kathispathi's Reviews (112)

I absolutely loved this novel. What drew me in was the dynamic between two very different women, and how their relationship unfolds. I also appreciated how the story gradually delves into the lingering shadows of World War II: painful memories, impossible choices, and the ongoing struggles faced by those left, long after the war had ended.

The only downside for me was the epistolary chapter (I'm just not a big fan of that format). The writing in the spicier scenes also wasn’t quite it.

That said, if you like Literary Fiction then you should definitely give this a try!

absolutely loved this! ❤️ I'm usually not a big romantasy reader, but this series is the perfect blend of slow-burn romance, humour, magic, and a delightful grumpy-sunshine pairing. It’s charming, fun, and surprisingly heartfelt. 🥰

Highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, feel-good fantasy that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s playful, clever, and full of charm. 5/5⭐ from me.

So excited for the third book, Accomplice to the Villain, coming this August. 

I listened to the audiobook version 🎧 and was really impressed. My one issue with the narration in Assistant to the Villain was that it felt a bit robotic, but this time, the same narrator did a great job

I absolutely adore the premise of this book. The blend of fantastical silver-working and language was fascinating, and I thoroughly enjoyed the deep dives into etymology.

This was my second novel by Kuang after The Poppy War, and once again, her writing is stunning. That said, I do find her stories a bit too bleak, dark, and heavy.

Kuang doesn’t shy away from sharp academic and political critique, particularly around colonialism, cultural exploitation, and racism. I’d definitely recommend checking content warnings before diving in.

If you need a happy ending to feel satisfied, this might not be the book for you. But if you’re open to complex, layered storytelling that leans into discomfort, I highly recommend it. 

Oh, and I listened to the audiobook version 🎧 I would highly recommend it! Hearing the original languages spoken added so much to the experience, and the narrators did a fantastic job.

I don’t usually gravitate toward short stories, but I gave this one a try and honestly, I’m still not sure if the format just isn’t for me.

📖 Asa - 3/5⭐
The premise was intriguing, but the storytelling felt a bit rushed. Maybe that’s just how short stories work? Or maybe something got lost in translation. It didn’t flow smoothly for me.

📖 Nami - 1/5⭐
What did I just read? I had no idea what was happening, and even after looking it up, I still don’t fully get it. Apparently, it’s about isolation and the human need for connection? 🤷🏻

📖 A Night to Remember - 1/5⭐
Same experience: it ultimately left me confused. The meaning never quite landed for me, even after digging into analyses.

I wanted to like this book. Maybe it would make a great book club pick just to unpack all the layers?

I was initially drawn in by the promise of a revenge-driven plot (I imagined Black Swan meets Gone Girl), but I found the pacing too slow to hold my attention. I kept waiting for the action or emotional stakes to kick in, but it just didn’t get there fast enough for me.

The storyline felt a bit too familiar - centering on a young woman falling for a brooding "bad boy" and overlooking his deeply troubling behavior because he’s mysterious and possibly traumatised. I found it hard to stay connected to the characters or feel invested in their dynamic.

The story unfolds through multiple perspectives, with a writing style that reminded me of Stephen King or Justin Cronin. As a dystopian fiction fan, I was immediately drawn to the unique premise and the high-stakes tension.

That said, I had mixed feelings about the portrayal of women in the book. Female characters felt underdeveloped, often defined only by their relationships (wives, mothers, girlfriends). One portrayal in particular: a female cop whose entire personality revolves around her maternal instincts and her boyfriend, felt disappointingly one-dimensional. 😶‍🌫️

I really enjoyed the premise but think at times too much was going on and I would've liked more of the supernatural aspect in it

Decades has a compelling and atmospheric plot, though I found some parts a bit complex to follow. I really enjoyed the “mixed media” aspect: reading excerpts of a book within the graphic novel added a unique layer to the experience.

The level of detail is intense, and while some readers might appreciate that, I found it overwhelming. The book dives deep into the lives of peripheral figures, which made the narrative feel disjointed and hard to stay engaged with. I just couldn’t connect, and eventually decided to DNF.

This is my third book by Matt Haig and I feel like this is a theme with his books: they're very well written, good books with interesting premises but it takes too long for the ending to come and then the ending wraps up too quickly.

I also read the invisible life of Addie larue recently and now realised that I'm not a fan of the premise that the main character meets all sorts of famous historical characters.

My Matt Haig ranking so far is: 
1. Humans
2. How to Stop Time
3. The Midnight Library