maggies's reviews
644 reviews

Did not finish book. Stopped at 21%.

*Read as part of my challenge to (attempt to) read all 100 of NYT's best books of the 21st century*

Now I remember why I lost interest in this weeks ago - stream of consciousness is among my least favorite novel styles. This is just a block of text and it’s very difficult to consume. I don’t need to feel like it’s an effort to read.

Blood Test: A Comedy by Charles Baxter

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funny mysterious reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

An unusual book, told in an unusual style. Perhaps the middle section lags a bit, and I'm unconvinced that Brock was a reliable narrator, but it was interesting and kept me listening. The subtitle "A Comedy" is misleading - this wasn't laugh-out-loud funny, but at no point was it a thrill like you might expect from the blurb. I think it served to redirect expectations slightly, and it did so successfully.

Content Warnings

A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske

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adventurous hopeful mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

I loved falling into this world in spare moments (okay, hours). The writing was decadent, and the characters were flawed and perfect. I'll definitely keep reading the trilogy.

Content Warnings

Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

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adventurous mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

This series feels like a personal curse on me at this point. I am so annoyed after this book that I don't think I could stomach going back to re-read the series and try to figure out what I've missed/don't understand, but I also want to keep reading the series, which will guarantee that I'm more and more confused! This book felt like Plot Hole Central. Violet was so insufferably dumb, and the reveal of her second signet was such a disappointment. I don't remember any of these characters and I can't keep their dragons/gryphons or signets straights. The relationship between Violet and Xaden was absolutely intolerable. And honestly, what the heck is a venin and why is Xaden able to "control" it when other people apparently can't? The only interesting thing was the truth about Andarna and her family, but that hardly makes up for *gestures wildly* everything else.

Content Warnings

Settle the Score by Kris Ripper

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emotional funny hopeful sad 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

Given that the entire premise of this book rests on one character forcibly outing the other, I was not sure about it, but Ripper's sensitivity and humor really redeemed it in the end, and I fell in love with Orion and Des's love story. It would maybe have benefitted from a dual POV so that the audience could better grasp what Orion saw that enabled him to look past Des's terrible judgment. The snowed-in, forced proximity trope was really fun though!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Content Warnings

The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang

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emotional sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

This was a hard read due to the subject matter, and that's not really what I was looking for. Ah well

Content Warnings

A Woman of Opinion by Sean Lusk

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challenging funny informative reflective 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'd never heard of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu prior to reading this novel, based on her letters and published works, and it is a shame—she is fascinating. From her feminist ideals to her advocacy for inoculation against smallpox and anti-war sentiments, there is much to be admired for a woman of her time. Lusk brought her to life with his own prose like poetry, complementary to hers. However, this doesn't read like a traditional historical fiction novel but more like a fictionalized biography.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens

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emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced