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tinyelfarcanist's reviews
323 reviews
Unanimity by Alexandra Almeida
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Full of parallelisms to Le Petit Prince and delivered in lush prose, Unanimity supplies hard truths and defies the status quo. Spiral Worlds is a relevant story in today’s social climate and a cautionary tale of the future.
At first, the characters seem stereotypical, but their flaws and motivations become apparent as we delve into their pasts. Their lives are intertwined through decades of events, and their relationships are filled with as much pain as love.
The reluctance of the characters to curse (frack, ship, Leo the second) peeved me a little. And it isn’t ideal that the only nonbinary character is a non-human originally designed as androgynous.
At first, the characters seem stereotypical, but their flaws and motivations become apparent as we delve into their pasts. Their lives are intertwined through decades of events, and their relationships are filled with as much pain as love.
The reluctance of the characters to curse (frack, ship, Leo the second) peeved me a little. And it isn’t ideal that the only nonbinary character is a non-human originally designed as androgynous.
I don’t usually read sci-fi or stories in contemporary settings, but this book is a great reminder to read out of my comfort zone: good stories are independent of genre.
Read my full review: https://tinyelfarcanist.wordpress.com/2023/03/07/unanimity-alexandra-almeida/
Read my full review: https://tinyelfarcanist.wordpress.com/2023/03/07/unanimity-alexandra-almeida/
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Gun violence, Suicide, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Drug use, Genocide, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Torture, Abandonment, and War
A Crucible of Fire and Steel by Jamie Edmundson
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Part I is full of court drama and I loved every moment of it. It was interesting seeing familiar characters in more powerful positions.
In Part II we follow an old hero, hunted from their loss, but I found myself dreading their chapters. It felt more targeted to readers of the first saga.
Part III brings a new POV from one of my favourite characters and I’m very intrigued with their future in the series.
Read my full review: https://tinyelfarcanist.wordpress.com...
In Part II we follow an old hero, hunted from their loss, but I found myself dreading their chapters. It felt more targeted to readers of the first saga.
Part III brings a new POV from one of my favourite characters and I’m very intrigued with their future in the series.
Read my full review: https://tinyelfarcanist.wordpress.com...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexism, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, and War
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual content, Excrement, and Colonisation
Minor: Child death, Gore, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Pregnancy
The Gatekeeper's Staff by Antoine Bandele
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I’m not a fan of MG and I believe this played hugely into my enjoyment of it. This probably shows this was more of a me problem rather than the book itself. Having said that, it wasn’t without its flaws.
• Condescending teachers.
• Fatphobia with a character named Joshua, who’s smelly and gross and all he thinks and talks about is food. And while Josh is friendly, the other overweight character is a bully.
• Some teenager with bursting pimples is called “Juice”.
• One boy is insinuated to be gay because he’s always seen with girls.
Teenagers are already insecure enough to be taught that having acne or being fat is enough reason for people to talk about them behind their backs to say how disgusting they are.
Even when I haven’t read enough MG, the tropes were undeniable and they weren’t done in an original manner, making it very derivative.
It also could have been shorter. It caught my attention only after the halfway mark. It felt longer than it actually is, and it could be a problem to catch the attention of younger readers. Fortunately, the audiobook was more lively with the narrator portraying different voices and accents. Though I can’t comment on the accuracy of the accents, I enjoyed the narration, otherwise, I would’ve DNF.
I think the story would work fine as a TV series. Of course, after dealing with all the problematic stuff.
• Condescending teachers.
• Fatphobia with a character named Joshua, who’s smelly and gross and all he thinks and talks about is food. And while Josh is friendly, the other overweight character is a bully.
• Some teenager with bursting pimples is called “Juice”.
• One boy is insinuated to be gay because he’s always seen with girls.
Teenagers are already insecure enough to be taught that having acne or being fat is enough reason for people to talk about them behind their backs to say how disgusting they are.
Even when I haven’t read enough MG, the tropes were undeniable and they weren’t done in an original manner, making it very derivative.
It also could have been shorter. It caught my attention only after the halfway mark. It felt longer than it actually is, and it could be a problem to catch the attention of younger readers. Fortunately, the audiobook was more lively with the narrator portraying different voices and accents. Though I can’t comment on the accuracy of the accents, I enjoyed the narration, otherwise, I would’ve DNF.
