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challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Antisemitism
I really wanted to like this book, and I do think that narratives about trans people (especially trans women) being allowed to be messed up and not perfect or even good in the slightest are important in showing trans people as PEOPLE!!!
But I just really didn't like the writing style.
And I didn't like how the book talked about trans men. It seems like trans men were only brought up to shit on them or pit them against trans women, or talk about how much more privileged trans men are and how much easier they have it, which I personally think is an extremely narrow worldview and one that I do not agree with in the slightest.
It was also just really boring in places.
But I just really didn't like the writing style.
And I didn't like how the book talked about trans men. It seems like trans men were only brought up to shit on them or pit them against trans women, or talk about how much more privileged trans men are and how much easier they have it, which I personally think is an extremely narrow worldview and one that I do not agree with in the slightest.
It was also just really boring in places.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
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:
Complicated
Thank you so, so, so, so much to Morgan for sending me an ARC!
So far, this year I’ve read 43 books, and I’ve only awarded five stars to three books. This is one of those three books.
The Paper Crane Killer is quite possibly the most enjoyable book I’ve read this year. It’s tense, it’s funny, and it’s emotional. The characters, plot, and pacing are all fantastic.
Morgan Champine has a way of making you care immensely about their characters from the very first page they’re introduced. Being queer and neurodivergent myself, it was amazing to see so much of myself in these characters. Usually, when I read dual-POV books, there’s always one POV I much prefer, but with this book, I loved them both. Both Dorothy and Viola have incredibly distinct voices which are thoroughly enjoyable in their own ways. Aside from Dorothy and Viola, the other characters are also wonderful. I adored Oscar, Mills, and Selma as much as I adored Dorothy and Viola.
The years-long friendship between Dorothy, Oscar and Mills was incredibly believable, and the relationship development between Dorothy and Viola was so fun to read. The literary references throughout the book - and those integrated into the setting - were wonderfully atmospheric, and the description of some of the bodies was visceral and gory in just the right way.
This book was amazing. It was SO FUN and so captivating and I couldn’t put it down. I’m desperately awaiting a sequel and I look forward to reading more books by Morgan Champine in the future.
So far, this year I’ve read 43 books, and I’ve only awarded five stars to three books. This is one of those three books.
The Paper Crane Killer is quite possibly the most enjoyable book I’ve read this year. It’s tense, it’s funny, and it’s emotional. The characters, plot, and pacing are all fantastic.
Morgan Champine has a way of making you care immensely about their characters from the very first page they’re introduced. Being queer and neurodivergent myself, it was amazing to see so much of myself in these characters. Usually, when I read dual-POV books, there’s always one POV I much prefer, but with this book, I loved them both. Both Dorothy and Viola have incredibly distinct voices which are thoroughly enjoyable in their own ways. Aside from Dorothy and Viola, the other characters are also wonderful. I adored Oscar, Mills, and Selma as much as I adored Dorothy and Viola.
The years-long friendship between Dorothy, Oscar and Mills was incredibly believable, and the relationship development between Dorothy and Viola was so fun to read. The literary references throughout the book - and those integrated into the setting - were wonderfully atmospheric, and the description of some of the bodies was visceral and gory in just the right way.
This book was amazing. It was SO FUN and so captivating and I couldn’t put it down. I’m desperately awaiting a sequel and I look forward to reading more books by Morgan Champine in the future.
