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allioth's reviews
38 reviews
Tres cuentos magistrales by Juan Bosch
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
La mujer - 3.5 ⭐⭐⭐
Los amos - 2.75 ⭐⭐
La Nochebuena de Encarnación Mendoza - 4.25 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Los amos - 2.75 ⭐⭐
La Nochebuena de Encarnación Mendoza - 4.25 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Police brutality, and Injury/Injury detail
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
There are 2 kinds of people when it comes to their opinion of this book:
1 – Loves Holden, loves this book, relates to the protagonist's struggles, and if a teenager, there's a high chance they think all people are liars and hypocrites except them.
2 – Hates Holden, hates this book, doesn't understand its purpose, and hates the teenagers that think all people are liars and hypocrites except them.
I'm neither (I know, how un-phony of me).
I don't love Holden or this book, but I don't hate them either. I like the way Salinger portrays the fear of growing up and this idealistic memory of childhood, showcased through Phoebe. Holden's love of her is not only that of a big brother to his little sister, but also to the innocence he thinks is distinctive of a kid, even when Phoebe shatters that idea. She understands Holden's depression, she knows he seldom enjoys things, and she wants to escape with him not because she needs him, but because he needs her.
Another aspect I really liked was Jane Gallagher. She's never shown aside from what we hear from Stradlater, who only sees her through the lens of classic juvenile lust, and Holden, who sees her through the lens of classic childhood love, impossible of wrong and, more importantly, change, that he's afraid to face if he calls her and sees that he probably didn't know her as well as he thought he did.
Other themes such as grief, PTSD, and loneliness are also well written and probably relatable to many. That's why I'm afraid to say that I can't possibly give this book more than its current rating...
It served its purpose; it's a story that opens the doors for others. (For example, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, which, surprise! I also thought was meh.) But I didn't connect with Holden, even when I'm just the right age, and that feels essential for even remotely caring about anything that happens in this story (which isn't a lot, to be honest).
I feel like the only reason it's this popular is because of the author's way of writing teen angst in such a realistic manner (or at least at the time—I can see why currently the way the protagonist talks can be quite annoying).
I appreciate the book's contribution, I understand why Salinger is seen as a "genius," and it is certainly a fairly easy-to-read classic. However, aside from that, I feel like it carries a not-so-deep or thought-provoking message about growing up that more young readers or adults who also had their rebellious-I-hate-everything phase might appreciate more.
Maybe I just don't get it.
I like Phoebe though, she's cool.
1 – Loves Holden, loves this book, relates to the protagonist's struggles, and if a teenager, there's a high chance they think all people are liars and hypocrites except them.
2 – Hates Holden, hates this book, doesn't understand its purpose, and hates the teenagers that think all people are liars and hypocrites except them.
I'm neither (I know, how un-phony of me).
I don't love Holden or this book, but I don't hate them either. I like the way Salinger portrays the fear of growing up and this idealistic memory of childhood, showcased through Phoebe. Holden's love of her is not only that of a big brother to his little sister, but also to the innocence he thinks is distinctive of a kid, even when Phoebe shatters that idea. She understands Holden's depression, she knows he seldom enjoys things, and she wants to escape with him not because she needs him, but because he needs her.
Another aspect I really liked was Jane Gallagher. She's never shown aside from what we hear from Stradlater, who only sees her through the lens of classic juvenile lust, and Holden, who sees her through the lens of classic childhood love, impossible of wrong and, more importantly, change, that he's afraid to face if he calls her and sees that he probably didn't know her as well as he thought he did.
Other themes such as grief, PTSD, and loneliness are also well written and probably relatable to many. That's why I'm afraid to say that I can't possibly give this book more than its current rating...
It served its purpose; it's a story that opens the doors for others. (For example, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, which, surprise! I also thought was meh.) But I didn't connect with Holden, even when I'm just the right age, and that feels essential for even remotely caring about anything that happens in this story (which isn't a lot, to be honest).
I feel like the only reason it's this popular is because of the author's way of writing teen angst in such a realistic manner (or at least at the time—I can see why currently the way the protagonist talks can be quite annoying).
