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skudiklier's reviews
617 reviews
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
medium-paced
4.75
I was so caught up in this, and I can't believe my friend recommended it to me without telling me about the end, and that the second book isn't out yet! I can't wait to read it. Would definitely recommend this to fantasy/romance fans.
Cruel Seduction by Katee Robert
adventurous
emotional
reflective
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
4.75
Just as good as the other books in the series--I love the polyamory of this one! I was really unsure how Robert would get us to like Theseus after the last book, but I think it's well-done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
Moderate: Murder
Pleasure and Efficacy: Of Pen Names, Cover Versions, and Other Trans Techniques by Grace Elisabeth Lavery
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
Grace Lavery was my favorite professor in college, and I took tons of her classes even though they fulfilled no requirements for my major, just because I really enjoyed her lectures. I think she's brilliant, and I've really liked keeping up with her work online since.
I think this book was well-written and interesting, but I found a lot of it hard to follow. I'm not sure how much of that is a me problem vs how much is the book's problem. The biggest factor in how well I could follow along was whether I was familiar with the material she was referencing--the sections on The Old Curiosity Shop, The Silence of the Lambs, George Eliot, and egg theory were easier for me to understand, because I knew more about those topics and had read/seen those books/movies/authors. But when I was unfamiliar with her references I found it really hard to keep up, and I would end up feeling bored and confused. To be fair, I also just haven't read a lot of theory since graduating, so part of this could definitely be a me problem.
I'd recommend it to anyone interested, but I wouldn't recommend it unprompted, if that makes sense.
I think this book was well-written and interesting, but I found a lot of it hard to follow. I'm not sure how much of that is a me problem vs how much is the book's problem. The biggest factor in how well I could follow along was whether I was familiar with the material she was referencing--the sections on The Old Curiosity Shop, The Silence of the Lambs, George Eliot, and egg theory were easier for me to understand, because I knew more about those topics and had read/seen those books/movies/authors. But when I was unfamiliar with her references I found it really hard to keep up, and I would end up feeling bored and confused. To be fair, I also just haven't read a lot of theory since graduating, so part of this could definitely be a me problem.
I'd recommend it to anyone interested, but I wouldn't recommend it unprompted, if that makes sense.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia
Moderate: Misogyny, Pedophilia, and Murder
You Exist Too Much by Zaina Arafat
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I was really engaged with this--after I got through the beginning bits and got properly into the story, I read almost the whole thing in a day. I found the protagonist relatable in a messy she-needs-help kind of way, and some of her struggles with things like abandonment and generational trauma were hard to read, but in a good way. I like the way the timeline jumps around and you don't find out things in chronological order, and I also like how the book addresses why the narrator's mom is the way she is, without excusing the way she treats the narrator. I'd recommend this book but I'd also definitely say to look at the content warnings first, since this book can get pretty heavy at times.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, Pedophilia, Racism, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Outing, and War
Minor: Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Blood, and Pregnancy
Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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? No
4.75
I enjoyed this book on a lot of levels--the plot, the characters, the mystery, what I learned about Ojibwe culture and traditions--and definitely found it suspenseful and engaging. I wouldn't say the writing itself is my favorite (I felt like it did a lot of telling rather than showing), but it wasn't bad by any means and didn't distract from the story. I couldn't tell how it was going to end and I felt pretty satisfied with the ending (especially that it didn't force a HEA for the romance when that would have been unhealthy) . Overall I'd definitely recommend this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Racism, Rape, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Vomit, Medical content, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Ableism, Alcoholism, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Torture, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Cultural appropriation
Forget Me Not by Alyson Derrick
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
I read this in one day basically and couldn't put it down. I was so worried about what would happen, and I felt so much for the characters. I didn't look at the premise before reading so it caught me entirely by surprise. I really liked this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, and Racism
Moderate: Sexual content, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
We All Love the Beautiful Girls by Joanne Proulx
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Wow, this was stunning and so engaging. I was really pulled in and didn't want to look away.
I wish I'd written my review right after finishing it, because I would have had more to say, but I've read two other books in the couple days since I finished this one, so I'm having a hard time figuring out what to say. But I want to read more by this author and some things about this book will stay with me for a long time.
I wish I'd written my review right after finishing it, because I would have had more to say, but I've read two other books in the couple days since I finished this one, so I'm having a hard time figuring out what to say. But I want to read more by this author and some things about this book will stay with me for a long time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Cursing, Gore, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Fatphobia
Corinne by Rebecca Morrow
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
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
I love this book so much. Something about the way it was written is perfect to me--it's one of those books that spoils you for other books because you wish it could always be like this. I love everything about how the relationship unfolds, how things are revealed, the small moments and little unspoken things that become so big when you're in Corinne's head with her. I love the way Morrow doesn't just barrel past the awkward words writing sex scenes requires, and addresses the lack of good words for everything, how it's hard to talk about in real life and in writing. I didn't really know the genre or premise going in so I was a little stressed the whole book that there wouldn't be a HEA, because once I got about halfway through I didn't even want to check the StoryGraph to see if it's really a romance or not. I stayed up way too late reading this book and was just so invested in it. I definitely want to read more by Rebecca Morrow.
Edit: I read this book because John Green recommended it as a "super steamy evangelical romance," but I forgot about that when I finally got around to reading it (I just marked it as "John Green rec"). Anyway I just wanted to say....he's right lmao that's a good description.
Edit: I read this book because John Green recommended it as a "super steamy evangelical romance," but I forgot about that when I finally got around to reading it (I just marked it as "John Green rec"). Anyway I just wanted to say....he's right lmao that's a good description.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual content, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Cursing, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Infidelity, Xenophobia, and Pregnancy
Minor: Alcoholism, Death, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Islamophobia, Abortion, and Death of parent
Pleasure and Efficacy: Of Pen Names, Cover Versions, and Other Trans Techniques by Grace Elisabeth Lavery
Did not finish book. Stopped at 4%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 4%.
Just switching to the ebook version instead of the print version, due to how much time I have to read ebooks at the moment! Nothing at all against the book, I'm reading it already right now
Baker Thief by Claudie Arseneault
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I really liked this! After getting into it I sped through most of the book in one day. I was super engaged with the characters, their relationships, all the mystery/problems of the plot, everything. I would definitely read more by this author. And I loved all the queer representation! (I'm genderfluid and experience that way differently than Claire/Claude does in this book, but I still really loved having a genderfluid main character.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, Trafficking, and Murder
Moderate: Death, Genocide, Sexual content, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Child abuse, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Stalking, Alcohol, and Classism
general bigotry, also lots of police/police corruption (though no police brutality so I didn't flag that)