story_goblin's reviews
363 reviews

The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles by Malka Older

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adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

So cute and sweet but also the mystery/danger is not trivialized. If you liked the first one, then you’ll like this one, too. 
The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I know these books don’t have/aren’t about easy answers, but I found this one more confusing than Shadow of the Wind. I’m just not sure what to think or feel about it. But it was good! Zafon’s writing is extremely compelling and the mystery element was very intriguing. I liked the characters, and his world building is fascinating. 
Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

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adventurous hopeful 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

3.75

This book is pretty slow to start, but really picks up about halfway through. I really like the characters/worldbuilding.
Feral Creatures by Kira Jane Buxton

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adventurous challenging funny hopeful mysterious tense 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

4.25

Kira Jane Buxton had really created something unique. I really don’t know what to say about this book other than it’s full to bursting with heart. The pacing of this one is better than the first. 
The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective tense slow-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

4.0

This is the second time I read this book; the first was as an audiobook, which was not the best choice for me personally. Reading physically was a better choice for me, but I still felt like things were a bit too technical for my liking. I preferred his writing in Supernova Era. However, I will still be continuing the trilogy! The philosophical aspects are strong and compelling. 
Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey

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challenging funny reflective medium-paced

3.75

I don't really have any major complaints or anything, but nothing fully grabbed me either. His traffic lights metaphor is a little helpful for me to explain some of my thought process as I consider a major career change. 
The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson

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adventurous funny hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

As I’m sure others have mentioned, this era 2 series is very different from the original trilogy. I’ve heard it repeatedly described as a western. While the action style and aesthetic are indeed very western, I believe the story beats and world building are still classic high fantasy, so it shouldn’t scare off people who don’t like westerns. Plus, this book was funny- Plenty of good little one-liners and teasing conversations. It is much faster paced than the original trilogy and I moved through the pages extremely fast. Can’t wait to keep reading!
The Witness for the Dead by Katherine Addison

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adventurous dark funny mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I love this character! I, too, am “conscientious to a fault”, as someone tells Celehar he is. I sympathize with Celehar’s anxieties and worries. Addison’s rich wordbuilding is a further draw for me- I never seem to want to stop reading.
Mistborn: Secret History by Brandon Sanderson

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adventurous hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I chose to read this as a bridge between the Original Trilogy and Wax & Wayne. I think everything learned about how Scadrial fits into the wider Cosmere is still a bit confusing without having read Stormlight Archive. (I’ve only read the Mistborn Original Trilogy and the Secret Novels- Yumi/The Sunlit Man explained the concept of Investiture pretty well, but everything about
the Shards
is still only a vague shape to me.) 
The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories by Ken Liu

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

Many of these stories were very intriguing! He reminds me of a slightly more modern (technology has evolved FAST) Ted Chaing. Liu definitely does not shy away from the horror aspects where appropriate. (I could not read the last story personally.) I still really liked it overall, though. I never thought I’d find another writer like Ted Chaing- such wonderful use of language mixed with such a deep understanding of technology and its varied impact.
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