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magicalghoul's reviews
94 reviews
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Must admit I read the first two chapters and wasn't too impressed but thankfully I kept reading and it held me and didn't let go, holy shit.
The sense of dread ramping up, the good good grotesque imagery, the atmosphere... It was a distressing read (in the best way) and managed to give me the creeps in more than one occasion.
It also hits for the most part that good point with exposition where you can guess where the story is going since it gives you the necessary elements to do some guesswork without dumping it on— and when the dumping did come at least it didn't feel so out of place, which I'm thankful for since I'm very pesky with that sort of thing.
Using the gothic genre as a conduit to portrait white supremacy and patriarchy (and all it entails— the racism, the misogyny, the colonization and commodification of people as mere bodies) was brilliant. I simply love it when horror is used to talk about and portray socially relevant themes. Absolutely enjoyed this.
The sense of dread ramping up, the good good grotesque imagery, the atmosphere... It was a distressing read (in the best way) and managed to give me the creeps in more than one occasion.
It also hits for the most part that good point with exposition where you can guess where the story is going since it gives you the necessary elements to do some guesswork without dumping it on— and when the dumping did come at least it didn't feel so out of place, which I'm thankful for since I'm very pesky with that sort of thing.
Using the gothic genre as a conduit to portrait white supremacy and patriarchy (and all it entails— the racism, the misogyny, the colonization and commodification of people as mere bodies) was brilliant. I simply love it when horror is used to talk about and portray socially relevant themes. Absolutely enjoyed this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Violence
Moderate: Miscarriage and Self harm
Additional warnings: Eugenics feature prominently as well. The main character and her cousin are gaslit. Pregnancy horror. And lots and lots of fungi.
The Hope of Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
adventurous
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Everything about this is so sweet, from the hopeful notes and the reason the author wrote it in the first place...
Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
- 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
First of all I didn't expect to like Hrathen as much as I did.
Have mixed feelings about the exposition but loved the lore. The pacing on the last part felt too rushed, but the ending was a satisfactory one— and once in a while it's nice to read something that you know is going to end well, despite it all.
Sarene was an interesting character, despite her falling into the I'm Not Like Other Women cliché at times. Would've loved to see her interacting with other women, though.
Also if I were Galladon and the (very white) prince of Arelon made up a stereotypical brownface persona of my people, I would simply kick his ass.
Have mixed feelings about the exposition but loved the lore. The pacing on the last part felt too rushed, but the ending was a satisfactory one— and once in a while it's nice to read something that you know is going to end well, despite it all.
Sarene was an interesting character, despite her falling into the I'm Not Like Other Women cliché at times. Would've loved to see her interacting with other women, though.
Also if I were Galladon and the (very white) prince of Arelon made up a stereotypical brownface persona of my people, I would simply kick his ass.
The Visitor by K.A. Applegate
♢ 2/62 OF THE ANIMORPHS REREAD
First Rachel book! We love her! Her motives are present here from the get-go but given a more solid form: from the previous book we know that she finds courage to protect others even when she herself is scared to death, and here we have that desire to protect (the others animorphs, Melissa, and then all the kids that have been left loveless and that will be left loveless because of the yeerks) being shaped into the foundation of what the animorphs are fighting for.
With this we're also seeing as one by one the kids start falling into the roles they deconstruct more than embody: Jake as Fearless Leader and Rachel as Blood Knight.
Nothing else to say besides the character-focused content, but once again that's where the draw of the series is.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I decided that I don't care what it takes, or how many risks I have to run. I don't care what happens to me. I hate these Yeerks. I hate them. I hate them. And I will find a way to stop them.
♢ 2/62 OF THE ANIMORPHS REREAD
⚠ tws for the entire series: war, death, child soldiers, child death, descriptions of gore, body horror, discussions of parental death, slugs, parasites, loss of free will, depictions of PTSD and trauma, ableism, imperialism.
First Rachel book! We love her! Her motives are present here from the get-go but given a more solid form: from the previous book we know that she finds courage to protect others even when she herself is scared to death, and here we have that desire to protect (the others animorphs, Melissa, and then all the kids that have been left loveless and that will be left loveless because of the yeerks) being shaped into the foundation of what the animorphs are fighting for.
With this we're also seeing as one by one the kids start falling into the roles they deconstruct more than embody: Jake as Fearless Leader and Rachel as Blood Knight.
