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spinesinaline's reviews
800 reviews
Eyes I Dare Not Meet in Dreams by Sunny Moraine
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, and Death
Augustown by Kei Miller
challenging
emotional
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
5.0
As the author says in the intro, August Town is a real-life neighbourhood in Jamaica and while some of its real history is brought into the story, the titular neighbourhood is an intentionally fictional entity. From the first scene, you can feel the tension is this town building towards some unfortunate climax. We slowly get to know the characters as Ma Taffy reveals the spiritual and painful history of the town that has led to this moment, jumping in time and from perspective to perspective, each with a different view of the town and the trouble to come.
Along with the storytelling by Ma Taffy, there is an unseen narrator who seems to have a complete view of the town and I loved the way the author creatively uses this narrator to guide the story. It’s a heavy, sad read but one that creates such a stunning picture of this town, both real and fictional, and the people who may share these stories. This was a highlight read of the year and one I’m sure I will return to.
Along with the storytelling by Ma Taffy, there is an unseen narrator who seems to have a complete view of the town and I loved the way the author creatively uses this narrator to guide the story. It’s a heavy, sad read but one that creates such a stunning picture of this town, both real and fictional, and the people who may share these stories. This was a highlight read of the year and one I’m sure I will return to.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Suicide, Police brutality, and Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Blood, and Excrement
Triquetra by Kirstyn McDermott
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Incest, Pedophilia, and Injury/Injury detail
Ceffo by Jonathan Carroll
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Some interesting moments but the author held back when I thought they'd pursue it. I didn't like the ending, as interesting a premise as it is, it feels it would hurt the characters more than help them, and the references to current day events while strangely framing them felt like an unnecessary disconnect.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Death
The Ink Readers of Doi Saket by Thomas Olde Heuvelt
challenging
reflective
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, and Murder
Moderate: Infidelity
The Christmas Show by Pat Cadigan
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
The Pauper Prince and the Eucalyptus Jinn by Usman T. Malik
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Dementia, and Fire/Fire injury
At the End of Babel by Michael Livingston
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
3.0
Enjoyed the telling of the story and I appreciated reading the author's background of how he came up with this, but disappointed that he chose to write about a real Indigenous cultural site and language and only referenced "a small and dust-covered grammar" and books in the library rather than real living people
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, and Colonisation
Red by Ramsey Shehadeh
adventurous
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Please Undo This Hurt by Seth Dickinson
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt