le_lobey's reviews
282 reviews

Shadows of Self: A Mistborn Novel by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

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

3.5

Crazy ending. I liked the socio-political emphasis of this one, but found the plot development a bit ham-fisted. Loved seeing the kandra again. 

Scadrian Batman fights the god of capital

The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Sanderson's writing really shines in mistborn and the stormlight series because they let him be acrobatic. His action choreography is visceral and blistering. Enjoyed the characters too, especially Wayne.

Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher

dark emotional mysterious 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

3.0

The Sunlit Man by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring tense fast-paced

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

4.75

Lemon by Kwon Yeo-sun

reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.25

The death of a sister, daughter, classmate, romantic rival, captures the characters in its eddy. Often I found the writing drifted around meaning in a similar pattern. One POV was an amateur poet in their student years, and I thought the novella was most effective in its poetic moments.

The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien

adventurous dark hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

adventurous reflective relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

Actually quite cozy. Glad to revisit after 20+ years

Titanium Noir by Nick Harkaway

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

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

4.5

The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw

challenging dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.75

A beautiful nightmare. I found Khaw’s word choice a lot less distracting in this than in Nothing But Blackened Teeth. The rich descriptions built towards the Mermaid’s character and the overall project of juxtaposing the brutality of the story and beauty of the language.

I don’t think I’ve encountered this many new words in a while!

Bathyal --  a scientific term for the preabyssal zone of the sea, but in this context it was really like chthonic, but ocean
Sapidity -- having a good or pleasant taste
Exuviate -- to shed or molt, as a skin
Inimicality -- being hostile or unfriendly
Intaglioed -- artfully engraved
Vellicating -- touching softly to induce chills or tickling
Tunica -- organ mucus sheath
Paillette -- dangling shiny on clothing

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Domestic abuse, Gore, and Medical trauma