I appreciate the book's contribution, I understand why Salinger is seen as a "genius," and it is certainly a fairly easy-to-read classic. However, aside from that, I feel like it carries a not-so-deep or thought-provoking message about growing up that more young readers or adults who also had their rebellious-I-hate-everything phase might appreciate more.
Maybe I just don't get it.
I like Phoebe though, she's cool.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Grief
Not My Problem by Ciara Smyth
This was such a fun and emotional book that I wish I liked more. The story is a very common one executed in a unique manner; a girl who can't solve her own problems distracts herself by solving everyone else's.
The characters are really likable (minus Holly—she was such an annoying hypocrite, every time she appeared, I prayed Meabh would kill her right there and then), and they go through a lot of relatable stuff like bullying, alcoholic parents, toxic friendships... you get the gist.
I don't think the author does a bad job portraying this or anything of the sort; it’s just the conclusion that is lacking. Only 1/4 of the issues the characters go through are resolved in a satisfying manner (and that is being generous), and the rest are shoved down your throat in the last 15 pages or directly not shown at all.
The romance was cute, I guess. It doesn't play that big of a part, so I suppose I'll refrain from saying it was undercooked. It feels very teenagerish; maybe that's why they got together in like a month, tops, of being actual friends.
I care a lot about good endings (and well-developed romance), so realistically, I should be harsher, but I love Kavi. This book was funny in a juvenile way without being cringey, and Kristen Stewart was mentioned—that's enough for me.
100% recommended if you are a lesbian overachiever or a lesbian underachiever; otherwise, maybe skip this one.
3.25
There’s lots of ways to help people. There’s lots of people to help. Why this? Why do you want to fix their problems?”
I didn’t know what to say to that, so I said the only thing that came to mind.
“Because I can fix their problems.”
This was such a fun and emotional book that I wish I liked more. The story is a very common one executed in a unique manner; a girl who can't solve her own problems distracts herself by solving everyone else's.
The characters are really likable (minus Holly—she was such an annoying hypocrite, every time she appeared, I prayed Meabh would kill her right there and then), and they go through a lot of relatable stuff like bullying, alcoholic parents, toxic friendships... you get the gist.
I don't think the author does a bad job portraying this or anything of the sort; it’s just the conclusion that is lacking. Only 1/4 of the issues the characters go through are resolved in a satisfying manner (and that is being generous), and the rest are shoved down your throat in the last 15 pages or directly not shown at all.
The romance was cute, I guess. It doesn't play that big of a part, so I suppose I'll refrain from saying it was undercooked. It feels very teenagerish; maybe that's why they got together in like a month, tops, of being actual friends.
I care a lot about good endings (and well-developed romance), so realistically, I should be harsher, but I love Kavi. This book was funny in a juvenile way without being cringey, and Kristen Stewart was mentioned—that's enough for me.
100% recommended if you are a lesbian overachiever or a lesbian underachiever; otherwise, maybe skip this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
The Potionmaster: A Fantasy Novel by Kenny Gould
I don't know if it's because I've been reading lots of, to put it simply, trash lately, but *The Potionmaster* feels like a refreshing glass of water on a sunny day.
(Can't think of a better metaphor right now, don't judge me...)
It has fairly simple world-building, and the author knows exactly how and when to explain things that may be confusing to the reader, without ever doubting their intelligence. It's certainly refreshing in a world where infodumping and zero-nuance novels feel like the norm.
The characters are also well thought, distinct from each other, and their motivations are clear. I especially liked how the way they approached the challenge—creating a potion that symbolizes the greatest good—speaks a lot about who they are as people. (What I didn't like was how quickly they forgot about the challenge itself, but due to the events that transpired, I guess it should be expected.)
But among the good, there's also the bad. I wish the protagonists' relationships with one another were more fleshed out. Considering the incredible amount of potential due to their clashing personalities, it strikes me as odd that their interactions felt very short and superficial, and the evolution of these relationships was too fast (Isla and Waldo, for example, had like three encounters?? Even when Isla thought he saved her life, lol).
