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1.84k reviews by:
caseythereader
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Thanks to Tor Teen for the free advance copy of this book.
- Wow, fans of teen thrillers, you must get your hands on INTO THE LIGHT. This book is heart pounding, page turning, gut punching.
- The subject matter of the book is very difficult, but the light supernatural element here is a fantastic way to address how queer kids and kids of color are often quickly cast aside in the real world.
- Amid the mystery, Oshiro also builds a beautiful found family story. None of them are perfect people, and yet they are committed to doing better and to helping each other survive and grow.
- Wow, fans of teen thrillers, you must get your hands on INTO THE LIGHT. This book is heart pounding, page turning, gut punching.
- The subject matter of the book is very difficult, but the light supernatural element here is a fantastic way to address how queer kids and kids of color are often quickly cast aside in the real world.
- Amid the mystery, Oshiro also builds a beautiful found family story. None of them are perfect people, and yet they are committed to doing better and to helping each other survive and grow.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Sexual harassment
Minor: Sexual content, Sexual violence, Abortion
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Thanks to PRH Audio for the free copy of this book.
- I know it’s a cliche to call a memoir “unflinching,” but that’s exactly what OPEN is. Krantz explores and reports on the many iterations of nonmonogamy while at the same time being enmeshed in an open relationship that quickly turned toxic and abusive.
- This book shows that every type of relationship can be rewarding, and every type can be damaging: it’s not the relationship style doing the harm, it’s the people in the relationship.
- This book is very thoughtful and informative, but it’s also a really tough read. Krantz is explicit in describing both her domestic abuse experience and her sexual encounters (the latter veering a bit into gratuitous territory for me, but ymmv). She gets some incredible stories and reporting out of it, though, in particular the annotated argument near the end of the book will stay with me for a long time.
- I know it’s a cliche to call a memoir “unflinching,” but that’s exactly what OPEN is. Krantz explores and reports on the many iterations of nonmonogamy while at the same time being enmeshed in an open relationship that quickly turned toxic and abusive.
- This book shows that every type of relationship can be rewarding, and every type can be damaging: it’s not the relationship style doing the harm, it’s the people in the relationship.
- This book is very thoughtful and informative, but it’s also a really tough read. Krantz is explicit in describing both her domestic abuse experience and her sexual encounters (the latter veering a bit into gratuitous territory for me, but ymmv). She gets some incredible stories and reporting out of it, though, in particular the annotated argument near the end of the book will stay with me for a long time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Alcohol
Moderate: Cancer, Eating disorder
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Thanks to The Dial Press for the free copy of this book.
- HIJAB BUTCH BLUES is a landmark work of queer memoir. Lamya H. weaves her own experiences as a queer person of color in with stories from the Quran, reframing the ancient stories into new contexts.
- It’s rare to see the story of a queer person who holds onto their faith after coming out, and it’s quite a breath of fresh air to follow Lamya as she builds her life and her faith into a shape that works for her.
- Honestly, nothing I say here can do this book justice. It’s a must read for anyone interested and invested in queer lives.
- HIJAB BUTCH BLUES is a landmark work of queer memoir. Lamya H. weaves her own experiences as a queer person of color in with stories from the Quran, reframing the ancient stories into new contexts.
- It’s rare to see the story of a queer person who holds onto their faith after coming out, and it’s quite a breath of fresh air to follow Lamya as she builds her life and her faith into a shape that works for her.
- Honestly, nothing I say here can do this book justice. It’s a must read for anyone interested and invested in queer lives.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Classism
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Thanks to Tor Books for the free advance copy of this book.
- A HOUSE WITH GOOD BONES is pitched as a modern Southern gothic, and it's exactly that, mixed with Kingfisher's signature offbeat humor and deeply unsettling imagery.
- I feel like I was primed to love and/or be extra affected by this book, given that I grew up with grandparents who kept an immaculately tended rose garden, just like Sam's family. Even if that's not your history, though, there's still plenty to be horrified by here.
- The book takes awhile to wind up. But even with some off kilter pacing, I'm still happy to be inside T. Kingfisher's mind.
- A HOUSE WITH GOOD BONES is pitched as a modern Southern gothic, and it's exactly that, mixed with Kingfisher's signature offbeat humor and deeply unsettling imagery.
- I feel like I was primed to love and/or be extra affected by this book, given that I grew up with grandparents who kept an immaculately tended rose garden, just like Sam's family. Even if that's not your history, though, there's still plenty to be horrified by here.
- The book takes awhile to wind up. But even with some off kilter pacing, I'm still happy to be inside T. Kingfisher's mind.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Fatphobia, Blood, Death of parent, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Dementia
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thanks to Random House for the free advance copy of this book.
