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titalindaslibrary's reviews
640 reviews
Lights Out by Navessa Allen
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
You know what?
Hell yeah đ
Probably wouldnât have enjoyed this as much if I hadnât read it on audio, but the narrators are great and I wish duo reading was the standard for audio books with multiple narrators
Hell yeah đ
Probably wouldnât have enjoyed this as much if I hadnât read it on audio, but the narrators are great and I wish duo reading was the standard for audio books with multiple narrators
Immaculate Conception by Ling Ling Huang
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Huangâs contemplative writing and horrific twists make me set down her books and feel in awe. This tale of obsession, envy, artistry, and originality is no exception.
Die Hot with a Vengeance: Essays on Vanity by Sable Yong
funny
informative
reflective
fast-paced
3.75
A Monsoon Rising by Thea Guanzon
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Sigh. This pains me to rate this one so low, but yâallâŚwe have GOT to stop romanticizing our colonizers. Understanding my Filipino history and the ongoing effects of colonialism to this day IRL (from beauty standards to corrupt governments) had me cringing reading about another Filipina falling in love with a white man (how many times is the word âpaleâ used as a romanticized descriptor? I lost count). I believe there were ways Thea could have handled this and explored the issue in a meaningful way, but by the end of book 2 I am losing hope that she will. đĽ˛
So outside of that icky aspect, I found this to be about 70% romance and dealing with our âitâs not love, itâs just attraction!â enemies-to-lovers duo. While I understand this IS a romantasy and thatâs the whole point, I found the political machinations (a key thing when thereâs a war going on???) to be left undeveloped and ultimately confusing due to how little refinement it received. Quite disappointing especially with the twist at the end that had me scratching my head and going âummmâŚokay I guess?â
Also the supposed climactic moment that we were working towards throughout the whole book was over and done with in about two chapters. And everyone was so chill about it?? Bizarre.
I loved spending more time in Ninevar and experiencing a Filipino-inspired fantasy world. The banter between Alaric and Talasyn was quite enjoyable. But outside of that, I had too many problems with the rest of the story. đ
So outside of that icky aspect, I found this to be about 70% romance and dealing with our âitâs not love, itâs just attraction!â enemies-to-lovers duo. While I understand this IS a romantasy and thatâs the whole point, I found the political machinations (a key thing when thereâs a war going on???) to be left undeveloped and ultimately confusing due to how little refinement it received. Quite disappointing especially with the twist at the end that had me scratching my head and going âummmâŚokay I guess?â
Also the supposed climactic moment that we were working towards throughout the whole book was over and done with in about two chapters. And everyone was so chill about it?? Bizarre.
I loved spending more time in Ninevar and experiencing a Filipino-inspired fantasy world. The banter between Alaric and Talasyn was quite enjoyable. But outside of that, I had too many problems with the rest of the story. đ
Evocation by S.T. Gibson
emotional
mysterious
slow-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
2.75
Ugh this is fine it was just so abhorrently boring 𼲠I didnât realize how character-driven this would be and how unattached Iâd feel to all of them.
Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao
adventurous
emotional
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
3.75
Make the Season Bright by Ashley Herring Blake
emotional
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? Yes
3.5
You know, for a romcom about privileged queers (theyâre all familiar with and often do ski trips for their holidays, okay? lol), I did quite enjoy this for a December read! Charlotteâs character especially was a soft spot for me.
The Library of the Unwritten by A.J. Hackwith
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.5
Oh this was such a creative, delightfully magical spin on a story about books! I had the best time traveling through unknown realms, Valhalla, and hellâs library!
Highly recommend if you want a diverse set of characters, a book about books, and the power of stories and the hope they contain.
Highly recommend if you want a diverse set of characters, a book about books, and the power of stories and the hope they contain.
Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
HmmmmâŚI fear I was just not in the mood for this when I picked it up. But alas, I stuck with it, and now itâs everyoneâs problem lol.
This story felt like a tropification of every romantasy book ever, and I was rolling my eyes through most of it. While it has lovely writing and an atmospheric setting, I found myself continually frustrated by Liyenâs indecisiveness and weak will while trying to maintain a brash, badass veneer. And while it was easy to guess the big twist that explains her and the God of Warâs connection, it made so much of the first half feel incredibly insta-lovey. I just never felt these charactersâ chemistry, and when the main theme of this book is the romance that makes it especially difficult to enjoy.
This story felt like a tropification of every romantasy book ever, and I was rolling my eyes through most of it. While it has lovely writing and an atmospheric setting, I found myself continually frustrated by Liyenâs indecisiveness and weak will while trying to maintain a brash, badass veneer. And while it was easy to guess the big twist that explains her and the God of Warâs connection, it made so much of the first half feel incredibly insta-lovey. I just never felt these charactersâ chemistry, and when the main theme of this book is the romance that makes it especially difficult to enjoy.
Real Americans by Rachel Khong
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I am once again feeling the heavy press of time and complicated, familial love of a multigenerational story đĽ˛