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fe_fifi_fofum's reviews
28 reviews
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
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
3.75
In general, I really enjoyed this book. The vibes, the characters, the magic, the kind of mystery, the emotions it made me feel. But of course, there were some stuff I had to nitpick, honestly.
Starting with the good:
Their struggles felt so real to me. As a person, I struggle more than most to sympathize with people, though not to the point of not being able to feel for others. But for some reason, maybe because I'm a growing, developing girl, I was able to really feel for these characters, not only because I could relate to them. I can really pin this on Allison Saft's writing because, god. This book was just so, so beautifully written in a way that it evokes vivid imagery and palpable feelings and characters that can be brought to life all so naturally. All while not feeling the least bit seemingly strained or overdone. Plus, the quotes???? Wow.
I know that people were not happy with how the hunt was inevitably done, but I'll get to that later on. Personally, I didn't have much complaints that the hunt was put off for a long while in this book simply because I had no complaints with the build-up to it. I loved watching Maggie and Wes experience what the world had to offer, even if it's not much and rather very cruel. But I loved watching them make their own decisions and make something of themselves with what little the world had to give them. I loved watching them fall in love. I loved experiencing all their struggles and victories big and small with them. I was lowkey attached to them.
If you couldn't already tell, I love the characters so much. Their struggles are ones that many people face, but Allison Saft brought them to light in a way that makes their experiences so unique to her characters while still making them so real. I felt for Maggie and Wes, I truly did.
I also did like the commentary on religion and racism, which I will always appreciate in books. I think it's really good to have racial and religious representation like that. So much love for books like these.
ADHD REP!!!!
ROY AND RIZA!!!!!!!
Now, the bad (and naturally, I have more to say, but it doesn't overweigh the good):
Sue me, but I don't usually pick up books that have romance, but don't have a sliver of gay romance. Sorry, whatever. So when I read the reviews (which I probably should have dove into more), the fact that a side character was Achillean gave me all the more reason to pick this book up. WHO WAS IT??? I love Mad, which does check off the "sapphic side character" I saw in reviews, but who the hell was the gay man. Jaime??? Halanan??? Please, what? I genuinely don't know. Did it just go over my head? Someone please tell me.
Don't get me wrong, I still own and have read good books that don't have representation. I'm still a firm believer, however, that books should have GOOD representation if possible. Emphasis on the "good." I don't take well to "representation for the sake of representation." What century is it?
When Wes said that he probably loved Maggie the first time he saw her, I was like: "Absolutely not." Because he absolutely did not. I don't know why that was added in there, lol.
Now, the hunt. That shit was so anti-climatic. Again, I don't have complaints about the build-up, but I truly was expecting the hunt to be handled as the crucial part of the story it is. But it wasn't. As I kept reading and as the hunt kept... not happening, I was honestly starting to get worried. How was Allison Saft going to express all that need be in, like, 20 pages? The short answer is: she didn't. The first part of the hunt was good, I felt that shit in my bones. Again, Allison Saft's writing played the primary role in vivid imagery and emotions evoked in that first part. But after two pages, the hala, the most revered and seemingly unbeatable divine thing, defeated with a simple stab. Like?? That genuinely deducted an entire star for me, lol.
Maggie was also incredibly indecisive. Like, I get it girl, but seriously? I can accept that she would sort of turn her back to Wes in the face of her mother, but she does so several times. Lol. And I would've fw the smutty book scene if I read smutty books myself, but that shit made me want to die. Maybe that was the aim, but good lord. This is probably my first book with even a sliver of smut, ever. This is what I get for giving romance books a huge chance. Not that I totally regret it.
Starting with the good:
Their struggles felt so real to me. As a person, I struggle more than most to sympathize with people, though not to the point of not being able to feel for others. But for some reason, maybe because I'm a growing, developing girl, I was able to really feel for these characters, not only because I could relate to them. I can really pin this on Allison Saft's writing because, god. This book was just so, so beautifully written in a way that it evokes vivid imagery and palpable feelings and characters that can be brought to life all so naturally. All while not feeling the least bit seemingly strained or overdone. Plus, the quotes???? Wow.
