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onthesamepage's reviews
1010 reviews
Hammajang Luck by Makana Yamamoto
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
3.5
Me 80% in: I really don't see how I'm supposed to root for this romance at all
Me by the end: ...well, shit
Okay, so, it got me eventually. It's not that I disliked any of the characters, mind—the cast is very fun and heartwarming. But knowing that the setup involves Edie teaming back up with the person who sold them out, and then having Angel act fairly cold throughout, makes it difficult to think of a scenario where I'd be hoping that they'd get a second chance. The author managed it, though. The reasoning is a bit on the cliché side, but I guess it worked for me anyway.
The same can be said for the entire plot, really. It doesn't do anything super different in terms of execution or writing. There is a lot of diversity when it comes to the characters, and I appreciated all the cultural references, but all in all this was pretty predictable. I had fun with it, though, which is really the most important part.
Me by the end: ...well, shit
Okay, so, it got me eventually. It's not that I disliked any of the characters, mind—the cast is very fun and heartwarming. But knowing that the setup involves Edie teaming back up with the person who sold them out, and then having Angel act fairly cold throughout, makes it difficult to think of a scenario where I'd be hoping that they'd get a second chance. The author managed it, though. The reasoning is a bit on the cliché side, but I guess it worked for me anyway.
The same can be said for the entire plot, really. It doesn't do anything super different in terms of execution or writing. There is a lot of diversity when it comes to the characters, and I appreciated all the cultural references, but all in all this was pretty predictable. I had fun with it, though, which is really the most important part.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Cancer and Sexual harassment
A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine
I can easily see myself rereading this series just to enjoy the writing, which is absolutely stunning. And then there are the themes. On top of everything the author started to explore in A Memory Called Empire, this book heavily deals with "othering", and what it takes for the other to be seen as something deserving of life and respect.
There keeps being this conversation in online spaces about colonizer romances in books, and how bad they are, and as is usually the case, the conversation lacks all nuance. The romances in this duology are fascinating examples of what a story can do with a colonizer romance. I loved loved loved the constant tension between Mahit and Three Seagrass. Mahit understandably struggles with her role in the universe after everything that has happened, as well as the constant push and pull from loving Teixcalaan to recognizing that Teixcalaan is out to colonize the entire universe and thinks everyone outside of the Empire is a barbarian (Mahit included). Reconciling the two things proves to be extremely difficult, and it doesn't help that Three Seagrass fails to see her fully: just a clever barbarian, without considering all the layers to their dynamic, and how much Mahit actually has control over.
Much like the first book, there are a lot of complicated political machinations, but now there are also aliens, and they are fascinating. Exploring them alongside the characters made for a compelling read. I loved all the new POVs the author gave us, and the new characters. Twenty Cicada has to be my favourite, though—he was different from other Teixcalaanli, including following some type of religion, and I almost wish that we could get a book that explores other parts of the Empire than what we've seen so far.
adventurous
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
To ravage, to slaughter, to usurp under false titles—this they name empire; and where they make a desert, they call it peace.
I can easily see myself rereading this series just to enjoy the writing, which is absolutely stunning. And then there are the themes. On top of everything the author started to explore in A Memory Called Empire, this book heavily deals with "othering", and what it takes for the other to be seen as something deserving of life and respect.
There keeps being this conversation in online spaces about colonizer romances in books, and how bad they are, and as is usually the case, the conversation lacks all nuance. The romances in this duology are fascinating examples of what a story can do with a colonizer romance. I loved loved loved the constant tension between Mahit and Three Seagrass. Mahit understandably struggles with her role in the universe after everything that has happened, as well as the constant push and pull from loving Teixcalaan to recognizing that Teixcalaan is out to colonize the entire universe and thinks everyone outside of the Empire is a barbarian (Mahit included). Reconciling the two things proves to be extremely difficult, and it doesn't help that Three Seagrass fails to see her fully: just a clever barbarian, without considering all the layers to their dynamic, and how much Mahit actually has control over.
