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finnickdeservedbetter's reviews
199 reviews
Make the Season Bright by Ashley Herring Blake
Spice: moderate (3-4 explict, open door scenes)
Representation: both main character's are bi, there's an aromantic lesbian side character, male and female bi side characters, multiple gay/achillean side characters, multiple black and mixed black side characters, and an indian/south asian side character
I have mixed feelings about this one. I really liked Charlotte but I couldn't stand Brighton. She's easily my least favourite AHB character now (that position was previously held by Jordan in Astrid Parker Doesn’t Fail). She was just so insufferable and immature throughout most of the book. She got better by the end at least but never apologized for acting like a child. Sure they both have their flaws and mistakes, but Brighton was really pulling the weight in that department and it made her really unlikeable for me.
Anyways, after having read this, and all of her Bright Falls series, I'm realizing AHB's writing might just be too millennial for me. Don't get me wrong, I love her settings and cast of characters style...It's just also really hard for me to ignore terms like "cherry queeries" being said over and over.
Will I keep reading her books? Yeah, ofc (at least for now). I'm really excited for Dream On, Ramona Riley coming this May. Will I always keep noticing the millennialisms tho? Yes, unfortunately.
That being said, I'm also lowkey disappointed that it's a standalone and we won't get a book about Sloane, who was my favourite character alongside Wes.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Tropes & Themes
- Christmas romance
- Second chance romance
- Exes pretending to be strangers
- Forced proximity
- Snowed in
- One bed
- Bi x bi relationship
- Set in small town Colorado
Spice: moderate (3-4 explict, open door scenes)
Representation: both main character's are bi, there's an aromantic lesbian side character, male and female bi side characters, multiple gay/achillean side characters, multiple black and mixed black side characters, and an indian/south asian side character
Only music could really do that -- bring everything to the surface, make the memories alive, sharpen the time-dulled pain to a point.
I have mixed feelings about this one. I really liked Charlotte but I couldn't stand Brighton. She's easily my least favourite AHB character now (that position was previously held by Jordan in Astrid Parker Doesn’t Fail). She was just so insufferable and immature throughout most of the book. She got better by the end at least but never apologized for acting like a child. Sure they both have their flaws and mistakes, but Brighton was really pulling the weight in that department and it made her really unlikeable for me.
Anyways, after having read this, and all of her Bright Falls series, I'm realizing AHB's writing might just be too millennial for me. Don't get me wrong, I love her settings and cast of characters style...It's just also really hard for me to ignore terms like "cherry queeries" being said over and over.
Will I keep reading her books? Yeah, ofc (at least for now). I'm really excited for Dream On, Ramona Riley coming this May. Will I always keep noticing the millennialisms tho? Yes, unfortunately.
That being said, I'm also lowkey disappointed that it's a standalone and we won't get a book about Sloane, who was my favourite character alongside Wes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Abandonment, Alcohol
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit
Minor: Confinement, Homophobia, Racism, Religious bigotry
Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo
Spice: low (sexual language used but no explict scenes)
Representation: Jewish latina main character, black side character
Everyone who knows me, knows I'm a big Ninth House fan. I literally have a tattoo for it on my wrist and I recommend it to everybody...this was better.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Tropes & Themes
- Mysterious murders
- Magical secret societies
- Descent into Hell
- Demons and ghosts
- Corruption
- Reclaiming power
Spice: low (sexual language used but no explict scenes)
Representation: Jewish latina main character, black side character
That was the truth of magic—blood and guts and semen and spit, organs kept in jars, maps for hunting humans, the skulls of unborn infants. The problem wasn’t books and fairy tales, just that they told half the story, offering up the illusion of a world where only the villains paid in blood, the ogre stepmothers, the wicked stepsisters, where magic was just and without sacrifice.
Everyone who knows me, knows I'm a big Ninth House fan. I literally have a tattoo for it on my wrist and I recommend it to everybody...this was better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Police brutality
Minor: Racism, Slavery, Colonisation
The Elements of Marie Curie: How the Glow of Radium Lit a Path for Women in Science by Dava Sobel
I think this is a good overview for anyone not already familiar with her work, but it didn't really go in-depth at all (not that I expected it considering the page count) and it barely touched on her being Polish. She didn't just move to Paris and become French. She still very much loved Poland. To many she's Marie Curie, but she's Maria Salomea SKŁODOWSKA-Curie and that's too often erased.
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
3.75
"Even now, nearly a century after her death, Marie [Skłodowska] Curie remains the only female scientist whom most people can name."
I think this is a good overview for anyone not already familiar with her work, but it didn't really go in-depth at all (not that I expected it considering the page count) and it barely touched on her being Polish. She didn't just move to Paris and become French. She still very much loved Poland. To many she's Marie Curie, but she's Maria Salomea SKŁODOWSKA-Curie and that's too often erased.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Misogyny
Moderate: Miscarriage, Medical content, War, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Infertility, Xenophobia, Death of parent
Additional CWs: chemical warfare, poverty
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
Spice: low (mentions but nothing on page)
Representation: Jewish latina main character, black side character
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
5.0
Tropes & Themes
- Jewish Latina FMC
- Murder mystery w/ magic
- Dark academia
- Secret societies
- Niche magic powers
- Ghosts
Spice: low (mentions but nothing on page)
Representation: Jewish latina main character, black side character
"Mors irrumat omnia," Alex whispered. Death fucks us all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse
Minor: Gun violence, Slavery, Vomit, Grief
Additional CWs: child molestation/statutory rape
gang rape, revenge porn, excrement consumption (by a bad person dw), institutional corruption
Lights Out by Navessa Allen
Spice: moderate (3+ explict scenes)
Did I like it? No. Was it well-written? Definitely not. Did I have a lot of fun listening to the audiobook with my bestie Absolutely I did (10/10 would recommend)
I think the above quotes speak for the vibes of the book better than I can...
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Tropes & Themes
- "Masktok" cosplayer MMC
- Nurse FMC
- Stalking
- Accidental murder
- Random mafia connections?
- Dark romance for beginners
Spice: moderate (3+ explict scenes)
Claiming me? Oh, god. No, vagina, do not quiver at that. Damn it. Not you, too, ovaries.
Give him the most toe-curling, leg-shaking, dick-throbbing, sheet-gripping, soul-sucking, ball-draining head of his life.
Did I like it? No. Was it well-written? Definitely not. Did I have a lot of fun listening to the audiobook with my bestie Absolutely I did (10/10 would recommend)
I think the above quotes speak for the vibes of the book better than I can...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Stalking, Murder
Moderate: Mental illness, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent
Minor: Rape, Vomit, Cannibalism
Mythos by Stephen Fry
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
informative
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Incest, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Rape, Murder
Additional CWs: beastiality
What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Animal death, War, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Medical content
Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur
Did not finish book. Stopped at 49%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 49%.
I just can't stand Elle. She's so annoying and childish to me. And I hate the trope of "friend or family member harrasses the FMC about being single bc they'll never be happy alone". Definitely makes me never want to pick up her brother's book...which is unfortunate bc I bought the entire trilogy (plus the fiancee farce) before I knew I didn't like this 😬