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spinesinaline's reviews
800 reviews
Thirsty by Jas Hammonds
challenging
emotional
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
4.5
Jas Hammonds does it again. Big thanks to the publisher for an e-ARC to review!
Loads of content warnings which the author details in a note at the start, including alcohol addiction, self-hatred, racial microaggressions, and transphobic rhetoric.
I was a little apprehensive when I saw that this release is about drinking as that’s not particularly relevant to me so I wasn’t sure how my reading experience would go but I shouldn’t have been worried. Hammonds continues to write impressive, intense stories about teens and their emotions that can reach you whether or not you have directly comparable experiences with the characters. I'm loving the continued bittersweet nature of their books and will continue to seek them out.
Loads of content warnings which the author details in a note at the start, including alcohol addiction, self-hatred, racial microaggressions, and transphobic rhetoric.
I was a little apprehensive when I saw that this release is about drinking as that’s not particularly relevant to me so I wasn’t sure how my reading experience would go but I shouldn’t have been worried. Hammonds continues to write impressive, intense stories about teens and their emotions that can reach you whether or not you have directly comparable experiences with the characters. I'm loving the continued bittersweet nature of their books and will continue to seek them out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Racism, Transphobia, and Outing
And Then There Was Us by Kern Carter
challenging
emotional
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
3.5
Thanks to Tandem Collective and Tundra Books for a copy for the readalong!
I really appreciate books for younger readers that take on serious themes, and I felt that Carter handles the difficult subject of abuse well. The teen MC Coi is allowed to feel all her feelings, sometimes putting her at odds with those who truly care about her, but it’s balanced with many adult voices in the book emphasizing that blame or shame is not something Coi needs to carry for herself.
The book fell short for me more in the writing than the themes, as it felt like there was more exposition than needed. I would’ve loved for some moments to have been shown rather than described in the narration. Still, I love what this book offers for young readers and taking note of the content warnings, I think it’d be an important read for many.
I really appreciate books for younger readers that take on serious themes, and I felt that Carter handles the difficult subject of abuse well. The teen MC Coi is allowed to feel all her feelings, sometimes putting her at odds with those who truly care about her, but it’s balanced with many adult voices in the book emphasizing that blame or shame is not something Coi needs to carry for herself.
The book fell short for me more in the writing than the themes, as it felt like there was more exposition than needed. I would’ve loved for some moments to have been shown rather than described in the narration. Still, I love what this book offers for young readers and taking note of the content warnings, I think it’d be an important read for many.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Drug use
Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Terminal illness
All's Well by Mona Awad
Did not finish book.
Did not finish book.
Really loved the chronic pain descriptions but too slow-moving for me
Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Please give me all the Murderbot detective adventures, I love this as a series itself. I really appreciate how each book keeps building on little hints of the worldbuilding that we've received in the series so far, and getting to see more clearly some of the horrors that Murderbot has come up against but not dwelled on.
Also love how this continued existence among humans adds more challenges and frustrations as Murderbot struggles against wanting to be accepted and not feared and wanting to be entirely on its own.
Also love how this continued existence among humans adds more challenges and frustrations as Murderbot struggles against wanting to be accepted and not feared and wanting to be entirely on its own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Slavery
Mudflowers by Aley Waterman
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
yeah I loved this book and also hated it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Grief
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Exit Strategy by Martha Wells
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-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
4.75
This is definitely up there in fave murderbot books so far, the team reunited! As with most sci-fi, my imagining of most of the scenes is incredibly vague but still loving this series. Though keeping up with all the names and places is starting to get difficult.
No spoilers but I love the memory scene here, it was beautiful.
No spoilers but I love the memory scene here, it was beautiful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Violence
Moderate: Death, Medical content, and Kidnapping
Minor: Slavery
Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.75
Excellent, I think the second is still my favourite but this was a close second. All the ways Murderbot continues to contradict everything it thinks it feels ("I don't care about humans or any of their problems", reads a book about alien remnants to learn more about its old research party. Ok Murderbot). Love how it continues to find a group of humans to look after
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, and Violence
Moderate: Blood and Injury/Injury detail
Lives of the Saints by Nino Ricci
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
My January read for #RWYOiC. I found this a mostly good read if slow-moving and at times boring. The story was intriguing enough, though it wasn’t until the third or so chapter that I felt compelled to keep picking it up.
It follows a young boy in a small Italian town who is now trying to deal with rumours of his mother’s infidelity while he goes about his usual life with chores and school and town events. His father has moved overseas to America and is working on sending money so his family can eventually join him. It’s a curious look at this little town in the 1960s, filled with superstitions and busybodies, farming and family life.
To be honest, I’m not sure why this book caught the eye of so many literary awards but the story is interesting enough as a little day in the life of these people in Italy.
It follows a young boy in a small Italian town who is now trying to deal with rumours of his mother’s infidelity while he goes about his usual life with chores and school and town events. His father has moved overseas to America and is working on sending money so his family can eventually join him. It’s a curious look at this little town in the 1960s, filled with superstitions and busybodies, farming and family life.
To be honest, I’m not sure why this book caught the eye of so many literary awards but the story is interesting enough as a little day in the life of these people in Italy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Artificial Condition by Martha Wells
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
My favourite of the Murderbot series so far. I LOVED the friendships and all the interactions between Murderbot and ART, especially both of them trying to understand human gestures.
"Yes, the giant transport bot is going to help the construct SecUnit pretend to be human. This will go well." (p. 71-72)
I was missing some of the wrap-up of the conflict from the first book so I'm glad we intermittently touch on some of the details here, especially the admin side of how it all gets cleaned up.
"Yes, the giant transport bot is going to help the construct SecUnit pretend to be human. This will go well." (p. 71-72)
I was missing some of the wrap-up of the conflict from the first book so I'm glad we intermittently touch on some of the details here, especially the admin side of how it all gets cleaned up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, and Murder