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2.01k reviews by:
ninetalevixen
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I think the premise is fascinating — living ships (I didn't get "slug" but apparently that's what they're modeled after?), queer humanitarian nuns, dilemmas of ethics and survival. There's a lot of potential in the complex characters and some unique worldbuilding.
However, I often have trouble getting fully invested in sci-fi, which was unfortunately the case here. The plot felt more bare-bones and packed than I would've preferred, even for a novella; there were just too many main characters for each of them to get a fair amount of narrative focus.
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CONVERSION: 8.07 / 15 = 3 stars
Prose: 4 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 5 / 10
Emotional Impact: 4 / 10
Development / Flow: 6 / 10
Setting: 8 / 10
Diversity & Social Themes: 3 / 5
Originality / Trope Execution: 3 / 5
Memorability: 2 / 5
Spoiler
ableist language, animal cruelty, mention of euthanasia, precanon parent deaths, on-page non-graphic animal mating scene, self-harm (biting fingers until bleeding), epidemic, dementia, major character deathrep:
Spoiler
WLW MC [Gemma], ace MC [Sister Faustina], major F/F relationship, Black secondary char. [Sister Ewostatewos]I think the premise is fascinating — living ships (I didn't get "slug" but apparently that's what they're modeled after?), queer humanitarian nuns, dilemmas of ethics and survival. There's a lot of potential in the complex characters and some unique worldbuilding.
However, I often have trouble getting fully invested in sci-fi, which was unfortunately the case here. The plot felt more bare-bones and packed than I would've preferred, even for a novella; there were just too many main characters for each of them to get a fair amount of narrative focus.
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CONVERSION: 8.07 / 15 = 3 stars
Prose: 4 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 5 / 10
Emotional Impact: 4 / 10
Development / Flow: 6 / 10
Setting: 8 / 10
Diversity & Social Themes: 3 / 5
Originality / Trope Execution: 3 / 5
Memorability: 2 / 5
The good intentions are clear, and there's an abundance of uplifting quotes to be drawn. For what it's worth, though, I actually might've DNF'd if this wasn't so short.
As a whole it's just so underdeveloped — idealistic rather than actionable, based on theories and personal anecdotes rather than precedent or research, with complex issues oversimplified and/or glossed over. For example, challenging your privilege isn't a one-step process that you can check off before leveraging said privilege to effect social change; there's also infighting/gatekeeping within the queer community that isn't really addressed beyond a blanket statement that everyone experiences their identity differently and some identities are more oppressed than others. There's a cursory mention of intersectionality (though the term itself is never used), but not much more explanation.
It also seems to downplay the past and present sense of queer community; as mentioned in this book, it's now easier than ever to connect — assuming you have access to the Internet; not everyone does — and some members of the queer community are already doing outreach. Obviously it's not everyone, and it could be expanded (particularly globalized), but I don't think we have quite so far to go as the author makes out.
As a whole it's just so underdeveloped — idealistic rather than actionable, based on theories and personal anecdotes rather than precedent or research, with complex issues oversimplified and/or glossed over. For example, challenging your privilege isn't a one-step process that you can check off before leveraging said privilege to effect social change; there's also infighting/gatekeeping within the queer community that isn't really addressed beyond a blanket statement that everyone experiences their identity differently and some identities are more oppressed than others. There's a cursory mention of intersectionality (though the term itself is never used), but not much more explanation.
It also seems to downplay the past and present sense of queer community; as mentioned in this book, it's now easier than ever to connect — assuming you have access to the Internet; not everyone does — and some members of the queer community are already doing outreach. Obviously it's not everyone, and it could be expanded (particularly globalized), but I don't think we have quite so far to go as the author makes out.
A fun, quick, light read. The illustrations are nice to look at; the strategies range from useful to somewhat outrageous (though never quite as wild as the introduction led me to expect).
content warnings:
The relatively short chapters and POV switches keep the plot moving, though they also made it difficult for me to really connect with the characters. But then again, there didn't seem to be a ton to connect to, as they were all fairly standard archetypes: the grumpy/mean and often offensive technophobe old lady; the opinionated but mostly-well-meaning youngish woman; the kindhearted and seemingly naive university student. (Also the perpetual-bachelor landlord with the inability to view pretty woman as human beings, whose perspective/subplot I honestly could've done without.)
I think the premise is fascinating: the juxtaposition of possibly-literal ghosts and being ghosted; the cyclical connection between our experiences, emotions, and actions; the idea that people might enter our lives as part of a bigger picture; the question of whether we should give second chances. My main critique is the scene towards the end where.
