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xangemtheelibrarian's reviews
985 reviews
Death's Country by R.M. Romero
adventurous
dark
reflective
sad
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
I love the poly representation present in this story. Like some of the reviews I've seen, there were passages of verse that I just felt disconnected from. I kind of want to see this as a graphic novel. I want to visualize better this realm of death that Romero was imagining. The descriptions I latched onto were indeed beautiful. I wanted... More from the story. It felt too fast. It felt like it was resolved too quickly. I just needed something.... More.
The Lost Souls of Benzaiten by Kelly Murashige
challenging
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This is probably going to be one of the best books I've read in 2024. This is such a real exploration of mental health. The things Machi thinks are things I've thought myself on days the depresso espresso is brewed a little too strong. Her desire to just be a robot vacuum cleaner-- interacted with when needed, but never expected to do anything outside of it's predetermined role-- is relatable to say the least. I get Machi on a level I never thought I could.
Every single one of these characters is so complex. Especially Machi and Benzaiten. Murashige did an excellent job of creating characters that feel painfully like real people. There are other stories I've read in the past that have characters like the ones in this story: no one is really good or bad. Just people with complicated motivations, trauma, and emotions doing their best to try not to hurt other people while figuring out how they want to live their life. (The people in Machi's mother's hometown being excluded of course. >.>)
Then there are the lost souls Machi gets to connect with through Benzaiten. The children who died too soon, whose memories are vivid and painful to read. Each of their stories, as tragic as they are, help Machi to heal too. Because if those lost spirits can move on, she can too, right?
This was just good. It was SO good. I am rooting so hard for Machi. She's a sweet little bean who deserves the world.
Every single one of these characters is so complex. Especially Machi and Benzaiten. Murashige did an excellent job of creating characters that feel painfully like real people. There are other stories I've read in the past that have characters like the ones in this story: no one is really good or bad. Just people with complicated motivations, trauma, and emotions doing their best to try not to hurt other people while figuring out how they want to live their life. (The people in Machi's mother's hometown being excluded of course. >.>)
Then there are the lost souls Machi gets to connect with through Benzaiten. The children who died too soon, whose memories are vivid and painful to read. Each of their stories, as tragic as they are, help Machi to heal too. Because if those lost spirits can move on, she can too, right?
This was just good. It was SO good. I am rooting so hard for Machi. She's a sweet little bean who deserves the world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Racism
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Medical trauma, Car accident, and Alcohol
The Dragon's Betrothed, Vol. 1 by Meguru Hinohara
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
This is very very cute and very sweet.
Song of the Abyss by Emma Hamm
emotional
funny
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
5.0
Swept away again in the current of this series. I literally cannot get enough.
NOVEMBER HURRY UP.
NOVEMBER HURRY UP.
The Book of Denial by Ricardo Chavez Castaeda
challenging
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Cheez-its. This was... this was a lot.
Unruly is a newish imprint of Enchanted Lion Books, and this imprint is specifically dedicated to creating picture books for teens and adults. I bring this up because they talk about it on the copyright page. I thought it was really interesting info, and it was a factor in my deciding to read it.
The format of this book, being a YA picture book, is highly unusual to say the least. Stark black and white illustrations support and emphasize the text in this book. The way words are written are sometimes typed, sometimes hand-written, and sometimes written in cursive like a child. The text is meant to flow with the images, just like a picture book. And I adore that SO much about this book. The fact that I was also able to read this in a couple hours with interruptions was also really bolstering for me, as I've struggled to not DNF every single book I've picked up this year. (The number of DNFs I have compared to my actual read list is shameful.)
The story itself is so dark. But that's really only if you skip the Happy Ending and read through to the true end of the book. That's right! There's two endings, and you can choose where you want to end! But, I honestly couldn't resist seeing what the Unhappy Ending was about after what felt like reading a challenge from the author himself: "Those who don't wish to suffer should not continue." Apparently, I am a bit of a masochist. And also... the Happy Ending just didn't truly feel like an ending to me. It felt unfinished.
