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sweekune's reviews
342 reviews
Board to Death by C.J. Connor
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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
3.75
3.75/5
Cosy queer mystery set in Salt Lake City. Ben has moved home after his divorce and to help his dad with his game shop. A less than honest game dealer turns up murdered outside the shop. To avoid being arrested, Ben and his friend Ezra do some sleuthing.
- I loved the setting and the cosy scenes from this book, especially surrounding Ben and some blossoming romance. Also, the pets are awesome, especially Grandpa.
- The mystery is okay. It's not Agatha Christie level but it's fun if a little predictable. I guessed who'd done it fairly early on but it was still enjoyable.
- I loved the rep: gay, nonbinary, sapphic, loads in there. All really well and authentically done.
Perfect for a cosy autumn/winter read with queer characters and a relaxed pace.
Cosy queer mystery set in Salt Lake City. Ben has moved home after his divorce and to help his dad with his game shop. A less than honest game dealer turns up murdered outside the shop. To avoid being arrested, Ben and his friend Ezra do some sleuthing.
- I loved the setting and the cosy scenes from this book, especially surrounding Ben and some blossoming romance. Also, the pets are awesome, especially Grandpa.
- The mystery is okay. It's not Agatha Christie level but it's fun if a little predictable. I guessed who'd done it fairly early on but it was still enjoyable.
- I loved the rep: gay, nonbinary, sapphic, loads in there. All really well and authentically done.
Perfect for a cosy autumn/winter read with queer characters and a relaxed pace.
To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini
adventurous
mysterious
slow-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
4.0
4/5
Audiobook narrated by Jennifer Hale
A woman, Kira, surveying a moon orbiting a gas giant finds an alien organism that forms a suit for her. Previously unknown xenoorganisms start attacking human colonies. Joining with the crew of spaceship Wallfish, Kira has to work out how to stop the conflict and fix a dangerous interstellar problem.
- This book is long and technical. For the most part I enjoyed this but occasionally I felt things could have been condensed or made more interesting. If you enjoy harder sci-fi though, this book is a treat and has detailed diagrams and explanations of the science as appendices.
- I adored a lot of the side characters, my favourite probably being the shipmind Gregorovitch who was delightfully weird and fun. Kira though sometimes fell a bit flat for me and a little Mary-Sue.
- The world-building was very good and I was happy to learn there will be more books in this universe.
Long but interesting. Good for fans of hard sci-fi, alien life forms and interstellar adventuring.
Audiobook narrated by Jennifer Hale
A woman, Kira, surveying a moon orbiting a gas giant finds an alien organism that forms a suit for her. Previously unknown xenoorganisms start attacking human colonies. Joining with the crew of spaceship Wallfish, Kira has to work out how to stop the conflict and fix a dangerous interstellar problem.
- This book is long and technical. For the most part I enjoyed this but occasionally I felt things could have been condensed or made more interesting. If you enjoy harder sci-fi though, this book is a treat and has detailed diagrams and explanations of the science as appendices.
- I adored a lot of the side characters, my favourite probably being the shipmind Gregorovitch who was delightfully weird and fun. Kira though sometimes fell a bit flat for me and a little Mary-Sue.
- The world-building was very good and I was happy to learn there will be more books in this universe.
Long but interesting. Good for fans of hard sci-fi, alien life forms and interstellar adventuring.
Tapestries of Life: Uncovering the Lifesaving Secrets of the Natural World by Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
3.5/5
A tour of various organisms, their roles and functions in ecosystems and how they often benefit humans.
- This is a book of snippets. There is an overarching theme of conservation and each chapter has its own sub theme but over all we jump from one short excerpt to another about different creatures and ecosystems. The information is interesting but not necessarily in-depth.
- I enjoyed learning about the many contributions creatures have made to life on this planet. However, I was also saddened by how much humans have changed and destroyed, disadvantaging so many species and ultimately ourselves.
- One concept I found interesting was the moving baseline. Because human memories are short, we think that what we or our immediate ancestors remember is the normal baseline for nature when in reality, that memory was already of a degraded nature.
