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crusoe's reviews
201 reviews
Pinocchio, Vampire Slayer Complete Edition by Van Jensen
adventurous
dark
funny
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
3.25
Pinocchio vampire slayer is a fun story with some genuinely heartfelt moments. I think it might have hit harder if I'd read it in seperate installments instead of binging the collection.
The story was solid if at times simple, the artstyle rough but charming with some very impressive and original compositions. (Especially in the sections with lore like the woodcut scenes.) Sometimes it felt like I was missing a chunk of story when jokes mentioned adventures not covered in the graphic novel which was a shame. I did quite like the characters, especially the puppets from the puppet theatre. All in all, a solid read but it did feel like it was missing something.
The story was solid if at times simple, the artstyle rough but charming with some very impressive and original compositions. (Especially in the sections with lore like the woodcut scenes.) Sometimes it felt like I was missing a chunk of story when jokes mentioned adventures not covered in the graphic novel which was a shame. I did quite like the characters, especially the puppets from the puppet theatre. All in all, a solid read but it did feel like it was missing something.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Alcohol
A Dangerous Path by Erin Hunter
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? Yes
3.5
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This was, at once, a very strange and entertaining read. The unsettling atmosphere settles under your skin and the way Mary behaves becomes more disturbing as the book goes on. You know the saying about how to boil a frog? You only start to realise Mary's influence to the full extent when it's already too late. Because yes, why shouldn’t she dislike the townspeople? And why should Charles be allowed in their home?
Her relationship to Constance is also very strange. Constance is both her sister and a motherly figure but her decision making is dictated by Mary. Whether out of her own fear of the public, a sense of obligation to Mary or something else entirely; she does not seem able to defy Mary in any meaningful way.
Her relationship to Constance is also very strange. Constance is both her sister and a motherly figure but her decision making is dictated by Mary. Whether out of her own fear of the public, a sense of obligation to Mary or something else entirely; she does not seem able to defy Mary in any meaningful way.
Rising Storm by Erin Hunter
challenging
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
One of the more depressing installments of this series, truly. Not only is fireheart dealing with the loas of his best friend but he soon comes to take on the responsibility for the entire clan as the once so strong Bluestar loses all hope after Tigerclaw's betrayal. It starts really slow and bleak, and ends really fast and bleak with a killer cliffhanger. I did not like fireheart as much in this novel but that's because of the recent tragedies and pressure he is under.
Forest of Secrets by Erin Hunter
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Many years after first reading it, the ending of the book still gives me chills! The book starts of slow but it builds up to a point where the events we've been building up to suddenly accelerate and everything comes to a crescendo. In terms of its pay-off, this is one of the better books in series 1.
Unravelling by Preethi Nair
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I got a digital copy of this book from a storygraph giveaway, so thanks!
This isn't a book I would normally pick up so it will possibly hit harder if you enjoy deep personal stories with a touch or harsh reality. Bhanu's motivations are complex but throughout her story you start to understand why she made the choices she has made. Ultimately, what brings her happiness is not being with Deep but what it has represented; the ability to choose happiness and to gain back her agency.
This isn't a book I would normally pick up so it will possibly hit harder if you enjoy deep personal stories with a touch or harsh reality. Bhanu's motivations are complex but throughout her story you start to understand why she made the choices she has made. Ultimately, what brings her happiness is not being with Deep but what it has represented; the ability to choose happiness and to gain back her agency.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
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
4.5
The seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo is an absolutely brilliant book. It's just not the genre for me which made it difficult to connect with the characters. I love how it sets out Evelyn's life and shows how complicated a life can be.
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
RWRB is the best of the best in its genre and I can't believe it took me so long to finally get to it. The banter is brilliant, the stakes higher than the empire state building and the characters are lovely and lovely complex.
I have two small gripes: 1. In the beginning, I got confused about who is saying what occasionally because speech is interspersed with actions by other characters. 2. I'm so damn mad that this is not the timeline we're living in. Instead of having our first female president, we're stuck for a second term with a right wing predator. Both of those can't stop me from Rating this book 5☆.
I have two small gripes: 1. In the beginning, I got confused about who is saying what occasionally because speech is interspersed with actions by other characters. 2. I'm so damn mad that this is not the timeline we're living in. Instead of having our first female president, we're stuck for a second term with a right wing predator. Both of those can't stop me from Rating this book 5☆.
Wat wij zagen by Hanna Bervoets
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Prima verhaal maar niet heel spectaculair. Ik vond het mysterie van het ergste dat de hoofdpersoon zelf gezien heeft en hoe het inspeelt op haar verergerende mentale toestand wel spannend. Vooral ook omdat ze een onbetrouwbare verteller is.
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Once you accept that Ready Player One is a book that was best enjoyed by nerdy, millennial, teen boys, it starts to become way more fun to read.
The writing isn't perfect and Wade being extremely overpowered is a disastrous recipe for shattering your suspension of disbelief. However, if you manage to turn your brain off long enough to get immersed in the apocalyptic world, you'll find a great story full of fun twists, sinister capitalistic villains to be beaten, nuggets of great speculative fiction and a nerdy quest that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
P.S. I'm of the rare opinion that this book isn't sexist. The world is, sure, because it's a worse version of our own, but both Aech and Art3mis are well-rounded characters (even if art3mis mirrors the manic pixie dreamgirl trope). Once you accept that Wade has a POV that is hella biased because he's a very horny teenage boy who is experiencing a first crush, this starts to make sense.
The writing isn't perfect and Wade being extremely overpowered is a disastrous recipe for shattering your suspension of disbelief. However, if you manage to turn your brain off long enough to get immersed in the apocalyptic world, you'll find a great story full of fun twists, sinister capitalistic villains to be beaten, nuggets of great speculative fiction and a nerdy quest that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
P.S. I'm of the rare opinion that this book isn't sexist. The world is, sure, because it's a worse version of our own, but both Aech and Art3mis are well-rounded characters (even if art3mis mirrors the manic pixie dreamgirl trope). Once you accept that Wade has a POV that is hella biased because he's a very horny teenage boy who is experiencing a first crush, this starts to make sense.