I think the story would work fine as a TV series. Of course, after dealing with all the problematic stuff.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Fatphobia
Moderate: Bullying, Homophobia, Violence, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Murder and Injury/Injury detail
The Orc Who Saved Christmas by Michelle Franklin
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.0
There is no doubt Michelle Franklin likes her monsters huggable.
Another standalone in the series. This is longer than Werewolves don’t celebrate Hanukkah, and the language feels a little more complex for a children's story. It's still as wholesome and has a lovely message of friendship and acceptance.
Meet Karla, the girl who listened to her heart instead of the crowd's loud voices, and Darryl, the (half-)orc who saved Christmas, and get to see the best orc-decorated Christmas tree. You might also learn (and fail to articulate) the correct pronunciation for Orcmas.
Meet Karla, the girl who listened to her heart instead of the crowd's loud voices, and Darryl, the (half-)orc who saved Christmas, and get to see the best orc-decorated Christmas tree. You might also learn (and fail to articulate) the correct pronunciation for Orcmas.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Racism
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Animal death
Seasons of Albadone by Élan Marché, Christopher Warman
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
5.0
The cover may be misleading, so don't expect a lighthearted adventure tale. This novella has a tone reminiscent of classic fairytales. Comprised four interconnected stories, each one progressively darker.
Authors created a world rich in folklore. With gratifying twists and fully-fledged characters, Seasons of Albadone is mystical and painful in equal measure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
Moderate: Animal death, Gore, Physical abuse, Blood, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, and Death of parent
The Prince of Daybreak by Lou Wilham
This is some of the best neurodivergent representation I’ve read. I understand what it is to be aware of every reaction you have while being clueless about social expectations. There are multiple instances where Takayoshi bites back a retort he thinks won't be well received, and sometimes he resorts to thinking "What would [neurotypical person] do?".
While it follows the same structure as the first book in the series, it felt different and I appreciated the introduction of new characters.
I'm glad Yoshi finally starts to open up and makes some friends. But as much as I love him, I would’ve wanted to see more of what was going on on Cricket’s side.
The ending was the least exciting part. After all the challenges they went through, it felt a little anticlimactic.
adventurous
funny
slow-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
4.0
When I read The Prince of Starlight, I totally related to Prince Cricket. This author seems to know me too well, as now I’m convinced she read my mind to write Yoshi.
Takayoshi’s hand tightened around his mug of tea, hating the necessity of speaking to people.
This is some of the best neurodivergent representation I’ve read. I understand what it is to be aware of every reaction you have while being clueless about social expectations. There are multiple instances where Takayoshi bites back a retort he thinks won't be well received, and sometimes he resorts to thinking "What would [neurotypical person] do?".
While it follows the same structure as the first book in the series, it felt different and I appreciated the introduction of new characters.
I'm glad Yoshi finally starts to open up and makes some friends. But as much as I love him, I would’ve wanted to see more of what was going on on Cricket’s side.
The ending was the least exciting part. After all the challenges they went through, it felt a little anticlimactic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Blood, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Body horror, Cancer, Suicide, Violence, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
The Misadventures of Myndil Plodostirr by Michelle Franklin
Myndil is a neurodivergent young man too good for his own well-being. This hero's superpower is loving anything and anyone who crosses his path. Oh, and he also talks to God and God talks back to him.
He enjoys sleeping on some big lady’s bosom, rambles to whoever has ears, and befriends fae. He’s surrounded by wacky characters with unpronounceable names, and there also may be a couple of goodbois interested in attending Hanukkah.
When I started the book, Myndil reminded me of myself (without the God stuff). I too was a weird kid who was too much and knew more than I should. But I can only wish to be half as kind and pure as Myndil.
He also reminded me of Anne of the Green Gables: everything is extraordinary and he just can't shut up about it. Give Myndil a chance. You, like most people he encounters, will love to hate him and hate to love him.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-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
5.0
This book's humour is accurately compared to that of Pratchett's books.
God gave you free will so he could punish you. If God made everyone love him, God would not have a job.
Myndil is a neurodivergent young man too good for his own well-being. This hero's superpower is loving anything and anyone who crosses his path. Oh, and he also talks to God and God talks back to him.