But aside from that, the book is amazingly great. It's one of the few novels I've read that manages its time properly. It makes you want the sequel not because it didn't have time to develop, but because the world presented by Gould is just that interesting.
Fun, creative, and a must-read if you like urban fantasy. Can't wait for part two!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, Spiderhead press for this ARC in exchange of an honest review!
adventurous
challenging
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0
I don't know if it's because I've been reading lots of, to put it simply, trash lately, but *The Potionmaster* feels like a refreshing glass of water on a sunny day.
(Can't think of a better metaphor right now, don't judge me...)
It has fairly simple world-building, and the author knows exactly how and when to explain things that may be confusing to the reader, without ever doubting their intelligence. It's certainly refreshing in a world where infodumping and zero-nuance novels feel like the norm.
The characters are also well thought, distinct from each other, and their motivations are clear. I especially liked how the way they approached the challenge—creating a potion that symbolizes the greatest good—speaks a lot about who they are as people. (What I didn't like was how quickly they forgot about the challenge itself, but due to the events that transpired, I guess it should be expected.)
But among the good, there's also the bad. I wish the protagonists' relationships with one another were more fleshed out. Considering the incredible amount of potential due to their clashing personalities, it strikes me as odd that their interactions felt very short and superficial, and the evolution of these relationships was too fast (Isla and Waldo, for example, had like three encounters?? Even when Isla thought he saved her life, lol).
But aside from that, the book is amazingly great. It's one of the few novels I've read that manages its time properly. It makes you want the sequel not because it didn't have time to develop, but because the world presented by Gould is just that interesting.
Fun, creative, and a must-read if you like urban fantasy. Can't wait for part two!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, Spiderhead press for this ARC in exchange of an honest review!
Stone Sword by Diana T. Hunter
˗ˏˋ꒰⭐⭐.5 ꒱
If the words “nothing burger” had a picture to come with its definition, that picture would be of this book.
I don't know how to feel about this book. Whether that's good or bad, I also don't know.
I'll try to organize my thoughts as coherently as possible, but don't expect too much from me lol.
If you don't read a lot of fantasy and want a story set in a medieval Europe-ish country with a chosen one protagonist, then this book is for you.
I don't think it does anything exceptionally bad, but also nothing exceptionally good either.
I couldn't bring myself to care for literally any of the characters (except Sashe, who is a cat, so it is to be expected). Bea, the MC, has depth to her; she's torn apart in her loyalties, she wants to please her family but also doesn't think the monarchy is as bad as it seems. However, she's so incredibly dumb that the only reason she has not been killed yet is thanks to the power of the script. She's also very rude toward the royalty, which you'd think would have real consequences for her actions, but naaaah, some talking here and there and everything's forgotten!
Prince Oscar, on the other hand, is good—great even. He's not a good person by any means, but he's also not as terrible as the first impression might suggest. He wants to learn and be better; he's reckless and stupid and suffers the ramifications of his actions. I found him so much more enjoyable than Bea, even at his worst.
The other characters are meh; I can't even bring myself to hate the ones I'm supposed to hate.
The romance isn't any different. I couldn't believe for a second any sort of relationship that the book wanted to sell to me. I don't think I need to say that the "betrayals" and "plot twists" felt as empty and boring as they seemed, for anyone who has read more than two fantasy books in their lifetime.
Aaaand the plot...
I am really trying hard to think of something interesting to say about it without resorting to the cheap "here's a copy and paste of the blurb written on the back of the book that I am intending to pass off as my own original thoughts" technique.
It's boring, that's how I would describe it. I don't think there's anything wrong with using an overused series of clichés or plotlines, as long as you bring something new to the table.
This book didn't do that.
It was a cut-and-dry story about a (very bad) spy trying to overthrow the government, with a love triangle involved and plain-as-hell characters. The most interesting part, Bea's connection to Sashe, is so secondary that it is almost infuriating, and that's the most emotion I've ever felt reading this.
I'll still read the second book, Flare Bound, because I think Ronan has potential, even when he's predictable and boring as gods know what.