I know that people were not happy with how the hunt was inevitably done, but I'll get to that later on. Personally, I didn't have much complaints that the hunt was put off for a long while in this book simply because I had no complaints with the build-up to it. I loved watching Maggie and Wes experience what the world had to offer, even if it's not much and rather very cruel. But I loved watching them make their own decisions and make something of themselves with what little the world had to give them. I loved watching them fall in love. I loved experiencing all their struggles and victories big and small with them. I was lowkey attached to them.
If you couldn't already tell, I love the characters so much. Their struggles are ones that many people face, but Allison Saft brought them to light in a way that makes their experiences so unique to her characters while still making them so real. I felt for Maggie and Wes, I truly did.
I also did like the commentary on religion and racism, which I will always appreciate in books. I think it's really good to have racial and religious representation like that. So much love for books like these.
ADHD REP!!!!
ROY AND RIZA!!!!!!!
Now, the bad (and naturally, I have more to say, but it doesn't overweigh the good):
Sue me, but I don't usually pick up books that have romance, but don't have a sliver of gay romance. Sorry, whatever. So when I read the reviews (which I probably should have dove into more), the fact that a side character was Achillean gave me all the more reason to pick this book up. WHO WAS IT??? I love Mad, which does check off the "sapphic side character" I saw in reviews, but who the hell was the gay man. Jaime??? Halanan??? Please, what? I genuinely don't know. Did it just go over my head? Someone please tell me.
Don't get me wrong, I still own and have read good books that don't have representation. I'm still a firm believer, however, that books should have GOOD representation if possible. Emphasis on the "good." I don't take well to "representation for the sake of representation." What century is it?
Now, the hunt. That shit was so anti-climatic. Again, I don't have complaints about the build-up, but I truly was expecting the hunt to be handled as the crucial part of the story it is. But it wasn't. As I kept reading and as the hunt kept... not happening, I was honestly starting to get worried. How was Allison Saft going to express all that need be in, like, 20 pages? The short answer is: she didn't. The first part of the hunt was good, I felt that shit in my bones. Again, Allison Saft's writing played the primary role in vivid imagery and emotions evoked in that first part. But after two pages, the hala, the most revered and seemingly unbeatable divine thing, defeated with a simple stab. Like?? That genuinely deducted an entire star for me, lol.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Hate crime, Racism, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Animal death and Death
Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
The only reason why it's not a five-star is simply because it just didn't have that 5-star feel that I usually feel in books that I rated five stars. However, this book is definitely the best romance book I've read so far, save for, like, one.
The Studio Ghibli vibes were there and I was not disappointed nor lied to. I just loved Dora so much she was so funny and interesting and idk I just loved her so much. She was an unbothered(?) queen done well. Her romance with Elias was EVERYTHING to me. The ballroom scene?Elias being absolutely devasted when Dora fell into the sleeping plague? YES.
And that side romance with Albert and Miss Jennings? UGH. UGHH. UGHHHHHHHHH.
I also loved the commentary on classism and of war and evil. Chef's kiss.
Anyway, in terms of romance as I'm not too much of a romance reader, this was definitely a five-star book.
The Studio Ghibli vibes were there and I was not disappointed nor lied to. I just loved Dora so much she was so funny and interesting and idk I just loved her so much. She was an unbothered(?) queen done well. Her romance with Elias was EVERYTHING to me. The ballroom scene?
I also loved the commentary on classism and of war and evil. Chef's kiss.
Anyway, in terms of romance as I'm not too much of a romance reader, this was definitely a five-star book.
The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang
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? Yes
5.0
THIS BOOK CRUSHED ME MORE THAN THE FIRST ONE.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism