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yellowbinge's reviews
272 reviews
World-Changing Women: 150 Women Who Rewrote the Histories of Ancient Egypt, Israel, Greece and Rome by Paul Chrystal
informative
medium-paced
2.0
Publishing date: 30.11.2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Pen & Sword for the ARC. My opinions are my own.
I wanted to read more nonfiction this year. Started off by learning a bit about women, but I think this was the wrong book to start with. Here are some off my problems:
- World changing is a very strong word to use, especially when most (if not all) the women in the book had extraordinary roles but could do next to nothing to actually change anything
- The entries feel like a wikipedia entry, and other reviews have mentioned that the contents seem to be rewrites of existing articles
- I wish the women were more connected, or that the author attempted to draw more lines between them instead of just "these women were from the same place/time"
- Even more diversity, more countries, more eons/centuries, would really add more flavour. I understand that a lot of well know women were from the places and times in the book, but diversity often adds that oomph
Even with these problems in mind, I did to some degree enjoy my time with the book. I learnt about women I didn't know existed, and about some roles I wouldn't think could be occupied by women at their times. Some information was gained, but my hunger was not sated.
An okay introduction into influential women, but for those who have a deeper hunger for info, this isn't the one to reach out for.
2 stars, okay read but left me wanting more.
TLDR: Easily "googleable" info and the women weren't that world-changing after all
Thank you to NetGalley and Pen & Sword for the ARC. My opinions are my own.
I wanted to read more nonfiction this year. Started off by learning a bit about women, but I think this was the wrong book to start with. Here are some off my problems:
- World changing is a very strong word to use, especially when most (if not all) the women in the book had extraordinary roles but could do next to nothing to actually change anything
- The entries feel like a wikipedia entry, and other reviews have mentioned that the contents seem to be rewrites of existing articles
- I wish the women were more connected, or that the author attempted to draw more lines between them instead of just "these women were from the same place/time"
- Even more diversity, more countries, more eons/centuries, would really add more flavour. I understand that a lot of well know women were from the places and times in the book, but diversity often adds that oomph
Even with these problems in mind, I did to some degree enjoy my time with the book. I learnt about women I didn't know existed, and about some roles I wouldn't think could be occupied by women at their times. Some information was gained, but my hunger was not sated.
An okay introduction into influential women, but for those who have a deeper hunger for info, this isn't the one to reach out for.
2 stars, okay read but left me wanting more.
TLDR: Easily "googleable" info and the women weren't that world-changing after all
Steps by Sam A.D.
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
2.0
Publishing date: 15.10.2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Atmosphere Press for the ARC. My opinions are my own.
I found Steps to have a very creative concept. I have always been fascinated with "knowing when you die" in literature and media. And this is another entry into that scene.
Sadly, I found this to be a little poorly executed. The story dragged on a little long. The plot itself wasn't that interesting and the stakes didn't seem to matter that much.
I wanted to see more of the world, from different places of the world instead of just this one small town. How much the lives of people had changed, what they had to sacrifice, what the government did about it.
Yes, we saw some of these themes explored. But not enough. I wanted more insight, more world building.
Another little nitpick ... Some of the humor seems so juvenile and "edgy". Lots of references to adult themes, and toilet humor. It seemed a little out of place.
2 stars, I expected more. This isn't necessarily a bad book. Just one that could have been better with a little more details and a little less back and forth.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atmosphere Press for the ARC. My opinions are my own.
I found Steps to have a very creative concept. I have always been fascinated with "knowing when you die" in literature and media. And this is another entry into that scene.
Sadly, I found this to be a little poorly executed. The story dragged on a little long. The plot itself wasn't that interesting and the stakes didn't seem to matter that much.
I wanted to see more of the world, from different places of the world instead of just this one small town. How much the lives of people had changed, what they had to sacrifice, what the government did about it.
Yes, we saw some of these themes explored. But not enough. I wanted more insight, more world building.
Another little nitpick ... Some of the humor seems so juvenile and "edgy". Lots of references to adult themes, and toilet humor. It seemed a little out of place.
2 stars, I expected more. This isn't necessarily a bad book. Just one that could have been better with a little more details and a little less back and forth.
Errant roots by Sonora Taylor
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Publishing date: 15.10.2024
Thank you to NetGalley and RDS Publishing for the ARC. My opinions are my own.
RDS strikes again with the continuation of this wonderful series. I am once again very pleased with what I read and looking forward to continuing with book 7 when it comes out.
Errant Roots goes into the "slasher" category for me. No proper jumpscares, not that much "horror". More raw violence. The plot itself is very tense. The moment the main character got to the house was when I started feeling something was wrong. Boy did it go wrong too.
