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madmadmaddymad's reviews
195 reviews
Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
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? Yes
5.0
I’m in love with this world and this depiction of the afterlife.
Hugo is, like, very Uncle Iroh from ATLA vibes.
And Apollo is my favorite character. I don’t even care that this book is filled with phenomenal, complex characters that are easy to love, he’s just so pure, he’s the best boy.
I think TJ Klune might just be my new favorite author. I SCREAMED when I got to the end of this book. (In excitement. In joy.)
Also he had me crying again. How can this author make me cry, and feel so good, all at once? It has some heavy themes but it deals with them beautifully, and it just leaves you feeling good. It’s remarkable how good this book made me feel. I’m speechless. It is SO good.
Hugo is, like, very Uncle Iroh from ATLA vibes.
And Apollo is my favorite character. I don’t even care that this book is filled with phenomenal, complex characters that are easy to love, he’s just so pure, he’s the best boy.
I think TJ Klune might just be my new favorite author. I SCREAMED when I got to the end of this book. (In excitement. In joy.)
Also he had me crying again. How can this author make me cry, and feel so good, all at once? It has some heavy themes but it deals with them beautifully, and it just leaves you feeling good. It’s remarkable how good this book made me feel. I’m speechless. It is SO good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, and Grief
Urban Animal, Season 1 by Justin Jordan
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It sorta reminds me of Animorphs mixed with Spider-Man.
The art is what really won me over. Some pretty cool Kaiju reminiscent fight scenes.
The plot is a little overwhelming, big info dumping and not very well paced. But overall - an enjoyable comic. Not sure if I’m going to continue reading it past season 1. I do find it a little uncomfortable that the characters are naked after they transform back into humans. (Mostly because it’s this old man hanging out with a teenage boy. Very uncomfy.)
The art is what really won me over. Some pretty cool Kaiju reminiscent fight scenes.
The plot is a little overwhelming, big info dumping and not very well paced. But overall - an enjoyable comic. Not sure if I’m going to continue reading it past season 1. I do find it a little uncomfortable that the characters are naked after they transform back into humans. (Mostly because it’s this old man hanging out with a teenage boy. Very uncomfy.)
Fangirl, Vol. 2: The Manga by Sam Maggs, Gabi Nam, Rainbow Rowell
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
5.0
It’s literally so cute, I can’t stand it.
I love when he asks her to read him fanfiction.
And The Outsiders scene is so cute it almost made my heart burst.
How dare you publish this edition with that cliffhanger and not have Vol 3 and 4 available 😭
I love when he asks her to read him fanfiction.
And The Outsiders scene is so cute it almost made my heart burst.
How dare you publish this edition with that cliffhanger and not have Vol 3 and 4 available 😭
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence and Alcohol
Fangirl, Vol. 1: The Manga by Sam Maggs, Gabi Nam, Rainbow Rowell
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Fangirl! The same story, but illustrated. I LOVE the little bits of Simon and Baz lore.
Cath’s bedroom is SO CUTE, with all her Simon Snow paraphernalia. It reminds me of mine when I was a teenager. The life size Baz cardboard cutout is a nice touch 😂
Levi and Reagan are a perfect golden retriever/black cat pair. Their character designs are SPOT ON.
This is wonderfully illustrated and well paced. A great way to experience the story of Fangirl all over again. ❤️
Cath’s bedroom is SO CUTE, with all her Simon Snow paraphernalia. It reminds me of mine when I was a teenager. The life size Baz cardboard cutout is a nice touch 😂
Levi and Reagan are a perfect golden retriever/black cat pair. Their character designs are SPOT ON.
This is wonderfully illustrated and well paced. A great way to experience the story of Fangirl all over again. ❤️
Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
adventurous
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I know it’s from another time in human history but I squirm at how outright racist Robinson is, you’d think that a man living on a desert island would be relieved for any human contact. He never even asked Friday what his name was. Just called him Friday because that’s the day they met and had Friday calling him “Master” like…. Are you kidding? You taught the PARROT your name, for the pleasure of having someone to talk to.
