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kylahken's reviews
58 reviews
The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
I knew going in that it wouldn’t be my favourite book ever as i’m not much of a sci-fi gal but truly was not my cup of tea. The language was far too elevated and sterile for a casual YA novel and the plot just was not entirely intriguing tbh. Plot just dives straight in without much context to the world (VERY heavily dystopian sci-fi) and the addition of the relationship in the last like 20 pages did not work well. I’d almost hesitate to put this in with other sapphic/lgbtq novels as aside from the very minor romance of it, it felt like two friends and rushed connection. I really wanted to like it but overall just an okay read.
The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
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? No
4.0
orion you little bitch oh my god
A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Galadriel deserves love :(
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
We Are Okay by Nina LaCour
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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
4.5
i would do anything for marin.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Death of parent
Her Majesty's Royal Coven by Juno Dawson
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
phenomenal. genuinely just a gorgeous book. from the magic and world building to the societal commentary, just *chefs kiss*. the societal commentary handled gender, sexuality, and race in such a careful and thought out way that doesn’t shove it down, but explores all sides and viewpoints (albeit villainizing the wrong viewpoint for good reason). 10/10 read if you want a fantasy queer read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Transphobia, and Dysphoria
one of the main focuses of the book is in the validity of a character’s transition, though the book handles it very well and openly critiques those who do not believe in trans validity.
Circe by Madeline Miller
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
i didn’t entirely love it, but i didn’t entirely dislike it either. nothing really grabbed my attention in a way i was expecting. if you’re looking for just a casual read, this book is great. but, if you want something that is going to capture your attention and keep you guessing, this is not the book for that.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
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
5.0
genuinely phenomenal. there is nothing so entirely complex or philosophical or any other muddled bs, just raw and uniquely human. it showcases the dynamics between every sort of relationship that left me feeling unapologetically human (and maybe wanting to try my hand at an mmorpg but i’ll stick to animal crossing).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Grief, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Gun violence, Sexual content, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Cancer and Car accident
If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
One of my favourite books I read in 2022. The dark academia vibes were absolutely stunning. As someone who (sorry to say) dislikes shakespeare, Rio does a fantastic job of weaving in bits and pieces at perfect times and always giving enough context to it so that my rusty knowledge doesn’t hinder the enjoyment and understanding of the book! The overall premise, plot, and characters are all so developed and intricately intertwined in such a masterful way that while I was panic reading to reach my 2022 goal, I genuinely could not stop reading this book. Absolutely here for all the dark mysterious academia!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Grief
Moderate: Physical abuse
Alone with You in the Ether by Olivie Blake
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
One of the best self destructive love stories i’ve ever read. perfectly combines love, addiction, mental health, and just the overall tone and poetic language is fantastic. also love that each part was written in a different style, really interesting addition to the narrative!
Content Warnings
Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship