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2.09k reviews by:
poisoned_icecream
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Miller is planning to marry her fiancée Florence. She has had to distance herself from her abusive mother, Sylvie. Unfortunately, Sylvie tracks Miller down and manages to persuade her to spend a weekend with her in a secluded cabin. Just like everything else I've read by Caitlin Marceau, this made me feel so much dread and fear each time I turned the page. Anyone who's ever had to grow up with a cruel and manipulative parent will relate to the events in this novella.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Death of parent, Gaslighting
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a truly beautiful book about grief, anger, and family (both blood and chosen).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Racism, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Child death, Death, Infertility, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Excrement, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
emotional
hopeful
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Sexism
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a delightful sapphic retelling of the classic fairy tale of Beauty and the Beast. It starts off the way it always does, but with some differences. For example, in this book Alys, the daughter who goes to live with Phillippe (the beast), is aromantic. Another difference is that the beast lives with a sister named Grace who is kind to Alys. They work together to keep each other as safe as they can from Phillippe, who is emotionally abusive towards them. I've read many retellings of fairy tales, and this is going to be one of my all-time favorites now. I will definitely reread this over and over.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Abandonment
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Terminal illness
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
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
This book has been on my radar for a while and I'm glad I finally got around to reading it. Sir Violet is a knight who has to constantly visit a dragon living in a cave to retrieve whatever shiny object he has stolen from a villager. When the baker goes missing, Sir Violet's first suspect is the dragon. There is so much kindness and respect in this novella, and it is very inclusive and queer. I had a lot of fun with this mostly low stakes, cozy fantasy.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Transphobia
challenging
dark
hopeful
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Drug use, Rape, Murder
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
Short and lovely sapphic fantasy romance between an undead warrior woman and a dryad. Hal is set on revenge against whoever killed her, and along the way she meets a dryad named Cedara. She helps Hal on her quest. I really adore the ending to this story. I will definitely check out D.N. Bryn's full length novels.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Violence