claudcloud's Reviews (310)

Where the Drowned Girls Go

Seanan McGuire

3.75

challenging emotional hopeful mysterious sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I hate to say this... but I think I just don't vibe with Cora as a character all that much. Maybe it's because she hits a little too close to home, maybe it's because we didn't get to see her in her actual home yet and we've only experienced the real world version of her, I don't know, but there's just something about her that is a little off-putting to me.

The rest of the story, though? LOVED. I was so surprised that we finally got to visit another school for the wayward children, and then I was a little less surprised that we got to see Regan there because as soon as I realized where the setting was taking us, I was SO sure she'd be there as well! The Matilda-esque revolution that Cora, Sumi & co. stage is delightful, Marian's story was so emotional and lovely, and I'm so excited to see what repercussions this installment will have for the rest of the series - because I bet we're not done with this headmaster, even though we don't know exactly who he is quite yet.

Across the Green Grass Fields

Seanan McGuire

4.0

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Oh Hooflands how I wish I could visit thee... As a fellow kid who didn't understand why my whole entire life felt like everyone around me didn't like me that much and was constantly wondering what the hell was wrong with me? I adored being in Regan's shoes, and I really loved the care and tenderness with which her story was approached!

Even Though I Knew the End

C.L. Polk

4.0

emotional mysterious reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

I will always, always be a sucker for a book that proves to me time and again that love is the most powerful force in the world 🥹

Imogen, Obviously

Becky Albertalli

4.75

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

Becky Albertalli I will worship at your altar forever.....

How do you condense your thoughts and feelings about a book and a character that feel like they've been plucked straight out of your own brain? How do I explain the extent to which I related to Imogen and how our experiences with queerness are the same to a literal T????? I genuinely felt like I was reading my baby gay self trying to figure it out and falling short (unfortunately, internalized biphobia and raging heteronormativity had hands for us both)!! Even though I was a little later to the party than she was, and I will forever grieve that I took so long, it was still like looking into a mirror and knowing that she'd be okay - because I was, and I am, and isn't that just such a gift!!

Come Tumbling Down

Seanan McGuire

4.0

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Oh Jack Wolcott how I love thee... a monster by any other name... The inherent grief in loving your sister so much but knowing that she's a danger to everyone and everything you love, the immediate decision that you must be the one to kill her and become the villain in her story even if it's killing you, the fragility of a mind not at home and the unwanted clarity that comes with knowing you have to do the right thing... How you'll be haunted for the rest of your life... I ADORE YOU.

We Are Okay

Nina LaCour

4.0

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious 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: No

What a beautiful little novel 🥹 Short and sweet but definitely packs a punch - Marin's grief (and Gramps' grief, as well!) was explored with such tenderness and care, and I felt for her every step of the way. The maybe-happy-ending that Marin and Mabel got was also super bittersweet, but I did understand why things ended the way they did. The love doesn't go away, it's just different.

My only wish is that the book was a little longer! While I definitely felt like our characters were all fleshed out very well, I do think that the plot itself would've benefited from more time to breathe, and Gramps' reveal felt a tiiiiiny bit anticlimactic to me. Other than that - I really loved this!!

Critical Role: Bells Hells — What Doesn't Break

Cassandra Khaw

4.25

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Reading about Bell's Hells, and especially Laudna - someone who I connected to so much during her campaign but who I treasure even more having experienced her in prose - is home 🥹 I adored this book!!!!