beightmana's reviews
128 reviews

The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchison

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

Sphere by Michael Crichton

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Xenophobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Grief, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Body horror, Body shaming, Panic attacks/disorders, and Racism

The Spy Who Came In from the Cold by John le Carré

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Neither Here Nor There: Travels in Europe by Bill Bryson

adventurous funny informative slow-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism and Alcohol

Moderate: Fatphobia

Penance by Kanae Minato

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-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

3.75

Confessions by Kanae Minato

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Confinement, Torture, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Car accident, and Toxic friendship

Happiness Falls by Angie Kim

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense 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

The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett

adventurous challenging dark tense fast-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexism, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Fatphobia, Gun violence, Homophobia, Infidelity, Xenophobia, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Body shaming, Death, and Drug use

The Lost Metal by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.75

I haven't been too thrilled by Mistborn Era 2. First book was a weird Batman western action movie. Second went too hard into chosen one tropes and destiny. Third one felt both too short and too long and too far away.

This fourth book though? Not only did it really get at the core of what made the characters interesting to read, and deliver some amazing storybeats, it also fulfilled some of my earlier gripes and used what I disliked to make things feel even more earned. Honestly, an incredible capstone and much, much better than I expected it to be.

Jerusalem's Lot by Stephen King

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.0