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woolgathering_jane's reviews
168 reviews
Beladona by Adalyn Grace
I'm not really sure what to think about this one. I really liked the idea and the plot overall, but something just didn't feel right about it. Maybe the author needed to write a bit more before writing this one, it had a very debut vibe (which is a bit confusing, since it's not the author's debut?). Signa wasn't the brightest heroine and at times, it was a bit boring to have to wait for her to figure everything out. The ending and some of the scenes were fun, but I could tell they were written just to be fun, if that makes sense.Also it very much felt like Death was just toying with her all the time, holding all the cards and power. It was obvious to me that when the author wanted to move the plot along, Death showed up and told Signa what she needed to know/gave an order. It almost left me wondering why is Signa the main character, when Death could solve the whole plot in about two pages. And I'm really not sure how to feel about Signa woohooing with literal Death, but good for her, I guess?
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
“If you think it a work of art, then wear it and become the art yourself.”
I'm not really sure what to think about this one. I really liked the idea and the plot overall, but something just didn't feel right about it. Maybe the author needed to write a bit more before writing this one, it had a very debut vibe (which is a bit confusing, since it's not the author's debut?). Signa wasn't the brightest heroine and at times, it was a bit boring to have to wait for her to figure everything out. The ending and some of the scenes were fun, but I could tell they were written just to be fun, if that makes sense.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Terminal illness, and Death of parent
Moderate: Confinement, Grief, Murder, and Abandonment
Minor: Pedophilia
Legendy a latéčka by Travis Baldree
What an adorable little story. It's comforting, funny, heart-warming, relaxing,and it's oddly satisfying watching Viv build up the café. It was so easy to read and I was entertained the whole time, even if I did guess the main message of the book pretty early on. But the romance caught me completely off guard, I loved it!!
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
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
5.0
“WHAT FLAMES COULD NOT CONSUME,
NEVER SHALL BE EXTINGUISHED”
What an adorable little story. It's comforting, funny, heart-warming, relaxing,
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Farma zvířat by George Orwell
dark
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”
A true work of genius. This is a story about how a totalitarian regime forms, in the simplest, purest form. And it is in the simplicity that the power of this story lies, I think. Because anyone, regardless of historical or geographical context, can read this story and see many world leaders behave just as the pigs do. It's easy to read, easy to understand and easy to see in the real world. And it's accurate. This is such an important story, I think everyone should read it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Minor: Alcoholism
Dobytí severního pólu Čechem Karlem Němcem 5. dubna 1909 by Jára Cimrman, Ladislav Smoljak, Zdeněk Svěrák
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
No notes, definitely a Czech modern classic. I'm so happy that this play is a part of my culture
Ithaca by Claire North
What a masterpiece of a book, wow. The prose was excellent, it reminded me of the Bridgerton narrator, but like hundred times better. It's witty, engaging and easy to read. The story was unfolding at a slower, but nevertheless enjoyable pace, and I loved how the narrator didn't tell us everything, how we were invited to think about the story and its characters and come to our own conclusions about some things. I adored the wide cast of woman characters, who were all masterfully written - complex, sometimes unlikeable and messy, driven, and so real. The only issue I had that there - ironically - too many male characters for me to keep track of, I kept forgetting who was who, lol. It also felt like just a glimpse into the lives of the gods and the mortals alike, like there is so much more to come - you can imagine my delight when I found out that this is the start of a series.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
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
5.0
„Love is for fools and children.“
„And yet we live, Leaneira. We live.“
What a masterpiece of a book, wow. The prose was excellent, it reminded me of the Bridgerton narrator, but like hundred times better. It's witty, engaging and easy to read. The story was unfolding at a slower, but nevertheless enjoyable pace, and I loved how the narrator didn't tell us everything, how we were invited to think about the story and its characters and come to our own conclusions about some things. I adored the wide cast of woman characters, who were all masterfully written - complex, sometimes unlikeable and messy, driven, and so real. The only issue I had that there - ironically - too many male characters for me to keep track of, I kept forgetting who was who, lol. It also felt like just a glimpse into the lives of the gods and the mortals alike, like there is so much more to come - you can imagine my delight when I found out that this is the start of a series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Death, Incest, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Grief, Murder, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Racism, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Vladař by Niccolò Machiavelli
informative
reflective
4.0
A fascinating read that is still relevant today, I think, and it wasn't even as diabolical as I thought it would be, yay?
Válka s Mloky by Karel Čapek
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
A biting satire that is just as terrifying and relevant as the year it was published. Circumstances change all the time, the fatal flaws of humanity, though, do not (don't think about this book for too long if you want to avoid a lot of hopeless crying :')
Emily zdolává překážky by L.M. Montgomery
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
The Mossheart's Promise by Rebecca Mix
Equal parts enchanting and terrifying read. The author somehow managed to write a very comforting, funny, charming story, that often gave me chills with it's commentary and metaphors. While I was fully immersed in Ary's adventures, sometimes I had to close the book and take a break - the metaphor for global warming was only thinly veiled and sometimes simply too depressing for me to read. At the same time tho, there is a strange stubborn hopefulness weaved throughout the whole story that I found really comforting.
Overall, a masterfully written story that somehow manages to simultaneously make you sad and comforts you.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
fast-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
„Or maybe that was how a world died - not in a massive, dramatic moment, but quietly, softly, fading out like a light, so that once people realized it was gone, it was too late.“
Equal parts enchanting and terrifying read. The author somehow managed to write a very comforting, funny, charming story, that often gave me chills with it's commentary and metaphors. While I was fully immersed in Ary's adventures, sometimes I had to close the book and take a break - the metaphor for global warming was only thinly veiled and sometimes simply too depressing for me to read. At the same time tho, there is a strange stubborn hopefulness weaved throughout the whole story that I found really comforting.
Overall, a masterfully written story that somehow manages to simultaneously make you sad and comforts you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Terminal illness and Violence