cyanide_latte's reviews
1609 reviews

Are You Alice?, Vol. 9 by Ikumi Katagiri

dark emotional mysterious sad slow-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

This volume was very heavy. A lot of backstory and lore to absorb. I need a break before I can resume and finish the series (and then return the volumes to the friend who lent it to me) but this is very, very good. Excellent writing, very emotional, and an absolutely fascinating spin on AiW to come out of Japan.

Are You Alice?, Vol. 8 by Ikumi Katagiri

dark mysterious tense slow-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

And we are right back into the dark mystery of this series. I'm absolutely adoring this.

Are You Alice?, Vol. 7 by Ikumi Katagiri

lighthearted slow-paced

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

4.0

While this is still a pretty integral part of the overall series, I am here to inform you that this volume has the same energy as The Inevitable Beach Episode of an anime series. It's not bad, but it IS a boatload of tonal whiplash in the middle of everything going on.

Are You Alice?, Vol. 6 by Ikumi Katagiri

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

What in the actual fuck. What the Jesus shit. What is going on.

My colorful reaction aside, I enjoy seeing so much of the March Hare in this volume and getting to learn a bit more about his role, but WHAT IN THE FUCK. WHAT EVEN. WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE WHITE RABBIT.

The Silvered Serpents by Roshani Chokshi

adventurous dark emotional mysterious fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

This. This book is what the Six of Crows duology wishes it could have accomplished with its attempt at the Found Family trope. This is what the entire Throne of Glass series wishes it could have done with a main character who fits the chess master/Magnificent Bastard archetypes. I put off reading this for far too long, but it was so nice to return to these characters and this writing. I need to not do the same with the third book (which I have, and I need to also read.) I can't say enough good about this.

Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

mysterious sad slow-paced

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

3.5

This was absolutely something. Bonkers, to say the least. While I appreciate the tail ending of the book for the way it ties into the overall plot of the series, I feel like this might be my least favorite of the three. Probably due to the way it's intentionally disjointed in its writing. Though it's possible in the future upon re-read I'll appreciate it more.

One Hundred and One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.5

It's been a very long time since I read the original novel, but I wanted to take my partner through it and it was a nice change in pace from other things we've been reading.

I would like to begin by making it clear this book is very dated, and I have an older copy of it (so I can't speak to whether or not things were edited or removed from newer printings.) Simply be aware that the edition I own contains racist depictions of Romani people, racially insensitive moments here and there otherwise, and a very questionable depiction of the intellect of Missis Pongo. (Perdita here being a separate dog.) I'm sure there are other things I cannot immediately recall but the book is aged, and not all of it has aged very gracefully. 

I think one of my biggest frustrations with this is that while the humor and comedic elements do have their place and they are important to the story, I often feel like they are overdone and tend to take away from the narrative as often as they add to it. I also often feel like Missis seems intentionally very one-note and falls into a trap of making Pongo look better, because her character development is fraught with repetitive behaviors from her, whereas Pongo doesn't really feel like he develops much at all if one really examines his character from start to finish. So I have my reservations about Missis constantly being handled in a way that makes her seem like a "silly woman" character to balance out Pongo's actual one-note character.

But otherwise, I do feel like the story is fun and a fairly rich children's book for what it is. I remember reading it as a child multiple times and being utterly taken with it, just as much as I was with Disney's film adaptation. I've always found the puppies to be a delight (and the few puppies we have named in here do have some good characterization) and I love the way the book depicts Cruella. She's one of the few villains who scared me as a kid and still gives me chills even now, and I feel like she could really be utilized well in a literary analysis of the concept of the monstrous feminine, both as she is in the book as well as all of her Disney film depictions.

This book has stuck with me for so long, and while I take it with a large grain of salt now that I'm an adult, it does still hold a special place in my heart.
(Also, I do recall Nanny Cook and Nanny Butler giving older lesbian vibes, but I'd forgotten about Jim and Bill! Something about them also gives gay vibes, and I'm absolutely loving that.)

My Hero Academia: Team-Up Missions, Vol. 2 by Kōhei Horikoshi, Yoko Akiyama

funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

5.0

Absolutely perfect, tons of fun for any fan of the main series, 10/10, no notes.

Guilty Blood by F. Wesley Schneider

mysterious slow-paced

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

2.0

I'd enjoyed Bloodbound so much that I'd been wanting to read this connected short story for a while, as I'd been under the impression it is needed to understand aspects of that book. As it turns out, my opinion now is reading this short story is unnecessary to understanding that book. I personally found it to be a slog and a bore. Kind of disappointed I spent the money on it.

Are You Alice?, Vol. 5 by Ikumi Katagiri

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

WHAT. EXCUSE YOU, WHAT. WHAT.
MY JAW IS ON THE FLOOR.