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rachaelarsenault's reviews
217 reviews
Otherworldly by F.T. Lukens
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
Loved the worldbuilding here and how the narrative actually realistically grappled with the implications of a prolonged winter. The way the supernatural was integrated into the mundane world was also great - I'm a sucker for that trope. And Knox and Ellery were both really interesting characters (the whole cast was wonderful, to be fair) and I thought their relationship was very sweet. The third act conflict was also EXCELLENT, with logical high stakes, great pay offs, and well-crafted tension.
Delilah Green Doesn't Care by Ashley Herring Blake
emotional
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was a solid and enjoyable book, but nothing that blew me away. The characters were interesting, I was really engaged by the backstory and side conflicts, and I appreciated how very queer the central cast was. I would probably try other books by this author in the future.
The main thing holding this back from a higher rating is that I think it was too long (over 600 pages for my library ebook), and it got very repetitive, at least where Delilah and Claire's internal monologues are concerned.
The main thing holding this back from a higher rating is that I think it was too long (over 600 pages for my library ebook), and it got very repetitive, at least where Delilah and Claire's internal monologues are concerned.
It Ain't Over Til the Bisexual Speaks: An Anthology of Bisexual Voices by Lois Shearing, Vaneet Mehta
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
I received a digital ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I felt so seen reading this essay collection. It holds a wonderful breadth of voices, experiences, and perspectives, and I feel like any reader could gain something from at least one of these essays. Some pieces felt very casual and anecdotal, while others presented more of a sense of academic rigor, which will also appeal to a range of readers.
Some essays I loved more than others - and a couple were a bit of a miss for me - but overall this was an extremely solid anthology.
I felt so seen reading this essay collection. It holds a wonderful breadth of voices, experiences, and perspectives, and I feel like any reader could gain something from at least one of these essays. Some pieces felt very casual and anecdotal, while others presented more of a sense of academic rigor, which will also appeal to a range of readers.
Some essays I loved more than others - and a couple were a bit of a miss for me - but overall this was an extremely solid anthology.
The Charmed List by Julie Abe
medium-paced
3.0
A cute little story, but the writing style wasn't for me and aspects of the magic system at times felt a bit slapdash and "as the plot demands".
They Hate Each Other by Amanda Woody
emotional
funny
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
5.0
I absolutely adored this book. Very queer, very emotional, very intense - but also full of humor and heartfelt moments. They fake dating was handled well, as were conversations about trauma, grief, and mental health.
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Emily Wilde is a certified badass, but never in the ways you would expect. She isn't brawny, nor does she have any kind of martial skills, nor is she even particularly graceful or agile. But she's smart as a whip, cunning, has an incredible breadth of knowledge, and a ruthless streak. It's the nerdiest way to be a badass and I love it.
I also loved how this story was framed both as a diary of sorts and a collection of academic notes and observations. As someone who has written essays for fun... yeah, fake academic texts are my idea of a good time.
All the lore and worldbuilding regarding fae, their magic, and the ways mortals can cope with/counteract their enchantments was also really interesting and well explored. These truly felt like fae - inhuman, frivolous, and bound by rules and logics that don't make sense to mortals. I could entirely understand Emily's fascination with them, and everyone else's fear.
And, of course, Emily and Wendell's dynamic was delightful. They play off each other so well, the banter is great, and I loved how obvious it was to me as a reader that Wendell is smitten with Emily even as she remained largely oblivious (perhaps willfully so). Very excited to read future adventures between them.
I also loved how this story was framed both as a diary of sorts and a collection of academic notes and observations. As someone who has written essays for fun... yeah, fake academic texts are my idea of a good time.
All the lore and worldbuilding regarding fae, their magic, and the ways mortals can cope with/counteract their enchantments was also really interesting and well explored. These truly felt like fae - inhuman, frivolous, and bound by rules and logics that don't make sense to mortals. I could entirely understand Emily's fascination with them, and everyone else's fear.
And, of course, Emily and Wendell's dynamic was delightful. They play off each other so well, the banter is great, and I loved how obvious it was to me as a reader that Wendell is smitten with Emily even as she remained largely oblivious (perhaps willfully so). Very excited to read future adventures between them.
