror, which for me means it was great. A pandemic that evolves into a lovecraftian zombie apocalypse that was actually orchestrated by aliens with religious complexes? Absolutely wild. Every description is grotesque and tackles themes of sexuality, feminism, religion, capitalism and ecology.
The vibes are GREAT and so is the writing... The plot could be worked on. It's a very short book that tries to say a lot while also evolving a weird concept, so a lot felt superficial. The first two parts were very very interesting, but the final one felt a little too metaphorical and the pace suffered with a badly structured ending.
Still, I'm thrilled to read more from the author because this was a wild ride.
The Oleander Sword by Tasha Suri
5.0
The Oleander Sword is absolutely a step up from the previous book, both in craft and in plot.
I absolutely love how much more the magic leaned into horror, and the overall feeling of it all being a tragedy only made the experience more interesting.
The characters' dynamics become way more interesting and the whole book carried this air of tenseness where you slowly realise that really no one is safe.
My only point is that the ending didn't make that much of a sense. I felt as if it only happened in such a way to create a specific conflict for the next book, which gave a silly aftertaste to an incredible book.
I absolutely love how much more the magic leaned into horror, and the overall feeling of it all being a tragedy only made the experience more interesting.
The characters' dynamics become way more interesting and the whole book carried this air of tenseness where you slowly realise that really no one is safe.
My only point is that the ending didn't make that much of a sense. I felt as if it only happened in such a way to create a specific conflict for the next book, which gave a silly aftertaste to an incredible book.