This whole of this story is very pointedly about killing children. All the massacres that have happened over time: King Herod killing the Holy Innocents (all babies under the age of two in a desperate bid to kill Jesus), the thousands of infants that were left out and abandoned during Nero's reign in Rome, the children sent off to war during the time of Napoleon, the children who starved to death in the 1900's while their adoptive parents stuffed rags in their ears to keep from hearing their cries. The narrator, a child himself, is horrified by the history his father writes about in a hardcover blank notebook.
And when you read the Unhappy Ending? Yeah.... you'll suffer some heartbreak. The author did a phenomenal job of foreshadowing, because there were moments when I started wondering "What if...?" And indeed. I was partially right about the plot twist there at the end.
I am slightly sickened and completely heartbroken over this story. Who knew a picture book could hurt so much? Well done. This was, in fact, one of The Worst Book(s) In the World.
Time to find a lighter story to do a bit of a palate cleanse.
Unruly is a newish imprint of Enchanted Lion Books, and this imprint is specifically dedicated to creating picture books for teens and adults. I bring this up because they talk about it on the copyright page. I thought it was really interesting info, and it was a factor in my deciding to read it.
The format of this book, being a YA picture book, is highly unusual to say the least. Stark black and white illustrations support and emphasize the text in this book. The way words are written are sometimes typed, sometimes hand-written, and sometimes written in cursive like a child. The text is meant to flow with the images, just like a picture book. And I adore that SO much about this book. The fact that I was also able to read this in a couple hours with interruptions was also really bolstering for me, as I've struggled to not DNF every single book I've picked up this year. (The number of DNFs I have compared to my actual read list is shameful.)
The story itself is so dark. But that's really only if you skip the Happy Ending and read through to the true end of the book. That's right! There's two endings, and you can choose where you want to end! But, I honestly couldn't resist seeing what the Unhappy Ending was about after what felt like reading a challenge from the author himself: "Those who don't wish to suffer should not continue." Apparently, I am a bit of a masochist. And also... the Happy Ending just didn't truly feel like an ending to me. It felt unfinished.
This whole of this story is very pointedly about killing children. All the massacres that have happened over time: King Herod killing the Holy Innocents (all babies under the age of two in a desperate bid to kill Jesus), the thousands of infants that were left out and abandoned during Nero's reign in Rome, the children sent off to war during the time of Napoleon, the children who starved to death in the 1900's while their adoptive parents stuffed rags in their ears to keep from hearing their cries. The narrator, a child himself, is horrified by the history his father writes about in a hardcover blank notebook.
And when you read the Unhappy Ending? Yeah.... you'll suffer some heartbreak. The author did a phenomenal job of foreshadowing, because there were moments when I started wondering "What if...?" And indeed. I was partially right about the plot twist there at the end.
I am slightly sickened and completely heartbroken over this story. Who knew a picture book could hurt so much? Well done. This was, in fact, one of The Worst Book(s) In the World.
Time to find a lighter story to do a bit of a palate cleanse.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, and Injury/Injury detail
Crash Landing by Li Charmaine Anne
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-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
4.0
This was so touching. Jay is a sweet girl with a lot of questions and a dream to do something big and teenagery before graduating high school. She loves to skateboard, cares about her family and friends, gets good grades, and she wants to go to art school, despite her parents' desire to see her in an Ivy League school. Then she meets Ash.
Ash with the red streaks in her hair, skateboarding like a pro. Ash who drops F bombs casually, does drugs, and talks about sex. The girl who doesn't do quite as well in school, but does enough to pass. Ash the mystery girl who transferred from another school.
Jay is drawn to Ash like a moth to a flame, and in the end, rather than get burned up or consumed, they teach each other how to live. It's a beautiful senior year story and it just feels so real and so grounded. Ash's story is not what it seems and Jay grows so much as she learns to see the people around her as people. I enjoyed this story so much.
