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xandra_lyn's reviews
513 reviews
Apple Mind by Katie Richards
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Poetry isn't my first language, so I had to read this twice. I would consider it more comolicated poetry than the average person usually reads, but you shouldn't let that scare you! After the first read through, I would have given it a 4.5 because of this; after the second, I gave it full stars.
After the first read through, I knew it was haunting and special. The poems center around a woman who's having marital difficulties in the midst of raising two children diagnosed with autism. The author doesn't back down from hard feelings, but there's also a tenderness woven throughout.
It wasn't until the second read through where the garden metaphors really stood out to me and cinched everything together. The garden is used to talk about the difficult dichotomies in marriage - the decay and regrowth that occur when trials come.
The threads of the poems are woven together so beautifully. This difficult topic is treated with a rawness and dignity and vulnerability that is incredible to experience. It's hopeful and tender, yet doesn't shy away from the hard stuff. It's such a beautiful and hopeful ode, and I can't wait to read more from this author!
After the first read through, I knew it was haunting and special. The poems center around a woman who's having marital difficulties in the midst of raising two children diagnosed with autism. The author doesn't back down from hard feelings, but there's also a tenderness woven throughout.
It wasn't until the second read through where the garden metaphors really stood out to me and cinched everything together. The garden is used to talk about the difficult dichotomies in marriage - the decay and regrowth that occur when trials come.
The threads of the poems are woven together so beautifully. This difficult topic is treated with a rawness and dignity and vulnerability that is incredible to experience. It's hopeful and tender, yet doesn't shy away from the hard stuff. It's such a beautiful and hopeful ode, and I can't wait to read more from this author!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing and Sexual content
Mezo: The Battle of Cobán Rock, Volume 2 by Michael Moccio
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
4.0
This was grittier than the first one. I also got the ick from the much older Vuh wanting the slave girl azeillya. And now that she's his empress, it made it that much more of an ick.
I didn't understand why Kyma completely abandoned the battle plan they had. I felt like all the characters made baffling decisions, and I'm even more upset because the third volume isn't out yet. As of Nov 2024, only the first and second issues have been published.
I didn't understand why Kyma completely abandoned the battle plan they had. I felt like all the characters made baffling decisions, and I'm even more upset because the third volume isn't out yet. As of Nov 2024, only the first and second issues have been published.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and War
Mrs. Claus and the Trouble with Turkeys by Liz Ireland
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
Such a good, light-hearted, thanksgiving story! It balances the thanksgiving theme with the plot really nicely. I love the santaland series, and this was a really great addition.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Murder
Seven Things I Wish Christians Knew about the Bible by Michael F Bird
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
This is such a great read, especially for anyone who is deconstructing but wanting to hold onto their faith. It is "evangelical" but NOT fundamentalist, which is critical to understand. I believe the author is Anglican, but I could be wrong.
The Thanksgiving Scrooge: A Good with Numbers Holiday Novella by Rose Bak
Did not finish book. Stopped at 43%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 43%.
This was an enemies to lovers trope, which I hate. If I'd known going in, I wouldn't have picked it up. That being said, i have read enemies to lovers before, and none of them have been as awful as this.
Lana explicitly says she thinks Ian is arrogant and wants to punch him every time she sees him. She's attracted to him, but actively avoids him because she thinks he's a jerk. But Ian forces her into a kiss twice and then shows up early in the morning at her house. I stopped reading at that point, but throughout the book, she epeatedly tells him verbally and non-verbally (i.e. ignoring him) that she doesn't want to be around him.
I just found it so offensive that a woman repeatedly says and implies no, but the man forces it, and it's billed as a "romance." That's not romance, it's assault.
Lana explicitly says she thinks Ian is arrogant and wants to punch him every time she sees him. She's attracted to him, but actively avoids him because she thinks he's a jerk. But Ian forces her into a kiss twice and then shows up early in the morning at her house. I stopped reading at that point, but throughout the book, she epeatedly tells him verbally and non-verbally (i.e. ignoring him) that she doesn't want to be around him.
I just found it so offensive that a woman repeatedly says and implies no, but the man forces it, and it's billed as a "romance." That's not romance, it's assault.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Fakesgiving by Kat Baxter
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Cute, sexy story for thanksgiving. A little too many f words causally thrown in for my taste. And the wrap up with her sister was kind of odd - she was portrayed as a real b****, but then the author tried to turn it around, but it just made it kinda confusing
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Multiversus: Collision Detected #5 by Bryan Q. Miller
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Multiversus: Collision Detected #4 by Bryan Q. Miller
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Multiversus: Collision Detected #3 by Bryan Q. Miller
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Good, but slightly confusing at first on why they were in the middle of a fight at the beginning (at the end of 2, the fight had not begun)
The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
4.5
I loved this book!!! As others users have said, the pacing is off, being much faster paced in the second half. But the first half was full of magical whimsy and it was just so lovely.
Kiela was sometimes socially awkward and cringy, but overall was a good MC. I LOVED Larran - he was so perfect. And I loved all the side characters too!
The ending seemed a little strange. I'm not sure if it was too abrupt or if maybe the author didn't know how to wrap it up. Maybe I thought kiela was just a little too awkward when Larran asked her to marry him. She literally said "I don't want to leave my house, and you need to be near yours because of the merhorses." Larran said they could stay at whosever house, and she ended up saying yes, but it was just so weird. It really threw off the vibe.
But all in all, it was such a lovely, beautiful book from start to finish.
Kiela was sometimes socially awkward and cringy, but overall was a good MC. I LOVED Larran - he was so perfect. And I loved all the side characters too!
The ending seemed a little strange. I'm not sure if it was too abrupt or if maybe the author didn't know how to wrap it up. Maybe I thought kiela was just a little too awkward
But all in all, it was such a lovely, beautiful book from start to finish.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse and Torture
Torture: different punishments for doing magic were discussed by the characters