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poisonenvy's reviews
849 reviews
Stalking Darkness by Lynn Flewelling
adventurous
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 second book in the Nightrunner series is just as good, if not better, than the first book was. While I predicted many of the twists (even as early as the last book), their reveals were still enjoyable and there was enough stuff that I hadn't predicted at all that it kept me on my toes.
This book is a good deal darker than the first, though not in a way that felt over-the-top, and overall I liked it very much.
This book is a good deal darker than the first, though not in a way that felt over-the-top, and overall I liked it very much.
Celtic Fairy Tales and Legends by Rosalind Kerven
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- 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
A beautifully illustrated and delightful collection of folklore and mythology from the British Isles, spread more or less equally between Welsh, Irish, and Scottish tales. Very easy to read, and entertaining, with a delightful lack of especially misogynistic tales, and then some extra notes and comments from Kerven at the end of the collection.
Overall a delight to read, and again, the illustrations were absolutely lovely.
Overall a delight to read, and again, the illustrations were absolutely lovely.
As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
challenging
dark
slow-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
2.0
Well, this was a struggle that I probably would have given up if it wasn't for book club (especially since I had to read this book at the end of a five-class semester and it was somehow more if a challenge to read this than anything I was reading in any of my classes).
Language was difficult to parse and sort out, there are about a billion POV characters (none of whom seemed to have distinctive voices), tense was all over the place with apparently no rhyme or reason. Apparently this book was written in six weeks and then not edited at all before it was published and it shows (or maybe that's just how Faulkner writes. Who knows; this is the only book of his I've read). Overall, not a fan.
Language was difficult to parse and sort out, there are about a billion POV characters (none of whom seemed to have distinctive voices), tense was all over the place with apparently no rhyme or reason. Apparently this book was written in six weeks and then not edited at all before it was published and it shows (or maybe that's just how Faulkner writes. Who knows; this is the only book of his I've read). Overall, not a fan.
Thomas Aquinas: Basic Philosophical Writing: From the Summa Theologiae and the Principles of Nature by St. Thomas Aquinas
reflective
3.0
I don't read a lot of philosophy and what philosophy I read tends to be political philosophy. This is the first theological philosophy that I can recall reading, and this I did for a paper -- thus I did not give it an especially close reading, except the sections that were pertinent to what I needed it for (but I read the whole thing because I'm a completionist). I therefore have very little to say on the philosophy itself, and so this review is probably useless to a lot of people sorry!
Baldner's translation is very easy to read and follow. Aquinas' thoughts are laid out very clearly and consicely.
Baldner's translation is very easy to read and follow. Aquinas' thoughts are laid out very clearly and consicely.
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
1.5
I had to read this book for class and wasn't planning on reviewing it at all due to the allegations against Neil Gaiman. But you know what? I'm going to review it.
I'm glad that I did read it if only to confirm to myself that I really don't like Neil Gaiman's writing style (which I had initially suspected after reading American Gods years ago).
And also, real fucked up that the dad in this book has an affair with the Evil Nanny. I know this was written more than nine years before the incident actually occured, but wow, does that ever cast a certain light onto things.
I'm glad that I did read it if only to confirm to myself that I really don't like Neil Gaiman's writing style (which I had initially suspected after reading American Gods years ago).
And also, real fucked up that the dad in this book has an affair with the Evil Nanny. I know this was written more than nine years before the incident actually occured, but wow, does that ever cast a certain light onto things.
Luck in the Shadows by Lynn Flewelling
adventurous
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? No
4.0
This book was given to me for either my birthday or for Christmas approximately one million years ago and has sat on my shelf for over a decade waiting for me to finally pick it up. And I'm glad I finally did! It's a little heavy on exposition and world building early on, especially in conversations which are just clumsy ways to info dump, and the prose didn't always work for me, but the characters were great and the story was interesting and I'm really enjoying the slow-burn romance between our leads.
Cannot wait to continue on with this series!
Cannot wait to continue on with this series!
Writing Fiction, Tenth Edition: A Guide to Narrative Craft by Ned Stuckey-French, Janet Burroway
informative
4.0
A fairly good how-to guide on the craft of writing. Lots of helpful tips, what to look out for, all the rest. There's a variety of writing prompts at the end of each chapter which are nice if you enjoy prompts. Overall, a decent read.
Magic Steps by Tamora Pierce
adventurous
dark
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
It's a little sad to see the quartet broken up this series, and I'm going to miss seeing them all together this whole quartet. But I can see why they have been, and the fact that this series is going to work on them developing independently, instead of continuing to grow more codependent on one another.
This book follows Sandry and her new student. It is a little more mature than the previous series, and was unexpectedly dark/gruesome in some spots, but in a way that works and that I think probably works well, too, for upper-Middle Grade fiction.
Anyway, overall I enjoyed reading this quite a bit.
This book follows Sandry and her new student. It is a little more mature than the previous series, and was unexpectedly dark/gruesome in some spots, but in a way that works and that I think probably works well, too, for upper-Middle Grade fiction.
Anyway, overall I enjoyed reading this quite a bit.
The Fires of Heaven by Robert Jordan
Did not finish book. Stopped at 28%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 28%.
At one point I enjoyed this series enough to read the whole thing and out it on my TBR list. This time around the weird sexism and barely disguised fetishes has officially annoyed me more than the enjoyment I get from it so 🤷
Coriolanus by William Shakespeare
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Shakespeare does unlikeable protagonists very well; Coriolanus is kind of a dick, but I was still very into reading this unexpectedly gay play haha (okay, maybe it's not explicitly gay, but only barely; shush.)