He enjoys sleeping on some big lady’s bosom, rambles to whoever has ears, and befriends fae. He’s surrounded by wacky characters with unpronounceable names, and there also may be a couple of goodbois interested in attending Hanukkah.
When I started the book, Myndil reminded me of myself (without the God stuff). I too was a weird kid who was too much and knew more than I should. But I can only wish to be half as kind and pure as Myndil.
He also reminded me of Anne of the Green Gables: everything is extraordinary and he just can't shut up about it. Give Myndil a chance. You, like most people he encounters, will love to hate him and hate to love him.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Blood, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Stalking, and War
Minor: Animal death, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
5.0
An outstanding start for The Year of Sanderson.
Tress is one of the most sensible heroines you'll find in YA. She seeks help, talks openly with her parents, and admits when she's scared. She also goes on a suicidal mission for the man she loves, but that's love for you.
This book features beautiful relationships (romantic or otherwise), tons of adventure, and FEELINGS. Even deaths that should have been insubstantial pack a punch. Also, as expected from Sanderson's fantasy novels, a fascinating and innovative magic system. You may need to have read other of his books (The Way of Kings, Elantris) to appreciate it fully.
I LOVED the fairytale vibes. It's no coincidence that it was inspired by one of my favourite books of all time: The Princess Bride. This book has some of the most beautiful prose I've ever read. It's funny, it's witty, and full of insightful lessons. I kept highlighting passage after passage. I hope Sanderson keeps exploring this narrator.
Tress is one of the most sensible heroines you'll find in YA. She seeks help, talks openly with her parents, and admits when she's scared. She also goes on a suicidal mission for the man she loves, but that's love for you.
This book features beautiful relationships (romantic or otherwise), tons of adventure, and FEELINGS. Even deaths that should have been insubstantial pack a punch. Also, as expected from Sanderson's fantasy novels, a fascinating and innovative magic system. You may need to have read other of his books (The Way of Kings, Elantris) to appreciate it fully.
I LOVED the fairytale vibes. It's no coincidence that it was inspired by one of my favourite books of all time: The Princess Bride. This book has some of the most beautiful prose I've ever read. It's funny, it's witty, and full of insightful lessons. I kept highlighting passage after passage. I hope Sanderson keeps exploring this narrator.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Physical abuse, and Murder
Moderate: Ableism, Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Gaslighting, and Classism
Minor: Bullying, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Vomit, Medical content, and Alcohol
Unbury the Bones by Coyote JM Edwards
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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 caught my attention in the first scene. Coming from someone who usually doesn't like urban fantasy, I didn't expect to enjoy it this much.
The world feels alive and like every character has a story to tell. This time, it's Grim's, an aromatic vampire with trouble opening up for friendship.
All that, and Grim had only managed to cry, ask for sugar in their coffee and take a shower.
(yeah, relatable)
It’s a short read but full of wit, lovely characters, and pure wholesomeness. I'm keeping an eye on this author's future works.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Body horror, Cancer, Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, Car accident, Death of parent, and Murder
The Fable of Wren by Rue Sparks
The book is heavy on birdwatching references. That's an interest I’ve never understood since it’s not a thing where I’m from. I believe people who have practiced the activity will find it nostalgic.
It also paints the curse and blessing that is living in a small town. Never enough privacy, but your neighbours are familiar enough to rely on. I’ve always lived in a city. I guess I'm too much of a "city boy" (like Jethro) to appreciate everything this book has to offer.
The Fable of Wren highlights the importance of history and record keeping. It is a love letter to those who lived before us, especially those who left a mark on our lives.
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
I'm certainly not the target for this book, but that didn't detract me from enjoying the beautiful passages.
The river is an open cut in the landscape. Like a wound that keeps flowing open, never able to heal. It feeds the trees, the brambles. In turn, they give way to wildlife.
The book is heavy on birdwatching references. That's an interest I’ve never understood since it’s not a thing where I’m from. I believe people who have practiced the activity will find it nostalgic.
It also paints the curse and blessing that is living in a small town. Never enough privacy, but your neighbours are familiar enough to rely on. I’ve always lived in a city. I guess I'm too much of a "city boy" (like Jethro) to appreciate everything this book has to offer.
The Fable of Wren highlights the importance of history and record keeping. It is a love letter to those who lived before us, especially those who left a mark on our lives.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Blood, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying, Cancer, Gun violence, Racism, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Medical trauma, and Murder