Overall, this almost has a [a:Fredrik Backman|6485178|Fredrik Backman|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1493098924p2/6485178.jpg] vibe, with its focus on a small cast in a small city/town and deceptively simple setup, though it's also very much what I would expect from a "chick lit" book, with its focus on (cis/straight/relatively well-off) women and their relationships. Which is not a total condemnation, just an acknowledgment of the bubble this book exists within. (And a large part of why I can't rate this any higher.)
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CONVERSION: 7.8 / 15 = 3 stars
Prose: 5 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 4 / 10
Emotional Impact: 5 / 10
Development / Flow: 7 / 10
Setting: 4 / 10
Diversity & Social Themes: 2 / 5
Intellectual Engagement: 2 / 5
Originality / Trope Execution: 4 / 5
Rereadability: 3 / 5
Memorability: 3 / 5
Spoiler
ageism, ableist language (incl. "cr*zy"), precanon loss of loved ones (sisters), mention of suicides by hanging, mention of cancer deathThe relatively short chapters and POV switches keep the plot moving, though they also made it difficult for me to really connect with the characters. But then again, there didn't seem to be a ton to connect to, as they were all fairly standard archetypes: the grumpy/mean and often offensive technophobe old lady; the opinionated but mostly-well-meaning youngish woman; the kindhearted and seemingly naive university student. (Also the perpetual-bachelor landlord with the inability to view pretty woman as human beings, whose perspective/subplot I honestly could've done without.)
I think the premise is fascinating: the juxtaposition of possibly-literal ghosts and being ghosted; the cyclical connection between our experiences, emotions, and actions; the idea that people might enter our lives as part of a bigger picture; the question of whether we should give second chances. My main critique is the scene towards the end where
Spoiler
Sunna delivers a monologue about the take-home lessons of it all, which just seems entirely too heavy-handed, even patronizing — as though the author doesn't trust readers to draw their own conclusionsOverall, this almost has a [a:Fredrik Backman|6485178|Fredrik Backman|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1493098924p2/6485178.jpg] vibe, with its focus on a small cast in a small city/town and deceptively simple setup, though it's also very much what I would expect from a "chick lit" book, with its focus on (cis/straight/relatively well-off) women and their relationships. Which is not a total condemnation, just an acknowledgment of the bubble this book exists within. (And a large part of why I can't rate this any higher.)
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CONVERSION: 7.8 / 15 = 3 stars
Prose: 5 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 4 / 10
Emotional Impact: 5 / 10
Development / Flow: 7 / 10
Setting: 4 / 10
Diversity & Social Themes: 2 / 5
Intellectual Engagement: 2 / 5
Originality / Trope Execution: 4 / 5
Rereadability: 3 / 5
Memorability: 3 / 5
Oooooh. Delightfully dark and creepy, with vivid, memorable characters and settings. Strong Inkheart vibes, with a bit of Wayward Children, but plenty that was all its own. Sometimes the writing itself was a bit much — too many adjectives, adverbs, metaphors — but the story was strong and well-developed.
Maybe I would've enjoyed this book more if I'd read Between the Lines and already been invested in these characters and their relationship, as was the authors' obvious expectation - not enough effort was made for me to really care, though; unlike an established-relationship story, I had a tough time figuring out why these two were better together than apart. The premise was definitely appealing, so I found the actual plot and characters disappointing.
content warnings:
& death of animals, mention of partner rape
rep:
★ 2.5 stars ★
Interesting premise and I appreciated the casual LGBT+ rep, though the horror/paranormal elements weren't really my cup of tea, and the punk/anarchist elements seemed almost like an afterthought in some sections. There's more development than actual plot, and the characters felt more like collections of quirks than distinct personalities. I also found the ending disappointingly anticlimactic.
But I also might be holding a slight grudge because this almost put me in a reading slump yet I was too stubborn to DNF a novella. Which would be totally on me.
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CONVERSION: 6.4 / 15 = 2.5 stars
Prose: 3 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 2 / 10
Emotional Impact: 1 / 10
Development / Flow: 3 / 10
Setting: 8 / 10
Diversity & Social Themes: 4 / 5
Originality / Trope Execution: 2 / 5
Spoiler
precanon loss of loved one (friend), mentions of suicide, minor character deaths, minor gore/body horror, blood rituals, on page panic attack, violence against& death of animals, mention of partner rape
rep:
Spoiler
bi/pan MC [Danielle], WLW LI [], F/F relationship, trans MLM minor character [Vulture], MLM minor character [Kestrel], M/M relationship, diverse minor characters★ 2.5 stars ★
Interesting premise and I appreciated the casual LGBT+ rep, though the horror/paranormal elements weren't really my cup of tea, and the punk/anarchist elements seemed almost like an afterthought in some sections. There's more development than actual plot, and the characters felt more like collections of quirks than distinct personalities. I also found the ending disappointingly anticlimactic.