I enjoyed Sverdrup-Thygeson's insect book more but this would be a good book for someone starting to read about ecology and conservation.
A tour of various organisms, their roles and functions in ecosystems and how they often benefit humans.
- This is a book of snippets. There is an overarching theme of conservation and each chapter has its own sub theme but over all we jump from one short excerpt to another about different creatures and ecosystems. The information is interesting but not necessarily in-depth.
- I enjoyed learning about the many contributions creatures have made to life on this planet. However, I was also saddened by how much humans have changed and destroyed, disadvantaging so many species and ultimately ourselves.
- One concept I found interesting was the moving baseline. Because human memories are short, we think that what we or our immediate ancestors remember is the normal baseline for nature when in reality, that memory was already of a degraded nature.
I enjoyed Sverdrup-Thygeson's insect book more but this would be a good book for someone starting to read about ecology and conservation.
In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
4/5
Imagine a Pinocchio-inspired tale, mixed with a bit of the Wizard of Oz and set in a dystopian future where robots reign and humanity has been all but wiped out. Victor, a human raised by a robot, has to go on a journey to save his father, accompanied by his eclectic and mismatched robot friends.
- The characters in this book were so well done. Each had their own quirks and personality and helped to weave detail into the setting and story. My favourite was Nurse Ratched who made me laugh often.
- Compared to The House in the Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door, I found the plot less engaging overall. It just didn't feel as magic, although still good. Maybe my expectations were set too high? The ending, however, was poignant and moving and on par with the previous novels.
- In the Lives of Puppets will have you debating what it means to be a person, a human. The fluidity of purpose and designation, determining one's own course and deciding who you are are all subjects I debated whilst reading.
If you liked Klune's previous works then In the Lives of Puppets is definitely worth reading. It is both cosy and, literally, heartbreaking.
Imagine a Pinocchio-inspired tale, mixed with a bit of the Wizard of Oz and set in a dystopian future where robots reign and humanity has been all but wiped out. Victor, a human raised by a robot, has to go on a journey to save his father, accompanied by his eclectic and mismatched robot friends.
- The characters in this book were so well done. Each had their own quirks and personality and helped to weave detail into the setting and story. My favourite was Nurse Ratched who made me laugh often.
- Compared to The House in the Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door, I found the plot less engaging overall. It just didn't feel as magic, although still good. Maybe my expectations were set too high? The ending, however, was poignant and moving and on par with the previous novels.
- In the Lives of Puppets will have you debating what it means to be a person, a human. The fluidity of purpose and designation, determining one's own course and deciding who you are are all subjects I debated whilst reading.
If you liked Klune's previous works then In the Lives of Puppets is definitely worth reading. It is both cosy and, literally, heartbreaking.
Will Save the Galaxy for Food by Yahtzee Croshaw
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
3.5/5
For an long car trip, my husband and I chose yet another Yahtzee Croshaw book. This time a pulp sci-fi parody about a down on their luck spaceship pilot who gets embroiled in a series of events. The protagonist is employed to pretend to be a galaxy-wide famous author and star pilot for a teenagers birthday. As always chaos ensues.
- As always, Yahtzee is hilarious. From a maths based swearing system to random managing pet aliens, there's always something to laugh at.
- The plot feels episodic, almost like it was written for one of those old pulp science fiction magazines many years ago. Each chapter has a twist, a different challenge but linking to the overall plot.
- I found the ending a little underwhelming. Then again, there is a sequel so it's very possible it was just setting up for what happens in that book.
Not my favourite Croshaw book but enjoyable nonetheless. Will listen to the sequel Will Destroy the Galaxy for Cash on our next roadtrip.
For an long car trip, my husband and I chose yet another Yahtzee Croshaw book. This time a pulp sci-fi parody about a down on their luck spaceship pilot who gets embroiled in a series of events. The protagonist is employed to pretend to be a galaxy-wide famous author and star pilot for a teenagers birthday. As always chaos ensues.
- As always, Yahtzee is hilarious. From a maths based swearing system to random managing pet aliens, there's always something to laugh at.
- The plot feels episodic, almost like it was written for one of those old pulp science fiction magazines many years ago. Each chapter has a twist, a different challenge but linking to the overall plot.