Mirrored Heavens by Rebecca Roanhorse
dark
emotional
tense
slow-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
5.0
I received a digital ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was an absolutely stunning conclusion to a brilliant series. The world and its history is rich, well-developed, and well-explored - I wish I could spend more time in Meridian. The characters were also complex and equal parts detestable and lovable, which made all their struggles and triumphs all the more gripping. I loved the way certain characters/storyline paralleled or foiled each other. The twists and reveals were well-foreshadowed and effectively executed.
Overall, this was an incredible read. Rebecca Roanhorse remains one of my favourite authors, and Between Earth and Sky one of my favourite series.
This was an absolutely stunning conclusion to a brilliant series. The world and its history is rich, well-developed, and well-explored - I wish I could spend more time in Meridian. The characters were also complex and equal parts detestable and lovable, which made all their struggles and triumphs all the more gripping. I loved the way certain characters/storyline paralleled or foiled each other. The twists and reveals were well-foreshadowed and effectively executed.
Overall, this was an incredible read. Rebecca Roanhorse remains one of my favourite authors, and Between Earth and Sky one of my favourite series.
Triple Sec by TJ Alexander
funny
lighthearted
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
5.0
I received a digital ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
Quick, funny, and delightfully queer. I absolutely loved reading Triple Sec - I think it did a wonderful job presenting poly relationships and community with nuance and care. Each of the couples were well-developed and explored, as were the individual characters, and it was so satisfying to see them come together in a triad. I also loved how Mel's experimenting and preparation for the cocktail competition seemed to parallel the growth of her relationships with Bebe and Kade.
It's also worth noting that this story easily could have geared salacious and extremely sex-forward - I've certainly come across romances where the plot was just a vehicle for smut (and there's nothing wrong with that, it's just not my taste). But in Triple Sec, each sex scene marked a milestone for the characters and their relationships. The scenes weren’t too short or too long, they didn't feel gratuitous, and they were well-written.
Overall, this was an excellent book full of great queer rep and lovable characters. I look forward to reading more of TJ Alexander's work.
Quick, funny, and delightfully queer. I absolutely loved reading Triple Sec - I think it did a wonderful job presenting poly relationships and community with nuance and care. Each of the couples were well-developed and explored, as were the individual characters, and it was so satisfying to see them come together in a triad. I also loved how Mel's experimenting and preparation for the cocktail competition seemed to parallel the growth of her relationships with Bebe and Kade.
It's also worth noting that this story easily could have geared salacious and extremely sex-forward - I've certainly come across romances where the plot was just a vehicle for smut (and there's nothing wrong with that, it's just not my taste). But in Triple Sec, each sex scene marked a milestone for the characters and their relationships. The scenes weren’t too short or too long, they didn't feel gratuitous, and they were well-written.
Overall, this was an excellent book full of great queer rep and lovable characters. I look forward to reading more of TJ Alexander's work.
So This Is Ever After by F.T. Lukens
funny
lighthearted
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
5.0
This is my third FT Lukens book thus far, and I'm absolutely loving their writing style. It's quick, a bit stream of consciousness, and irreverent while still carrying a lot of heart.
The characters here are easy to love (if a bit tropey - very classic D&D party-vibes, which I personally love as a D&D nerd), as are all the dynamics and interconnections amongst them. Also, basically everyone is bi until proven otherwise. And I don't think anyone is ever proven otherwise?
Arek and Matt's romance was sweet and frustrating and full of delicious tension. It's the miscommunication trope done right, because it's not simply the characters refusing to talk about their feelings/issues. They both try to communicate, but each of them interprets things wildly differently, to the point that they're basically having two separate conversations. Also, they're childhood friends-to-lovers, and I'm a sucker for friends-to-lovers romance.
The characters here are easy to love (if a bit tropey - very classic D&D party-vibes, which I personally love as a D&D nerd), as are all the dynamics and interconnections amongst them. Also, basically everyone is bi until proven otherwise. And I don't think anyone is ever proven otherwise?
Arek and Matt's romance was sweet and frustrating and full of delicious tension. It's the miscommunication trope done right, because it's not simply the characters refusing to talk about their feelings/issues. They both try to communicate, but each of them interprets things wildly differently, to the point that they're basically having two separate conversations. Also, they're childhood friends-to-lovers, and I'm a sucker for friends-to-lovers romance.