But I also might be holding a slight grudge because this almost put me in a reading slump yet I was too stubborn to DNF a novella. Which would be totally on me.
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CONVERSION: 6.4 / 15 = 2.5 stars
Prose: 3 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 2 / 10
Emotional Impact: 1 / 10
Development / Flow: 3 / 10
Setting: 8 / 10
Diversity & Social Themes: 4 / 5
Originality / Trope Execution: 2 / 5
content warnings:
rep:
I received an advance review copy for the Caffeine Book Tours blog tour; all opinions are my own and honest. This review was originally posted on my blog, Nine Tale Vixen, along with book-inspired moodboards.
★ 3.5 stars ★
Having been lucky enough to participate in the Spin the Dawn tour — you can check out my review and playlist here — and having fallen in love with this series already, I was absolutely overjoyed to be picked for the Unravel the Dusk tour!
As with the first book, Lim’s writing is lyrical and lushly detailed; there’s lots of East Asian mythology, expanding the worldbuilding I loved so much in Spin the Dawn with even more familiar stories. (No spoilers, but Unravel the Dusk prominently features another of my personal favorite Chinese folktales!)
But to be entirely honest, I may have hyped this sequel up too much in my head, particularly because I was essentially expecting it to be much the same, maybe a bit darker. It picks up after Spin the Dawn, though the conflicts and stakes are quite different, which makes the plot structure quite different: rather than another quest with milestones, this was more of a will she/won’t she gradual build.
The narrative focus also shifts, with Maia and Edan separated — we see more of Maia’s love for her family and her kingdom, which shows other sides to her character and leads to an interesting journey. (Not to say there’s no romance in Unravel the Dusk, because there absolutely is!)
None of the above is inherently bad, of course, but it does mean that your feelings about Spin the Dawn may not be a great predictor for your feelings about Unravel the Dusk. So I guess you’ll just have to read it yourself to find out.
Spoiler
precanon loss of loved ones (mother & siblings), depiction of terminal illness, grief, whipping, torture, mention of blood drinking, blood magic, selling of children, hearing voicesrep:
Spoiler
Chinese-inspired setting & culture, Asian-coded cast, implied past M/M relationshipI received an advance review copy for the Caffeine Book Tours blog tour; all opinions are my own and honest. This review was originally posted on my blog, Nine Tale Vixen, along with book-inspired moodboards.
★ 3.5 stars ★
Having been lucky enough to participate in the Spin the Dawn tour — you can check out my review and playlist here — and having fallen in love with this series already, I was absolutely overjoyed to be picked for the Unravel the Dusk tour!
As with the first book, Lim’s writing is lyrical and lushly detailed; there’s lots of East Asian mythology, expanding the worldbuilding I loved so much in Spin the Dawn with even more familiar stories. (No spoilers, but Unravel the Dusk prominently features another of my personal favorite Chinese folktales!)
But to be entirely honest, I may have hyped this sequel up too much in my head, particularly because I was essentially expecting it to be much the same, maybe a bit darker. It picks up after Spin the Dawn, though the conflicts and stakes are quite different, which makes the plot structure quite different: rather than another quest with milestones, this was more of a will she/won’t she gradual build.
The narrative focus also shifts, with Maia and Edan separated — we see more of Maia’s love for her family and her kingdom, which shows other sides to her character and leads to an interesting journey. (Not to say there’s no romance in Unravel the Dusk, because there absolutely is!)
None of the above is inherently bad, of course, but it does mean that your feelings about Spin the Dawn may not be a great predictor for your feelings about Unravel the Dusk. So I guess you’ll just have to read it yourself to find out.
Please don't go see the movie adaptation of this book; instead support ownvoices Asian(-American) representation like [b:I'll Be the One|53098416|I'll Be the One|Lyla Lee|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1575913396l/53098416._SY75_.jpg|68119645] (which is also getting an adaptation) kthxbai!
[2014 original review below]
Honestly, I have no idea whatsoever why this book is so hyped. Sure, Park's cute and I sympathize with Eleanor, but this book just isn't all that exceptional.
[2014 original review below]
Spoiler
3 starsHonestly, I have no idea whatsoever why this book is so hyped. Sure, Park's cute and I sympathize with Eleanor, but this book just isn't all that exceptional.
