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takarakei's reviews
525 reviews
The Impactful Vegan: How You Can Save More Lives and Make the Biggest Difference for Animals and the Planet by Robert Cheeke
Did not finish book. Stopped at 40%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 40%.
This is maybe a great book if you are new to veganism or vegan activism, but as someone highly involved in vegan activism I found it to be dull and a bit tone-deaf. The research is presented sloppily and without great citations. It felt like a lot of the book was just the author interviewing a bunch of his friends without any kind of critical lens, just giving them praise.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Moderate: Fatphobia
The sections on the vegan gym had some very fatphobic language
Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This is definitely a regency-era romance with some fantasy elements sprinkled in, but it leans more hist. romance to me. Suspend a little disbelief on the connection of this world and faeries - you just gotta go with it. There's also a slight mystery plotline happening at the same time. Something about the overall plot didn't quite click with my to really hold my interest.
Dora reads as neurodivergent to me, and I did like the ending when it came to her curse - how she didn't really need to change at all.
Elias was a perfectly fine love interest, I was endeared to him by the end.
I really fell in love with Albert as a side character and I'm not sure if we'll see more of him. Though my copy had a little prequel short-story about him and Elias in the war time.
Dora reads as neurodivergent to me, and I did like the ending when it came to her curse - how she didn't really need to change at all.
Elias was a perfectly fine love interest, I was endeared to him by the end.
I really fell in love with Albert as a side character and I'm not sure if we'll see more of him. Though my copy had a little prequel short-story about him and Elias in the war time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, and Classism
Moderate: Blood, Kidnapping, and War
Minor: Child death and Death of parent
Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Well… that was a book I read.
Except the last chapter was a banger!
Except the last chapter was a banger!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Toxic relationship, and Injury/Injury detail
Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I swear to follow the will of Dalinar Kholin. This is my oath.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and War
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Genocide, Mental illness, Slavery, Grief, Murder, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Medical content
Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross
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? No
3.0
Unfortunately this did not live up to my expectations or caliber of the first book.
My main gripe with the first book was that the lore behind the gods wasn’t explained basically at all, but I was able to forgive that a bit because it was more focused on the romance. But because of the lack of worldbuilding in book one, there was a lot of catch up to on in this book in building a foundation to stand on for this war and the sides. And despite this, the beginning of this book is sooo slow. I think there was far too much time spent on everything that happens in the first probably half of the book that could have been condensed down. At 85% in we were still getting new lore which is just not the time to be introducing new things. Ultimately I didn't think the villain was all that scary, I did not even truly understand WHY the war was even happening besides: gods on opposing sides. All the issues and obstacles were very easily solved, nothing felt earned. I truly didn't even really understand the WHY of certain outcomes in the book.
On top of all that I dislike the “two MC/lovers are separated” trope and while it makes some sense here, it also felt like that was the only way to build romantic tension again.
My main gripe with the first book was that the lore behind the gods wasn’t explained basically at all, but I was able to forgive that a bit because it was more focused on the romance. But because of the lack of worldbuilding in book one, there was a lot of catch up to on in this book in building a foundation to stand on for this war and the sides. And despite this, the beginning of this book is sooo slow. I think there was far too much time spent on everything that happens in the first probably half of the book that could have been condensed down. At 85% in we were still getting new lore which is just not the time to be introducing new things. Ultimately I didn't think the villain was all that scary, I did not even truly understand WHY the war was even happening besides: gods on opposing sides. All the issues and obstacles were very easily solved, nothing felt earned. I truly didn't even really understand the WHY of certain outcomes in the book.
On top of all that I dislike the “two MC/lovers are separated” trope and while it makes some sense here, it also felt like that was the only way to build romantic tension again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and War
Moderate: Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content, Vomit, and Death of parent
Bonesmith by Nicki Pau Preto
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I had no idea what to expect going into this book, but I had a blast! A great job is done immediately investing the reader in Wren's story by having her exiled (and treated horribly by her family, seriously someone come get them!). Wren is a flawed MC, but also snarky and fun to read.
The lore/world building is cool and unique enough to be interesting to read about. There's a ton of secrecy and things definitely not seeming as they are. Plus a little political intrigue too! I liked the inclusion of multiple povs and that really helped round out the character building. I feel like I'm not doing it justice, but seriously if you read the synopsis and it sounds interesting give it a go!
