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magicalghoul's reviews
92 reviews
El general en su laberinto by Gabriel García Márquez
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Animal death and Slavery
Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Not only is the prose in Raybearer Incredible, so is the world building, the character development, the themes— I couldn't stop reading, and when I wasn't reading I was Itching to come back to it.
Would recommend it if political drama, found family, reclaimed personhood and magic bonds all wrapped up in a richly built world told in beautiful prose are your thing.
The only other comment I have is against the pacing. Although it didn't feel precisely rushed, the events in this installment could have probably been covered in two books and that way we would've been given more time to take in the (fantastic!) world and some of the plot points— specially the political intrigue, which I loved, for the record.
But as it is I adored it, I was blown away and left in tears more than once and I can't wait to read the next installment.
Would recommend it if political drama, found family, reclaimed personhood and magic bonds all wrapped up in a richly built world told in beautiful prose are your thing.
The only other comment I have is against the pacing. Although it didn't feel precisely rushed, the events in this installment could have probably been covered in two books and that way we would've been given more time to take in the (fantastic!) world and some of the plot points— specially the political intrigue, which I loved, for the record.
But as it is I adored it, I was blown away and left in tears more than once and I can't wait to read the next installment.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, and Grief
Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, and Genocide
Minor: Rape and Suicide
Relatos Pioneros de la Ciencia Ficción Latinoamericana by Daniel Arella
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
Necesaria e interesante colección de historias cortas que muestran la diversidad y primeros pasos del género de ciencia ficción en latinoamérica con un excelente prólogo explicando las bases documentales del género en el continente.
Como toda antología, la calidad de los cuentos varía pero aún así es una muestra de buenos escritores.
Lo único que me creó duda fue la inclusión de Clemente Palma y su historia racista (a quien además prsentan como “conocido por ciertas opiniones xenófobas”) . Por más “pionero” que alguien supuestamente haya sido, no veo a bien darle plataforma a mensajes de odio más de cien años después de su publicación original.
Como toda antología, la calidad de los cuentos varía pero aún así es una muestra de buenos escritores.
Lo único que me creó duda fue la inclusión de Clemente Palma y su historia racista (a quien además prsentan como “conocido por ciertas opiniones xenófobas”) . Por más “pionero” que alguien supuestamente haya sido, no veo a bien darle plataforma a mensajes de odio más de cien años después de su publicación original.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Xenophobia
Las advertencias de racismo y demás son para la historia Clemente Palma, “La última rubia”.
The Spire in the Woods by Tony Lunedi
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This story was the best of the best that r/nosleep had to offer. It's miles ahead from any other noteworthy story from that corner of the internet.
The quality of the writing really shines despite some blunders here and there but most importantly, this story has had a special place in my brain ever since I read it.
It's /insidious/ and I love the social commentary about horror narratives. I can't recommend it enough.
The quality of the writing really shines despite some blunders here and there but most importantly, this story has had a special place in my brain ever since I read it.
It's /insidious/ and I love the social commentary about horror narratives. I can't recommend it enough.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Moderate: Body horror, Misogyny, and Rape
Vuelven los fantasmas by Mercedes Franco
funny
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Libro favorito de la infancia y que despertó mi interés por lo sobrenatural y las leyendas venezolanas. La estética de esta edición se va más por lo moderno a diferencia de la estética más clásica de la edición de Monte Ávila, pero las ilustraciones de esta edición son igual de hermosas. En general es una buena actualización de un libro conocido.
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
Did not finish book.
Did not finish book.
I liked what I read but I'm putting it back on the shelf for now, since I keep seeing reviews saying how grim it is and honestly I'm not in the mood for any of that at the moment.
La mala hora by Gabriel García Márquez
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Gun violence
Moderate: Torture and Police brutality
Minor: Animal cruelty and Sexual content
Autobiografía de mi Madre by Jamaica Kincaid
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
Yo, Tituba, bruja negra de Salem by Maryse Condé
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Hay pasajes que me he encontrado releyendo sólo para maravillarse con ellos de nuevo.
En este momento lo que realmente se queda conmigo y que me encantó es lo fuertemente meta e intertextual es su narrativa, lo que la convierte en una novela de ficción histórica con ojos en el futuro (o el presente, pues Tituba está hablando con nosotras). Esto es hecho aún más evidente por el propio conocimiento de Tituba de que su nombre sólo es una nota al pie de los registros históricos de los juicios de Salem además del cameo de feminista blanca de Hester Prynne.
Notable como Condé se basó y jugó tanto con los cuentos orales antillanos como con la historia del Caribe para tejer un trasfondo para la historia de Tituba, y luego la transformación de la propia Tituba en una historia oral.
Toca releer una vez haya digerido propiamente la experiencia.
En este momento lo que realmente se queda conmigo y que me encantó es lo fuertemente meta e intertextual es su narrativa, lo que la convierte en una novela de ficción histórica con ojos en el futuro (o el presente, pues Tituba está hablando con nosotras). Esto es hecho aún más evidente por el propio conocimiento de Tituba de que su nombre sólo es una nota al pie de los registros históricos de los juicios de Salem además del cameo de feminista blanca de Hester Prynne.
Notable como Condé se basó y jugó tanto con los cuentos orales antillanos como con la historia del Caribe para tejer un trasfondo para la historia de Tituba, y luego la transformación de la propia Tituba en una historia oral.
Toca releer una vez haya digerido propiamente la experiencia.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Trafficking, and Religious bigotry
Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender
I just finished it and I'm a Disaster but wow. Kacen Callender's writing is so good— not only in its descriptions and vivid imagery or its characters but also in its plotting, the parallels it draws within the same narrative, the way it barrels into its themes, the level of emotionality in it.
It was gripping, reading it was a joy, i was intrigued, hooked, and i was pretty happy with the payoff and resolution (something that happens very rarely to me, so I'm glad it didn't fall flat in that aspect).
Definitely recommend, it left me bawling and feeling very tender.
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
“Once I start screaming, I can’t stop. I scream so hard my throat feels raw and my heart pounds. I’m screaming with joy. I’m screaming with pain. I’m screaming with the awe that I’m here, that we’re all here, and that we’re here because of the people before us, the people who couldn’t be here, and I’m screaming for myself, too.”
I just finished it and I'm a Disaster but wow. Kacen Callender's writing is so good— not only in its descriptions and vivid imagery or its characters but also in its plotting, the parallels it draws within the same narrative, the way it barrels into its themes, the level of emotionality in it.
It was gripping, reading it was a joy, i was intrigued, hooked, and i was pretty happy with the payoff and resolution (something that happens very rarely to me, so I'm glad it didn't fall flat in that aspect).
Definitely recommend, it left me bawling and feeling very tender.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Deadnaming, Homophobia, and Transphobia