Also, I think it’s strange that he doesn’t meet Friday until more than halfway through. The book is so agonizingly slow before that, because we are alone with Robinson and his thoughts, and I can only be interested for so long in his description of the island and the various chores he takes up to survive alone. It’s like watching the film Cast Away with Tom Hanks (but boring.)
Honestly I only read it because I had a lot of guilt for skipping this one during my literature class in college. I’m not surprised it didn’t hold my interest, back then. I don’t know how I found the attention span to suffer through it, right now.
It’s good, especially for such an old book. I do respect the narrative, and the reflective themes of the prose, but I certainly didn’t enjoy it, and I don’t think it’s groundbreaking or anything.
Also, I think it’s strange that he doesn’t meet Friday until more than halfway through. The book is so agonizingly slow before that, because we are alone with Robinson and his thoughts, and I can only be interested for so long in his description of the island and the various chores he takes up to survive alone. It’s like watching the film Cast Away with Tom Hanks (but boring.)
Honestly I only read it because I had a lot of guilt for skipping this one during my literature class in college. I’m not surprised it didn’t hold my interest, back then. I don’t know how I found the attention span to suffer through it, right now.
It’s good, especially for such an old book. I do respect the narrative, and the reflective themes of the prose, but I certainly didn’t enjoy it, and I don’t think it’s groundbreaking or anything.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, and Racism
Moderate: Cannibalism and Colonisation
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-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? Yes
5.0
Not to be dramatic, but I think this might be the best book I’ve ever read.
(It’s certainly the best book I’ve read all year)
It WILL touch your heart. It WILL make you cry. Happy tears, but you’ll be sobbing.
Linus is a wonderful, dear, dear man and I love him and he has my whole heart.
(It’s certainly the best book I’ve read all year)
It WILL touch your heart. It WILL make you cry. Happy tears, but you’ll be sobbing.
Linus is a wonderful, dear, dear man and I love him and he has my whole heart.
Nyquil™ by useless_donut
emotional
sad
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? Yes
5.0
This is pure smut. Hot, hot, hot, and also, so, so, so emotional.
It made my heart feel so full and it made me cry. I’m not even really a fan of the anime this fic is based on, honestly, I know next to nothing about it and I think the author could VERY easily 50-shades-of-grey this bad boy into a work of original fiction. It’s so good!
Themes include unrequited love, establishing boundaries, trying to heal from a broken heart and trying to simultaneously not break someone else’s.
The amount of emotional pining in this fic is through the roof! I think my favorite thing is how much respect everyone shows each other? Kirishima gives Bakugou space when he needs it. Shinsou gives Bakugou a relationship with no-strings-attached. When a friendship forms after that, Bakugou gives Shinsou the emotional support of friendship and cuts off their sexual relationship because he believes that it will be better for them both. And when they are both ready to try “more,” Bakugou is so understanding of Shinsou’s insecurities. I really loved the conversation they had with Shinsou needing to be reassured that he was not Bakugou’s second choice. It really gets so tender despite being a spicy, red hot read with smut in practically every chapter.
This is an amazing read, and if you like My Hero Acadamia (or even if you don’t), I highly recommend checking it out.
It made my heart feel so full and it made me cry. I’m not even really a fan of the anime this fic is based on, honestly, I know next to nothing about it and I think the author could VERY easily 50-shades-of-grey this bad boy into a work of original fiction. It’s so good!
Themes include unrequited love, establishing boundaries, trying to heal from a broken heart and trying to simultaneously not break someone else’s.
