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spinesinaline's reviews
800 reviews
Peter Darling by Austin Chant
challenging
emotional
hopeful
slow-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
So good, what a delightful and tense story
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Dysphoria
My Lost Freedom by George Takei
challenging
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
What a beautifully illustrated children's book and such an important story to share with kids. I appreciated the afterword that gave more context to the brief overview Takei offers in the book but I do wish it had explored more of this danger and harm in the depth in the actual story rather than a more superficial overview, though this was presented as his experience as a child.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: War
The Barren Grounds by David A. Robertson
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? Yes
4.5
What a beautiful story with a reenvisioning of Narnia for a new generation. Will absolutely be picking up the rest of this series
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Abandonment and Colonisation
Minor: Racism
Symbiosis by Tony Batton
challenging
dark
funny
fast-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? Yes
4.5
Big thanks to the author for a review copy! My fave thriller series, I'm so glad there's a new book continuing the story.
This latest in the Interface series involves even more powerful and intricate tech than the previous books and seeing the wonder and horror of how it can be used will certainly make you hesitate when considering your current devices.
I would highly recommend reading the earlier books before this third instalment as the antics and adrenaline and stress keep ramping up. There’s enough exposition throughout that you’ll likely be able to put together the earlier events yourself and the plot here isn’t entirely reliant on the previous books but it would help to have the background if for nothing more than to keep track of this massive cast.
Along with the sheer number of people and their varied motivations, this plot will always keep you guessing. There are so many twists and turns and last-minute reveals. Some of the twists have just enough hints that you might be able to anticipate where the story is going but it’s a thrill whether you’re taken by surprise or not.
With all of the excitement of this book and seeing these characters back together for more adventures, I am so pumped to revisit the whole series and see once more how it all comes together. There is just enough resolution here to wrap up the story but I still have loads of questions about where the characters will go next.
This latest in the Interface series involves even more powerful and intricate tech than the previous books and seeing the wonder and horror of how it can be used will certainly make you hesitate when considering your current devices.
I would highly recommend reading the earlier books before this third instalment as the antics and adrenaline and stress keep ramping up. There’s enough exposition throughout that you’ll likely be able to put together the earlier events yourself and the plot here isn’t entirely reliant on the previous books but it would help to have the background if for nothing more than to keep track of this massive cast.
Along with the sheer number of people and their varied motivations, this plot will always keep you guessing. There are so many twists and turns and last-minute reveals. Some of the twists have just enough hints that you might be able to anticipate where the story is going but it’s a thrill whether you’re taken by surprise or not.
With all of the excitement of this book and seeing these characters back together for more adventures, I am so pumped to revisit the whole series and see once more how it all comes together. There is just enough resolution here to wrap up the story but I still have loads of questions about where the characters will go next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Confinement
Minor: Terminal illness and Medical content
Manywhere by Morgan Thomas
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
4.75
Very enjoyable collection
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder and Pregnancy
Moderate: Deadnaming, Death, Self harm, Transphobia, Abortion, and Abandonment
Minor: Miscarriage and Fire/Fire injury
Night by Elie Wiesel
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
4.0
Clearly a very personal and haunting story. I had known of this book for a while and I'm glad to have finally read it. For a firsthand account of the horrors of the holocaust, I'd recommend this book but really review the content warnings first. Seeing his attitudes towards Palestine in the epilogue is more haunting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Violence, Antisemitism, Death of parent, Murder, and War
7 Generations: A Plains Cree Saga by David A. Robertson
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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
4.75
This book follows one Plains Cree family from the 1800s through to the present through a series of flashbacks, starting in the present with Edwin, a teenager who's recovering from a suicide attempt. His mother begins to share the story of his ancestors and how their experiences and trauma continue to impact their descendants today.
It's a beautiful depiction of family and grief in both artwork and story despite the heavy content, and Robertson does a great job bringing together all of this history. Pleased they combined the series into one book so you can read it all in one go. Would highly recommend this one for any age
It's a beautiful depiction of family and grief in both artwork and story despite the heavy content, and Robertson does a great job bringing together all of this history. Pleased they combined the series into one book so you can read it all in one go. Would highly recommend this one for any age
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Physical abuse, and Self harm
Minor: Alcoholism
A Mind Spread Out on the Ground by Alicia Elliott
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Racism, and Colonisation
Moderate: Sexual assault
Medicine Walk by Richard Wagamese
challenging
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Racism, Sexual content, and War
Minor: Pregnancy