I have a lot of nitpicks though (like how Bea technically dated her stepbrother, or how her mother married her father's murderer and she doesn't think a lot of it until it's required by the story, or how Bea's brother is mentioned so little that I forgot he even existed when he is supposed to be important?? ) that I honestly think could've been solved with a little more world-building and time with the Egals. I would say that's one of the problems of book series, but it really isn't, as more books should give you more time to introduce the world you built in the first book. But oh well...
An overall meh if there's ever been one. Maybe I would've given this 3 stars if I didn't know better about the genre.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange of an honest review!
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
˗ˏˋ꒰⭐⭐.5 ꒱
If the words “nothing burger” had a picture to come with its definition, that picture would be of this book.
I don't know how to feel about this book. Whether that's good or bad, I also don't know.
I'll try to organize my thoughts as coherently as possible, but don't expect too much from me lol.
If you don't read a lot of fantasy and want a story set in a medieval Europe-ish country with a chosen one protagonist, then this book is for you.
I don't think it does anything exceptionally bad, but also nothing exceptionally good either.
I couldn't bring myself to care for literally any of the characters (except Sashe, who is a cat, so it is to be expected). Bea, the MC, has depth to her; she's torn apart in her loyalties, she wants to please her family but also doesn't think the monarchy is as bad as it seems. However, she's so incredibly dumb that the only reason she has not been killed yet is thanks to the power of the script. She's also very rude toward the royalty, which you'd think would have real consequences for her actions, but naaaah, some talking here and there and everything's forgotten!
Prince Oscar, on the other hand, is good—great even. He's not a good person by any means, but he's also not as terrible as the first impression might suggest. He wants to learn and be better; he's reckless and stupid and suffers the ramifications of his actions. I found him so much more enjoyable than Bea, even at his worst.
The other characters are meh; I can't even bring myself to hate the ones I'm supposed to hate.
The romance isn't any different. I couldn't believe for a second any sort of relationship that the book wanted to sell to me. I don't think I need to say that the "betrayals" and "plot twists" felt as empty and boring as they seemed, for anyone who has read more than two fantasy books in their lifetime.
Aaaand the plot...
I am really trying hard to think of something interesting to say about it without resorting to the cheap "here's a copy and paste of the blurb written on the back of the book that I am intending to pass off as my own original thoughts" technique.
It's boring, that's how I would describe it. I don't think there's anything wrong with using an overused series of clichés or plotlines, as long as you bring something new to the table.
This book didn't do that.
It was a cut-and-dry story about a (very bad) spy trying to overthrow the government, with a love triangle involved and plain-as-hell characters. The most interesting part, Bea's connection to Sashe, is so secondary that it is almost infuriating, and that's the most emotion I've ever felt reading this.
I'll still read the second book, Flare Bound, because I think Ronan has potential, even when he's predictable and boring as gods know what.
I have a lot of nitpicks though (
An overall meh if there's ever been one. Maybe I would've given this 3 stars if I didn't know better about the genre.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange of an honest review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Physical abuse, Blood, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Misogyny, Medical content, and War
Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey
(not) Fun fact: Wells' ass gets mentioned more times than any of the characters I just talked about :)
★ The characters (protagonists)
Josephine: Starting with the one I hate the least out of the two, maybe because in a competition against a rock, the rock has a thousand times more personality than her. The book tries to teach an (actually valuable) lesson about how you shouldn't reduce someone to just their disability, and while I agree, this statement is immediately overpowered by every dam thing Josephine says in this book.
The problems with her parents?It's the diabetes.
Her money problem? It's the diabetes.
Her constant refusal for help? It's the diabetes.
The reason for nearly every conflict she has in this book?It's a consequence of her decis... Nah, I'm joking, it's the diabetes.
The only reason she stays with Wells is because he did something nice ONCE, but that's enough for Ms. No Standards, who decides to abandon her family store in order to manage her man-child boyfriend.
Maybe if the story focused more on her struggles as a female caddie in an obviously male-dominated sport, it would've been better (aka instantly repellant for our dear Tessa Bailey). I wish I could say more about her, but that's how boring she is. The only silver lining is that she's nowhere near as infuriating as Wells.
