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ciarazard's reviews
132 reviews
The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Cute idea, but the execution left much to be desired.
Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang
dark
slow-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? Yes
4.0
“Truth over delusion. Growth over comfort. God over all."
This quote is giving me BioShock Infinite vibes.
While I'm still deciding whether to rate this book a 3.75 or a 4, there's no doubt that Blood Over Bright Haven is a must-read for fans of dark academia and gaslamp fantasy. I can see why people say fans of Full Metal Alchemist would appreciate this.
Blood Over Bright Haven delves into how the pursuit of power can lead to moral decay and corruption. Our main character, Sciona Freynan, is frustrating, ambitious, hard-headed, and for most of the story, unlikeable. Throughout the book, she grapples with the ethical implications of magic and innovation, and the consequences of desire for control. But above all, her vulnerability and admission to her faults makes her a deeply human heroine.
The book also addresses numerous heavy themes, including sexism, colonialism, racism, and more. Much of the dialogue between characters explores moral dilemmas, social stratification, and inequality, making this a thought-provoking read.
The main standout aspect of Blood Over Bright Haven is its intricate and complex magic system. Here, magic is likened to coding, where mages input a series of 'codes' with variables on a spellograph, which then executes these 'codes' as spells. This fresh approach to magic is both intellectually stimulating and seamlessly integrated into the world of Tiran, where magic is a learned skill akin to mathematics and science, rather than an innate ability.
PS: I would love to see a movie adaptation of this book! *fingers crossed*
While I'm still deciding whether to rate this book a 3.75 or a 4, there's no doubt that Blood Over Bright Haven is a must-read for fans of dark academia and gaslamp fantasy. I can see why people say fans of Full Metal Alchemist would appreciate this.
Blood Over Bright Haven delves into how the pursuit of power can lead to moral decay and corruption. Our main character, Sciona Freynan, is frustrating, ambitious, hard-headed, and for most of the story, unlikeable. Throughout the book, she grapples with the ethical implications of magic and innovation, and the consequences of desire for control. But above all, her vulnerability and admission to her faults makes her a deeply human heroine.
The book also addresses numerous heavy themes, including sexism, colonialism, racism, and more. Much of the dialogue between characters explores moral dilemmas, social stratification, and inequality, making this a thought-provoking read.
The main standout aspect of Blood Over Bright Haven is its intricate and complex magic system. Here, magic is likened to coding, where mages input a series of 'codes' with variables on a spellograph, which then executes these 'codes' as spells. This fresh approach to magic is both intellectually stimulating and seamlessly integrated into the world of Tiran, where magic is a learned skill akin to mathematics and science, rather than an innate ability.
PS: I would love to see a movie adaptation of this book! *fingers crossed*
Grief is the Thing with Feathers by Max Porter
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Ehhhh, the idea was there, but it was boring execution-wise.
Bride by Ali Hazelwood
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
Finished 📖 Bride by Ali Hazelwood — and yep, it is decent for what it is. Somewhere between a 3.5⭐️ and a 3.75⭐️ just because I was pleasantly entertained. Don’t take it too seriously and you’ll have a fun time.
Also, take my review with a grain of salt. I likely enjoyed this because I already read too much grimdark / adult dark fantasy and needed something light and happy for once. But… would I read anything with knotting again? No, most likely not. 😂
Also, take my review with a grain of salt. I likely enjoyed this because I already read too much grimdark / adult dark fantasy and needed something light and happy for once. But… would I read anything with knotting again? No, most likely not. 😂
A Crane Among Wolves by June Hur
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I recently read this book in just 4-5 hours, losing sleep in the process. Despite my eagerness, however, I have a couple of qualms that prevented it from becoming the 4⭐ I initially predicted.
The characters lacked depth and development, making it difficult to care for them. I expected more from Iseul, our heroine who supposedly had a bad and spoiled personality growing up. Her character development felt forced and unsatisfactory, leaving me unconvinced that she was able to redeem herself. What did Daehyun, the prince, see in her? I certainly couldn't see anything.
Suyeon, the kidnapped sister, also felt like a bland character. I wished the book had expounded more on their life before their parents died, showing Suyeon as the perfect daughter suffocating under societal expectations of women during the Joseon era. Confucianism placed men at the head of the family and society, relegating women to subordinate roles. Women were expected to follow their fathers, husbands, and sons without question, had no access to formal education or scholarly pursuits, and had very little say in choosing partners. I wanted the book to delve into these aspects more. I wanted Iseul to genuinely care about these issues, but it felt like she only started caring when it affected her personally.
The latter part of the book, especially the buildup to the coup, was underwhelming. King Yeongsan, based on one of the worst tyrants in Korean history, started off scary and vicious. However, he was barely there halfway through the book, no lines, no viciousness left to him, leaving him practically useless. And the mystery part with the killer? The reveal was anti-climactic. What were all the murders with flowers for? The vengeance motive felt half-assed.
The author relied heavily on telling rather than showing, which was frustrating given the rich historical backdrop. I couldn't help but want MORE from this story. It had so much potential, and that frustrated me SO MUCH.
The author relied heavily on telling rather than showing, which was frustrating given the rich historical backdrop. I couldn't help but want MORE from this story. It had so much potential, and that frustrated me SO MUCH.
That being said, A Crane Among Wolves is still a decent read. The fact that I couldn't put it down speaks volumes about its initial promise and the compelling idea at its core.
However, the execution fell short, and what started as an engaging read sadly fizzled out by the end.