- LUCHA OF THE NIGHT FOREST is a dark YA fantasy that I couldn't put down. I read the whole thing in one day because I had to know what was going to happen to Lucha.
- The world invented in this book isn't super detailed, but enough to get you invested and rooting for everyone. Even when characters' motives are at odds, you still want all of them to succeed.
- I loved that there was sapphic attraction between Lucha and Luz, but that it wasn't the driving force of the story, simply one element of it.
- This book doesn't shy away from the idea that systems are built to keep whole classes of people down, and also that even if you think you're doing good, you can still be doing harm in ways you haven't considered.
- LUCHA OF THE NIGHT FOREST is a dark YA fantasy that I couldn't put down. I read the whole thing in one day because I had to know what was going to happen to Lucha.
- The world invented in this book isn't super detailed, but enough to get you invested and rooting for everyone. Even when characters' motives are at odds, you still want all of them to succeed.
- I loved that there was sapphic attraction between Lucha and Luz, but that it wasn't the driving force of the story, simply one element of it.
- This book doesn't shy away from the idea that systems are built to keep whole classes of people down, and also that even if you think you're doing good, you can still be doing harm in ways you haven't considered.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Death, Drug abuse, Violence, Blood, Murder, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Misogyny
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thanks to Doubleday Books for the free advance copy of this book.
- AMERICAN MERMAID is two stories in one: Penelope's move to Hollywood interspersed with excerpts from the novel that took her there. As the book progresses, the two stories begin to converge and reality muddles.
- This book is an outrageous satire, each chapter more outlandish than the last, all commenting on the commercialization and flattening of modern feminism.
- However, I do want to note that there is some majorly ableist language and thought that is never really addressed (the book within the book's heroine is in a wheelchair), as well as some murky inclusion of asexuality that is only kind of explored. It wasn't clear to me if these viewpoints were of the characters or of the author.
- AMERICAN MERMAID is two stories in one: Penelope's move to Hollywood interspersed with excerpts from the novel that took her there. As the book progresses, the two stories begin to converge and reality muddles.
- This book is an outrageous satire, each chapter more outlandish than the last, all commenting on the commercialization and flattening of modern feminism.
- However, I do want to note that there is some majorly ableist language and thought that is never really addressed (the book within the book's heroine is in a wheelchair), as well as some murky inclusion of asexuality that is only kind of explored. It wasn't clear to me if these viewpoints were of the characters or of the author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Drug use, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Acephobia/Arophobia, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thanks to Random House for the free advance copy of this book.
- OH MY HEART, THIS BOOK! I never thought I would care about European kings from a thousand years ago but now I will go into battle for Philip and Richard.
- SOLOMON'S CROWN envisions the rival kings as secret lovers, opposites inexorably drawn to each other. They both know the relationship can never be, and both fall into it willingly anyway.
- Be forewarned that there is a lot of political gamesmanship here, as they are warring over a few duchys throughout the book. But Siegel makes it all fairly easy to follow, and of course, the relationship between the two kings is really the driving force of the book.
- OH MY HEART, THIS BOOK! I never thought I would care about European kings from a thousand years ago but now I will go into battle for Philip and Richard.
- SOLOMON'S CROWN envisions the rival kings as secret lovers, opposites inexorably drawn to each other. They both know the relationship can never be, and both fall into it willingly anyway.
- Be forewarned that there is a lot of political gamesmanship here, as they are warring over a few duchys throughout the book. But Siegel makes it all fairly easy to follow, and of course, the relationship between the two kings is really the driving force of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
slow-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:
No
Thanks to the author for the free advance copy of this book.
- LADY OF THE DROWNED EMPIRE is the third book in this series, so this is where I try to convince you to read this series without spoiling the plot twists so far! If you love fantasy romance of the A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES variety, Lyriana's story is for you. She's a headstrong but flawed heroine doing the best she can with what she has, and she falls in magnificent love along the way.
- I loved that this book gave more detail on the complex political system of this continent, as well as further backstory to the ancient gods and goddesses still influencing the world today.
- I thought this series was going to be a trilogy but LADY ends on a cliffhanger, and I'm already looking forward to spending more time in this world.
- LADY OF THE DROWNED EMPIRE is the third book in this series, so this is where I try to convince you to read this series without spoiling the plot twists so far! If you love fantasy romance of the A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES variety, Lyriana's story is for you. She's a headstrong but flawed heroine doing the best she can with what she has, and she falls in magnificent love along the way.
- I loved that this book gave more detail on the complex political system of this continent, as well as further backstory to the ancient gods and goddesses still influencing the world today.
- I thought this series was going to be a trilogy but LADY ends on a cliffhanger, and I'm already looking forward to spending more time in this world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape, Death of parent