Wells: Ah, the bad boy golfer himself. He's an ass to absolutely everyone and still demands pure and complete loyalty.
To give an idea of how much I hated this man, the text could've said:
"Wells blinked"
And the first thought in my mind would right away be:
"I hate this dude so much."
He has NO friends, NO hobbies, NO family, and almost NO job, but somehow I'm still supposed to find him appealing??? This cannot even be compensated with his personality, because the only thing he does is swear and be horny. Every single "sweet" moment he has is just because the thing he did before that was atrociously evil-natured/possessive.
Some examples include:
▪︎ Getting mad at Josephine for hanging out with someone.
▪︎ Getting mad at Josephine because she stopped being his fan after he treated her like ass.
▪︎ Picking fights the moment Josephine isn't there, like he's some kind of wild animal that thinks with his penis instead of his brain.
And at the end of the book, they try to gaslight you into thinking that he actually changed, even though he still treats everyone around him like garbage until three lines ago.
Yeah, no shit, Sherlock.
★ The romance (if you can even call it that)
One word:
non-existent.
For some reason, I'm supposed to believe that the interactions the two main characters have are actually meaningful and cute and not a bunch of basic half-cooked advice taken from a self-help book/horniness/fights.
But she's the one, guys, so it's totally fine if the relationship is stripped of any actual development or chemistry and instead replaced with a possessive and codependent man who can't live without a woman fixing every mistake he makes!
And don't even get me started on how in order for Wells to listen and actually PERFORM WELL, Josephine gives him, to put it simply, sexual favors.
I'm not going to dwell on this any longer, or my veins will pop out.
In conclusion, trash won't even begin to describe this book, and unpleasant will be a pitiful understatement of my experience reading this collection of words that dares to call itself a novel.
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
1.0
I picked this book hoping to read something bad, and it seriously didn't disappoint.
I'm going to divide this by points because if I don't, I know I'll end up with more gray hairs than a wolf.
★ The plot
If I had to summarize it in one sentence, it would be the infamous AO3 tag:
Plot? What plot?
All the things that happen in this book are just a cheap excuse for the protagonists to have sex and/or thirst for each other.
THE """""MAIN""""" THEME IN THIS BOOK, GOLF, IS ALMOST NON-EXISTENT
They tell you how much Wells has improved or how Josephine is soooo good at reading the course, but you can never actually see that because oops, we don't have time for that! (But the book certainly has time for talking about Wells' ass, lmao.)
The Masters, the most important competition in Wells' career, is given one, ONE, chapter that is mainly used to talk about how the two protagonists love each other so much and can't stand to live apart (they've actually been talking for less than a month).
I literally laughed out loud when I read in the acknowledgments how Tessa thanked her husband for his golf insight, the insight in question being visible nowhere in the book. It almost makes me think that the author wrote an entirely different book yet-to-be-published with only the golf stuff, and all that was left for Fangirl Down was the cringey sex scenes and the abhorrent dialogue.
And you'll say after reading this...
"But Allioth, that surely must mean that the book is just more character-focused...."
And to that, I answer:
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
★ The characters (secondary)
Uuuuh.... Josephine’s parents are nice...?
Lizard boy (Ricky) is okay???
Calhoun and Wells' mentor (Buck Lee) are there too, I suppose.
And Tallulah and Burgess (the worst name I've ever heard, by the way) just exist to set up the sequel that I hope I never have to hear about again.
The best character of this bunch, and in general, is Wells' manager. He only appears for like three scenes and still manages to be funnier than the protagonists by a wide margin. So here are some quotes because this is the only part of the book worth reading:
I'm going to divide this by points because if I don't, I know I'll end up with more gray hairs than a wolf.
★ The plot
If I had to summarize it in one sentence, it would be the infamous AO3 tag:
Plot? What plot?
All the things that happen in this book are just a cheap excuse for the protagonists to have sex and/or thirst for each other.
THE """""MAIN""""" THEME IN THIS BOOK, GOLF, IS ALMOST NON-EXISTENT
They tell you how much Wells has improved or how Josephine is soooo good at reading the course, but you can never actually see that because oops, we don't have time for that! (But the book certainly has time for talking about Wells' ass, lmao.)