Ash with the red streaks in her hair, skateboarding like a pro. Ash who drops F bombs casually, does drugs, and talks about sex. The girl who doesn't do quite as well in school, but does enough to pass. Ash the mystery girl who transferred from another school.
Jay is drawn to Ash like a moth to a flame, and in the end, rather than get burned up or consumed, they teach each other how to live. It's a beautiful senior year story and it just feels so real and so grounded. Ash's story is not what it seems and Jay grows so much as she learns to see the people around her as people. I enjoyed this story so much.
Barbarian Lover by Ruby Dixon
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
By far my least favorite character in this series so far. I just honestly didn't find Kira loveable at ALL. Nothing she said or did endeared me to her. She's whiny, she's "poor me," and the way she pushes Aehako away over and over and OVER again frustrated the absolute hell out of me.
I'm just glad Aehako got his happy ending. I'm setting this one down and going learn more about Harlow now.
I'm just glad Aehako got his happy ending. I'm setting this one down and going learn more about Harlow now.
The Book of Druidry: A Complete Introduction to the Magic & Wisdom of the Celtic Mysteries by Kristoffer Hughes
Did not finish book. Stopped at 12%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 12%.
Will get back to this at another time
Mid-Air by Alicia D. Williams
challenging
emotional
reflective
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
4.0
I bounced back and forth between the ebook and the audiobook for this. (Side note: the NARRATOR y'all!! The narrator made the audiobook SO GOOD.)
I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the world through Isaiah's eyes. The kid has this infectious energy that just absolutely sparkles in this story. I would so read a sequel just to see how he's doing, maybe closer to graduating high school.
I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the world through Isaiah's eyes. The kid has this infectious energy that just absolutely sparkles in this story. I would so read a sequel just to see how he's doing, maybe closer to graduating high school.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Racism, Violence, and Car accident
Whispers of the Deep by Emma Hamm
emotional
funny
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
4.5
I was absolutely swept away by this story. I think maybe the author was a little self conscious about her world and the technology it uses, OR she had a lot of comments from readers about it because it starts off with a note essentially saying, "OMG please for just a minute will you suspend your disbelief and read this fantasy/sci-fi about a human and merman banging." The note actually made me pay *more* attention to the setting of this story. If she hadn't've said anything, I would have just read the book and accepted the setting, technology, and plot points as they were. So, in a way, I'm actually glad her note drew my attention to it.
As someone armed with nothing more than armchair knowledge of medicine, biology, and the ocean, this story felt well researched to me. No, Mira did not suffer through the bends but (spoiler alert)She did begin suffering from malnutrition and probably scurvy. There was lots of talk about what happens to your skin when it stays wet for too long, and the tech felt very steampunk. The blend of the magic of the undine world and the tech of the human world is beautifully combined. The way the language barrier most monster romance stories face is handled realistically and smartly. Overall, I'm very happy with the setting and I really want to learn more about this world the author has created under the sea.
Mira and Arges's relationship is a very slow burn. Especially while they can't communicate. The author did a good job of writing a believable storyline this star-crossed, Romeo-and-Juliet couple take to overcome the mutual hatred of each other and their species. And Arges is quite romantic once he begins seeing Mira as a person. It was really cute.
Anyways. I loved this. Going read book 2 now xD
As someone armed with nothing more than armchair knowledge of medicine, biology, and the ocean, this story felt well researched to me. No, Mira did not suffer through the bends but (spoiler alert)
Mira and Arges's relationship is a very slow burn. Especially while they can't communicate. The author did a good job of writing a believable storyline this star-crossed, Romeo-and-Juliet couple take to overcome the mutual hatred of each other and their species. And Arges is quite romantic once he begins seeing Mira as a person. It was really cute.
Anyways. I loved this. Going read book 2 now xD