raisingself's reviews
499 reviews
Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.0
The One That Got Away: A Novel by Charlotte Rixon
All of the things are in this book but oddly it was not triggering. It was a slow burn storytelling of young people I'll equipped for life finding and loving each other. It is not a traditional romance novel, in that it feels too realistic. The main characters too flawed. The realities of life too difficult.
This a book that people will with like or hate. It slightly reminds me of a better version of Normal People by Sally Rooney, which I disliked but this for all of its intensity, sadness and slow inwinding, I did enjoy. The book ends with a dash of tender hoepfulness, which I appreciate.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book is an angsty and slightly heartbreaking love story told in the past and present over 20 years in England. It touches on a lot of tough subjects so trigger warning for:
- Parent loss
- Mental illness/Mood disorder
- S. Assault
- Child abuse
- Depictions of class and inequality
- Violence
- Infertility
All of the things are in this book but oddly it was not triggering. It was a slow burn storytelling of young people I'll equipped for life finding and loving each other. It is not a traditional romance novel, in that it feels too realistic. The main characters too flawed. The realities of life too difficult.
This a book that people will with like or hate. It slightly reminds me of a better version of Normal People by Sally Rooney, which I disliked but this for all of its intensity, sadness and slow inwinding, I did enjoy. The book ends with a dash of tender hoepfulness, which I appreciate.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual violence, Mental illness, Alcohol, Child abuse, Abandonment, Classism, Bullying, Addiction, Cursing, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Terminal illness, Rape, Pregnancy, and Murder
Minor: Drug use, Toxic friendship, Pedophilia, Infidelity, Self harm, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Infertility
Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver
2.0
The book is very predictable and borders on disinterring, but when I start a series, I have to finish it.
Traitor Born by Amy A. Bartol
3.0
I received an advanced reader copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Traitor Born starts shortly after Secondborn ends. Roselle is now under the protection of the most powerful person in her world and the leader of Virtue, Fabian Bowie and seems like she is little more than a political pawn who can’t leave the elaborate palace where she resides indefinitely. She’s also dealing with a number of obstacles including her desire to protect her first born heir brother from her allies, avoiding the clutches of a tyrannical murderous mother, plots within plots, betrayals within betrayals, PTSD and multiple viable love interests (yay). Amy Bartol threw everything but the kitchen sink at us, it’s my favorite thing about many of her stories.
I really do like this series, there are certain reoccurring themes in Amy’s writing that I love and I loathe but Ms. Bartol is a great storyteller, what some of her stories lack in nuance they make up for in the fervor of the narrative. This book is a 3 for me, at best 3.5 stars. It feels very transitional in a chaotic and almost unsatisfying way. I can tell Bartol is writing us toward book 3. I love multi-part series where each book could almost standalone within the larger narrative, but book 2’s are often hard when the writer and her publishers have sequels in queue. This would likely be less of an annoyance if book 3 was already available for immediate consumption.
Pros and Cons
Cons
-Making stupid decisions for the sake of "love", it happens to the best of us but in Traitor Born there are moments of dialogue or situations that create these minor plot inconsistencies for the sake of a romance.
-Book 2 feels a little rushed and transitional. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but there is an undertone of chaos to this book. There are a ton of moving parts and layers that could be better organized. More time is spent describing outfits or elaborate architecture than streamlining the intricacies of the story-line.
- I still feel that there is a foundational weakness in the way in which the Second Born series explains a society built on filial cruelty (cruelty toward one's own child) and prolicide (killing of one's offspring). There were some inconsistent commentary on this within Traitor Born.
-The dialogue was kitschy or roll your eyes sappy at times.
Pros
-Multiple love interests. I love a writer who is not afraid to give a protagonist options and allowing her to explore them. Traitor Born gives Roselle the space to explore 3 enticing romantic relationships.
-Adding depth to the protagonist. Roselle is a strong lead. Her abilities and skills are hard earned. Book two exploits her strengths (combat, strategy, etc.), her weaknesses (familial ties, PTSD, etc.), and adds some much needed depth.
