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gussurireads's reviews
39 reviews
The Dark Tide by Alicia Jasinska
Did not finish book. Stopped at 62%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 62%.
Let me get this out of the way, this book is flatout bad: the writing is messy and inconsistent (it needed more/better editing!) and none of the characters, even in the supporting cast, shine through to make you somewhat care about what's going on (if there's even anything going on). I mean, the author seems to think that having the love interest/"dark villanous witch queen" wear black and smoke cigarettes will make her more attractive?
The premise does not match the content at all. I expected this to be a well-developed romance between a complicated, nuanced dark love interest and your typical YA heroine but instead we spend more than half the book centered on this Thomas Lin character, in a plot that is neither interesting or well-paced at all.
There's absolutely NO chemistry between the two main characters, which is unsurprising given the fact that they have no personality whatsoever.
I skimmed through the last 50 or so pages I "read", then glanced a bit at what was left and yeah... It just does not get better.
The premise does not match the content at all. I expected this to be a well-developed romance between a complicated, nuanced dark love interest and your typical YA heroine but instead we spend more than half the book centered on this Thomas Lin character, in a plot that is neither interesting or well-paced at all.
There's absolutely NO chemistry between the two main characters, which is unsurprising given the fact that they have no personality whatsoever.
I skimmed through the last 50 or so pages I "read", then glanced a bit at what was left and yeah... It just does not get better.
I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
Did not finish book. Stopped at 12%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 12%.
After listening to Britney's memoir as an audiobook, I was hoping that this would become my go-to medium for memoirs. Unfortunately, I can barely keep track of what's happening due to Jennette's monotone narration. I'll still be making the switch to the physical book once my library copy arrives (the estimated wait is still 5 months, oof.)
Critical Role Vox Machina: Origins Volume 1 by Matthew Colville, Critical Role, Matthew Mercer
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Great for Critical Role fans, although it might also be a good starting point for those who want to delve into the universe without the hundreds of hours commitment that is watching the campaign on Youtube.
Regarding the art style, it is not my favorite: it's very traditional comic style and I would've liked something more along the animated series style. However, the characterization feels on point and Vex'halia just cemented her place as my favorite character of this cast. I was really happy that this featured so much of her and Keyleth - yes, I'm a shipper!
Regarding the art style, it is not my favorite: it's very traditional comic style and I would've liked something more along the animated series style. However, the characterization feels on point and Vex'halia just cemented her place as my favorite character of this cast. I was really happy that this featured so much of her and Keyleth - yes, I'm a shipper!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Child abuse and Cursing
Grand Slam Romance by Ollie Hicks, Emma Oosterhous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is very fun and very gay. Like really gay. However, I suspect I'm not the target audience for this considering I really couldn't care less about sports-themed stories. And even though the cast is diverse and kinda quirky in their own way, the main characters Mickey and Astra were quite unlikeable.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Phoenix Extravagant by Yoon Ha Lee
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
A unique sci-fi take on the Japanese occupation of Korea in the 20th century, with a promising setting and magic system. The originality of the concepts presented are however tainted by flat characters (especially the protagonist, Jebi, an artist that is utterly uninterested in the world around them for some weird, unexplained reason) and the lack of any character development, interesting relationships or exciting plot in general.
More than a bad book, which it isn't on a technical level, "Phoenix Extravagant" is simply a disappointing book, especially when you consider its stunning cover (I did judge a book by its cover!).
More than a bad book, which it isn't on a technical level, "Phoenix Extravagant" is simply a disappointing book, especially when you consider its stunning cover (I did judge a book by its cover!).
Content Warnings
Minor: Confinement, Torture, and Grief
Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa
Did not finish book. Stopped at 30%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 30%.
This review says it for me:
"I was really looking forward to this but it didn't quite hit the mark for me. Oliver's story could have been written outside of Pride & Prejudice and I would have enjoyed it a lot more, I think.
Ultimately, Oliver was overshadowed and constricted by the original story and cast, and I was too distracted by the characters and plot points I recognized to really sink into the story.
What didn't work for me: aging down the characters to YA, the fast pace/short length, several of the side characters were rewritten in ways that didn't really work in my opinion, the romantic relationship between Oliver and Darcy
What did work for me: I really enjoyed Jane & Oliver's sibling relationship, and I loved that Charlotte was written as queer (I ship Charlotte and Lu!)"
"I was really looking forward to this but it didn't quite hit the mark for me. Oliver's story could have been written outside of Pride & Prejudice and I would have enjoyed it a lot more, I think.