Much like the first book, there are a lot of complicated political machinations, but now there are also aliens, and they are fascinating. Exploring them alongside the characters made for a compelling read. I loved all the new POVs the author gave us, and the new characters. Twenty Cicada has to be my favourite, though—he was different from other Teixcalaanli, including following some type of religion, and I almost wish that we could get a book that explores other parts of the Empire than what we've seen so far.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation and War
Moderate: Genocide
Our Deadly Designs by Kalyn Josephson
adventurous
dark
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? Yes
3.0
The more I think about this book, the more disappointed I am by it. I really enjoyed This Dark Descent, but the sequel loses a lot of the elements that made it a fun read for me. The characters make one stupid decision after another, fueled almost entirely by lack of communication, which was shocking since that was one of the things I appreciated so much about the first book. The relationships all break in some form, and never quite get put back together again. It's not that the author didn't try, it's just that it felt so unconvincing.
Mikira spends a lot of the book floundering between two love interests. One makes her blush uncontrollably with every single teasing remark, and the other...I can't tell why he's even in the running, to be honest. It doesn't really get resolved either way. I kept waiting to like Talyana, but she has one character trait, and it is hating anything and everything connected to Damien, except Mikira because Mikira is innocence personified. Her unreasonable hatred got tedious very quickly. Her "banter" with Reid felt weak. There's just nothing about her that I liked, honestly.
Then there's Damien, who is so different from the person I got to know that it felt like whiplash. The decisions he made didn't even make sense—he is someone who carefully considers everything, and has usually thought 5 steps ahead of everyone else. But now he chooses a very weird alliance, followed by turning on people in a way that feels extreme, unless he is possessed by a demon—but that's Arielle, and yet she seems more in control of her faculties than Damien at this point.
Arielle's story did continue to be interesting, at least, and I enjoyed getting to see that part of the story unfold. As to the rest of the plot, now that there is no more race to fall back on, all we are left with is politics, and it was kind of feeble.
Mikira spends a lot of the book floundering between two love interests. One makes her blush uncontrollably with every single teasing remark, and the other...I can't tell why he's even in the running, to be honest. It doesn't really get resolved either way. I kept waiting to like Talyana, but she has one character trait, and it is hating anything and everything connected to Damien, except Mikira because Mikira is innocence personified. Her unreasonable hatred got tedious very quickly. Her "banter" with Reid felt weak. There's just nothing about her that I liked, honestly.
Then there's Damien, who is so different from the person I got to know that it felt like whiplash. The decisions he made didn't even make sense—he is someone who carefully considers everything, and has usually thought 5 steps ahead of everyone else. But now he chooses a very weird alliance, followed by turning on people in a way that feels extreme, unless he is possessed by a demon—but that's Arielle, and yet she seems more in control of her faculties than Damien at this point.
Arielle's story did continue to be interesting, at least, and I enjoyed getting to see that part of the story unfold. As to the rest of the plot, now that there is no more race to fall back on, all we are left with is politics, and it was kind of feeble.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Violence
The Wild Huntress by Emily Lloyd-Jones
adventurous
sad
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
Shocking nobody, the cat was my favourite character. But the other three were good, too.
While I love Moira Quirk's narration, part of me regrets listening to this instead of reading it physically—I tend to zone out a bit during audiobooks, and I don't get the opportunity to highlight specific sections, which feels like a shame in this case. This is my fourth book by the author, and once again she manages to put together a solid story, with compelling characters. I was interested in all three POV characters, and never had the feeling that I wanted to hear more from one perspective over another. Getting to see their friendships (and more) develop was just lovely. And then there's the backdrop of a hunt and a competition, which is an easy sell.
I probably should have anticipated the painful moments (four books in, you'd think I'd know), but it managed to take me by surprise.
While I love Moira Quirk's narration, part of me regrets listening to this instead of reading it physically—I tend to zone out a bit during audiobooks, and I don't get the opportunity to highlight specific sections, which feels like a shame in this case. This is my fourth book by the author, and once again she manages to put together a solid story, with compelling characters. I was interested in all three POV characters, and never had the feeling that I wanted to hear more from one perspective over another. Getting to see their friendships (and more) develop was just lovely. And then there's the backdrop of a hunt and a competition, which is an easy sell.
