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442 reviews by:
neuroqueer
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Settings
- [x] Typical setting for this genre
- [ ] Unique setting for this genre
- [ ] Unique setting in general
Protagonist(s)
- [ ] Hot garbage
- [ ] Boring boring boring
- [ ] Serviceable
- [x] Likeable leads
- [ ] I love them so much
Side Character
- [ ] Every character is terrible
- [ ] Characters commit sin of being boring/generic
- [x] Enough interesting characters to balance out the few terrible ones
- [ ] Amazing characters all around
Antagonist(s)
- [ ] Hate them for the wrong reasons
- [x] Cliché as hell
- [ ] Serviceable
- [ ] Sympathetic or likeable enough that I don't want to hate them
- [ ] Love to hate them
Plot
- [x] Average, generic plot
- [ ] Average, generic, often-seen plot made interesting with creativity
- [ ] Crazy plot that is either so bad it’s good or just plain bad
- [ ] Unique plot that keeps you interested
Writing
- [ ] Terribly written
- [ ] Very simple but effective language
- [x] Average writing that does the job
- [ ] Beautiful but accessible writing
- [ ] Challenging
Narrator (Audiobook)
- [ ] Dry and dull
- [ ] Tries too hard
- [ ] Passable
- [x] A joy to listen to
Short summary:
I liked the audiobook well enough. It was a book that I listened to while working and never got lost. I liked the relationship between Lady Hardcastle and Flo. There were a couple of "most unorthodox!" moments that tend to happen in books set in England revolving around nobility but not enough to make me roll my eyes. The narrator did an amazing job and kept me interested. I did try reading the book once and just got bored so I think audio for this series is the way to go.
adventurous
lighthearted
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:
No
This short book is a murder mystery that occurs in a magical world hidden within our own (think Harry Potter). It has a theme of imposter syndrome.
The main character is fine. She isn't especially interesting. The other characters don't seem particularly interesting either. Some of the other characters include:
* The handsome leading man who helps our protagonist and will eventually become a love interest
* The annoying female rival who wants to usurp the lead
* The wild best friend who is horny all the time and makes the lead do things they aren't particularly comfortable with (...and is annoying)
* An authority figure who is only used when information or actions are needed to get the plot moving along
What is interesting about this book is the setting. The lead tries out for a job at a bookstore which turns out to be part of a hidden society of magical people. The bookstore and the custodian of said bookstore can conduct auguries by using the books.
This store is important as a war is occurring on two fronts: the open war involves monstrous invaders from an outside world (think Lovecraft) attacking our world. The subtle war involves two factions who were split due to bickering how to handle the war. The bookstore in this case is a neutral ground where anyone from any faction can come in and consult the bookstore oracle.
That is what makes this book interesting.
There is the main plot of a murder but the suspect is VERY obvious.
The setting was enough for me to overlook it.
It's a quick read and didn't cost much on Amazon (was 2.99 for the Kindle version). It's not groundbreaking in the least but if you want to kill a couple of hours, it's a decent choice. I'm not chomping at the bits to read the next one but whenever I'm in a mood to read something short and magical, I will probably pick up it up.
The main character is fine. She isn't especially interesting. The other characters don't seem particularly interesting either. Some of the other characters include:
* The handsome leading man who helps our protagonist and will eventually become a love interest
* The annoying female rival who wants to usurp the lead
* The wild best friend who is horny all the time and makes the lead do things they aren't particularly comfortable with (...and is annoying)
* An authority figure who is only used when information or actions are needed to get the plot moving along
What is interesting about this book is the setting. The lead tries out for a job at a bookstore which turns out to be part of a hidden society of magical people. The bookstore and the custodian of said bookstore can conduct auguries by using the books.
This store is important as a war is occurring on two fronts: the open war involves monstrous invaders from an outside world (think Lovecraft) attacking our world. The subtle war involves two factions who were split due to bickering how to handle the war. The bookstore in this case is a neutral ground where anyone from any faction can come in and consult the bookstore oracle.
That is what makes this book interesting.
There is the main plot of a murder but the suspect is VERY obvious.
The setting was enough for me to overlook it.
It's a quick read and didn't cost much on Amazon (was 2.99 for the Kindle version). It's not groundbreaking in the least but if you want to kill a couple of hours, it's a decent choice. I'm not chomping at the bits to read the next one but whenever I'm in a mood to read something short and magical, I will probably pick up it up.
Challenging Genders: Non-Binary Experiences of Those Assigned Female at Birth
Michael Eric Brown, Daywalker Burill
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
I may give it another go but the characters were boring, humor fell flat and the writing is formatted strangely.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Zoe Faust, a 300 year old alchemist tackles a murder mystery in a small neighborhood in Portland, Oregon. With Dorian, the sentient gargoyle and Brixton, a spunky teenage boy, can Zoe figure out this whodunit?
Probably, but you will probably not care after a few chapters.
Likes
- Dorian is adorable. I would love a French gargoyle cook. He likes Agatha Christie and you are my friend if you are a Hercule Poirot fan.
- The narrator did a great job with the read. She was enjoyable to listen to. I think I only finished this torture because her voice is so pleasant.
Dislikes
- BRIXTON: the worst part of the book. Brixton is intolerable. I understand the logic of his character: he’s a poor 14 year old kid with a mother who only cares about herself. I get he’s going to be impulsive, guarded and at times selfish. But he was just too annoying. He wasn’t endearing and he didn’t have any redeemable characteristics. He is Scrappy Doo. NO ONE LIKES SCRAPPY DOO. He is an example of how not to write a teenager.
- Zoe is just a wasted character. She is over 300 years old and has probably seen so much shit during her day but is just always fretting. When the book isn’t about something vegan, it’s her fretting. I think by at least age 150 you would have more confidence, more planning skills, MORE INTERESTING PERSONALITY TRAITS besides being vegan!!!!!
- Max, the detective and love interest is bland as a loaf of bread. I think the author was trying to make him a bit mysterious but he just came across as boring and uninteresting. His repeated responses of “I cannot discuss an ongoing investigation” just made my eyes roll out of my head and across the room.
- Because Max is bland and Zoe is boring, I am not interested if they will get together. They have zero chemistry. I don’t get why she became so attracted to him. I guess saying “I cannot discuss an ongoing investigation” reminded Zoe of a Pokémon saying their name over and over and that is too cute to ignore!
- I have no problems with veganism - hell, I see the health benefits of it - but this book went too heavy handed. There is always a mention of Zoe being vegan or Zoe eating something vegan related or Dorian cooking something vegan over and over and over. If it was done a little bit more minimally, it could work but it takes up so much time that could be dedicated to spicing up the murder mystery or making Max and Zoe’s relationship more organic. Some the recipes sounded good - no lie - but the beating of the vegan stick over and over just turns me off. I think being vegan or on keto or whatever diet you choose should be an aspect of who you are, NOT YOUR ENTIRE PERSONALITY!
- The murder mystery started off interesting: Zoe finds a dead body in front of her newly purchased house. But then after a while, it felt like it took a background to Zoe’s veganism and Brixton’s hijinks. At first, I was enthusiastic about finding out the culprit but as time went on, it became more of “I just want to finish the book, get to the point already”. My original curiosity just died.
There is so much that could have been done with a 300 year old wildcrafting alchemist and a chef gargoyle tackling robbery and murder. The idea is so original but the execution was so terrible.
Recommended for: Hardcore vegans, I guess?