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lisacanteven's reviews
518 reviews
The Poisons We Drink by Bethany Baptiste
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I love an urban fantasy, especially one that resembles our present day. I was intrigued by the politics, the use of Witchers instead of racial divides. I thought this was a great way to present the hard divides in this fictional world. This story is quite a page turner. I found myself pulled in quickly and at times I could not stop reading.
The writing could use some polishing. The author went a little too hard and tried to throw so many things at the reader. It could have been simplified and even shorter. The paragraph count in this book was a little too high. The longest paragraph was probably only 3-4 sentences. Comprehension was a bit disjointed at parts because of the writing.
If you like soft magic (i.e. magic that easily explains everything that happens after it happens), this book is for you. I prefer the magic system to be explained more before things just happen if that makes sense. Instead everything that occurred was just explained away by the magic.
If there is a sequel, I would love to see where this author improves. The bones were good, but there needs to be some polishing in future books.
The writing could use some polishing. The author went a little too hard and tried to throw so many things at the reader. It could have been simplified and even shorter. The paragraph count in this book was a little too high. The longest paragraph was probably only 3-4 sentences. Comprehension was a bit disjointed at parts because of the writing.
If you like soft magic (i.e. magic that easily explains everything that happens after it happens), this book is for you. I prefer the magic system to be explained more before things just happen if that makes sense. Instead everything that occurred was just explained away by the magic.
If there is a sequel, I would love to see where this author improves. The bones were good, but there needs to be some polishing in future books.
All the Feels by Olivia Dade
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I really need to stop reading straight romance. There was too much male POV in this book, and he was insufferable like most men are.
Triple Sec by TJ Alexander
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
I loved this book from beginning to end. I loved that it really followed the relationships of these people without a third act breakup. I needed a romance that doesn't follow the typical format of a romance book. The author took so much care with the characters. Consent all the way through. Communication all the way through. This is just a happy book, but don't get me wrong: the characters do have depth and trauma. They just work through it in healthy ways. I do wish we had all of their POV's written into the story, but Mel was endearing so it turned out just fine.
Bitter by Akwaeke Emezi
emotional
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
5.0
This book is so much more than the 258 pages it contains. I have no idea what magic Emezi used, but this book is so developed for its length. Maybe it is because I read Pet first, so I was familiar with what was happening going into it. Since Pet was published first I chose to start with that one, and it was a great reading experience. I am so intrigued in how my experience would have differed had I read Bitter first. I do want to go back and reread Pet already (a week later) just to see what I missed out. I think either way you read this series, you will enjoy it. But you will miss certain things either way, and that's what I love about this series.
Bitter probably had the best ending I've ever read. Those last 50 pages were immaculate. I will be thinking about that ending for months. I found myself getting really emotional because of how beautiful everything was during the last 1/5 of the book. My heart was pounding, and I felt like I was really seeing it play out in my mind like the most exciting movie. I wish I could go to film school, become a world famous producer just to produce this movie like it played out in my mine. Emezi is a genius.
Bitter probably had the best ending I've ever read. Those last 50 pages were immaculate. I will be thinking about that ending for months. I found myself getting really emotional because of how beautiful everything was during the last 1/5 of the book. My heart was pounding, and I felt like I was really seeing it play out in my mind like the most exciting movie. I wish I could go to film school, become a world famous producer just to produce this movie like it played out in my mine. Emezi is a genius.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Racism, Blood, Police brutality, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
This graphic novel gave me so much to think about. I went into it without any expectations other than it has been banned, so I know the stupid conservatives hate it. Honestly that's always a plus to me. I found myself introspectively reading it; there was a lot more identifying going on than I expected. I really, really appreciate how raw, real, and relatable Maia was with this book. People all over the world can identify with eir feelings, and they probably don't even know it yet. If someone doesn't identify with any of Maia's feelings, they probably know someone who does.
*1/2-1 star off for the multiple Harry Potter references. I understand that Maia is trans, so e is someone who should be able to discuss HP if ey want. However it is still triggering, and I just wish we could erase all mentions everywhere by everyone since JKR keeps furthering her harmful anti-trans views and desire for anti-trans regulations passed everywhere. I think everyone, including all trans people, should reevaluate what about JKR is so valuable to them despite the hurt and harm she causes. I was hoping that since I bought the new special edition, all HP references would have been edited out. Mentioning HP instead of keeping it vague adds nothing positive to the story. It just adds triggering content.*
*1/2-1 star off for the multiple Harry Potter references. I understand that Maia is trans, so e is someone who should be able to discuss HP if ey want. However it is still triggering, and I just wish we could erase all mentions everywhere by everyone since JKR keeps furthering her harmful anti-trans views and desire for anti-trans regulations passed everywhere. I think everyone, including all trans people, should reevaluate what about JKR is so valuable to them despite the hurt and harm she causes. I was hoping that since I bought the new special edition, all HP references would have been edited out. Mentioning HP instead of keeping it vague adds nothing positive to the story. It just adds triggering content.*
Content Warnings
Minor: Biphobia, Chronic illness, Deadnaming, Homophobia, Sexism, Sexual content, Transphobia, Acephobia/Arophobia, and Dysphoria
Shipping the brothers in Supernatural was a weird choice.