I probably should have anticipated the painful moments (four books in, you'd think I'd know), but it managed to take me by surprise.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Death
Moderate: Dementia
The Golem and the Djinni by Helene Wecker
reflective
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
4.0
Somehow not what I was expecting, and yet I felt compelled to keep reading it, which I guess is a testament to the writing quality. This is a very introspective kind of book, focused on two characters that land in New York but don't belong there, and how they find their footing in this strange world. I appreciated the way the author tackled those themes, and the exploration of humanity, found family, and belonging. As usual, however, the synopsis makes it sound a lot more dramatic than it actually is. In fact, the titular characters don't even meet until about halfway through the book. A lot of page time is spent on exploring many other characters, some of them more relevant than others.
I did really enjoy the interactions between the golem and the djinni once they started meeting regularly, but the book could've been a lot shorter. There are convenient plot devices to give the characters (and us by extension) all the information necessary to defeat the villain at the end. I also personally felt that, while the book features a variety of characters, Muslims weren't very represented. There was one character who was Muslim in the past but not anymore. There are references to Suleyman, who is a prophet according to Islam, but that part is never mentioned. It's not necessarily an issue, but it felt off to me in a book that talks a lot about Judaism and different sects of Christianity.
I did really enjoy the interactions between the golem and the djinni once they started meeting regularly, but the book could've been a lot shorter. There are convenient plot devices to give the characters (and us by extension) all the information necessary to defeat the villain at the end. I also personally felt that, while the book features a variety of characters, Muslims weren't very represented. There was one character who was Muslim in the past but not anymore. There are references to Suleyman, who is a prophet according to Islam, but that part is never mentioned. It's not necessarily an issue, but it felt off to me in a book that talks a lot about Judaism and different sects of Christianity.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Suicide attempt
The Lotus Empire by Tasha Suri
adventurous
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
4.0
This is a very solid ending to a series I've loved, but I do think this is the weakest in the trilogy. This almost felt like a middle book to me—I thought The Oleander Sword was fantastic because so much happened, the pacing was tight, and everything was spot on. The Lotus Empire felt a lot slower, and more than half of it is spent on setting things up for the conclusion, which is usually what happens in the middle book instead. There was a lot of experimenting, which I don't mind, but also journeying, which isn't my favourite thing to read about, and it took a while before things finally started to speed up.
As always, the characters and relationships are a highlight. I loved every interaction between Malini and Priya. Their tumultuous romance is so satisfying to read. I did miss getting to see Bhumika shine the way she did in the previous installments.
The writing is beautiful as always, but I do think the ending felt a bit too neat. There was also a prologue that never goes anywhere, and I don't understand why it was included at all.
Regardless, The Burning Kingdoms is a fantastic trilogy, and one I would recommend to any fantasy reader.
As always, the characters and relationships are a highlight. I loved every interaction between Malini and Priya. Their tumultuous romance is so satisfying to read. I did miss getting to see Bhumika shine the way she did in the previous installments.
The writing is beautiful as always, but I do think the ending felt a bit too neat. There was also a prologue that never goes anywhere, and I don't understand why it was included at all.
Regardless, The Burning Kingdoms is a fantastic trilogy, and one I would recommend to any fantasy reader.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Misogyny
The Disabled Tyrant's Beloved Pet Fish: Canji Baojun de Zhangxin Yu Chong (Novel) Vol. 1 by Xue Shan Fei Hu
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
It took a while for me to really get into this, and I think the right expectations are key to enjoying this book. It's funny, and ridiculous, and for those of you who have read fanfiction, the best comparison I can make is to say that this is basically crack fic. If you're not in the mood for that, you might not enjoy this. And I wasn't looking for that when I started, which is why I put it down for a while.
I do think the pacing picks up after the first 30% or so, and I started to really enjoy myself and the characters. Li Yu is adorable, and I will be using "sob sob sob!" in the future. I also really liked Prince Jing and the way he cares for his pet fish. The plot is full of humorous shenanigans, and I am genuinely interested in seeing what happens in the next volumes.
I do think the pacing picks up after the first 30% or so, and I started to really enjoy myself and the characters. Li Yu is adorable, and I will be using "sob sob sob!" in the future. I also really liked Prince Jing and the way he cares for his pet fish. The plot is full of humorous shenanigans, and I am genuinely interested in seeing what happens in the next volumes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Death
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Another Tolkien book, another 3.5 star rating.
