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hound_of_heaven's reviews
20 reviews
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
Calculated Risks by Seanan McGuire
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
There’s no option for “a chill read” as to pacing but this is one.
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Winter's Orbit by Everina Maxwell
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Caveat: I’m predisposed to like Winter’s Orbit because I read it in proto-form as Course of Honor (on ao3) several years ago.
That being said - the bones of this story were there and now they’re been fleshed out into a much larger predatory (also possibly venomous) bird of a book.
DO you like arranged marriages? Do you like political intrigue? Do you like romantic pairings between smart people and people who claim to have only one brain cell? Do you like stories where the vastness of space spins on a single tiny human relationship? Read this book.
That being said - the bones of this story were there and now they’re been fleshed out into a much larger predatory (also possibly venomous) bird of a book.
DO you like arranged marriages? Do you like political intrigue? Do you like romantic pairings between smart people and people who claim to have only one brain cell? Do you like stories where the vastness of space spins on a single tiny human relationship? Read this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse
Minor: Death
Abuse (physical and emotional) is suffered by a POV character prior to the beginning of the book and shapes their behavior. It is discussed non-graphically several times.
Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
5.0
Across the Green Grass Fields by Seanan McGuire
Transphobia is experienced by the protagonist, an intersex girl, who is then outed publicly by a trusted friend who accuses her of being a boy disguised as a girl
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
The Wayward Children series is continuously heart-breaking for any kid who’s dreamed of being a portal fantasy protagonist. That’s what makes it great. Green Grass Fields is also designed specifically for horse girls*.
*Horse Girl is a state of mind and not decided by gender. You know who you are.
Book 6 is a decent jumping on point for new readers (as are 2 - Sticks and Bones - and 4 - Absent Dream - which all happen prior and separate to the original storyline in 1, 3, and 5).
*Horse Girl is a state of mind and not decided by gender. You know who you are.
Book 6 is a decent jumping on point for new readers (as are 2 - Sticks and Bones - and 4 - Absent Dream - which all happen prior and separate to the original storyline in 1, 3, and 5).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Transphobia, and Kidnapping
Abarat: Absolute Midnight by Clive Barker
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Among the Beasts & Briars by Ashley Poston
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This is more of a three and a half really, which is a little disappointing. ABAB moves slower than I would like - I struggled to get to 60%, but once you hit 75% it moves at a fair clip. The swap in perspectives can sometimes be confusing or jarring, as the other POV character doesn’t start having chapters until about a quarter of the way through. There were times where I found myself more interested by one of the side characters and wishing for more about them.
Let's Talk About Love by Claire Kann
emotional
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Pros: The characters are extremely well-rounded (important for a character-driven narrative like this one) and feel very real, very good ace rep and plugs therapy (good therapists are good for ya!)
Cons: Alice’s method of dealing with her problems is “Avoidance” and that drove me up the wall, just as a person. Time passes in fits and starts in the book and I often struggled to keep an emotional thru-line because of the time jumps.
Cons: Alice’s method of dealing with her problems is “Avoidance” and that drove me up the wall, just as a person. Time passes in fits and starts in the book and I often struggled to keep an emotional thru-line because of the time jumps.