elinordashwood's reviews
88 reviews

Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi

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5.0

Everyone Dies Famous in a Small Town by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock

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fast-paced

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

4.5

Content Warnings

Crossings by Alex Landragin

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challenging mysterious reflective medium-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? Yes

In My Dreams I Hold a Knife by Ashley Winstead

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adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

The Cabinet by Un-su Kim

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challenging dark funny mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

Content Warnings

A Rogue of One's Own by Evie Dunmore

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hopeful lighthearted

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? Yes

1.5

The Marionettes by Katie Wismer

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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

While this was a fast-paced, high stakes book with interesting worldbuilding, I was uncomfortable with the appropriation of Native American elements in the book. Both the wendigo and the skinwalker are used here in ways that are totally devoid from their cultural context, contributing to erasure of the actual Indigenous myths. Because they are so different from their sources, I have a hard time understanding why the author didn't just create their own words or simply call them something like "flesh-eaters" and "bone witches." If this were changed, I would be in a position to unreservedly recommend this book as a fun homage to YA urban fantasy of yore, but unfortunately, when the homage extends to maintaining problematic elements (especially surrounding indigenous cultures), I can no longer in good faith tell others to read this.

Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett

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adventurous tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

Content Warnings

Head Over Heels by Hannah Orenstein

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emotional hopeful fast-paced

Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Content Warnings

A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers

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emotional hopeful reflective 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