galacticvampire's reviews
350 reviews

A really good way to see how the American system, specially the left, can find ways to justify brutality without hurting its sense of morality.

It's not the best crafted writing, as I found myself frequently getting lost in the tangents they took me before going back to the original point, and I thought they painted Hamas too much as simply a resistance group, but still was very informative.

I'll be honest: you have to survive the narrator in this one. The way he speaks just screams jackass and is hard to tolerate. I almost gave up on listening just because of that.

That being said, this is surprisingly heartwarming considering it's a military romance. The cast is fun and the plot is simple but engaging. The amount of humour was surprising, sometimes bordering stupid, but it was quite cool.

From the blurb to the advertising I was expecting a Inquisitor story, and I think spending more time in Iskat's years as one would've highly elevated the story, specially since everything we saw was already covered by the Vader comic.

I still found it very fun to follow such an impulsive and messy female character, even if she demanded an eye roll for her teenage-isms from time to time.

I wasn't expecting much of this book because, well, Hayley Kiyoko isn't a writer. But damn, what a surprise.

I think this has one of the best depictions of sapphic attraction I've ever seen. It's not (only) about the curves and the gaze or whatever else heteronormativity managed to contaminate into the queer experience. It pays attention to details, from the intimacy of touching hair to helping clasp a necklace. The tension!

My only point is that I really disagree with the choice to make the music video the climax, because everyone already knew what would happen and then it just. Ends. The scene could've easily be elsewhere, making the conclusion way more interesting.

Individually, I love all the elements of this book. It's the story of a girl who can see ghosts and is invited to a secret society and a free pass at Yale. It's the story of an overachiever nerd with a ridiculous name who has to take care of her. It's dual pov going back and forth between now and before he disappeared. There's murder, and rituals, and a shady academic setting.

I really really enjoyed Darlington's narration, because he's a quirky brooder. I liked the plot, and the choice to slowly unravel the setting by going back and forth between the present and when Alex first arrives. The climax was a little predictable and honestly a bit underwhelming considering how much the dark academia genre has evolved in the last few years.

Overall, it was a great read, even if it isn't the best Leigh Bardugo has to offer when it comes to writing. I needed more pzass, more seasoning, but still was a fulfilling meal.

I think I like the concept of this book more than the execution. The pacing is always a little off and the climax is a quite bland, but I really enjoyed the characters and their journeys.

Part of my disappointment is probably because from the tags to the blurb this is marketed as a romance, but while it indeed is central to the story, it isn't really what the story is about, and I didn't think the plot was the author's strongest suit.

It still was quite fun to read, and the humour was spot on.

This might be a controversial opinion but I really like how different the tone in Solitaire is from the rest of the Oseman-verse.

Yes, it's edgy teen. But that fits perfectly with the vibe of a depressed teenager who doesn't like socialising and is extremely worried about her little brother.

Both the lightness of Heartstopper and the nihilism of Solitaire are part of a teenage experience and having this balance is great.

The plot is a little hiperbolic and dramatic but tbh, that's exactly how I saw the world at 16.

The author has a good hand for the descriptions. I'm completely sold on how beautiful the dresses are and how cool the magic is.

But the protagonist is a sack of potatos—no. a single potato. She's one of the blandest, most boring protagonists I've ever encountered and I felt no desire to root for her.

She's supposed to be this master tailor or something but she *cheats* every step of the way. And oh, the audacity to compare it to Mulan. The love interest immediately clocks her a girl because in no way they could hint even a possibility of interest in a man, no.

By the way, there is a hint of potential in a relationship with the princess and I think that lesbianism would've elevated this story by MILES.

This is more of a memoir than anything and I found it quite boring. It's really well written but not my thing

Alphabet Squadron is probably one of the most thematically-strong instalments of Star Wars. It's not trying to hook you with an adventure or with a cast of charismatic characters (although both of these are quite interesting), but trying to make you question the morality of a justice system, how far should violence go for "the greater good" and really really focus on the individuals in a war.

The empire is not a faceless mass of evil. Is a system made by people that for better of for worse were stimulated to every act of corruption possible. And the New Republic isn't just full of dashing heroes, but soldier tired of the fight and scared senseless of the war and its unavoidable end. The humanisation is great, specially because it never tries to play it as a both-siding. Freed is great at balancing the nuances without gratuitously excusing the Empire for its horrific deeds.

The climax is emotional and trilling (my only caveat being Wyl's part in it) and the end felt fulfilling in a bittersweet way.