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xangemtheelibrarian's reviews
751 reviews
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, 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
The Scarecrow's Queen by Mel Braxton, Naomi Lucas
emotional
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It was alright. Sometimes the way the author described the knot in Jack's ~ahem~ member had me feeling a bit icky. "Swollen" was just giving "inflamed." I dunno.
Outside of the descriptions occasionally being a little off-putting, I thought the story was interesting! The lore behind the queens of Crow's Rest was really cool, and the setting was quaint and cute. I think I would've liked to see Delilah's family fleshed out a little bit more, because there were some interesting plot points there (like the mom's obsession with her children being people she can brag about, her brother's addiction, and the mystery brother we heard almost nothing about). There seemed to be a lot of tensions in the family that I would've liked to see resolved in the story instead of off-page.
Outside of the descriptions occasionally being a little off-putting, I thought the story was interesting! The lore behind the queens of Crow's Rest was really cool, and the setting was quaint and cute. I think I would've liked to see Delilah's family fleshed out a little bit more, because there were some interesting plot points there (like the mom's obsession with her children being people she can brag about, her brother's addiction, and the mystery brother we heard almost nothing about). There seemed to be a lot of tensions in the family that I would've liked to see resolved in the story instead of off-page.
It Was Just Another Day in America by Ryan David Ginsberg
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.0
Like many reviewers here, I saw Ginsberg advertising his debut collection on TikTok and wanted to support him, so I bought it! It helps that the premise behind this collection was so interesting. I will say I am more of a short story fan than a poetry fan, and I did completely miss that there would be poems in this collection until I stumbled across the first one.
The Stories:
I enjoyed them. My favorites are Amber's Son, The Termination Bureau, A Baby is Born, and the title story, It Was Just Another Day in America. These stories specifically had the most emotional impact for me. They felt the closest to a potential dystopian future for America. Ginsberg did really well with these stories.
The Poems:
Again, I am not much of a poetry reader. I have to really be in the mood to read poems. I honestly wasn't, so I might have to try again when I do get an itch for a poetry collection. Most of the poems didn't feel like they fit with the collection though. They were internal reflections and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. But I think they would have been better served in an introspective collection rather than a dystopian commentary on America's social, political, and economic issues.
Overall, I am happy I bought this. I want to see Ginsberg write more. And I hope he will.
The Stories:
I enjoyed them. My favorites are Amber's Son, The Termination Bureau, A Baby is Born, and the title story, It Was Just Another Day in America. These stories specifically had the most emotional impact for me. They felt the closest to a potential dystopian future for America. Ginsberg did really well with these stories.
The Poems:
Again, I am not much of a poetry reader. I have to really be in the mood to read poems. I honestly wasn't, so I might have to try again when I do get an itch for a poetry collection. Most of the poems didn't feel like they fit with the collection though. They were internal reflections and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. But I think they would have been better served in an introspective collection rather than a dystopian commentary on America's social, political, and economic issues.
Overall, I am happy I bought this. I want to see Ginsberg write more. And I hope he will.
The Unboxing of a Black Girl by Angela Shanté
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
I really enjoyed the audiobook version of this poetry collection. Hearing an author narrate their own work is often such a pleasant experience for me.
I am not the target audience for this collection. That being said, I found this book to be both painful and lovely. Shanté does not shy away from showing what it was like for her growing up. All the pain, the sexualization, the boxes people and society put her into. How hard school was, how others considered her impoverished, or even the looks her mother received for being a single mom. Shanté talks about her life as it has been so far and her desire to see Black girls get to stay girls for as long as they are girls. And that resonated with me, because in working with teens, I have begun to wish we as a society would stop pressuring teens to grow up so fast. Too many teens have hidden in my library to cry over the pressure their parents place on them to find good jobs, good schools, and good futures. No, it's not the same, but Shanté's wish resonates with mine.
