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ginalucia's reviews
491 reviews
The Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Eh, this wasn’t really for me.
As a friend said, this is like the Hallmark film of books but with added spice. It's harmless reading that could be a quick pallet cleanse if you need it, but it was too predictable and cheesy for me.
Helen's Judgement by Susan C. Wilson
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Helen's Judgement is the second installment in The House of Atreus series, but honestly, it could be read alone. Either way, it’s worth every page.
If you've been desperate for a more detailed and intimate experience of what it was like for Helen of Troy, this is it. As a bonus, you get Achilles' side of the story, which is as detailed as it is harrowing.
This book is harsh, so if you're looking for a romantic retelling, you're not going to get it. But that's exactly what makes it so good. It's unsettling and upsetting. Less fantasy and more gritty reality mixed with ancient myth.
It does get a little slow towards the middle, but the story requires it because the last quarter needs all that built-up to bring the drama to its peak.
If you want to feel a thousand things, give this a go.
Wondering if this mythology book is for you? Here’s some at-a-glance info:
* Spice levels: Open door scenes, some a little more detailed than others.
* Fantasy levels: None, gods are talked about but do not appear.
* Rep: Queer rep throughout, although it’s a bit more subtle.
* Trigger warnings: Sexual abuse, war, grief, death.
* The format I read it in: Physical.
Thank you Neem Tree Press, for my advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews and book recommendations, check out my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/ginaluciayt
Want to understand my book rating system? You can find it here: https://houselucia.com/book-reviews/
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Grief, and War
Gods of Want: Stories by K-Ming Chang
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
4.0
Gods of Want was challenging, deep, and dark. As a short story collection, every single one was beautifully written. Some left me uncomfortable, some left me with questions, others left me deeply unsettled. They're all very surreal.
I really enjoyed this. It pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best way.
I really enjoyed this. It pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, and Colonisation
A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
emotional
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book pulled something a bit raw out of me. It made me feel like I just had a therapy session. So I don't necessarily feel better, but I do understand.
A Psalm for the Wild-Built is filled with so many interesting thoughts, philosophical questions, and relatable quips that tickled my brain. I felt seen and opened up in a way I wasn’t expecting, especially in so few words.
If you miss the pointers towards gender and society, you're really missing out on some of the things that make this book great. It has so many layers and is a book I might just need to re-read again to see them all clearly.
I’ll be recommending this to everyone whether they like it or not.
For more reviews and book recommendations, check out my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/ginaluciayt
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Sexual content
Wolfsong by TJ Klune
Did not finish book. Stopped at 19%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 19%.
Love the writing and story but the ages/age gap of the main characters made me uncomfortable. Given that's the whole point of the book, I don't think I can read it.
The Phoenix Keeper by S.A. MacLean
Did not finish book. Stopped at 10%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 10%.
This might be the month of DNF because I'm DNFing The Phoenix Keeper. The main character is very annoying when she should be relatable and as I thought might happen, the zoo setting is not for me. I don't like zoos but I thought this might work being fantasy and all, but nope. The audiobook narrator also made the main characters even more annoying 😅😭
A Snake Falls to Earth by Darcie Little Badger
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-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
4.0
A Snake Falls to Earth is a slow, winding story that blends Lipan Apache culture, mythology, and storytelling, with modern-day life.
In a two-part perspective, we experience both worlds in an almost cosy mystery. Not a mystery for the characters, but one for the reader.
I’m going to be honest, the story was difficult for me to grip onto at first. I don’t think this is the fault of the story itself, but the medium I was reading in. I read the first half of the book on the app Fable (my phone). This was a major struggle and made the story feel even slower.
As soon as I swapped to audiobook (on recommendation), the story and characters came alive.
If you’re looking for a slow-build story with mythology, modern references, messages about climate change, and found family, give this a go.
For more reviews and book recommendations, check out my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/ginaluciayt
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Gun violence
Moderate: Animal death and Grief
The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The Spellshop is a cute, fun, and harmless cosy fantasy that hits all the marks.
It's got that magic Stardew Valley formula. Get an old abandoned house and land, fix it, do it up, and gradually sort out your life with meagre supplies after living a cushy life in the city. You also have to meet the locals and get their help. Who doesn't want that?!
The romance in the book is pretty refreshing due to their personality types but it can be a little cheesy at times.
The Spellshop didn't get me in the feels as much as I'd like for a cosy fantasy but was fun regardless.
For more reviews and book recommendations, check out my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/ginaluciayt
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent and Pregnancy
Not for the Faint of Heart by Lex Croucher
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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? No
4.0
Not for the Faint of Heart is a witty, banter-filled romance with found family, heists, and adventure.
Basically, it’s good fun.
If you’re looking for a kind of fantasy that’s inclusive and upbeat, this is it. The book does tackle some pretty deep topics you wouldn’t expect within all the banter, but it does work well. It’s balanced.
The only thing that let this one down were some of the character choices and plot points. They were only minor things, but they threw me a little. It’s a slow build with a quick wrap-up which could have done with being drawn out a little longer.
If you’re going to give this one a go, check the content warnings. When I said some of the topics are deep, I meant it.
For more reviews and book recommendations, check out my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/ginaluciayt
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
DallerGut Dream Department Store by Miye Lee
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
DallerGut Dream Department Store is a sweet, thoughtful, and very strange book. Think goblin market meets YA Ghibli, and you’ve got it.
It's incredibly low-stakes and message-filled. As long as you don't expect anything more, you'll enjoy it.
The only thing I’d like to see is more depth to the characters. More of what makes them tick, their real feelings and motivations. But other than that, it was a very chill and fun read.
For more reviews and book recommendations, check out my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/ginaluciayt
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, and Death of parent