Nothing else to say besides the character-focused content, but once again that's where the draw of the series is.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Animal cruelty
Minor: Stalking
Stalking/Sexual Harassment: Main character gets stalked and harassed by a man on her way home but nothing comes out of it.
The Invasion by K.A. Applegate
♢ 1/62 OF THE ANIMORPHS REREAD
Where to even begin.
Animorphs is one of those pieces of media that I find myself revisiting every few years. It's fantastic despite its flaws and I'm awed and moved by the themes and the treatment every single time. And on a reread it's even more clear that the intent of the animorphs series was never to romanticize war, nor to talk down to its young audience— something crucial, considering the heavy subject matter it was treating.
The Invasion is a great first installment that sets the basics for every character motivation and the future conflicts they'll face just as well as the theme and tone for the rest of the series: a bleak (albeit not completely hopeless) one that's not here to do pro-war apologism, who will take the premise of "Kids given powers to fight in a war" and take it to it's full realistic potential, one that won't shy away from its portrayal of PTSD and the heavy mantle of war on those who have to fight it.
Also: Petition to recategorize these books as horror because wow, certain passages are scarier than some of the horror media I've consumed recently.
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a place of unimaginable horror. And we were so few, and so weak.
♢ 1/62 OF THE ANIMORPHS REREAD
⚠ tws for the entire series: war, death, child soldiers, child death, descriptions of gore, body horror, discussions of parental death, slugs, parasites, loss of free will, depictions of PTSD and trauma, ableism, imperialism.
Where to even begin.
Animorphs is one of those pieces of media that I find myself revisiting every few years. It's fantastic despite its flaws and I'm awed and moved by the themes and the treatment every single time. And on a reread it's even more clear that the intent of the animorphs series was never to romanticize war, nor to talk down to its young audience— something crucial, considering the heavy subject matter it was treating.
The Invasion is a great first installment that sets the basics for every character motivation and the future conflicts they'll face just as well as the theme and tone for the rest of the series: a bleak (albeit not completely hopeless) one that's not here to do pro-war apologism, who will take the premise of "Kids given powers to fight in a war" and take it to it's full realistic potential, one that won't shy away from its portrayal of PTSD and the heavy mantle of war on those who have to fight it.
Also: Petition to recategorize these books as horror because wow, certain passages are scarier than some of the horror media I've consumed recently.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Violence, and Grief
Moderate: Confinement and Torture
The Emperor's Soul by Brandon Sanderson
adventurous
emotional
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Terminal illness
Moderate: Xenophobia
Minor: Blood
Fist of the Spider Woman: Tales of Fear and Queer Desire by Amber Dawn
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I didn't expect the stories in this anthology to be so dependent on sexual violence for their horror, so that was a letdown. Moreover, I feel they suffer for it.
There were some stories I enjoyed though, but the rest of them were more miss than hit for me.
Noteworthy stories (♢ liked; ❥ loved)
♢ Slug by Megan Milks
♢ Conspiracy of Fuckers by Nomy Lamm
❥ Homeland by Kristyn Dunnion
♢ Crabby by Michelle Tea
❥ Shark by Kestrel Barnes
♢ Fear of Dying to the Wrong Song by Amanda Lamarche
I'd be all over Here Lies the Last Lesbian Rental in East Vancouver by Amber Dawn if it weren't for the sexual assault. A shame, because the concept is really good and the execution was doing well up until that point.
Please mind the warnings if you intend to read this anthology, I wouldn't recommend it to someone who's had trauma related to any of the things listed.
There were some stories I enjoyed though, but the rest of them were more miss than hit for me.
Noteworthy stories (♢ liked; ❥ loved)
♢ Slug by Megan Milks
♢ Conspiracy of Fuckers by Nomy Lamm
❥ Homeland by Kristyn Dunnion
♢ Crabby by Michelle Tea
❥ Shark by Kestrel Barnes
♢ Fear of Dying to the Wrong Song by Amanda Lamarche
I'd be all over Here Lies the Last Lesbian Rental in East Vancouver by Amber Dawn if it weren't for the sexual assault. A shame, because the concept is really good and the execution was doing well up until that point.
Please mind the warnings if you intend to read this anthology, I wouldn't recommend it to someone who's had trauma related to any of the things listed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, and Sexual violence
Mind the sexual violence warning, as well as dubious consent. The pedophilia and incest present in form of sexual play. Also warning for cissexism and dysphoria.