There is also a very strong focus on family trauma and cult-like behaviours. If this is a sore theme for you I would recommend skipping this one.
My only complaint is that the deaths didn't seem to matter that much. A little more internal monologue or the characters taking the loss of life more seriously would be nice. I know, circumstance, but even then I would like a little more reflection.
All in all, a very good book. I found it entertaining, tense, and a great continuation of the series. Will be looking out for book 7. 4 stars!
TLDR: A short slasher with family trauma and cult behaviour.
Thank you to NetGalley and RDS Publishing for the ARC. My opinions are my own.
RDS strikes again with the continuation of this wonderful series. I am once again very pleased with what I read and looking forward to continuing with book 7 when it comes out.
Errant Roots goes into the "slasher" category for me. No proper jumpscares, not that much "horror". More raw violence. The plot itself is very tense. The moment the main character got to the house was when I started feeling something was wrong. Boy did it go wrong too.
There is also a very strong focus on family trauma and cult-like behaviours. If this is a sore theme for you I would recommend skipping this one.
My only complaint is that the deaths didn't seem to matter that much. A little more internal monologue or the characters taking the loss of life more seriously would be nice. I know, circumstance, but even then I would like a little more reflection.
All in all, a very good book. I found it entertaining, tense, and a great continuation of the series. Will be looking out for book 7. 4 stars!
TLDR: A short slasher with family trauma and cult behaviour.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cursing
The Crack at the Heart of Everything by Fiona Fenn
adventurous
emotional
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
4.5
Publishing date: 12.11.2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Tiny Fox press for the ARC. My opinions are my own.
This is a great debut novel. So much depth. Great worldbuilding. And the vibes. The vibes are splendid. This felt like a blend of heavy metal imagery with a splash of apocalypse and steampunk. I for sure have not read something like this before.
Let's talk about the important stuff: romance. The romance had a presence like 20% in, and got all the spotlight for the final 50%. It was really sweet, no spice. I wish they had a slower burn and a little less miscommunication. I think I whispered "JUST SAY IT" at least 5 or 6 times while reading. Because, if someone just said what they were gonna say there would be no conflict. Although ...
Our main character is so conflicted. Like, this man does not know what is happening, how to solve anything, or what to do about the people around him. Surprisingly enough, it wasn't annoying like it usually is for me when the MC is clueless. He has his reasons, and gets amazing growth. You do need to read a lot of pages of "damsel in distress" before that.
The overall plot? Pretty good. Had a nice little twist I had suspicions about, but it caught me slightly off-guard anyways. And the way we learn more about the world and how things work together with our clueless character? MUAH. Absolutely terrific.
Final ranking and star rating?
4.5 stars, A tier. This is a great debut novel. I can't give it the full 5 stars as the romance aspect took up a little too much of the plot for me, but for the romantasy (strong emphasis on the ROM) peeps this might land a lot better. I do recommend it regardless. Stunning debut.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tiny Fox press for the ARC. My opinions are my own.
This is a great debut novel. So much depth. Great worldbuilding. And the vibes. The vibes are splendid. This felt like a blend of heavy metal imagery with a splash of apocalypse and steampunk. I for sure have not read something like this before.
Let's talk about the important stuff: romance. The romance had a presence like 20% in, and got all the spotlight for the final 50%. It was really sweet, no spice. I wish they had a slower burn and a little less miscommunication. I think I whispered "JUST SAY IT" at least 5 or 6 times while reading. Because, if someone just said what they were gonna say there would be no conflict. Although ...
Our main character is so conflicted. Like, this man does not know what is happening, how to solve anything, or what to do about the people around him. Surprisingly enough, it wasn't annoying like it usually is for me when the MC is clueless. He has his reasons, and gets amazing growth. You do need to read a lot of pages of "damsel in distress" before that.
The overall plot? Pretty good. Had a nice little twist I had suspicions about, but it caught me slightly off-guard anyways. And the way we learn more about the world and how things work together with our clueless character? MUAH. Absolutely terrific.
Final ranking and star rating?
4.5 stars, A tier. This is a great debut novel. I can't give it the full 5 stars as the romance aspect took up a little too much of the plot for me, but for the romantasy (strong emphasis on the ROM) peeps this might land a lot better. I do recommend it regardless. Stunning debut.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Child abuse, Violence, and War
Minor: Confinement and Abandonment
The Secret Lives of Candy Hearts by Tommy Siegel
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
5.0
Publishing date: 07.01.2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the ARC. My opinions are my own.
I love this genre of comics. This one was so relatable and so funny. Blasted through in a single sitting and kept sending my husband screenshots and saying "seems familiar?".