The amount of emotional pining in this fic is through the roof! I think my favorite thing is how much respect everyone shows each other? Kirishima gives Bakugou space when he needs it. Shinsou gives Bakugou a relationship with no-strings-attached. When a friendship forms after that, Bakugou gives Shinsou the emotional support of friendship and cuts off their sexual relationship because he believes that it will be better for them both. And when they are both ready to try “more,” Bakugou is so understanding of Shinsou’s insecurities. I really loved the conversation they had with Shinsou needing to be reassured that he was not Bakugou’s second choice. It really gets so tender despite being a spicy, red hot read with smut in practically every chapter.
This is an amazing read, and if you like My Hero Acadamia (or even if you don’t), I highly recommend checking it out.
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
adventurous
dark
inspiring
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? Yes
5.0
High stakes fantasy without a hint of homophobia. It took me almost 300 pages to get grabbed by this one. But in all honesty I am so glad I endured, because this book is the very definition of an epic high fantasy, with incredible characters, complex worldbuilding, magic and mystery and forbidden romance.
I would liken it to a feminist version of Lord of the Rings. Beleive the hype. It’s that good!
I will totally reread this one, and highly consider it as an audiobook because I adored the adventure and I think there will be new things to discover with each re-read/listen.
I would liken it to a feminist version of Lord of the Rings. Beleive the hype. It’s that good!
I will totally reread this one, and highly consider it as an audiobook because I adored the adventure and I think there will be new things to discover with each re-read/listen.
Bad Boys, Happy Home, Vol. 3 by SHOOWA, Hiromasa Okujima
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-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? Yes
4.0
A whole bunch of new characters were introduced at the start of this one, I assume to flesh out the backstory of Seven and Eight. My eyes were glazing over and I just found it really hard to care. I was just hoping that Seven would make up with Akamatsu because the relationship between those two was all I really cared about.
I do feel bad for Eight, though. He and Seven were abused as children and they only had each other. It’s only natural that he would feel left behind when Seven ran away to make his own life. It does kind of shed some light on WHY Seven seemed to be so happy when he was like, literally homeless. I guess it was the first time in his life that he felt free.
There’s a really jarring tone shift in Chapter 15, where the boys go to a resort. Like, yeah, this cute fluff of them just being in love is kinda what I came for, but it comes immediately after the backstory infodump and it felt strange and overly light comparatively. I did love the ending, it had some super romantic smut to top it all off.
Overall, this story is just OK. If you came for the plot you’ll be disappointed but if you like idiots being in love, this is great.
Overall, this story is just OK. If you came for the plot you’ll be disappointed but if you like idiots being in love, this is great.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Gun violence, Pedophilia, and Death of parent
Bad Boys, Happy Home, Vol. 2 by SHOOWA, Hiromasa Okujima
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I liked the themes of consent in this one. (I feel like that’s sometimes hard to come by in this genre.) Could have done without that ending, lol, but I guess it was an important stakes-building moment.
This one was relatively sweet and fluffy for the most part. It has some very dark themes as well. I liked the fight with delinquents at the park, and how it kind of inspired their first kiss. I’m kind of unclear the age difference between these two, because it’s a lot of “first times” for Akamatsu, (who says he has never even been hugged by a guy before, not even by a close friend) but I think that Seven has just lived a lot of life in his short years. The reveal with his past as a sex worker was kind of obvious, but still unsettling. All things considered, I think he is doing a very admirable job of being a caring boyfriend. I hope things calm down for them soon and I hope Akamatsu gets to show him all the love and tenderness he deserves.
This one was relatively sweet and fluffy for the most part. It has some very dark themes as well. I liked the fight with delinquents at the park, and how it kind of inspired their first kiss. I’m kind of unclear the age difference between these two, because it’s a lot of “first times” for Akamatsu, (who says he has never even been hugged by a guy before, not even by a close friend) but I think that Seven has just lived a lot of life in his short years. The reveal with his past as a sex worker was kind of obvious, but still unsettling. All things considered, I think he is doing a very admirable job of being a caring boyfriend. I hope things calm down for them soon and I hope Akamatsu gets to show him all the love and tenderness he deserves.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, and Trafficking