The Masters, the most important competition in Wells' career, is given one, ONE, chapter that is mainly used to talk about how the two protagonists love each other so much and can't stand to live apart (they've actually been talking for less than a month).
I literally laughed out loud when I read in the acknowledgments how Tessa thanked her husband for his golf insight, the insight in question being visible nowhere in the book. It almost makes me think that the author wrote an entirely different book yet-to-be-published with only the golf stuff, and all that was left for Fangirl Down was the cringey sex scenes and the abhorrent dialogue.
And you'll say after reading this...
"But Allioth, that surely must mean that the book is just more character-focused...."
And to that, I answer:
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
★ The characters (secondary)
Uuuuh.... Josephine’s parents are nice...?
Lizard boy (Ricky) is okay???
Calhoun and Wells' mentor (Buck Lee) are there too, I suppose.
And Tallulah and Burgess (the worst name I've ever heard, by the way) just exist to set up the sequel that I hope I never have to hear about again.
The best character of this bunch, and in general, is Wells' manager. He only appears for like three scenes and still manages to be funnier than the protagonists by a wide margin. So here are some quotes because this is the only part of the book worth reading:
"Listen, remember that contest? People entered to have lunch and a putting lesson with me.”
“The contest only eighty-one people entered?”
Wells winced. “I’m not sure it was necessary to give me that number.”"
""The most magical of all opportunities, Wells.” The manager dropped his voice to a reverent whisper. “Sponsorships. Two of them.”
“Whatever.”
“How does Mercedes sound?”
“Pass. Next.”
Nate fake cried on the other end."
""God, he wanted that so bad for Josephine. She’d be able to rebuild the shop, afford better health insurance, take care of her parents. Five figures would mean a lot to her, though, too. A hell of a lot. “Done.”
“I thought you might say that. They’ve already sent over a selection of shirts and hats for both of you to choose from. I’ve taken the liberty of having them arranged in a conference room downstairs.”
“You’re a smug motherfucker, Nate.”
“We’re back, baby!”
Wells hung up."
""You’re on that flight, right? Ack. Wells and Calhoun exchanged words during a practice round. A lot of C-words being thrown around and none of them were my favorite C-word—condo, followed closely by capital gains.""
(not) Fun fact: Wells' ass gets mentioned more times than any of the characters I just talked about :)
★ The characters (protagonists)
Josephine: Starting with the one I hate the least out of the two, maybe because in a competition against a rock, the rock has a thousand times more personality than her. The book tries to teach an (actually valuable) lesson about how you shouldn't reduce someone to just their disability, and while I agree, this statement is immediately overpowered by every dam thing Josephine says in this book.
The problems with her parents?It's the diabetes.
Her money problem? It's the diabetes.
Her constant refusal for help? It's the diabetes.
The reason for nearly every conflict she has in this book?It's a consequence of her decis... Nah, I'm joking, it's the diabetes.
The only reason she stays with Wells is because he did something nice ONCE, but that's enough for Ms. No Standards, who decides to abandon her family store in order to manage her man-child boyfriend.
Maybe if the story focused more on her struggles as a female caddie in an obviously male-dominated sport, it would've been better (aka instantly repellant for our dear Tessa Bailey). I wish I could say more about her, but that's how boring she is. The only silver lining is that she's nowhere near as infuriating as Wells.
Wells: Ah, the bad boy golfer himself. He's an ass to absolutely everyone and still demands pure and complete loyalty.
To give an idea of how much I hated this man, the text could've said:
"Wells blinked"
And the first thought in my mind would right away be:
"I hate this dude so much."
He has NO friends, NO hobbies, NO family, and almost NO job, but somehow I'm still supposed to find him appealing??? This cannot even be compensated with his personality, because the only thing he does is swear and be horny. Every single "sweet" moment he has is just because the thing he did before that was atrociously evil-natured/possessive.
Some examples include:
▪︎ Getting mad at Josephine for hanging out with someone.
▪︎ Getting mad at Josephine because she stopped being his fan after he treated her like ass.