- I found the ending a little underwhelming. Then again, there is a sequel so it's very possible it was just setting up for what happens in that book.
Not my favourite Croshaw book but enjoyable nonetheless. Will listen to the sequel Will Destroy the Galaxy for Cash on our next roadtrip.
Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.0
4/5
Cute, heartwarming and cosy. Dylan's family runs a Singaporean takeaway in New York. He meets well-off Theo during a delivery run and Theo asks him to be his fake date for a wedding.
- Tropey but in the sweetest way. As the title would suggest, there's fake dating but also miscommunication and family drama. The book uses them well and makes them work in the story rather than the story having to work around the tropes.
- I loved the sense of culture and family in the book and how both characters have experienced both. You felt for both the main characters and the situations they had been through.
- The descriptions of the food and the titular mooncakes were amazing. Those alone trigger a mooncake-related internet rabbit hole I've intermittently fallen down the past week.
Cosy, full of food, family and fun. Would recommend to those who enjoy lighter romance, books with cooking and heartwarming vibes.
Cute, heartwarming and cosy. Dylan's family runs a Singaporean takeaway in New York. He meets well-off Theo during a delivery run and Theo asks him to be his fake date for a wedding.
- Tropey but in the sweetest way. As the title would suggest, there's fake dating but also miscommunication and family drama. The book uses them well and makes them work in the story rather than the story having to work around the tropes.
- I loved the sense of culture and family in the book and how both characters have experienced both. You felt for both the main characters and the situations they had been through.
- The descriptions of the food and the titular mooncakes were amazing. Those alone trigger a mooncake-related internet rabbit hole I've intermittently fallen down the past week.
Cosy, full of food, family and fun. Would recommend to those who enjoy lighter romance, books with cooking and heartwarming vibes.
Song by Jae Dixon
dark
mysterious
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
3.5
3.5/5
Recommended to me on Instagram as queer and witchy, I thought I'd give Song a try. Based in a fictional Appalachian town, Ezra is despondent following a poor meeting with his academic advisor near the anniversary of his father's death. Gray of the Winged Folk has been following and falling for Ezra and after a fateful meeting in a graveyard, their lives become irrevocably entangled.
- The story itself was fast-paced, almost rushed. I enjoy it and the developments but wish there was more depth to some of the elements. As someone only vaguely aware of Appalachian folklore, I wish there were more in prose explanations of things. There is a glossary at the back describing characters and elements but it contains spoilers so I did not read it until the end.
- The characters were really cool. Obviously Gray and other Winged Folk characters were fascinating and I enjoyed the Mothman elements a lot. I loved that there were several gender diverse characters and they/them pronouns were considered default and the norm unless otherwise stated.
- So now I have to go and research lots of folklore and regional knowledge for Appalachia. The setting was well crafted and the flavour and essence of the area was incredibly vivid. The darker elements of the book were super creepy and I would love more explanation of those in later books (if there are any).
For those who enjoy folklore-based fantasy, queer characters and cryptid romance. Creepy, vivid and enticing.
Recommended to me on Instagram as queer and witchy, I thought I'd give Song a try. Based in a fictional Appalachian town, Ezra is despondent following a poor meeting with his academic advisor near the anniversary of his father's death. Gray of the Winged Folk has been following and falling for Ezra and after a fateful meeting in a graveyard, their lives become irrevocably entangled.
- The story itself was fast-paced, almost rushed. I enjoy it and the developments but wish there was more depth to some of the elements. As someone only vaguely aware of Appalachian folklore, I wish there were more in prose explanations of things. There is a glossary at the back describing characters and elements but it contains spoilers so I did not read it until the end.
- The characters were really cool. Obviously Gray and other Winged Folk characters were fascinating and I enjoyed the Mothman elements a lot. I loved that there were several gender diverse characters and they/them pronouns were considered default and the norm unless otherwise stated.
- So now I have to go and research lots of folklore and regional knowledge for Appalachia. The setting was well crafted and the flavour and essence of the area was incredibly vivid. The darker elements of the book were super creepy and I would love more explanation of those in later books (if there are any).