I am not the target audience for this collection. That being said, I found this book to be both painful and lovely. Shanté does not shy away from showing what it was like for her growing up. All the pain, the sexualization, the boxes people and society put her into. How hard school was, how others considered her impoverished, or even the looks her mother received for being a single mom. Shanté talks about her life as it has been so far and her desire to see Black girls get to stay girls for as long as they are girls. And that resonated with me, because in working with teens, I have begun to wish we as a society would stop pressuring teens to grow up so fast. Too many teens have hidden in my library to cry over the pressure their parents place on them to find good jobs, good schools, and good futures. No, it's not the same, but Shanté's wish resonates with mine.
Godly Heathens by H.E. Edgmon
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is not a story about "good people" or even "good gods." I like how H.E. Edgmon challenges the concept of what makes a person "good" or "evil." In the end, there are only people, what people want, and the moments when those desires conflict with each other.
The cast of characters are so LGBTQIA+ positive. I loved seeing all the transgender characters. AND!!! AND OMG!!! It's POLY!! I want to see so many more stories where the love triangle is actually polyamory. I also appreciated how the author made a point to explain that Gem's journey in their identity exploration is highly reflective of their own personal journey, and it may not reflect others' journeys.
The cast of characters are so LGBTQIA+ positive. I loved seeing all the transgender characters. AND!!! AND OMG!!! It's POLY!! I want to see so many more stories where the love triangle is actually polyamory. I also appreciated how the author made a point to explain that Gem's journey in their identity exploration is highly reflective of their own personal journey, and it may not reflect others' journeys.
The Lost Girls by Sonia Hartl
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This book has interested me since it first came out, and I finally got the chance to read it! I adored the idea of a "Teen Vampire Revenge Story" where these girls are planning to kill their toxic ex vampire boyfriend.
I thought the story was a rarely used idea, one that harkens back to the movie The Lost Boys (1987). Except, instead of fighting to save themselves from being turned, these three girls are fighting to free themselves and save another girl in the process.
The plot itself is really fun. They have a bit of a heist moment trying to get all the ingredients for their plan. There's a romance element between Holly and Parker, and Elton is SO easy to hate. And the story does not lack those classic teen vampire romance elements. (i.e.: Parker biting her lip so hard it draws blood, Holly smelling that delicious blood and being very unsure if she's about to kiss Parker or kill her. But also, Parker!! ARE YOU OKAY? Cheezus! Chill on the lip biting!)
This book got surprisingly graphic as far as violence goes. I still shudder thinking about the part where Holly describes in great detail the sounds and feeling of having her ENTIRE ARM ripped from her body. Vampires really like tearing each other apart limb by limb. There is a single sex scene, but it doesn't get any more graphic than "we touched each other everywhere and chased our pleasure" or something to that effect.
Overall, I'm happy I read this! It was an enjoyable, quick read.
I thought the story was a rarely used idea, one that harkens back to the movie The Lost Boys (1987). Except, instead of fighting to save themselves from being turned, these three girls are fighting to free themselves and save another girl in the process.
The plot itself is really fun. They have a bit of a heist moment trying to get all the ingredients for their plan. There's a romance element between Holly and Parker, and Elton is SO easy to hate. And the story does not lack those classic teen vampire romance elements. (i.e.: Parker biting her lip so hard it draws blood, Holly smelling that delicious blood and being very unsure if she's about to kiss Parker or kill her. But also, Parker!! ARE YOU OKAY? Cheezus! Chill on the lip biting!)
This book got surprisingly graphic as far as violence goes. I still shudder thinking about the part where Holly describes in great detail the sounds and feeling of having her ENTIRE ARM ripped from her body. Vampires really like tearing each other apart limb by limb. There is a single sex scene, but it doesn't get any more graphic than "we touched each other everywhere and chased our pleasure" or something to that effect.
Overall, I'm happy I read this! It was an enjoyable, quick read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Sexual content, Dementia, Death of parent, Abandonment
Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice
Did not finish book. Stopped at 59%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 59%.
I just can't get through it. I want to so badly. It may just have to be an audiobook for me. The lack of chapter breaks, combined with the tiny text and long speeches just makes this such a difficult book to slog through.