Apparently there is another one of these with the candy hearts, and I desperately need it. I also need this one physically on my coffee table.
Final ranking and star rating?
5 stars, S tier. So funny and relatable. I loved this one. Highly recommend it to everyone.
Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the ARC. My opinions are my own.
I love this genre of comics. This one was so relatable and so funny. Blasted through in a single sitting and kept sending my husband screenshots and saying "seems familiar?".
Apparently there is another one of these with the candy hearts, and I desperately need it. I also need this one physically on my coffee table.
Final ranking and star rating?
5 stars, S tier. So funny and relatable. I loved this one. Highly recommend it to everyone.
Whish: Poems by Jackie Craven
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
Publishing date: 13.04.2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Press 53 for the ARC. My opinions are my own.
Fascinating. That's what I am left with after reading this. Oh, and also some emotions I am not sure how to process. This collection seems to have a few things going on for it:
The personification of time, especially specific timestamps (02:00, 07:30, etc.)
A running story about death and moving on
How time runs away from us
I think this collection might be a little rough for someone processing a recent death or in the process of end-of-life care for a loved one. Just be wary before reading this.
Favorite poems:
ON EVERY DESK, PAPERS TUMBLE IN PILES
DOESN'T LOVE HAVE AN EXPIRATION DATE?
I'M LEARNING TO BAKE CURSES
I ESCAPE TO CAPTIVA ISLAND
JUST FOR ONCE, I WANT TO WITNESS THE GOING AWAY
Final ranking and star rating?
4 stars, A tier. Stunning collection. I loved every minute of it. Now I need to process my emotions a little. Highly recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley and Press 53 for the ARC. My opinions are my own.
Fascinating. That's what I am left with after reading this. Oh, and also some emotions I am not sure how to process. This collection seems to have a few things going on for it:
The personification of time, especially specific timestamps (02:00, 07:30, etc.)
A running story about death and moving on
How time runs away from us
I think this collection might be a little rough for someone processing a recent death or in the process of end-of-life care for a loved one. Just be wary before reading this.
Favorite poems:
ON EVERY DESK, PAPERS TUMBLE IN PILES
DOESN'T LOVE HAVE AN EXPIRATION DATE?
I'M LEARNING TO BAKE CURSES
I ESCAPE TO CAPTIVA ISLAND
JUST FOR ONCE, I WANT TO WITNESS THE GOING AWAY
Final ranking and star rating?
4 stars, A tier. Stunning collection. I loved every minute of it. Now I need to process my emotions a little. Highly recommend.
Confession by Nobuyuki Fukumoto, Kaiji Kawaguchi
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Publishing date: 17.12.2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the ARC. My opinions are my own.
Have you ever regretted telling a secret to someone? Probably, but not as much as these people ... To think this much tension can be created from a little confession. Of course, circumstances.
I don't think I have read such a tense manga before. Most of them lack tension, but have plenty of "ew", or all the tension is wrapped up the moment it is brought to life. Here it begins early and holds you at gunpoint all the way to the end.
The story itself doesn't span that much time, but it feels longer because the chapters creep slowly. It is a very very slow story. And you get a lot of monologues. Hope you like reading people's thoughts.
Final ranking and star rating?
4.25 stars, A tier. Fantastic manga. Typical manga artstyle, cool little plot. Will absolutely recommend it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the ARC. My opinions are my own.
Have you ever regretted telling a secret to someone? Probably, but not as much as these people ... To think this much tension can be created from a little confession. Of course, circumstances.
I don't think I have read such a tense manga before. Most of them lack tension, but have plenty of "ew", or all the tension is wrapped up the moment it is brought to life. Here it begins early and holds you at gunpoint all the way to the end.
The story itself doesn't span that much time, but it feels longer because the chapters creep slowly. It is a very very slow story. And you get a lot of monologues. Hope you like reading people's thoughts.
Final ranking and star rating?
4.25 stars, A tier. Fantastic manga. Typical manga artstyle, cool little plot. Will absolutely recommend it.
Fifty Shades of Gorgosaur by Lola Faust
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Publishing date: 02.12.2024
Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the ARC. My opinions are my own.
I have a term for books like this. "Fast-food literature". It is when you know it will not be anything mind blowing, life changing, or something you dare recommend to others. Even keeping a copy on your shelves is risky in this case. But these kinds of books have their place.
I like a little "fast-food" book every now and again. Is it only 3 stars? Yes. Did I enjoy it greatly? Oh, yes. Is this basically just a Mary-Sue fantasy filled with "corn"? Yeah ...