I had similar issues as with book 1—it takes a while to ramp up, but the second half is a lot more interesting. I did think that whole part after the battle of Helm's Deep takes way too long, but that's probably because I actually wanted to follow Frodo and Sam, instead of Gandalf.
Andy Serkis once again delivers a fantastic narration, and this one is extra good because we get Gollum. I really enjoyed that part of the story, and it's different from the movies in a way that I actually liked a lot more.
I had similar issues as with book 1—it takes a while to ramp up, but the second half is a lot more interesting. I did think that whole part after the battle of Helm's Deep takes way too long, but that's probably because I actually wanted to follow Frodo and Sam, instead of Gandalf.
Andy Serkis once again delivers a fantastic narration, and this one is extra good because we get Gollum. I really enjoyed that part of the story, and it's different from the movies in a way that I actually liked a lot more.
Drowned Country by Emily Tesh
adventurous
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
I enjoyed getting to spend more time with Finch and Silver, but I did spend the first part of the book trying to remember the events of the first book to try and understand what was going on with them. Of course, I only saw the flashbacks after I'd gone back and reread the ending of part 1.
I still really liked the writing and the characters, but I don't know if this follow-up was really necessary? Or at least, I think there could've been more interesting discussions about Silver growing beyond humanity, and the impact on his relationships. There is a bit of that, but it still feels too human, and the ending was too neat for my taste.
I still really liked the writing and the characters, but I don't know if this follow-up was really necessary? Or at least, I think there could've been more interesting discussions about Silver growing beyond humanity, and the impact on his relationships. There is a bit of that, but it still feels too human, and the ending was too neat for my taste.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror and Kidnapping
Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Part of me was a bit worried where the sequel would go. Divine Rivals ends with our main characters torn apart, so I knew going in that they wouldn't be together initially. The romance was a big part of why I enjoyed it so much—the world itself, the magic, and the war plot weren't impressive on their own. The sequel does elaborate a lot more on the lore of the world, but it wasn't enough to compensate for me.
There was a repetitiveness to the story. It almost felt like we were starting over, with letters exchanged between two people, one of them knowing who they're talking to, and the other not having a clue. It's not what I was hoping for, and it failed to hold my interest or capture my imagination and emotions the way Divine Rivals did.
I also thought that the story didn't fully come together in general. The next part contains general spoilers about Roman and Iris's relationship, and some plot points related to the army.
While Roman and Iris do encounter each other a handful of times, it is never for very long, and they spend most of the book apart. I knew that this would be the case at the beginning, but I was hoping that they'd end up together about halfway through the book, and continue fighting as partners. Instead, even at the points of high tension/conflict, they each have to deal with their own problems. I missed getting to see them work together, and I missed more interactions between them.
One other thing that struck me is that the army ends up pretty useless, which is strange considering how much is made of them until about 50% through. The army is the only thing standing between Dacre and Oath, except when they get to Oath, they're forced to stay outside, and have no further role in defeating Dacre until it's over and done with. I found this an odd choice, but it does track with my feelings about Divine Rivals. The magic, the lore, and the war are all secondary to the romance in this duology, so when the romance is also lacking, there's not much else to hold onto.
I would still recommend this series, however. Rebecca Ross's writing truly is beautiful, and my feelings about Divine Rivals haven't changed.
There was a repetitiveness to the story. It almost felt like we were starting over, with letters exchanged between two people, one of them knowing who they're talking to, and the other not having a clue. It's not what I was hoping for, and it failed to hold my interest or capture my imagination and emotions the way Divine Rivals did.
I also thought that the story didn't fully come together in general. The next part contains general spoilers about Roman and Iris's relationship, and some plot points related to the army.
One other thing that struck me is that the army ends up pretty useless, which is strange considering how much is made of them until about 50% through. The army is the only thing standing between Dacre and Oath, except when they get to Oath, they're forced to stay outside, and have no further role in defeating Dacre until it's over and done with. I found this an odd choice, but it does track with my feelings about Divine Rivals. The magic, the lore, and the war are all secondary to the romance in this duology, so when the romance is also lacking, there's not much else to hold onto.
I would still recommend this series, however. Rebecca Ross's writing truly is beautiful, and my feelings about Divine Rivals haven't changed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gaslighting, and War
Minor: Vomit