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elysian's reviews
37 reviews
Juliet Takes a Breath: The Graphic Novel by Gabby Rivera
inspiring
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? It's complicated
It was fun, quick, emotional. Sometimes I bit cringe at times in terms of writing and dialogue. Definitely aimed for POC sapphic youth and a good- ok read.
A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher
funny
lighthearted
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? No
3.5
Title: A House of good bones
Author: T. Kingfisher
Rating: 3.5/5
This book was a lot of fun to read and extremly well written. It's classified as horror, but it really isn't too scary and I think perfect for beginners/ non horror readers who want to tap into horror.
I loved MC Sam a lot. She is hilariously funny and I quoted so many of her lines. Her bond with her mom is very sweet. Tho there were sadly not that many daughter- mom moments. Also amazing fat representation in a horror novel. How often do we have a fat MC in horror???!!!
The plot dragged a bit in the middle part and I was a bit disappointed that I completely was able to guess the entire plot asap as a tiny bit of info was revealed.
Ending
Personally, didn't like the ending too much. I loved when everything went down with grandma like woow omg!!! but the Underground children fight was boring and anticlimactic.
Author: T. Kingfisher
Rating: 3.5/5
This book was a lot of fun to read and extremly well written. It's classified as horror, but it really isn't too scary and I think perfect for beginners/ non horror readers who want to tap into horror.
I loved MC Sam a lot. She is hilariously funny and I quoted so many of her lines. Her bond with her mom is very sweet. Tho there were sadly not that many daughter- mom moments. Also amazing fat representation in a horror novel. How often do we have a fat MC in horror???!!!
The plot dragged a bit in the middle part and I was a bit disappointed that I completely was able to guess the entire plot asap as a tiny bit of info was revealed.
Ending
STAGTOWN by Punko
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-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? Yes
4.0
Very good and very solid.
It had a strong start, stronger middle part but a weak ending leaving many questions unanswered.
The characters were great (we love intelligent MCs in horror) and the entire mystery of the town was so interesting. At the end you could see how well planned everything was and all the foreshadowing in earlier chapters.
It had a strong start, stronger middle part but a weak ending leaving many questions unanswered.
The characters were great (we love intelligent MCs in horror) and the entire mystery of the town was so interesting. At the end you could see how well planned everything was and all the foreshadowing in earlier chapters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Suicide
This Is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone, Amal El-Mohtar
Title: This is how you lose the time war
Author: Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
Rating: 5/5
The writing is beautiful and full of metaphors. It was difficult for me from the beginning to not mark down every single line. And at that point I thought I knew why so many adore this book. I was wrong. The writing is just a treat on top.
This is book is what I want when I say "I want to read enemies to lovers". This book has the best, most phenomenal romance I have read in a long while.
In the end I just want to love someone and be loved like Red loves Blue and Blue loves Red.
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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? Yes
5.0
Title: This is how you lose the time war
Author: Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
Rating: 5/5
The writing is beautiful and full of metaphors. It was difficult for me from the beginning to not mark down every single line. And at that point I thought I knew why so many adore this book. I was wrong. The writing is just a treat on top.
This is book is what I want when I say "I want to read enemies to lovers". This book has the best, most phenomenal romance I have read in a long while.
In the end I just want to love someone and be loved like Red loves Blue and Blue loves Red.
Ariadne by Jennifer Saint
Did not finish book. Stopped at 39%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 39%.
It was just OK and did not add anything new to the myth
The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan
Title: Son of Neptune
Author: Rick Riordan
Rating: 3.5/5
Potential spoilers for previous books of the same series.
This was one of the weaker PJO books for me. It started out very strongly and promising. I loved all the new character additions. While in Lost Hero Leo was clearly my favourite I really loved both Hazel and Frank for different reasons.
The Plot started to drag a lot from the middle mostly bc this book felt like the same as book one- Just less cool bc Leo isn't here and Percy is a shell of his former self. He has sooo little chapters to himself and his feelings. I understand uncle Rick wanting to introduce the new kids but it clearly took away from Percy -
The romance felt very clunky opposed to what I have seen Uncle Rick write for Percy and Annabeth or even Jason and Piper. I did not really feel the chemistry.
adventurous
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? Yes
3.5
Title: Son of Neptune
Author: Rick Riordan
Rating: 3.5/5
Potential spoilers for previous books of the same series.
This was one of the weaker PJO books for me. It started out very strongly and promising. I loved all the new character additions. While in Lost Hero Leo was clearly my favourite I really loved both Hazel and Frank for different reasons.
The Plot started to drag a lot from the middle mostly bc this book felt like the same as book one- Just less cool bc Leo isn't here and Percy is a shell of his former self. He has sooo little chapters to himself and his feelings. I understand uncle Rick wanting to introduce the new kids but it clearly took away from Percy -
The romance felt very clunky opposed to what I have seen Uncle Rick write for Percy and Annabeth or even Jason and Piper. I did not really feel the chemistry.
A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes
adventurous
emotional
informative
sad
medium-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
4.0
Title: A Thousand Ships
Author: Natalie Haynes
Rating: 4/5
TWs: Basically everything that happens in Greek myths. Yk whats up
The book is about the untold stories of the female characters in the Illiad. As someone who loves diving deep into Greek Myth this one was so awesome and refreshing. Focusing on the characters of Penelope, Hecuba, Briseis, Iphigenia and so many many more.
Characters only have their stories told briefly - standing in the shadow of their son's and husband's.
This was joyful and informative read.
Author: Natalie Haynes
Rating: 4/5
TWs: Basically everything that happens in Greek myths. Yk whats up
The book is about the untold stories of the female characters in the Illiad. As someone who loves diving deep into Greek Myth this one was so awesome and refreshing. Focusing on the characters of Penelope, Hecuba, Briseis, Iphigenia and so many many more.
Characters only have their stories told briefly - standing in the shadow of their son's and husband's.
This was joyful and informative read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Slavery, and War
Woom by Duncan Ralston
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
**Title: Woom**
**Author: Duncan Ralston**
**Rating: 5/5**
**TWs: Rape, Abortion, Drugs, Death, Vomit, Gore**
This one changed me. The writing is gorgeous. I loved and felt for the characters making this even more heartbreaking. The imagery as a whole was very disturbing, but everything the characters did was just so human and understandable. Truly, an emotional horror novel. This was like a full tragedy. I will think about this for a long time.
**Author: Duncan Ralston**
**Rating: 5/5**
**TWs: Rape, Abortion, Drugs, Death, Vomit, Gore**
This one changed me. The writing is gorgeous. I loved and felt for the characters making this even more heartbreaking. The imagery as a whole was very disturbing, but everything the characters did was just so human and understandable. Truly, an emotional horror novel. This was like a full tragedy. I will think about this for a long time.