This is a nasty, weird, Mary-Sue, too many variants of the same word, fanfiction level writing, type of book. I adore it for all of its aspects.
If you are a weirdo like me and can appreciate this for what it is, read it. You will cringe and not believe a single thing happening, but you will enjoy yourself.
Final ranking and star rating?
3 stars, C tier. Such a creative book. I would love to pry into the author's mind ... Recommended to weirdos, not recommended to normies. Until now I had not read any Lola Faust books, but I am definitely finding the rest.
Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the ARC. My opinions are my own.
I have a term for books like this. "Fast-food literature". It is when you know it will not be anything mind blowing, life changing, or something you dare recommend to others. Even keeping a copy on your shelves is risky in this case. But these kinds of books have their place.
I like a little "fast-food" book every now and again. Is it only 3 stars? Yes. Did I enjoy it greatly? Oh, yes. Is this basically just a Mary-Sue fantasy filled with "corn"? Yeah ...
This is a nasty, weird, Mary-Sue, too many variants of the same word, fanfiction level writing, type of book. I adore it for all of its aspects.
If you are a weirdo like me and can appreciate this for what it is, read it. You will cringe and not believe a single thing happening, but you will enjoy yourself.
Final ranking and star rating?
3 stars, C tier. Such a creative book. I would love to pry into the author's mind ... Recommended to weirdos, not recommended to normies. Until now I had not read any Lola Faust books, but I am definitely finding the rest.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
I Have Wrestled With The Way Clouds Weep by Judy Nahum
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
3.0
Publishing date: 13.12.2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Querencia Press for the ARC. My opinions are my own.
Short collections like these are great breaks between longer books, which I have been trapped in for a while now. But this collection wasn't the strongest cleanser. Not sure if it was a lack of strong themes, the writing not calling to me, or simply me being in a reading slump.
The contents surround nature, disease, grief, and survival
Final ranking and star rating?
3 stars, C tier. This falls on a middle ground. I enjoyed my time with it and can appreciate the writing and contents, but I haven't really thought about it since and didn't find any favorites among the poems. This might land better with others.
Thank you to NetGalley and Querencia Press for the ARC. My opinions are my own.
Short collections like these are great breaks between longer books, which I have been trapped in for a while now. But this collection wasn't the strongest cleanser. Not sure if it was a lack of strong themes, the writing not calling to me, or simply me being in a reading slump.
The contents surround nature, disease, grief, and survival
Final ranking and star rating?
3 stars, C tier. This falls on a middle ground. I enjoyed my time with it and can appreciate the writing and contents, but I haven't really thought about it since and didn't find any favorites among the poems. This might land better with others.
Girls by Annet Schaap
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
Publishing date: 04.03.2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Pushkin Press for the ARC. My opinions are my own.
This is a wonderful collection of girls finding out that life isn't a fairy tale. Every story is femme-centered and most have semi-feminist themes. I am a little reluctant to call them feminist as the story is usually: Here is a fairy tale setting, oh guess life isn't that fantastical, at least I am alive. A lot of the stories have open endings. Like it doesn't feel like an ending, or resolved per say, more like the start of something different.
Every story has a few illustrations to go along with them. These are so nice and add a lot of flavor. Sometimes the illustration appeared in the middle of a sentence and I had to read a little back and forth to remember what I was actually reading. This is a miniscule nitpick.
All in all, sweet, short, and exactly what I was looking for. My personal favorites were: Rumplestilskin, the Frog one, and the Cookies story.
Final ranking and star rating?
5 stars, S tier. Once again I prove to myself that retellings are my jam. I adored these stories and munched up at least one a day. Perfect to cleanse my palate and recharge for more books for 2025.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pushkin Press for the ARC. My opinions are my own.
This is a wonderful collection of girls finding out that life isn't a fairy tale. Every story is femme-centered and most have semi-feminist themes. I am a little reluctant to call them feminist as the story is usually: Here is a fairy tale setting, oh guess life isn't that fantastical, at least I am alive. A lot of the stories have open endings. Like it doesn't feel like an ending, or resolved per say, more like the start of something different.
Every story has a few illustrations to go along with them. These are so nice and add a lot of flavor. Sometimes the illustration appeared in the middle of a sentence and I had to read a little back and forth to remember what I was actually reading. This is a miniscule nitpick.
All in all, sweet, short, and exactly what I was looking for. My personal favorites were: Rumplestilskin, the Frog one, and the Cookies story.
Final ranking and star rating?
5 stars, S tier. Once again I prove to myself that retellings are my jam. I adored these stories and munched up at least one a day. Perfect to cleanse my palate and recharge for more books for 2025.