▪︎ Picking fights the moment Josephine isn't there, like he's some kind of wild animal that thinks with his penis instead of his brain.
And at the end of the book, they try to gaslight you into thinking that he actually changed, even though he still treats everyone around him like garbage until three lines ago.
"Holy shit, had he been the asshole all along?
Had he made an enemy, lost a mentor, and alienated a legion of pros . . . with the chip on his shoulder? One honest, vulnerable exchange and he had people at his back. Consoling him, even if they didn’t agree with what he’d done to Josephine. Even if he didn’t deserve it."
Yeah, no shit, Sherlock.
★ The romance (if you can even call it that)
One word:
non-existent.
For some reason, I'm supposed to believe that the interactions the two main characters have are actually meaningful and cute and not a bunch of basic half-cooked advice taken from a self-help book/horniness/fights.
But she's the one, guys, so it's totally fine if the relationship is stripped of any actual development or chemistry and instead replaced with a possessive and codependent man who can't live without a woman fixing every mistake he makes!
And don't even get me started on how in order for Wells to listen and actually PERFORM WELL, Josephine gives him, to put it simply, sexual favors.
I'm not going to dwell on this any longer, or my veins will pop out.
In conclusion, trash won't even begin to describe this book, and unpleasant will be a pitiful understatement of my experience reading this collection of words that dares to call itself a novel.
Spirals of Stardust by Diane Jerome
The concept of this book is really interesting, and the world-building presented at the start is, needless to say, very creative.
It made me wish it stayed like that for the rest of the 130 pages.
The first thing that came to my attention was how confusing the demographic for this book is. The writing is straightforward, leaving no room for nuance, which in a kids' story is the standard. But then you have the sometimes hard-to-follow info-dumping, the footnotes, and the medical terms that make you doubt who this book was actually aimed at.
I like how it switches from third person to first person in the protagonist, Jill's, case. But otherwise, most of the other perspectives (such as Mike's) feel like pointless ramblings that lead to absolutely nothing. In any story, this would be bad, but it especially affects *Spirals of Stardust* due to its length.
All the things I previously mentioned are passable at best and annoying at worst. However, they didn't take much from my overall enjoyment as much as the simple fact that the core of this book, a dystopian world in the 23rd century where animals behave and take the place left by the long-extinct humans, is quickly forgotten in favor of a sweet but superficial lesson about how everyone is different and that they don't have to follow the same path to achieve what they want (and that alternative medicine is cool, I suppose).
Plenty more could've been achieved through the premise of this story (how certain animals feel being assigned a particular role they can't escape from, slightly touched on in one of Mike's aggravating POVs), but sadly that wasn't the case.
An overall "meh" book that could've done so much more if it only had time (and a clear idea of what it wanted to convey).
The ADHD representation was nice, though.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
The concept of this book is really interesting, and the world-building presented at the start is, needless to say, very creative.
It made me wish it stayed like that for the rest of the 130 pages.
The first thing that came to my attention was how confusing the demographic for this book is. The writing is straightforward, leaving no room for nuance, which in a kids' story is the standard. But then you have the sometimes hard-to-follow info-dumping, the footnotes, and the medical terms that make you doubt who this book was actually aimed at.
I like how it switches from third person to first person in the protagonist, Jill's, case. But otherwise, most of the other perspectives (such as Mike's) feel like pointless ramblings that lead to absolutely nothing. In any story, this would be bad, but it especially affects *Spirals of Stardust* due to its length.
All the things I previously mentioned are passable at best and annoying at worst. However, they didn't take much from my overall enjoyment as much as the simple fact that the core of this book, a dystopian world in the 23rd century where animals behave and take the place left by the long-extinct humans, is quickly forgotten in favor of a sweet but superficial lesson about how everyone is different and that they don't have to follow the same path to achieve what they want (and that alternative medicine is cool, I suppose).
Plenty more could've been achieved through the premise of this story (how certain animals feel being assigned a particular role they can't escape from, slightly touched on in one of Mike's aggravating POVs), but sadly that wasn't the case.
An overall "meh" book that could've done so much more if it only had time (and a clear idea of what it wanted to convey).