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skudiklier's reviews
617 reviews
The Bruising of Qilwa by Naseem Jamnia
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I don't really know what to make of this book. I liked having a nonbinary character, and the queernorm world in general. The world building was really good and I was invested in the characters and the plot. But the ending felt a bit.....I'm not sure how to describe it. I didn't hate it or anything but I don't feel like a lot was particularly resolved. It felt sudden in some ways. I dunno. I liked the book for the most part and think it was well-written, but I also don't think I'd actively recommend it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Genocide and War
Minor: Vomit and Fire/Fire injury
These Violet Delights by Cassandra Wood, CM Writer
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
I'm biased because my poems are in here, but I loved this collection--it's a beautiful anthology of queer poets writing about so many aspects of gender and sexuality and homophobia and acceptance and coming out. I knew some of the poems beforehand, but not the majority of them, and it was lovely reading friends and new poems alike. I'd recommend this to queer people who like poetry, and allies of course.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Transphobia
Minor: Hate crime, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
Pas de Don't by Chloe Angyal
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I really loved this book--I might be biased because I did dance as a child/teenager, and I'm also more familiar with Sydney than with any other place outside the US, so I was able to be like "hey I know that thing!" to a good chunk of the ballet/Australia references in this book. The romance was *so* good, and I really felt like both characters were grounded and realistic, and the conflict didn't feel forced. I was rooting for them the whole way and didn't know exactly how everything was going to turn out. I like the way the more sensitive issues were handled, and genuinely overall I just couldn't put this book down.
I'd really recommend Pas de Don't to romance fans, and I can't wait to read Chloe Angyal's future work! Thank you to Netgalley and Amberjack Publishing for the chance to read and review this ARC.
I'd really recommend Pas de Don't to romance fans, and I can't wait to read Chloe Angyal's future work! Thank you to Netgalley and Amberjack Publishing for the chance to read and review this ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, and Alcohol
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
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
5.0
This book was just as cozy and good and magical the second time around! I reread this because we're reading it for my book club, and I'm so excited to have people to talk about it with, because the first time I read it it hadn't come out yet and I was trying so hard to convince anyone I could to read it. I love this book.
Original review pasted below:
I absolutely adored this book. I mean, really. It's got witches. It's got found family. It's got enemies to lovers. It's got queer grandpas. It's got cute little kids. It's got plot twists. What more could you ask for from a book, honestly.
Also--you know that feeling you get when you're deep into a good story, or maybe you've already finished it, and you find yourself wanting to go back to that world and those characters? You could be doing anything and then suddenly you have this weird urge that maybe you can't place for a minute, until you go, oh, I just want to go back to reading/watching that.
I get that a lot, but in most cases it's not until I'm a good ways into the story, unless I'm rereading a childhood favorite or something like that. What's weird about The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is that I started feeling that way almost right from the beginning. I was barely into the book, and still would feel myself drawn to the characters. I didn't have a lot of time to read it at first, so I made my way through the first third the book pretty slowly, and it was surprisingly hard to not just drop everything and read it all so I could stay in the story.
By midway through, I sort of did drop everything to finish it. I couldn't help it. And agh, I just, I loved it so much. I have no idea if the author plans to write sequels, but I hope she does, just because I feel like I could spend so much longer in this world and with these characters, and never have enough.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for the chance to read and review this ARC.
Original review pasted below:
I absolutely adored this book. I mean, really. It's got witches. It's got found family. It's got enemies to lovers. It's got queer grandpas. It's got cute little kids. It's got plot twists. What more could you ask for from a book, honestly.
Also--you know that feeling you get when you're deep into a good story, or maybe you've already finished it, and you find yourself wanting to go back to that world and those characters? You could be doing anything and then suddenly you have this weird urge that maybe you can't place for a minute, until you go, oh, I just want to go back to reading/watching that.
I get that a lot, but in most cases it's not until I'm a good ways into the story, unless I'm rereading a childhood favorite or something like that. What's weird about The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is that I started feeling that way almost right from the beginning. I was barely into the book, and still would feel myself drawn to the characters. I didn't have a lot of time to read it at first, so I made my way through the first third the book pretty slowly, and it was surprisingly hard to not just drop everything and read it all so I could stay in the story.
By midway through, I sort of did drop everything to finish it. I couldn't help it. And agh, I just, I loved it so much. I have no idea if the author plans to write sequels, but I hope she does, just because I feel like I could spend so much longer in this world and with these characters, and never have enough.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for the chance to read and review this ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Racism, Sexual content, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Homophobia, Abortion, Death of parent, and Murder
Sammy Espinoza's Last Review by Tehlor Kay Mejia
emotional
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
4.0
Honestly, for a lot of this book I was just really frustrated by the main character's decisions, and how long she let the lies go on. I knew it would all get resolved at the end, and I understood why she was doing it, but I just couldn't fall for the romance or enjoy the book until she came clean. I didn't see how what she was doing was forgivable, and I knew she'd be forgiven, so I was just frustrated.