For those who enjoy folklore-based fantasy, queer characters and cryptid romance. Creepy, vivid and enticing.
The Galaxy, and the Ground Within by Becky Chambers
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
4.5/5
"I don't want to leave..." This was how I felt upon finishing this book and therefore the Wayfarer series. The Galaxy and the Ground Within was like its prequels, a snapshot of a place and time, this time exploring a transit planet and the interactions of the guests temporarily stranded there.
- With the other books, I came to an understanding that they were independent but connected, and whilst you would get more out of them if you read the previous books, it wasn't essential to read them in order. This fourth installment changed my mind. It occurred to me all the overarching world-building that Chambers has done. The plot involves only non-human characters and I believe this was only achieved and done well because of the author's ability to create and show in previous books.
- The characters were definitely varied and I enjoyed how they interacted and tentatively formed bonds. I think my favourite character this time round was Roveg though they all gave me food for thought.
- Back to my initial statement: I just don't want to leave. I want to stay in this universe more and learn everything I can. The books feel so homely, well built, and just right.
Absolutely recommend the entire series. Anyone who enjoys sci-fi, world-building or just cosy book should read this series.
"I don't want to leave..." This was how I felt upon finishing this book and therefore the Wayfarer series. The Galaxy and the Ground Within was like its prequels, a snapshot of a place and time, this time exploring a transit planet and the interactions of the guests temporarily stranded there.
- With the other books, I came to an understanding that they were independent but connected, and whilst you would get more out of them if you read the previous books, it wasn't essential to read them in order. This fourth installment changed my mind. It occurred to me all the overarching world-building that Chambers has done. The plot involves only non-human characters and I believe this was only achieved and done well because of the author's ability to create and show in previous books.
- The characters were definitely varied and I enjoyed how they interacted and tentatively formed bonds. I think my favourite character this time round was Roveg though they all gave me food for thought.
- Back to my initial statement: I just don't want to leave. I want to stay in this universe more and learn everything I can. The books feel so homely, well built, and just right.
Absolutely recommend the entire series. Anyone who enjoys sci-fi, world-building or just cosy book should read this series.
Welsh Witchcraft: A Guide to the Spirits, Lore, and Magic of Wales by Mhara Starling
Did not finish book. Stopped at 6%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 6%.
I'm a mood reader and my mood drifted.
Love Letters: Vita and Virginia by Virginia Woolf, Vita Sackville-West
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.25
4.25/5
How do you review the personal and affectionate correspondence of two people in love? This book is a collection of letters and diary entries from and between Virginia and Vita from their first meeting until Virginia's death in 1941.
- To be expected of two writers but the letters sent to one another, especially discussing their feelings for each other, are purple, beautiful and hit the heart painfully. There are some that made me ache for Virginia and Vita, the time in which they existed and how unfair that they couldn't fully realise their love.
- The collection is very comprehensive and well compiled by Bechdel. Each year has a little summary overviewing events and giving context to some of the letters.
- The historical context of these letters and diary entries is really fascinating. We always existed. Even when our existence was outlawed. As someone who loves Sissinghurst Castle, Vita and Harold's marriage and arrangement regarding homosexual encounters is something I find fascinating.
For those who want historical accounts of sapphism, enjoy love letters and longing, this book is definitely worth picking up.
How do you review the personal and affectionate correspondence of two people in love? This book is a collection of letters and diary entries from and between Virginia and Vita from their first meeting until Virginia's death in 1941.
- To be expected of two writers but the letters sent to one another, especially discussing their feelings for each other, are purple, beautiful and hit the heart painfully. There are some that made me ache for Virginia and Vita, the time in which they existed and how unfair that they couldn't fully realise their love.
- The collection is very comprehensive and well compiled by Bechdel. Each year has a little summary overviewing events and giving context to some of the letters.
- The historical context of these letters and diary entries is really fascinating. We always existed. Even when our existence was outlawed. As someone who loves Sissinghurst Castle, Vita and Harold's marriage and arrangement regarding homosexual encounters is something I find fascinating.
For those who want historical accounts of sapphism, enjoy love letters and longing, this book is definitely worth picking up.