perenlop's reviews
9 reviews

Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Gore, Transphobia, Blood, Medical content, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Eating disorder and Grief

Minor: Deadnaming

Eye gore

Varjak Paw by SF Said

adventurous dark inspiring fast-paced

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

4.0

Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Racism, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Ableism, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, and Classism

Minor: Miscarriage

It's very heavily implied that Monday was sexually abused, no actual incest happens but it is mentioned when they talk about "flowers in the attic"

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective 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? Yes

5.0

Read this one as a kid and it still holds up. It's so precious.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Grief, and Classism

Beloved by Toni Morrison

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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? Yes

4.5

Read this for class and really loved it. It's a very difficult read both due to the subject matter and how it's written, but very worth it if you can stomach it. The prose is beautiful and does a perfect job of being reflective and tense. Sethe is a very tragic protagonist and while the decisions she makes are horrifying, you fully understand how and why she came to be this way and know that at the end of the day she doesn't deserve it. Being vague of course, but read it for yourself. Again, if you can handle the subject matter, give it a chance.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Death of parent

This one is a Lot. It is upfront and brutal about its themes and can be very uncomfortable (which is the point).

In Dubious Battle by John Steinbeck

challenging dark reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

Read this for class. Don't think it's for me. I'm usually that guy who actually really likes books given as an assignment to analyze them, and this has a lot to analyze for sure, but it just couldn't keep my attention. It was fine but don't recommend for a casual read unless you like the subject matter

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Police brutality, and Murder

Moderate: Misogyny, Racial slurs, and Racism

Minor: Pregnancy

The Rise of Kyoshi by F.C. Yee

adventurous dark emotional funny inspiring sad fast-paced

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

4.0

Not all that attached to Avatar as a series, but I really enjoyed this one! Kyoshi's an interesting protagonist (very refreshing to see an angry and cold female protagonist that's allowed to be angry) and I was invested in seeing her overcome Jianzhu and his forces. Speaking of Jianzhu, an avatar villain that's a rich government man who was friends with the previous avatar, tried to take on said avatar's duties, who's now trying to contain the new avatar with his influence that could easily kill her and has become a broken man trying to do so is a FANTASTIC concept. He was one of my favorite characters from how well he was written and how angry he made me in a lot of his scenes. Probably one of my favorite villains in recent memory. 

Also the book is gay. I appreciate that :) I love seeing gay people in fantasy novels and Kyoshi and Rangi's relationship was absolutely precious to watch unfold throughout the book. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Violence, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Classism

Moderate: Body horror and Blood

Minor: Homophobia

I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

Very heavily recommend this if you were a fan of Icarly or Sam and Cat growing up. Not out of guilt for enjoying something that caused a lot of pain for McCurdy, but out of a desire to see her shine in a profession she got to choose for herself, and to see her side behind the scenes. Where other stories detailing abuse would understandably flower up the language, McCurdy is blunt and unforgiving with her writing about her abusive mother, which is cathartic. Her story is tragic, and you will feel horrible for her, and you will feel proud of her by the end of the novel. Her story deserves to be known. Absolutely worth your money if you can handle it.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cancer, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Moderate: Infidelity

Very unrelenting in its content. Also what isn't talked about as much is that McCurdy dates a crew member who's 40 when she's 18 and he pushes her into sexual acts and acts possessive and abusive towards her, which is a very uncomfortable read (not a criticism, just a warning)

Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn

dark funny reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

Absolutely one of the most creative books I've read recently. More books that take on unconventional formats that also align really well with the plot please! A very funny but still very sharp take on religious bigotry and fascism, and it makes you read each letter very carefully to make sure the characters don't get the death sentence. My main complaint is that the ending feels rather unsatisfying to me, but I'll let you decide for yourself whether it's fitting or not.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Self harm, Suicide, Police brutality, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Addiction and Alcoholism

Minor: Ableism and Racism

Ableism and racism tags are due to the use of the R slur and G slur, though they're only used once.