alyssard's reviews
62 reviews

Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu

dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Sexual content

The In-Between: Unforgettable Encounters During Life's Final Moments by Hadley Vlahos

inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Terminal illness, Dementia, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Cancer, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Blood, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury

I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue

emotional funny reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Bullying

Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Addiction and Alcoholism

Really Good, Actually by Monica Heisey
Did not finish book.

Too much of an obsession with weight loss and internalized fatphobia.

As the Wicked Watch by Tamron Hall

adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Violence, and Murder

I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book is an interesting study of a close relationship between siblings breaking down and coming back together — and luckily we get to see both of their perspectives in this!! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Sexual assault and Outing

Immortality by Dana Schwartz

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror

A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher

adventurous funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense 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

5.0

This book is heart wrenchingly beautiful. This book is so many ugly truths that we do not want to face. This book is brilliant. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Alcoholism and Drug abuse