Regret, Revisited by Gail Wald
emotional
reflective
4.0
As someone who is new to poetry, this collection was great. It is accessible while still packing a punch. There were only a few poems I didn't vibe with, but for the most part I felt like the poet was in my mind at times. Poetry that inspires me to write poetry is my favorite.
Content Warning: Everything by Akwaeke Emezi
I didn't rate this because it was not for me. It was way over my head. Because it is Akwaeke Emezi, I'm sure it is brilliant. I'm also sure that's why I didn't get it.
Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
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
4.5
Such a beautiful portrayal of a non-binary person in a relationship with a woman. Their love was the main focus, while they still had realistic interactions with others while still having one another's back.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Homophobia, and Transphobia
PET by Akwaeke Emezi
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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
4.5
I loved this book. The writing is spectacular. I don't even know if I would have appreciated if I was younger. I definitely think it is most loved by older audiences, but I would love some thoughts from its intended audience age, teens.
Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
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
3.5
Started reading Olivia Dade with At First Spite and loved it. This one didn't quite hit like AFS did. I did enjoy it, but I just didn't feel the chemistry between the characters. Maybe it's because the man was blonde- who really knows. I did love the fat rep, and I thought it was very well done. As a fat woman, I appreciate how Dade portrays her fat characters. I wouldn't mind the male love interest being fat as well eventually.
The way Dade wrote about April's parents almost did me in. I feel like she put my parents on the page. I just wish I could be as bold and strong as April. I wish boundaries came that easy to me. I'm working on it in therapy. And it sounds like April had done a lot of work on boundary setting as well. It gave me hope as someone who is working too. I love emotionally mature characters, in romance especially.
However, I did not like a main aspect of the plot.I don't condone how long the secret between the two of them was kept. I knew there would be a third act breakup, and the closer it got to the end without the secret coming to light the less I knew I would like the book. I do not like a quick and rushed third act breakup. In fact I would say we should retire that trope. I also hate when characters sleep together and one is keeping a huge secret. YUCK. I think what I hid behind the spoiler tag is what really prevented me from connecting to this story. I found myself hardly listening during the whole second half of the book because I was mad at a main character and anticipating a 3rd act breakup the entire time.
And then half the pages left after the breakup were spent on two side characters who I assume will be in the next book. But there were a lot of pages that could have been spent resolving the conflict so that it wasn't done in mere sentences. Pacing was weird. Idk how to explain it more than what is under the spoiler tag. Pacing was very weird.
I'm not sure if I would have read this if I had known what it was like beforehand because I'm not a fanfic girly. I don't think there is anything wrong with fanfic, but it's never been my scene. However, I am glad I didn't know because I actually found this to be a very enduring look into a fanfic community. I enjoyed learning about a topic that is very unknown to me. I would be interested to know how readers feel who are in those communities. Does Dade do a good job representing that?
I will continue this series because I do think I really would like this series if the plot does not include the tropes in this one. Harlot's Bay is superior though, so if you haven't read At First Spite, you should asap.
The way Dade wrote about April's parents almost did me in. I feel like she put my parents on the page. I just wish I could be as bold and strong as April. I wish boundaries came that easy to me. I'm working on it in therapy. And it sounds like April had done a lot of work on boundary setting as well. It gave me hope as someone who is working too. I love emotionally mature characters, in romance especially.
However, I did not like a main aspect of the plot.
I'm not sure if I would have read this if I had known what it was like beforehand because I'm not a fanfic girly. I don't think there is anything wrong with fanfic, but it's never been my scene. However, I am glad I didn't know because I actually found this to be a very enduring look into a fanfic community. I enjoyed learning about a topic that is very unknown to me. I would be interested to know how readers feel who are in those communities. Does Dade do a good job representing that?
I will continue this series because I do think I really would like this series if the plot does not include the tropes in this one. Harlot's Bay is superior though, so if you haven't read At First Spite, you should asap.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, and Fatphobia