I'm super excited to read the sequel when it comes out! and happy it's a planned duology!
The lore/world building is cool and unique enough to be interesting to read about. There's a ton of secrecy and things definitely not seeming as they are. Plus a little political intrigue too! I liked the inclusion of multiple povs and that really helped round out the character building. I feel like I'm not doing it justice, but seriously if you read the synopsis and it sounds interesting give it a go!
I'm super excited to read the sequel when it comes out! and happy it's a planned duology!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Animal death, Confinement, and Genocide
A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston
lighthearted
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
This leans a little more literary than a typical romance, but I didn't mind that. All of Ashley's books weave a little magic into them. This is a little slice of life in a small town that exists in a book series that our MC stumbles into. It felt a little slow at parts and I kept reading because of the big reveal I knew was coming. But I did really like the ending! I like a lot of the themes in this book: about how books change us and connect to us and the importance of community. I really related to forming close connections in a book club <3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Sexual content and Car accident
Minor: Infidelity and Vomit
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.5
I really enjoyed the combination of memoir style writing infused with nature writing providing lots of interesting info. The writing is beautifully descriptive and moving. As someone who grew up in the area (outside Syracuse) she writes about a lot, there was a nostalgic factor for me as well.
My one qualm (and this could be indicative of this being published a decade ago) is I think Wall Kimmerer shies away a bit from giving any real solutions besides to become "closer to nature" which reads a bit naive considering where we are as a world right now. Unfortunately we are just so far past the way indigenous people used to live that I struggle to see a path that leads anywhere near back there.
My one qualm (and this could be indicative of this being published a decade ago) is I think Wall Kimmerer shies away a bit from giving any real solutions besides to become "closer to nature" which reads a bit naive considering where we are as a world right now. Unfortunately we are just so far past the way indigenous people used to live that I struggle to see a path that leads anywhere near back there.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Genocide, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Grief, and War
Minor: Cannibalism
Morbidly Yours by Ivy Fairbanks
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Pros: stutter and demisexual representation in Callum - Callum in general was a pro, he was so sweet. I like the becoming friends first into romance (a slower burn). I bet if they got the right narrators this would be good on audio (to hear Callum's accent).
Cons: My biggest issue with this book was Lark's coworker enemy who is quite possibly one of my most hated book characters ever (so I guess props for writing a villain so well?). I just don't really feel the need for a villain in a romance (unless they turn into the romantic interest!). Maybe it's just my past experiences with shitty men at work that it really just made me mad and even tho I suppose he gets what he deserves in the end (kinda he's still an ass), it just really took away overall enjoyment of this book.
This has the beginnings of marriage of convenience trope, but ended up being a slow burn so the 'reasons' Callum has to get married ultimately become a barrier to their romance (perhaps maybe that just wasn't what I expected from the first few chapters).
While I understand Lark's qualms with moving on after the death of her husband, it did feel a bit repetitive to continue hearing about it without much development (until the end).
Something about the writing style and pacing also felt a bit awkward at parts.
Thank you Netgalley for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Cons: My biggest issue with this book was Lark's coworker enemy who is quite possibly one of my most hated book characters ever (so I guess props for writing a villain so well?). I just don't really feel the need for a villain in a romance (unless they turn into the romantic interest!). Maybe it's just my past experiences with shitty men at work that it really just made me mad and even tho I suppose he gets what he deserves in the end (kinda he's still an ass), it just really took away overall enjoyment of this book.
This has the beginnings of marriage of convenience trope, but ended up being a slow burn so the 'reasons' Callum has to get married ultimately become a barrier to their romance (perhaps maybe that just wasn't what I expected from the first few chapters).
While I understand Lark's qualms with moving on after the death of her husband, it did feel a bit repetitive to continue hearing about it without much development (until the end).
Something about the writing style and pacing also felt a bit awkward at parts.
Thank you Netgalley for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Ableism, Body horror, Bullying, Sexual content, and Car accident
Minor: Child death
There are some descriptions of what Callum does as a mortician, so if you're not into that prob not the book for you.
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
emotional
funny
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 just read this book in one day and I could seriously immediately start it over again. Alex and Poppy are everything. I laughed. I cried. Truly don’t know how Emily does it - nothing hits like her books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content, Grief, and Alcohol
Minor: Drug use