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is my comfort book and this time I tried out the audiobook because for some reason I hadn't listened to it yet. Merricat's magical-thinking induced narration comes out gorgeous as spoken word, and the whispering voice of the narrator really works to further the atmosphere Jackson created.
This time around I felt a great sadness at finishing the book. Maybe the first few times I was more focused on the elements of the story, but this time the tragedy of it all really hit me.
This time around I felt a great sadness at finishing the book. Maybe the first few times I was more focused on the elements of the story, but this time the tragedy of it all really hit me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Mental illness, Dementia, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Classism
Las cosas que perdimos en el fuego by Mariana Enríquez
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Sin palabras, la verdad. Es la primera vez que leo algo de Mariana Enríquez y quedé con ganas de más. Me encanta cuán distintivas y marcadas son las voces de sus protagonistas, lo cotidiano del horror y el ritmo de la prosa.
All Out: The No-Longer-Secret Stories of Queer Teens throughout the Ages by Saundra Mitchell
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
I was really looking forward to allotting some time to read this since it's been on my to-read list for Ages. Overall it's an enjoyable anthology and I'll definitely look up some of the authors here so I can read more of them.
I will say though, I was expecting and would've liked a little more variety in terms of BIPOC (out of 17 stories only 7 feature non-white characters) as well as more trans/nb (3 out of 17 stories) and disabled narratives (1 out of 17) since this anthology was supposed to have visibility front and center.
And At Least a warning for the pedophilia in one of the stories.
Noteworthy stories (♢ liked; ❥ loved)
❥ Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore
♢ The Dresser & The Chambermaid by Robin Talley
❥ Burnt Umber by Mackenzi Lee
❥ New Year by Malinda Lo
♢ Molly's Lips by Dahlia Adler
❥ Willows by Scott Tracey
♢ The Girl With The Blue Lantern by Tess Sharpe
♢ Walking After Midnight by Kody Keplinger
♢ The End of the World As We Know It by Sara Farizan
❥ Three Witches by Tessa Gratton
❥ The Inferno & the Butterfly by Shaun David Hutchinson
❥ Healing Rosa by Tehlor Kay Mejia
Every Shade of Red by Elliot Wake was written beautifully and I Adored the concept to bits but the descriptions and the way some of the characters of color were portrayed left me... With a weird taste.
Also, pedophilia warning for The Secret Life of a Teenage Boy by Alex Sanchez because it, sure is about a 16 year old mc planning to run away with a college aged guy he just met... And the adult reciprocating said advances. I know it's a coming of age story but it being framed so fondly and longingly made me the more anxious.
That being said, I'm excited for the follow up and I hope they did better to improve the pitfalls of this one.
I will say though, I was expecting and would've liked a little more variety in terms of BIPOC (out of 17 stories only 7 feature non-white characters) as well as more trans/nb (3 out of 17 stories) and disabled narratives (1 out of 17) since this anthology was supposed to have visibility front and center.
And At Least a warning for the pedophilia in one of the stories.
Noteworthy stories (♢ liked; ❥ loved)
❥ Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore
♢ The Dresser & The Chambermaid by Robin Talley
❥ Burnt Umber by Mackenzi Lee
❥ New Year by Malinda Lo
♢ Molly's Lips by Dahlia Adler
❥ Willows by Scott Tracey
♢ The Girl With The Blue Lantern by Tess Sharpe
♢ Walking After Midnight by Kody Keplinger
♢ The End of the World As We Know It by Sara Farizan
❥ Three Witches by Tessa Gratton
❥ The Inferno & the Butterfly by Shaun David Hutchinson
❥ Healing Rosa by Tehlor Kay Mejia
Every Shade of Red by Elliot Wake was written beautifully and I Adored the concept to bits but the descriptions and the way some of the characters of color were portrayed left me... With a weird taste.
Also, pedophilia warning for The Secret Life of a Teenage Boy by Alex Sanchez because it, sure is about a 16 year old mc planning to run away with a college aged guy he just met... And the adult reciprocating said advances. I know it's a coming of age story but it being framed so fondly and longingly made me the more anxious.
That being said, I'm excited for the follow up and I hope they did better to improve the pitfalls of this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Pedophilia