zoroco's reviews
13 reviews
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
adventurous
emotional
medium-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
4.5
the first time i heard about this book, it was being hyped as a feminist re-telling of the myth of st. george and the dragon - and it was huge on booktok. i don't really like tales of old being repackaged, and for me booktok is where good taste can be found hung, drawn and quartered.
still, my curiosity persisted; until one day i saw this on sale and thought fuck it. anyway it does slay! ead i love you. loth i love you. tané i love you. niclays i'll let you off the hook i guess. the worldbuilding is incredible, and i am a slut for fictional religions and political systems. the action sequences are great, and the big showdown at the end did genuinely give me chills. it's not just a re-telling of old georgie boy and the dragon: it touches on lots of myth and folklore along the way. the arthurian vibes are strong.
is ms shannon going to win awards for her sex scenes? no. did this book need a slightly firmer editorial hand? possibly. did a bizarrely large number of chapters end with the POV character being rendered unconscious? if in doubt knock 'em out! but i really enjoyed it nonetheless. fantasy doesn't have to be white and heterosexual. what a ride.
still, my curiosity persisted; until one day i saw this on sale and thought fuck it. anyway it does slay! ead i love you. loth i love you. tané i love you. niclays i'll let you off the hook i guess. the worldbuilding is incredible, and i am a slut for fictional religions and political systems. the action sequences are great, and the big showdown at the end did genuinely give me chills. it's not just a re-telling of old georgie boy and the dragon: it touches on lots of myth and folklore along the way. the arthurian vibes are strong.
is ms shannon going to win awards for her sex scenes? no. did this book need a slightly firmer editorial hand? possibly. did a bizarrely large number of chapters end with the POV character being rendered unconscious? if in doubt knock 'em out! but i really enjoyed it nonetheless. fantasy doesn't have to be white and heterosexual. what a ride.
Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors
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Content Warnings
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
4.0
cleo and frank end up being the least interesting people in this book about very interesting, fucked up people. only two zoe POV chapters is a crime - i loved her. great read, loved it even more when it went off-piste, especially with the turn into first person in eleanor's chapters.
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Drug abuse, Drug use, Alcohol, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Animal death and Chronic illness
Minor: Transphobia
The Lives of Christopher Chant by Diana Wynne Jones
adventurous
medium-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
4.25
my most beloved childhood read. it's hard to say how well it would hold up now, in this age of YA novels that are slicker than an oil spill, but i have the fondest memories of this book. a perfect mashup of historical, fantasy, and magical realism. plus, a cat you will love. three cheers for ms wynne jones!
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
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Content Warnings
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
a frothy romp through the golden age of rock with a fleetwood mac-lite band who are all largely insufferable. i do like the oral history format, and TJR does a good job of showing just how many people it takes to get that juggernaut of a touring band moving. maybe this is a me problem, but i would have liked to have read more about the music biz and sat with some real nostaglia rather than put up with a dairylea cheese love triangle. a good book to spend an afternoon with, and certainly better than watching it play out for ten episodes on screen.
Moderate: Drug abuse
Darling by India Knight
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The Mirror & The Light by Hilary Mantel
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
4.75
Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-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? No
4.75
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
5.0
Painter to the King by Amy Sackville
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb
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Content Warnings
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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
4.25
Graphic: Animal death