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pdxpagemaster's reviews
282 reviews
Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Never knew I needed a Jack & Jill meets Dracula and Frankenstein/Poor Things moment but here we are!
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
4.0
an easy read that immediately throws you into a very immersive setting with tender feelings
Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
it is surreal to re-read this at the end of 2024 and a little hollowing.
butler is unmatched in her ability to have you emote with her characters, but the desperation you feel coming through this book is very weighty.
butler is unmatched in her ability to have you emote with her characters, but the desperation you feel coming through this book is very weighty.
Lore Olympus: Volume Seven by Rachel Smythe
This feels like a lot of in between parts of many different stories, but Psyche/Eros are particularly lovely.
Modern Divination by Isabel Agajanian
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Thank you to the author for an ARC of this new edition, soon to be published by TOR, in exchange for my honest review.
—
When I first read the indie version of this book my only complaint was that I felt the author had been a bit too precious with some of the prose, I had otherwise loved every bit of this book.
This new edition has really beautifully simplified the still incredibly lush and poetic prose so effectively - capturing emotion without distracting the reader from the subtle relationships and very real danger happening around the main characters.
Modern Divination follows two academic rivals, each secretly burdened with magic in a world unaware of the presence of witches. After a horrifying event at their university, the two rivals flee to the English countryside where they hope to uncover what, or who, is hunting them.
I think of this book as a romantic fantasy, where the slow burning rivals-to-lovers and forces proximity tropes typically found in romance novels are present here without the rest of the plot depending on the romance (though the yearning is DELICIOUS).
Rory and Teddy are magnificently moody and delicate characters who each have internalized so much because of their academic obsessions - but also who become fierce to protect their found families.
This book is poetic, the prose creates an atmosphere near tangible for the reader. The character driven narratives make you feel like you are really getting to know Teddy and Rory, especially, and then you’re suddenly gripped by the throat as the plot sweeps you away.
I am so impressed with this debut and grateful to revisit Modern Divination under this new edit - it is elevated, has remarkable rhythm, well paced, with a really gut twisting slow burn of a romance which really pays off.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has enjoyed academic fantasy books in the past that also really hopes the characters will kiss a little.
—
When I first read the indie version of this book my only complaint was that I felt the author had been a bit too precious with some of the prose, I had otherwise loved every bit of this book.
This new edition has really beautifully simplified the still incredibly lush and poetic prose so effectively - capturing emotion without distracting the reader from the subtle relationships and very real danger happening around the main characters.
Modern Divination follows two academic rivals, each secretly burdened with magic in a world unaware of the presence of witches. After a horrifying event at their university, the two rivals flee to the English countryside where they hope to uncover what, or who, is hunting them.
I think of this book as a romantic fantasy, where the slow burning rivals-to-lovers and forces proximity tropes typically found in romance novels are present here without the rest of the plot depending on the romance (though the yearning is DELICIOUS).
Rory and Teddy are magnificently moody and delicate characters who each have internalized so much because of their academic obsessions - but also who become fierce to protect their found families.
This book is poetic, the prose creates an atmosphere near tangible for the reader. The character driven narratives make you feel like you are really getting to know Teddy and Rory, especially, and then you’re suddenly gripped by the throat as the plot sweeps you away.
I am so impressed with this debut and grateful to revisit Modern Divination under this new edit - it is elevated, has remarkable rhythm, well paced, with a really gut twisting slow burn of a romance which really pays off.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has enjoyed academic fantasy books in the past that also really hopes the characters will kiss a little.
Howl for the Gargoyle by Kathryn Moon
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This was so much cuter than I anticipated after the first in the MSA collection - any of the complaints I had with the first were completely ironed out in this with compelling enough plot that kept me locked in!
Loved the dynamic of the leads but also their friends and how they interacted with the world.
And yeah, it was hot!
Loved the dynamic of the leads but also their friends and how they interacted with the world.
And yeah, it was hot!
The Princess of 72nd Street by Elaine Kraf
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The beginning of this book is an intricate look into the mind of someone experiencing a state of psychosis and mania, from their internalized POV. You dance along the dazzling world with her as she awakens into "radiances" that guide her actions and relationships.
At first, you find yourself celebrating with her - but when you take a moment to look outside of what she's expressing and understand the reality of what is happening to her, you're hit with some shock and horror.
This is one of the best books I have read about the reality of mental illness. As our narrator leaves her "seventh radiance" and collides into the "real world" again you are left feeling desperately sad for her but also urgently seeking hope on her behalf. I found myself wanting to protect her.
"I don't want to have to hide things, or deny them - even to myself."
Really profound, poetic, and devastating.
At first, you find yourself celebrating with her - but when you take a moment to look outside of what she's expressing and understand the reality of what is happening to her, you're hit with some shock and horror.
This is one of the best books I have read about the reality of mental illness. As our narrator leaves her "seventh radiance" and collides into the "real world" again you are left feeling desperately sad for her but also urgently seeking hope on her behalf. I found myself wanting to protect her.
"I don't want to have to hide things, or deny them - even to myself."
Really profound, poetic, and devastating.
A Touch of Jen by Beth Morgan
Did not finish book. Stopped at 13%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 13%.
instead of intentionally unlikable it was just coming off as obnoxious.
Behind You Is the Sea by Susan Muaddi Darraj
Did not finish book. Stopped at 30%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 30%.
I can see what the style here was going for and think it’s very well written but ultimately not for me. the refresh of vignettes in each chapter made me feel as though the whole story would change as soon as i would be invested.
Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang
challenging
dark
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
i am floored.
like Babel, this book consumed me. the layers of social commentary within such an intensely unique magic system was brilliantly detailed, emotion fueled, and devastating. this is a book i may never stop thinking about and will likely come back to read and re-read and want to write essays about.
the relationships of the characters between each other is what sealed this for me as one of the best fantasy books written in ages. there wasn’t shyness in the authors ability to show both violence and also tenderness. there was nuance to every flawed character and the evil was shown in equal nuance for those that were unredeemable.
how do we go on from a book like this? phenom.
like Babel, this book consumed me. the layers of social commentary within such an intensely unique magic system was brilliantly detailed, emotion fueled, and devastating. this is a book i may never stop thinking about and will likely come back to read and re-read and want to write essays about.
the relationships of the characters between each other is what sealed this for me as one of the best fantasy books written in ages. there wasn’t shyness in the authors ability to show both violence and also tenderness. there was nuance to every flawed character and the evil was shown in equal nuance for those that were unredeemable.
how do we go on from a book like this? phenom.