However, the execution fell short, and what started as an engaging read sadly fizzled out by the end.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death, Physical abuse, and Rape
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
In one of my annotations, I wrote:
Even though the writing itself was decent, I just found it harder to stay engaged after the chapter where her mother passed. Everything else that happened felt skippable. I couldn't really care about her music career and her rise to fame as Japanese Breakfast; I feel like that should've been in another music-related memoir.
I wanted to read more about raw, honest grief and the ugly parts to it — and yes, perhaps I was projecting, perhaps I wanted to find comfort as someone who lost a parent to cancer, too — but I was misled by the title and the summary. While the cooking parts were entertaining at first, they got pretty boring and repetitive and, at times, unnecessary fluff.
emotional
medium-paced
3.25
Trigger warning: grief, losing a parent to cancer
As someone who has watched a parent battle cancer, I found the chapters where Michelle Zauner talks about her mother's illness relatable. They mirrored my own experiences and emotions so closely: anger, guilt, and the desperate need to hold on to memories.
“I envied and feared my mother’s ability to keep matters private, as every secret I tried to hold close ate away at me. She possessed a rare talent for keeping secrets, even from us. She did not need anyone. She could surprise you with how little she needed you. All those years she instructed me to save 10 percent of myself like she did, I never knew it meant she had also been keeping a part of herself from me too.”
In one of my annotations, I wrote:
"She [my mother] always keeps us at arm's length, afraid to get close, afraid to let anyone else in. And just as you start to feel comfortable with her - she does what she does best. She knows when and how to remind you of your place."
Even though the writing itself was decent, I just found it harder to stay engaged after the chapter where her mother passed. Everything else that happened felt skippable. I couldn't really care about her music career and her rise to fame as Japanese Breakfast; I feel like that should've been in another music-related memoir.
I wanted to read more about raw, honest grief and the ugly parts to it — and yes, perhaps I was projecting, perhaps I wanted to find comfort as someone who lost a parent to cancer, too — but I was misled by the title and the summary. While the cooking parts were entertaining at first, they got pretty boring and repetitive and, at times, unnecessary fluff.
A Magical Girl Retires by Park Seolyeon
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
This book had SO MUCH potential and I am disappointed beyond belief. I wanted this book, so badly, to be good. I was expecting Sad Magical Girl with an existential crisis. 😮💨
While the cover art is gorgeous — one of the best I’ve seen in a book — the story itself sadly fell short. I understand that this was translated work, but the writing was nothing special. Lackluster. The sapphic romance sub-plot felt forced, too.
The novella would definitely have benefited from having more pages to expound upon the magical system or the characters — but alas, that is not what A Magical Girl Retires is about. Find your fix for magical fantasy and worldbuilding elsewhere, and don’t get your hopes up like I did.
While the cover art is gorgeous — one of the best I’ve seen in a book — the story itself sadly fell short. I understand that this was translated work, but the writing was nothing special. Lackluster. The sapphic romance sub-plot felt forced, too.
The novella would definitely have benefited from having more pages to expound upon the magical system or the characters — but alas, that is not what A Magical Girl Retires is about. Find your fix for magical fantasy and worldbuilding elsewhere, and don’t get your hopes up like I did.
Empire of the Damned by Jay Kristoff
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK
Sad Sexy Catholic by Lauren Milici
emotional
fast-paced
3.0
Ngl one of those books I picked up solely for the cover but it was just okay. Loved Devotion a lot, liked Sad Sexy Catholic and Oracle. Lots of wordvomit I didn’t find endearing.
Probably would have worshipped this back in college during ye olde Tumblr days because I used to write a lot of poetry that’s similar to the poems here though. 🤷🏻♀️
Probably would have worshipped this back in college during ye olde Tumblr days because I used to write a lot of poetry that’s similar to the poems here though. 🤷🏻♀️
The Orange and other poems by Wendy Cope
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
3.0
3⭐️ but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. As with the very essence of this poem — boring is fine and simplicity can be wonderful. This reminded me so much of Tolkien’s quote, “It is no bad thing to celebrate a simple life.”
I originally bought “The Orange and Other Poems” for her titular poem, The Orange, but resonated instantly with Being Boring — as someone who constantly struggles between wanting to live an extraordinary life full of achievements and finding contentment in being ordinary (or mediocre, even). I have always pressured myself to be the best and have equated my value with titles and possessions, with how much I earn and how productive or busy I am. Looking back at it now — I used to dread seeing friends and having to answer questions like, “What’s new with you?” or “What are you doing now?” or “Any major plans coming up soon?” because I didn’t want to be the Boring Friend.
This poem is a nice pick-me-upper. I am perfectly fine where I am, just the way I am, even when I have nothing new going on.
And I hope, sincerely, that I keep this to heart: I aspire to go on and on being boring. 🍊
I originally bought “The Orange and Other Poems” for her titular poem, The Orange, but resonated instantly with Being Boring — as someone who constantly struggles between wanting to live an extraordinary life full of achievements and finding contentment in being ordinary (or mediocre, even). I have always pressured myself to be the best and have equated my value with titles and possessions, with how much I earn and how productive or busy I am. Looking back at it now — I used to dread seeing friends and having to answer questions like, “What’s new with you?” or “What are you doing now?” or “Any major plans coming up soon?” because I didn’t want to be the Boring Friend.
This poem is a nice pick-me-upper. I am perfectly fine where I am, just the way I am, even when I have nothing new going on.
And I hope, sincerely, that I keep this to heart: I aspire to go on and on being boring. 🍊