-Action packed with interesting subplots.
-Unexpected plot twists, the book is not predictable and I couldn’t put it down until I was done. (I finished by the next day)
I ended up liking the book, it’s good science fiction – escapist – new adult literature, however you probably won’t love it if you don’t like these types of books. You probably will enjoy if you liked Secondborn. Is there room for improvement… yes, but I have to admit that I enjoyed it and will definitely be reading Rebel Born (book 3).
Addendum:
I read a preview of book 3 Rebel Born... I'm excited! Looks like some of my cons will be thoroughly addressed.
Traitor Born starts shortly after Secondborn ends. Roselle is now under the protection of the most powerful person in her world and the leader of Virtue, Fabian Bowie and seems like she is little more than a political pawn who can’t leave the elaborate palace where she resides indefinitely. She’s also dealing with a number of obstacles including her desire to protect her first born heir brother from her allies, avoiding the clutches of a tyrannical murderous mother, plots within plots, betrayals within betrayals, PTSD and multiple viable love interests (yay). Amy Bartol threw everything but the kitchen sink at us, it’s my favorite thing about many of her stories.
I really do like this series, there are certain reoccurring themes in Amy’s writing that I love and I loathe but Ms. Bartol is a great storyteller, what some of her stories lack in nuance they make up for in the fervor of the narrative. This book is a 3 for me, at best 3.5 stars. It feels very transitional in a chaotic and almost unsatisfying way. I can tell Bartol is writing us toward book 3. I love multi-part series where each book could almost standalone within the larger narrative, but book 2’s are often hard when the writer and her publishers have sequels in queue. This would likely be less of an annoyance if book 3 was already available for immediate consumption.
Pros and Cons
Cons
-Making stupid decisions for the sake of "love", it happens to the best of us but in Traitor Born there are moments of dialogue or situations that create these minor plot inconsistencies for the sake of a romance.
-Book 2 feels a little rushed and transitional. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but there is an undertone of chaos to this book. There are a ton of moving parts and layers that could be better organized. More time is spent describing outfits or elaborate architecture than streamlining the intricacies of the story-line.
- I still feel that there is a foundational weakness in the way in which the Second Born series explains a society built on filial cruelty (cruelty toward one's own child) and prolicide (killing of one's offspring). There were some inconsistent commentary on this within Traitor Born.
-The dialogue was kitschy or roll your eyes sappy at times.
Pros
-Multiple love interests. I love a writer who is not afraid to give a protagonist options and allowing her to explore them. Traitor Born gives Roselle the space to explore 3 enticing romantic relationships.
-Adding depth to the protagonist. Roselle is a strong lead. Her abilities and skills are hard earned. Book two exploits her strengths (combat, strategy, etc.), her weaknesses (familial ties, PTSD, etc.), and adds some much needed depth.
-Action packed with interesting subplots.
-Unexpected plot twists, the book is not predictable and I couldn’t put it down until I was done. (I finished by the next day)
I ended up liking the book, it’s good science fiction – escapist – new adult literature, however you probably won’t love it if you don’t like these types of books. You probably will enjoy if you liked Secondborn. Is there room for improvement… yes, but I have to admit that I enjoyed it and will definitely be reading Rebel Born (book 3).
Addendum:
I read a preview of book 3 Rebel Born... I'm excited! Looks like some of my cons will be thoroughly addressed.
Artemis by Andy Weir
3.0
The book is good.
The lead protagonist a skilled Saudi Arabian woman who has lived nearly all of her life on the moon and plays by her own rules. Jasmine "Jazz" Bashara doesn’t fall victim to the many tropes writers default to when writing for a female protagonist. She’s no damsel in distress. She’s not ridiculously focused on a love be interest in the middle of a major plot conflict. She is a very well developed character.
The plot is strong as well. Very little holes. But it’s so detailed and technical in terms of what and how the character execute some difficult task in space that I would become a little bored. I think this is specific to me. Another reader may find this rich and adds to the solidness of the story and plot. But for this reason I only find the book good and not great! I would not hesitate to read a sequel though.
