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houxli's reviews
310 reviews
Stone and Steel by Eboni Dunbar
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The texture of the world is its strongest element. In the same way a European-styled fantasy might have a street urchin speak in an approximation of a Cockney accent, here homeless children are greeted with a "wassup?" And why not?
The plot is occupied with the Robert A. Caro quote "Power doesn't always corrupt. Power can cleanse. What I believe is always true about power is that power always reveals." It places that focus into the context of a relationship alongside the hard power of a monarch.
I wouldn't say this does a lot with a little, but what it does do is unique and fun.
The plot is occupied with the Robert A. Caro quote "Power doesn't always corrupt. Power can cleanse. What I believe is always true about power is that power always reveals." It places that focus into the context of a relationship alongside the hard power of a monarch.
I wouldn't say this does a lot with a little, but what it does do is unique and fun.
Ring by Kōji Suzuki
adventurous
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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? No
5.0
I am taken aback at the quality of the prose. The meticulous research, connecting ideas together, stringing logic along, it's all great. The texture, atmosphere is fantastic.
A Suitable Consort: For the King and His Husband by R. Cooper
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.75
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A solid, feel-good, intelligent fairy tale.
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I bounced off this pretty hard. The prose is weak; most of the book is summary.
That Patroclus is a passive point-of-view character isn't the problem, it's that he doesn't think at all. He has no introspection about events. He makes sure to note that he's surprised at himself whenever he takes an action. He doesn't have a personality. Which, for a book supposedly focusing on the romance between two people, is bad. Does Achilles fall in love with Patroclus simply because he's a constant in his life? Seems arbitrary.
Some choice lines:
That Patroclus is a passive point-of-view character isn't the problem, it's that he doesn't think at all. He has no introspection about events. He makes sure to note that he's surprised at himself whenever he takes an action. He doesn't have a personality. Which, for a book supposedly focusing on the romance between two people, is bad. Does Achilles fall in love with Patroclus simply because he's a constant in his life? Seems arbitrary.
Some choice lines:
...[I had] a beard that grew if I did not shave it.
[Apollo has] arrows that could stop a man's heart...
(unlike other arrows)
"Over your pride." The word I use is hubris.
(why not just use the word hubris?)
He is red and red and rust-red.
(Oh so dramatic!)
Inextricably Tied by Aveda Vice
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Dialogue is a highlight here. Sex scenes are hot and build character.
Worldbuilding is obtuse but can be partially parsed out through context clues. The settings and space, and more so the position of the characters within that space, are not described well. Great for the dream sequences, annoying for everything else.
Harbinger is the weakest character I've read in a while. Despite her arc being about trust and Flint letting go, she can't take a single step without him even after development. Her Standard Heroine Personality #2 "I'm too damaged and self-sacrificing to be loved!" is unbearable. I'm not even sure she's good at her job.
Flint is also boring, but his neurosis is addressed and dealt with. Agony is a joy. Their emotional intimacy was a bit of a leap, but besides the initial declaration, their dynamic before and after is great.
There's fun stuff here. I would suggest this.
I can't help but wonder if Vice likes Durarara!!, where there's another Irish fairy in a catsuit and visored helmet.
Worldbuilding is obtuse but can be partially parsed out through context clues. The settings and space, and more so the position of the characters within that space, are not described well. Great for the dream sequences, annoying for everything else.
Harbinger is the weakest character I've read in a while. Despite her arc being about trust and Flint letting go, she can't take a single step without him even after development. Her Standard Heroine Personality #2 "I'm too damaged and self-sacrificing to be loved!" is unbearable. I'm not even sure she's good at her job.
Flint is also boring, but his neurosis is addressed and dealt with. Agony is a joy. Their emotional intimacy was a bit of a leap, but besides the initial declaration, their dynamic before and after is great.
There's fun stuff here. I would suggest this.