Ultimately, Oliver was overshadowed and constricted by the original story and cast, and I was too distracted by the characters and plot points I recognized to really sink into the story.
What didn't work for me: aging down the characters to YA, the fast pace/short length, several of the side characters were rewritten in ways that didn't really work in my opinion, the romantic relationship between Oliver and Darcy
What did work for me: I really enjoyed Jane & Oliver's sibling relationship, and I loved that Charlotte was written as queer (I ship Charlotte and Lu!)"
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming and Dysphoria
Uma Questão de Conveniência by Sayaka Murata
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
O Príncipe e a Modista by Jen Wang
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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? Yes
4.0
Um pequeno pedaço de doçura que devorei em poucas horas, numa curta viagem por Paris do século XIX, acompanhando a história da modista Frances e o príncipe Sebastian e a sua paixão conjunta pela arte da moda.
Creio que qualquer pessoa queer vai conseguir se identificar com as dificuldades que Sebastian demonstra com a sua identidade, batalhando entre o seu verdadeiro eu e as realidades impostas a si pela sociedade; e na liberdade que Sebastian encontra nas roupas mais femininas e a sua identidade secreta, a Dama Cristália.
A destacar a belissima edição portuguesa da Editora Desrotina que faz brilhar ainda mais a arte de Jen Wang.
Creio que qualquer pessoa queer vai conseguir se identificar com as dificuldades que Sebastian demonstra com a sua identidade, batalhando entre o seu verdadeiro eu e as realidades impostas a si pela sociedade; e na liberdade que Sebastian encontra nas roupas mais femininas e a sua identidade secreta, a Dama Cristália.
A destacar a belissima edição portuguesa da Editora Desrotina que faz brilhar ainda mais a arte de Jen Wang.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Outing
Minor: Transphobia
Os Túmulos de Atuan by Ursula K. Le Guin
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
fast-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
5.0
Este segundo livro do Ciclo Terramar representa para mim uma melhoria substancial quanto ao primeiro livro, "O Feiticeiro e A Sombra" ("A Wizard of Earthsea").
Enquanto que o primeiro livro se alongou demasiado: não só pela extensão de páginas, que são mais de 100 páginas a mais comparadas com o Túmulos de Atuan, mas também pela repitação e monotonia de algumas secções - Atuan é perfeitamente conciso, misterioso e atmosférico.
Penso que continuarei para sempre fascinade com os mistérios d'Aqueles-que-Não-Têm-Nome, com os cultos da escuridão e com os segredos labirinticos criados por Le Guin nesta fantástica obra.
Enquanto que o primeiro livro se alongou demasiado: não só pela extensão de páginas, que são mais de 100 páginas a mais comparadas com o Túmulos de Atuan, mas também pela repitação e monotonia de algumas secções - Atuan é perfeitamente conciso, misterioso e atmosférico.
Penso que continuarei para sempre fascinade com os mistérios d'Aqueles-que-Não-Têm-Nome, com os cultos da escuridão e com os segredos labirinticos criados por Le Guin nesta fantástica obra.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Torture
A Court of Thorns and Roses (1 of 2) [Dramatized Adaptation] by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
I'm blaming this one on my Everand subscription and work from home and just needing something "easy" to listen to while I work.
But I kept wanting to NOT listen to it. I listened to 6 HOURS and there's basically no plot, it's just Feyre, whiny and clueless, hanging out at the Spring Court and endless conversations with Tamlin and Lucien. And this is the ABRIDGED version.
The fantasy plot is ridiculous and downright nonsensica (the whole masks thing just seems silly) and what should be one of the most compelling parts (according to everyone who praises this series), the romance itself, is not interesting at all either.
I might switch from this audiobook version to the written version, which I might be able to get through faster. Or just, you know, watch Cindy's youtube videos which are doubtlessly more entertaining than this.
But I kept wanting to NOT listen to it. I listened to 6 HOURS and there's basically no plot, it's just Feyre, whiny and clueless, hanging out at the Spring Court and endless conversations with Tamlin and Lucien. And this is the ABRIDGED version.
The fantasy plot is ridiculous and downright nonsensica (the whole masks thing just seems silly) and what should be one of the most compelling parts (according to everyone who praises this series), the romance itself, is not interesting at all either.
I might switch from this audiobook version to the written version, which I might be able to get through faster. Or just, you know, watch Cindy's youtube videos which are doubtlessly more entertaining than this.