In the end I do think it all made sense and the ending was satisfying, but I can't say I loved the book or anything because it didn't really feel that way until the very end. I did like a lot of the other plot lines, with her family and friends, and I think it all turned out better than expected for everyone involved. But--yeah, I can't wholeheartedly recommend a book that was so frustrating for so much of it. Maybe someone who empathizes more with the bad decisions wouldn't have an issue with it, but I found myself yelling at her more often than siding with her, even if I could see where she was coming from.
Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for the chance to read and review this ARC.
In the end I do think it all made sense and the ending was satisfying, but I can't say I loved the book or anything because it didn't really feel that way until the very end. I did like a lot of the other plot lines, with her family and friends, and I think it all turned out better than expected for everyone involved. But--yeah, I can't wholeheartedly recommend a book that was so frustrating for so much of it. Maybe someone who empathizes more with the bad decisions wouldn't have an issue with it, but I found myself yelling at her more often than siding with her, even if I could see where she was coming from.
Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for the chance to read and review this ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, and Abandonment
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Infidelity, Racism, and Pregnancy
A Prince on Paper by Alyssa Cole
emotional
funny
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
5.0
This one might actually be my favorite Reluctant Royals book so far? I really appreciated the epilogue, as the endings of the first two felt a little abrupt. I also looooved the nonbinary representation, it nearly made me tear up :')
The Stranger by Albert Camus
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
It took me about half the book to really get into it, but I ended up liking it. He's extremely autistic and relatable in some ways, though I also didn't find him very likable, but of course that's not the point. I liked where the book ended and the conclusion it came to, even if it was a frustrating and depressing read in many ways.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Racism, Violence, and Xenophobia
Minor: Sexual content
Only Love Can Hurt Like This by Paige Toon
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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
This might sound weird, but this book was exactly the right amount of devastating. I probably should have expected some pain from the title, but I didn't expect how *real* this book would feel. It was sad, and there were some dramatic revelations of course, but it felt so--I don't know how to put it. Reasonable? It felt like real people making real decisions in a really tough, complicated situation that can easily be seen from very different perspectives.
I would definitely recommend Only Love Can Hurt Like This to fans of romance, drama, contemporary fiction, and character-focused stories. I loved this book and definitely want to read more of Toon's work now. Thank you to Netgalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the chance to read and review this ARC.
I would definitely recommend Only Love Can Hurt Like This to fans of romance, drama, contemporary fiction, and character-focused stories. I loved this book and definitely want to read more of Toon's work now. Thank you to Netgalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the chance to read and review this ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Alcohol
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, and Grief
Minor: Ableism, Child death, Car accident, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
The One by Julia Argy
emotional
reflective
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
Overall, I really liked this book. The writing reminded me of Curtis Sittenfeld in the best way, and I was so sucked into the book that I read nearly the whole thing in one day.
The only thing I didn't like was the ending--it didn't really feel like an HEA and wasn't satisfying for me. I'll put more details below but beware for some spoilers about the ending.
Okay so I'm fine with ambiguous endings, or endings where they haven't figured everything out yet. But they didn't even see each other? The last time we saw Sam she was still at The One being sent home and upset. I want just even a *sentence* of them being together at the end, not Emily just asleep in her car. That's not the happy ending you sign up for with a romance. I can fill in the blanks, sure, but I need a *crumb* first. I just keep thinking about how unsatisfying that ending was and how after all that buildup I really needed *something* there at the end to make it worth it. Super frustrating because if there was literally even one line (like, she gets to Sam and Sam looks remotely happy to see her, even if it ends right then with neither of them saying anything), I would be raving about how much I love this book. And instead most of my review is about my one problem with it.
Okay. That out of my system, I really did love this book besides for that one thing about it. I'd recommend it to romance fans for sure, and I look forward to reading more of Argy's work in the future. Thank you to Netgalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the chance to read and review this ARC.
The only thing I didn't like was the ending--it didn't really feel like an HEA and wasn't satisfying for me. I'll put more details below but beware for some spoilers about the ending.
Okay. That out of my system, I really did love this book besides for that one thing about it. I'd recommend it to romance fans for sure, and I look forward to reading more of Argy's work in the future. Thank you to Netgalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the chance to read and review this ARC.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Mass/school shootings, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Cancer, Suicide, and Death of parent
A Duke by Default by Alyssa Cole
emotional
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? Yes
4.75
I liked this about as much as the first book in the series, but in slightly different ways! I like that Cole addresses some of the unhealthy relationship dynamics that most romances would just ignore because it would make things too complicated; I was ready to sort of suspend my disbelief/concerns as I normally would, and then they were directly addressed. My biggest problem with this series is that they end sort of suddenly. I wish there was an epilogue or something, though at least I know I'll probably get a glimpse of their relationship in the sequel(s).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Moderate: Ableism, Violence, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Minor: Racism and Pregnancy