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claragweny's reviews
171 reviews
The Mysterious Study of Doctor Sex by Tamsyn Muir
I love this glimpse of young Camilla and Palamedes sososo much. I love them I LOVE them.
But second cousins??? This entire time??? I don’t know how to feel about this 😰
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
“Palamedes remembers everything: That was his problem. I always remember him. That’s mine.”
I love this glimpse of young Camilla and Palamedes sososo much. I love them I LOVE them.
But second cousins??? This entire time??? I don’t know how to feel about this 😰
Lovers at the Museum: A Short Story by Isabel Allende
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
I picked this based on the cover on Kindle and was pleasantly surprised! A magical, mystical story of two lovers who meet and fall in love before stumbling into the Guggenheim. It’s short, sweet, and really you can’t ask for more in a novella you just stumbled upon.
Merry Ever After by Tessa Bailey
lighthearted
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
2.0
I think I might be too queer for insta-love, ultra horny, big strong man trope Tessa Bailey books and novellas. It’s not bad, I guess, but I found myself laughing at what was supposed to be sexy lines.
Slow Time Between the Stars by John Scalzi
Honestly, I only picked this up to meet my reading goal for the year. I was not expecting such a poignant meditation on human expansion into the universe and what is means to be human at all. I haven’t read a lot of AI/robot sci-fi but I can’t image there are many other examples of novellas that are as well done, and with such a short page length, as Slow Time Between the Stars.
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
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? No
3.75
“We are all made up of smaller things connected to l larger things, and in the middle, we are we, us, I, me.”
Honestly, I only picked this up to meet my reading goal for the year. I was not expecting such a poignant meditation on human expansion into the universe and what is means to be human at all. I haven’t read a lot of AI/robot sci-fi but I can’t image there are many other examples of novellas that are as well done, and with such a short page length, as Slow Time Between the Stars.
Not Just Best Friends by Darcy Liao
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Lesbian best friends to lovers novella 👩🏻🍳😚
Darcy Liao wrote two relatable, realistic characters who’ve been pining after each other for years. Who’s never experienced a little bit of pining, after all?
Not Just Best Friends was a fast paced but perfect length novella introducing us to Frankie and Vivian’s history. We can see them, and other characters, again in Liao’s full length novel Make Room for Love
- which has more gorgeous queerness and sapphic love.
Darcy Liao wrote two relatable, realistic characters who’ve been pining after each other for years. Who’s never experienced a little bit of pining, after all?
Not Just Best Friends was a fast paced but perfect length novella introducing us to Frankie and Vivian’s history. We can see them, and other characters, again in Liao’s full length novel Make Room for Love
- which has more gorgeous queerness and sapphic love.
The Answer is No by Fredrik Backman
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
A little silly and an absolutely ridiculous premise but a heartfelt story of reconnecting with community.
The Lost Sisters by Holly Black
dark
emotional
slow-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
5.0
The audiobook version of this is really great. It feels as if Taryn is just talking to herself while writing the letter to Jude. I still don’t really feel all that bad for her though and I don’t really like her at all.
As Yet Unsent by Tamsyn Muir
Lovely and grotesque as always.
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“When I looked at her, she was not even smiling. She was eager and afraid. Yes, and beautiful, but nobody who has seen Coronabeth Tridentarius in the flesh wastes time with an adjective.”
Lovely and grotesque as always.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Medical content
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Even Though I Knew the End by C.L. Polk
Angles, demons, psychics, warlocks, detectives, gay women. What more could you want?
This was really a gripping, dark, and eerie story. I can’t stop thinking about living in 1940s Chicago as a queer woman now! All the subterfuge, direct misogyny, and homophobia one would have to face. Yet our characters still find a way to find joy, love, and hope for more in such a treacherous world.
The Wink is an absolutely fantastic name for a gay club, by the way.
dark
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
“Anything you want. Name it and it’s yours.”
“I want the moon.”
“I’ll get a ladder.”
Angles, demons, psychics, warlocks, detectives, gay women. What more could you want?
This was really a gripping, dark, and eerie story. I can’t stop thinking about living in 1940s Chicago as a queer woman now! All the subterfuge, direct misogyny, and homophobia one would have to face. Yet our characters still find a way to find joy, love, and hope for more in such a treacherous world.
“Hope felt a little painful, on account of it not being a sure thing.”
The Wink is an absolutely fantastic name for a gay club, by the way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Forced institutionalization and Car accident
Minor: Misogyny and Medical content
The Return of the Sorceress by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Morally ambiguous female main character? Oh, I love to see it.
Despite its short length, the Return of the Sorceress packed a powerful punch. It’s a story about a girl who realizes one day “oh, maybe I am a bad person” and decides to do something about it. It’s a story about self-discovery and self-redemption only for the sake of one’s own soul.
Plus, there’s shape shifting talking animals.
Despite its short length, the Return of the Sorceress packed a powerful punch. It’s a story about a girl who realizes one day “oh, maybe I am a bad person” and decides to do something about it. It’s a story about self-discovery and self-redemption only for the sake of one’s own soul.
Plus, there’s shape shifting talking animals.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Body horror