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onthesamepage's reviews
1010 reviews
Icarus by K. Ancrum
emotional
hopeful
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
4.0
The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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
Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan
adventurous
funny
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
4.5
Earthflown by Frances Wren
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
4.0
The Husky & His White Cat Shizun: Erha He Ta De Bai Mao Shizun (Novel) Vol. 3 by Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou
emotional
sad
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
Those Beyond the Wall by Micaiah Johnson
dark
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
4.0
The Wolf at Bay by Charlie Adhara
adventurous
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
All The Hidden Paths by Foz Meadows
adventurous
mysterious
tense
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
4.0
If you want to know if this book has infidelity before picking it up: it doesn't
When I started this, I was worried it would either be too much like the first book. It is, in some ways—there are political machinations, murders, and two characters who find themselves in a relationship but still haven't figured out how to navigate it. But it was different enough that I had a good time reading.
Considering where we left Cae and Vel, it makes sense that the story focuses on dealing with trauma and grief, and what that can do to a relationship. Cae has lost two family members within a short period, and clings harder to Vel because he feels he has nobody left. Vel is still working through his own ordeals, as well as the guilt of being the reason behind said deaths. Cae doesn't blame him, but that distinction doesn't matter to his spiraling brain.
I will admit that I got frustrated with both of them after a certain point. Their relationship isn't smooth sailing by any means, but a lot of it could be avoided with clear communication from one of them. Instead, they continue to willfully misunderstand each other. And the thing is, their relationship is facing real difficulties. But somehow, by the end, Vel realizes he does love Cae, and suddenly all the problems just went away. There was no more mention of uncertainty or communicating, because being in love fixed everything. I wish the author had handled that differently, but I still enjoyed the rest of the story.
When I started this, I was worried it would either be too much like the first book. It is, in some ways—there are political machinations, murders, and two characters who find themselves in a relationship but still haven't figured out how to navigate it. But it was different enough that I had a good time reading.
Considering where we left Cae and Vel, it makes sense that the story focuses on dealing with trauma and grief, and what that can do to a relationship. Cae has lost two family members within a short period, and clings harder to Vel because he feels he has nobody left. Vel is still working through his own ordeals, as well as the guilt of being the reason behind said deaths. Cae doesn't blame him, but that distinction doesn't matter to his spiraling brain.
I will admit that I got frustrated with both of them after a certain point. Their relationship isn't smooth sailing by any means, but a lot of it could be avoided with clear communication from one of them. Instead, they continue to willfully misunderstand each other. And the thing is, their relationship is facing real difficulties. But somehow, by the end, Vel realizes he does love Cae, and suddenly all the problems just went away. There was no more mention of uncertainty or communicating, because being in love fixed everything. I wish the author had handled that differently, but I still enjoyed the rest of the story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Homophobia, Sexual assault, and Murder
Ten Thousand Stitches by Olivia Atwater
One of the things I appreciated is the commentary on classism. The author isn't afraid to show the darker aspects alongside the softer ones, and it makes for a great balance. I loved getting to see Effie grow, from a servant who is constantly mindful not to do or say the wrong thing, bottling up all the anger and injustice, to someone who let that righteous anger work for her and for those like her. I also really loved Lord Blackthorn—he's a slightly different flavor of faerie than we saw in the first book, mostly because he is trying to be good and help people. I continue to really enjoy watching faeries not understand humans, and the shenanigans that inevitably result from those misunderstandings.
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Atwater always finds a way to suck me into her stories. I will admit that I wasn't quite sure which direction the romance would take, but the way she subverted the traditional beats of the Cinderella story really worked for me. It takes a while before the story really gets going, but I didn't end up minding that too much.
But there was a subtle, terrible energy to his stance which every servant knew instinctively on sight—it was the bone-deep conviction that he deserved things, and that correspondingly, anyone who denied him those things deserved to be hurt in any way he saw fit. Men who thought they deserved things were always capable of the worst sort of violence.
One of the things I appreciated is the commentary on classism. The author isn't afraid to show the darker aspects alongside the softer ones, and it makes for a great balance. I loved getting to see Effie grow, from a servant who is constantly mindful not to do or say the wrong thing, bottling up all the anger and injustice, to someone who let that righteous anger work for her and for those like her. I also really loved Lord Blackthorn—he's a slightly different flavor of faerie than we saw in the first book, mostly because he is trying to be good and help people. I continue to really enjoy watching faeries not understand humans, and the shenanigans that inevitably result from those misunderstandings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, and Classism
Moderate: Sexual harassment
The Unbalancing by R.B. Lemberg
hopeful
reflective
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
3.0
I keep seeing new books published by this author, and they usually mention the Birdverse. I'm honestly not sure if this was the right book to start with—it's not the first one, but it's unclear to me if the books need to be read in order. I did think the way the worldbuilding was handled felt a bit clunky, so maybe there is a clear first book and I just didn't know it.
The magic system is really interesting, and the story focused a lot on self-discovery, which was nice to see. But a large component of this is also the romance between the two main characters, and I just didn't buy into it. It was very insta-love, and it pulled focus away from the very real disaster looming on the horizon. On the one hand there was a lot of urgency to find a solution, but then there would be the distraction of jealous exes, and a couple that doesn't know what they want from each other and is trying to figure it out. The character interactions often felt stilted for this reason.
I didn't enjoy the writing enough to read more books in the series, but I would recommend it if you're interested in queernorm fantasy worlds.
The magic system is really interesting, and the story focused a lot on self-discovery, which was nice to see. But a large component of this is also the romance between the two main characters, and I just didn't buy into it. It was very insta-love, and it pulled focus away from the very real disaster looming on the horizon. On the one hand there was a lot of urgency to find a solution, but then there would be the distraction of jealous exes, and a couple that doesn't know what they want from each other and is trying to figure it out. The character interactions often felt stilted for this reason.
I didn't enjoy the writing enough to read more books in the series, but I would recommend it if you're interested in queernorm fantasy worlds.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Mental illness
Moderate: Child abuse