rnbhargava's reviews
389 reviews

Goddess of the River by Vaishnavi Patel

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Yet another incredibly paced in action but also emotionally moving Hinduism related retelling from Patel. This one is just as interesting as Kaikeyi, I might like this one better with its slightly different storytelling construction, focusing on a godly mother and her essentially demi-god son. Her learning process regrading humanity and his struggles around what is morally upright in relation to his all too fallible paternal family members is told in compelling fashion. My minor gripe with this book is that supporting characters don’t get quite as full arcs. That said, aside from maybe one or two characters, I mostly felt like I could piece together what the supporting characters were up to with their motivations. Vaishnavi Patel is definitely shaping up to be one of my favourite writers. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

There is an element of infanticide, there is child-parent estrangement caused by one parent not allowing the other to see their child, there is a scene that could have easily become a sexual assault if not for certain storytelling/plot elements inhibiting it. There is war and characters motivated by vengeance. Whether gods are good or vengeful is a theme throughout. Family infighting in general is a large aspect of the plot.

The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Honestly this is a fantastic book. The characters, the discussion it creates with the reader about the nature of propaganda, politics and warfare. The characters are full of complex motivations, doubts, traumas, triumphs and tragedies. Mamoru is such a good kid, all of Misaki’s kids are. Misaki is so multidimensional. Takeru really puts you through a hate/love dynamic and you even come to sympathize with him at points. The supporting characters are even immensely layered through how they handle the highs and lows of their lives before and amidst the narrative of this novel. “Sword of Kaigen” is quite the appropriate title for this.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

There is a rape, there is lots of discussion and depiction of propaganda and brutal warfare, also child death and parental death in several contexts. There are also special abilities that could be used in a variety of violent and benevolent manners.

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing 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

4.5

There are brief tense and subjectively sad parts but they’re brief and the sad ones read more introspective 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content, Xenophobia, Blood, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

The sexual content isn’t depicted, just briefly mentioned. The xenophobia is emblematic in how humans don’t really interact with robots anymore so the premise of the narrative is novel and ideologically challenging for one of our leads.

The Girl from the Other Side: Siúil, a Rún Deluxe Edition I by Nagabe

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This is an excellent spin on essentially beauty and the beast. The kid is the beauty, the beast is teacher and the curse is upon many individuals and potentially animals. The child is so innocent and caring but there’s a sinister prophecy afoot. It’s compelling hearing about the circumstances for the world and how it relates to the child and her caretaker only known as Teacher. I’m excited to read further.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Racism, Terminal illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense medium-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

4.25

This is a narrative about personal jealousy, racism in publishing and interrogating race politics 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Blood, Stalking, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Biphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Drug use, Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual content, Medical content, Grief, Alcohol, Dysphoria, War, and Classism

The entire narrative of this book is about a White American woman excusing and justifying her actions against a college friend and writer colleague who is Chinese American plus the varying moods and swings in action to conceal what she is doing. We are in the mind of the white woman character the whole time and it’s intentionally uncomfortable to be in this character’s head. Pace yourself if you need to though this novel isn’t that long.

Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense 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

4.25

I loved so much about this Ramayana expansion and partial retelling. The highs and lows are dramatic and I love this book for it. I also love that the title character’s mind is where we exclusively reside in for this retelling given she’s usually depicted as a wicked stepmother type in many Ramayana variations. Seeing her extended family, early days of her marriage, her bonds with her fellow wives and the community of her adopted home Ayodhya. Seeing her build bonds and falter in others. Seeing her reconnect with others across time. I liked the recontextualizinv of Ravana too. The depiction of Rama is done for a specific reason and I kind of loved that surprising shift. I’m sure it ruffled some but I think fine, it’s merely one retelling so if you dislike it, disregard it. The family bonds really define the narrative here and it’s so good to read through. The characterizations of Kaikeyi’s fellow wives could have been expanded but then I guess it would take away from being solely Kaikeyi’s point of view. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, War, and Classism

The question of free will/manipulation is central to the abilities used by the title character and an few other individuals. The title character is asexual so depending on how you see it, the few sex scenes in the plot could be understood in a few ways. There is definite misogyny throughout the book, even from males that are mostly supportive of progressing rights for women. There’s a specific point in showing it that way. Going against the patriarchy and redefining society happens in time.

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

The chapters are essentially a compilation of short stories that help the reader come to a consensus reaction about the personal history and lives of these mothers and daughters. You experience their joys and struggles regarding the dynamics in their personal relationships. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Moderate: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Self harm, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Some of the triggers are overt, others are strongly suggested, perhaps in other countries in historical periods where long ago childhoods and family histories are elaborated on, in small country towns that could be called backward, clinging to old practices such as having a proper wife but also additional wives/concubines.

The World We Make by N.K. Jemisin

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

I really loved this sequel. My minor issue with it is that some aspects of it just kind of end a bit conveniently. Some parts, that’s amusing. Others, it felt like a slightly hastened storyline. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Death, Genocide, Violence, Gaslighting, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Confinement, Deadnaming, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Blood, Stalking, Car accident, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism

There are scenes where cities are put at risk en masse. There’s examples of characters that are clearly analogous to far right, kind of racist, supposedly religion based politicians. The idea of the soul of a city, the distinct things that give them personality is a big theme in this. The avatars are emblematic in the best ways possible. I overall love this duology. Frankly, I kind of hope Jemisin still makes it into a trilogy one day.

Spy x Family, Vol. 11 by Tatsuya Endo

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious relaxing sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Gun violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, and War

The main storyline in this volume has to do with Anya and her classmates being snatched by a radical group en route to a field trip. If anything like that sounds like too much for you, stay away.

Noragami Omnibus 4 (Vol. 10-12) by Adachitoka

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This volume deals a lot with the violent morality of gods and their shinki. It’s like a new round of set up and world building. I quite enjoyed it.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

The misogyny has to do with sexualizing and groping some female characters. The blood and violence is quite brutal. The mental illness is kind of emblematic about the nature of Shinki not knowing their names and the repercussions of if they learn them. The God master and Shinki servant dynamic is kind of like a Toxic friendship or relationship. It’s inherently imbalanced. The gods could potentially bully all of their Shinki quite a bit. The question of who holds the power is inherent.