The lead protagonist a skilled Saudi Arabian woman who has lived nearly all of her life on the moon and plays by her own rules. Jasmine "Jazz" Bashara doesn’t fall victim to the many tropes writers default to when writing for a female protagonist. She’s no damsel in distress. She’s not ridiculously focused on a love be interest in the middle of a major plot conflict. She is a very well developed character.
The plot is strong as well. Very little holes. But it’s so detailed and technical in terms of what and how the character execute some difficult task in space that I would become a little bored. I think this is specific to me. Another reader may find this rich and adds to the solidness of the story and plot. But for this reason I only find the book good and not great! I would not hesitate to read a sequel though.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
5.0
Believe. The. Hype.
This book plays no games! The Hate U Give is amazing, a gem in an over saturated market filled with reproductions. It's a Black Lives Matter book but it's so much more. It's a real and authentic voice. So many YA books are both forced and feels so fake, like the last time the writer was in a room with teenager or new adult, it was 1999. The same can not be said for this book.
I have not read a book that made me go yup, daaaaang, Yaaaaaasss, whhhaaaaaat so much in a span of a chapter or two in my entire bookworm life.
Thomas created a world filled with precise and intricate characters. The reader is invested and convinced. We aren't fed bull or whimsy.
Thomas writes with such style and grace. She's the real deal. Chick has legit talent and I'm here for all of it!
This book plays no games! The Hate U Give is amazing, a gem in an over saturated market filled with reproductions. It's a Black Lives Matter book but it's so much more. It's a real and authentic voice. So many YA books are both forced and feels so fake, like the last time the writer was in a room with teenager or new adult, it was 1999. The same can not be said for this book.
I have not read a book that made me go yup, daaaaang, Yaaaaaasss, whhhaaaaaat so much in a span of a chapter or two in my entire bookworm life.
Thomas created a world filled with precise and intricate characters. The reader is invested and convinced. We aren't fed bull or whimsy.
Thomas writes with such style and grace. She's the real deal. Chick has legit talent and I'm here for all of it!
The Fire Queen by Emily R. King
1.0
I received an early copy of this book to review. What can I say about this book other than the plot was underwhelming and the characterization weak. I forced my self to read each subsequent chapter after the first. The first book was good, the second is, for the most part, a failure in my opinion.
Requiem by Lauren Oliver
1.0
Too many issues to list but most of all ending is underwhelming and feels unfinished.
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
4.0
Is multiverse sci-fi a genre, it really should be because I love it.
Dark Matter, a time travel/alternative reality novel by Blake Crouch, is a hard book to review because, well frankly, spoilers would ruin the adrenaline ride of the middle and end. The beginning is a slow build with many annoying things obvious to the reader but not so obvious to poor brilliant protagonist. But the beginning is a time to reflect, to think about the multitude of choices all man-kind is making at any given moment - from our spouse to our groceries - and how those choices impact reality.
At some point the book shifts from obvious to visceral. From predictable to edge of your seat "oh my GAWD let me Google Game Theory again” cray.
This book is goood science fiction mainly because it honors and seamlessly incorporates the human factor (thoughts, emotions, dreams and shortcomings). Give it a try and read it to the end and it will likely leave you shaken and (maybe even pleasantly) surprised.
Dark Matter, a time travel/alternative reality novel by Blake Crouch, is a hard book to review because, well frankly, spoilers would ruin the adrenaline ride of the middle and end. The beginning is a slow build with many annoying things obvious to the reader but not so obvious to poor brilliant protagonist. But the beginning is a time to reflect, to think about the multitude of choices all man-kind is making at any given moment - from our spouse to our groceries - and how those choices impact reality.
At some point the book shifts from obvious to visceral. From predictable to edge of your seat "oh my GAWD let me Google Game Theory again” cray.
This book is goood science fiction mainly because it honors and seamlessly incorporates the human factor (thoughts, emotions, dreams and shortcomings). Give it a try and read it to the end and it will likely leave you shaken and (maybe even pleasantly) surprised.