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renereadsthings's reviews
46 reviews
Forget Me Not by Karissa Kinword
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Forget me not is a star crossed lovers based story in a small aircraft where the lovers meet in dreams. This books two main characters have good energy and this book contains a lot of spicy. It has a good idea and bases, but the writing can sometime make you wander until it hits certain scene (aka the spice). Overall, I think its a good and graphic read. The smut within it s very well written and very sensual.
A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas
dark
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
4.25
This third installation of ACOTAR is by far the most heart wrenching and complex in story telling, character development, and plot. As you read through this book you are thrown into many perspectives of the war, politics, and life in each realm. No character goes unturned within the book. The twist held me in and you root very hard for Feyre in the end. As she is not only the main female character in love, but a strong person, with family dynamics, and learning to hone herself.
I agree though it can feel rushed. Characters within this books could have been a little more expressed. Especially with Tamlin and his downfall, but I enjoyed Feyre in this book in her struggles to understand herself and what she is willing to give.
I agree though it can feel rushed. Characters within this books could have been a little more expressed. Especially with Tamlin and his downfall, but I enjoyed Feyre in this book in her struggles to understand herself and what she is willing to give.
The Fae King's Curse by Jamie Schlosser
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The Fae Kings Curse is a story wrapped in romance and spiciness. This is definitely a book that sparks imagination, but it can be a little cringe to me at times with the writing style. It definitely takes inspiration from fanfiction, but still brings you into some aspects of the world. The steamy scenes are immensely deep and evocative.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Kidnapping
Minor: Rape and Vomit
Stonewall: The Definitive Story of the Lgbtq Rights Uprising That Changed America by Martin Duberman
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
So far this book goes into the collective stories of the early childhoods of people in the LGBTQ+ community who grew up before and during stonewall. Their stories mention growing up different and how often these people were oppressed, beaten, and abused (emotionally and physically) growing up. Though these are mentioned, the book in the beginning does respond to these trauma's and make these instances of rape, molestation, and abuse to youth from adults seem like the norm for this community. I DO NOT like how this can make it seem that there is a causation of being gay and exploring that after being SA'ed.
As you progress into the book, it explores more of coming of age as a person who physically know but doesn't always emotionally understand their sexuality. It explores secrecy as an adult and being closeted or open with people from different classes of life. It also explores the acts of how we conducted relations within the gay community pre-stonewall and civil rights. This book also discusses political ideologies of how to overcome the stigma and homophobia of the time through the perspective groups and collectives of the day. It also briefly discusses the intersectional struggles within the LGBTQIA+ population when you were not a white cis gendered man.
As you progress into the book, it explores more of coming of age as a person who physically know but doesn't always emotionally understand their sexuality. It explores secrecy as an adult and being closeted or open with people from different classes of life. It also explores the acts of how we conducted relations within the gay community pre-stonewall and civil rights. This book also discusses political ideologies of how to overcome the stigma and homophobia of the time through the perspective groups and collectives of the day. It also briefly discusses the intersectional struggles within the LGBTQIA+ population when you were not a white cis gendered man.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, and Transphobia
Moderate: Addiction and Alcoholism
Minor: War
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, Murder, and War
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, and Rape
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
adventurous
dark
tense
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
3.5
The premise and politics of the book is intense. I am a fan of world building and the world is complex and real in the sense of our modern day.
If you want a lovable character though, this may not be the book for you. All these characters have flaws and things that can make the inherently unlikeable. So the goal isn’t really who is the best, but who isn’t the worst person in the end.
The dynamics between the main character Jude and Cardan are sporadic to say the least. A very slow enemies to lovers burn but in the end they still have complicated relations. I’m continuing the series for sure and seeing how the second books drives these characters.
If you want a lovable character though, this may not be the book for you. All these characters have flaws and things that can make the inherently unlikeable. So the goal isn’t really who is the best, but who isn’t the worst person in the end.
The dynamics between the main character Jude and Cardan are sporadic to say the least. A very slow enemies to lovers burn but in the end they still have complicated relations. I’m continuing the series for sure and seeing how the second books drives these characters.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and War
From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death by Caitlin Doughty
funny
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
I have death anxiety. My purpose of reading this book and following this authors work was to gain a meaningful sense of control on what I want to do when my demise comes. This book definitely gave me some insight on that.
This book contains a lot of ways in how the United States views death and ways countries around the world embrace death that are different. It gave me insight on what I’d like to do for myself and it helped me open up to the idea of others ways your body can find peace. It challenges the norm in the United States on how we die and what we define as a dignified death. This helped a lot with being okay with my death and the death of others.
I would love to learn more about how other cultures view the dead. This book is a good stepping stone. If your familiar with death culture this could be a bit of a bore since 3 sections surround death culture in the United States. If it gave more insight or prevalence of other cultures I think this would of been a 5 star read for me. Then again maybe a lot of cultures cross and it shows how we are breaking traditional death culture in the states.
This book contains a lot of ways in how the United States views death and ways countries around the world embrace death that are different. It gave me insight on what I’d like to do for myself and it helped me open up to the idea of others ways your body can find peace. It challenges the norm in the United States on how we die and what we define as a dignified death. This helped a lot with being okay with my death and the death of others.
I would love to learn more about how other cultures view the dead. This book is a good stepping stone. If your familiar with death culture this could be a bit of a bore since 3 sections surround death culture in the United States. If it gave more insight or prevalence of other cultures I think this would of been a 5 star read for me. Then again maybe a lot of cultures cross and it shows how we are breaking traditional death culture in the states.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
What Once Was Mine by Liz Braswell
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
What once was mine definitely puts an interesting twist on the rapunzel story. It is dark at some points but it is definitely geared for a younger and pre teen audience. The writing style is very much like a friend is telling a story but reads differently then read aloud.
I think the characterizations could be better. I always imagined rapunzel as naive but strong in her own right and intuitive. She isn’t portrayed that way until the very end of the book. The ending also feels a little rushed. You are hearing this story from the perspective of a young boy telling it to his sister. So I gave it some reprieve as it tries to evoke that language.
I think the characterizations could be better. I always imagined rapunzel as naive but strong in her own right and intuitive. She isn’t portrayed that way until the very end of the book. The ending also feels a little rushed. You are hearing this story from the perspective of a young boy telling it to his sister. So I gave it some reprieve as it tries to evoke that language.
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? No
4.5
ACOMAF is so far my favorite book in the series. It really brings a better plot line and a more diverse setting. If you got through ACOTAR it is worth the build up. As well as all the twist.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content, Vomit, and War
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
This book brought and experience that I had not felt from a book in a long time. This book brings Latinx culture/adventure and describes a perfect experience of finding yourself, finding love, and fighting for your happiness.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Minor: Animal death