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katiemack's reviews
1409 reviews
Daughters of Shandong by Eve J. Chung
adventurous
dark
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.5
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
There are a couple of reviews I've seen about this being "tragedy porn," but it is based on a history that is undoubtedly very personal to the author (which I could tell even before reading the Author's Note). Eve J. Chung does a nice job of balancing the unrelenting hardships with hope and happiness, actually, so in that respect it's a beautiful read.
There are a couple of reviews I've seen about this being "tragedy porn," but it is based on a history that is undoubtedly very personal to the author (which I could tell even before reading the Author's Note). Eve J. Chung does a nice job of balancing the unrelenting hardships with hope and happiness, actually, so in that respect it's a beautiful read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Violence, Abandonment, and War
Minor: Slavery and Gaslighting
Divine Mortals by Amanda M. Helander
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-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
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This is a fun romantasy with some surprising twists, which I appreciated. Some of the communication issues between Mona and Whitman got old, but I enjoyed their relationship almost as much as I enjoyed the dynamic between Mona and Bernadette. I look forward to reading the next installment, since this one kind of ends on a cliffhanger.
This is a fun romantasy with some surprising twists, which I appreciated. Some of the communication issues between Mona and Whitman got old, but I enjoyed their relationship almost as much as I enjoyed the dynamic between Mona and Bernadette. I look forward to reading the next installment, since this one kind of ends on a cliffhanger.
Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-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? Yes
4.75
I'm giving this an extra star for the audiobook production--what a blast! It made me wish there had been more interstitials.
This was my first Chuck Tingle, but based on some cursory internet research it seems like this is somewhat biographical (which made me like it even more). I appreciated the tongue-in-check pop-culture references to shows like The X Files and other monster-of-the-week bits. Plus, his grasp of psychological and body horror is impressive and yields a well-balanced execution with plenty of humor.
This was my first Chuck Tingle, but based on some cursory internet research it seems like this is somewhat biographical (which made me like it even more). I appreciated the tongue-in-check pop-culture references to shows like The X Files and other monster-of-the-week bits. Plus, his grasp of psychological and body horror is impressive and yields a well-balanced execution with plenty of humor.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Blood
Cabinet of Curiosities: A Historical Tour of the Unbelievable, the Unsettling, and the Bizarre by Aaron Mahnke, Harry Marks
informative
lighthearted
slow-paced
3.0
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
These are fun anecdotes, but I wish that Aaron Mahnke had delved deeper into these topics in a way that didn't necessarily make them longer but revealed some facts that I couldn't just glean from Wikipedia (which, based on the source list, Mahnke relied on heavily).
These are fun anecdotes, but I wish that Aaron Mahnke had delved deeper into these topics in a way that didn't necessarily make them longer but revealed some facts that I couldn't just glean from Wikipedia (which, based on the source list, Mahnke relied on heavily).
Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The writing is flowy and gorgeous, and I enjoyed the concept of "what if our life was already mapped out for us--and what would that mean for our choices?" Plus, it's SO creative and magical; it was fun to learn about the twists and turns of Hana's world.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Monster: The Perfect Edition, Vol. 6 by Naoki Urasawa
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
4.25
A Pirate's Life for Tea by Rebecca Thorne
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I feel a bit curmudgeonly when I admit that I missed the coziness of Tawney and New Tomes and Tea, but it was also fun to meet new characters and see Reyna in her swashbuckling element. My favorite part, however, is in the dedication: "To the people who gave me one-star reviews because the first book 'had lesbians,' I doubled the lesbians in this one. Just for you."
I feel a bit curmudgeonly when I admit that I missed the coziness of Tawney and New Tomes and Tea, but it was also fun to meet new characters and see Reyna in her swashbuckling element. My favorite part, however, is in the dedication: "To the people who gave me one-star reviews because the first book 'had lesbians,' I doubled the lesbians in this one. Just for you."
Laziness Does Not Exist by Devon Price
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
As an anxious habitual People Pleaser, I found a lot of value in this book. The concepts seem obvious (e.g., capitalism is responsible for our definition of laziness), but Dr. Price contextualizes them within concrete steps we can take to combat the Laziness Lie. I also appreciated their chapter about "laziness" within professional and personal relationships.
Raised by Ghosts by Briana Loewinsohn
mysterious
reflective
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
3.25
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The coloration is spot-on for the 90s, and the illustrations are flowy in a way that imbues the narrator's haunting loneliness. The story's a little fragmented and unfocused for my taste, but I think it'll appeal to a YA audience searching for that sense of nostalgia for a period they never experienced.
The coloration is spot-on for the 90s, and the illustrations are flowy in a way that imbues the narrator's haunting loneliness. The story's a little fragmented and unfocused for my taste, but I think it'll appeal to a YA audience searching for that sense of nostalgia for a period they never experienced.
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism