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simonlorden's Reviews (1.38k)
wait, Cassie died? this is what happens when I skip stuff
ehh. this was fun and diverse so I'm giving it 5 stars, but I'm starting to think Marvel comics in general are not really for me
ehh. this was fun and diverse so I'm giving it 5 stars, but I'm starting to think Marvel comics in general are not really for me
re-read: 2019.01.01.
I have so many emotions about Miki and that entire last page and I'm tearing up. gonna go forward to Exit Strategy quick before I cry
--
original review:
I read this and Exit Strategy back-to-back, and the ending of ES actually influenced my rating for this one, so I'll be reviewing them together and probably posting the review in September to be closer to Exit Strategy's release date.
short version: Murderbot is still the literal best and this one kinda made me cry
I have so many emotions about Miki and that entire last page and I'm tearing up. gonna go forward to Exit Strategy quick before I cry
--
original review:
I read this and Exit Strategy back-to-back, and the ending of ES actually influenced my rating for this one, so I'll be reviewing them together and probably posting the review in September to be closer to Exit Strategy's release date.
short version: Murderbot is still the literal best and this one kinda made me cry
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
second read:
I'm a few days late with re-reading this, but it's still almost Halloween, okay?
my previous review still stands, except: what was I on about, complaining about the pining? the yearning is the BEST PART.
--
khfksdjgkjg
the only word I can use to describe this is magical. the whole reading experience was so real I could almost taste the pumpkin and apples. the soft pining was great, and ghosts and familiars, and Bartleby is literally exactly my kind of person, and the DESCRIPTIONS in this novella were so good! I mean, just look at this: although his rage was the gentlest rage imaginable, the briefest, quietest maelstrom in a teacup.
or this: His anger was fierce and soft, stinging like kitten’s claws.
OR THIS: He was a giant holding a rose petal. He was a bear permitted to cup a kitten in his paw, when he deserved no such prize.
I have to admit the pining sometimes got frustrating because it went on for so many years and it /didn't have to/ if only Piotr knew how to communicate, but at the same time I loved it. I would fall in love with Bartleby too. so soft and pure.
He wasn’t genderfluid, at least, not how Piotr understood the term, but then again perhaps he was. Bartleby was… Bartleby. He wore what he chose to wear and acted how he chose to act. He’d never requested to be addressed by another pronoun or name, he simply was, like a trickster deity of old, although one not interested in deception.
I'm a few days late with re-reading this, but it's still almost Halloween, okay?
my previous review still stands, except: what was I on about, complaining about the pining? the yearning is the BEST PART.
--
khfksdjgkjg
the only word I can use to describe this is magical. the whole reading experience was so real I could almost taste the pumpkin and apples. the soft pining was great, and ghosts and familiars, and Bartleby is literally exactly my kind of person, and the DESCRIPTIONS in this novella were so good! I mean, just look at this: although his rage was the gentlest rage imaginable, the briefest, quietest maelstrom in a teacup.
or this: His anger was fierce and soft, stinging like kitten’s claws.
OR THIS: He was a giant holding a rose petal. He was a bear permitted to cup a kitten in his paw, when he deserved no such prize.
I have to admit the pining sometimes got frustrating because it went on for so many years and it /didn't have to/ if only Piotr knew how to communicate, but at the same time I loved it. I would fall in love with Bartleby too. so soft and pure.
He wasn’t genderfluid, at least, not how Piotr understood the term, but then again perhaps he was. Bartleby was… Bartleby. He wore what he chose to wear and acted how he chose to act. He’d never requested to be addressed by another pronoun or name, he simply was, like a trickster deity of old, although one not interested in deception.
I received an ARC through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
this was wonderful, but also pretty heavy for a short book.
RTC
this was wonderful, but also pretty heavy for a short book.
RTC
Kade and Christopher and (briefly) Nancy are back and aaah!! I liked Cora too, and the fat rep was nice, but it didn't live up to the original gang for me. Especially Kade.
In this book, we get to visit several worlds as the kids go around to put Sumi back together, so that was also nice.
In this book, we get to visit several worlds as the kids go around to put Sumi back together, so that was also nice.
Gods. I love this story, but I didn't like reading this book. I might have liked it more if it was half as long, but it dragged on longer than it should have and frankly I didn't feel like I got anything from it that I didn't already have from the adaptations.
adventurous
emotional
funny
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:
No
2023.10.02.
Be careful. Find your crew.
I love ART so much and I love Tapan and I love Murderbot and aaaaaaah
--
2nd read on 2019.01.01.:
I still have so many feelings about all these bots and their feelings. ART and Murderbot pretending to be human are great. the gender-diverse and polyamorous rep is great. almost all the humans we met so far in this book are polyamorous?? amazing.
--
original review:
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This felt way too short and I need the next one immediately.
If you read my review of the first book, you already know that the best part of these diaries is the protagonist: Murderbot. A human/bot construct with free will who has anxiety around humans and just wants to be left alone to watch media in peace, but at the same time it also keeps getting attached to humans who are nice to it.
I liked protecting people and things. I liked figuring out smart ways to protect people and things. I liked being right.
I loved this book because while it had three humans for Murderbot to protect, it also had several bots that were shown to have emotions and form bonds with each other. And I'm not only talking about ART, the one Murderbot befriends, but also several sidecharacter bots (including a spoiler-y part) who went beyond their orders and programming.
As Murderbot has no interest in sex or romance, there is no main romantic relationship in any of these books, and as Murderbot isn't human, it can't really count as nonbinary representation despite having no gender - however, the same isn't true for side characters. The first book had several polyamorous relationships mentioned, and suggested that polyamory was quite common and normalised in this society. This is also true in this book, where a group marriage with kids is casually brought up at one pont, but what I really liked was that there was a nonbinary character with a gender identity that seemed to be specific to the character's community. (The pronouns used were te/ter, which is not a pronoun set I've ever seen, but I'm always happy to see new pronouns I'm unfamiliar with.)
Again, this book had plenty of relatable anxiety moments from Murderbot; two bots working together and trying to pass as human; bots having emotions and protecting people out of their own will; normalised polyamory and nonbinary genders, and plenty of other great stuff. One of my favourite moments was when Murderbot got overwhelmed/stressed out and its bot friend played the soundtrack of its favourite serial to help, but the book is really full of moments like that.
I don't think I can ever get enough of Murderbot's adventures.
Be careful. Find your crew.
I love ART so much and I love Tapan and I love Murderbot and aaaaaaah
--
2nd read on 2019.01.01.:
I still have so many feelings about all these bots and their feelings. ART and Murderbot pretending to be human are great. the gender-diverse and polyamorous rep is great. almost all the humans we met so far in this book are polyamorous?? amazing.
--
original review:
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This felt way too short and I need the next one immediately.
If you read my review of the first book, you already know that the best part of these diaries is the protagonist: Murderbot. A human/bot construct with free will who has anxiety around humans and just wants to be left alone to watch media in peace, but at the same time it also keeps getting attached to humans who are nice to it.
I liked protecting people and things. I liked figuring out smart ways to protect people and things. I liked being right.
I loved this book because while it had three humans for Murderbot to protect, it also had several bots that were shown to have emotions and form bonds with each other. And I'm not only talking about ART, the one Murderbot befriends, but also several sidecharacter bots (including a spoiler-y part) who went beyond their orders and programming.
As Murderbot has no interest in sex or romance, there is no main romantic relationship in any of these books, and as Murderbot isn't human, it can't really count as nonbinary representation despite having no gender - however, the same isn't true for side characters. The first book had several polyamorous relationships mentioned, and suggested that polyamory was quite common and normalised in this society. This is also true in this book, where a group marriage with kids is casually brought up at one pont, but what I really liked was that there was a nonbinary character with a gender identity that seemed to be specific to the character's community. (The pronouns used were te/ter, which is not a pronoun set I've ever seen, but I'm always happy to see new pronouns I'm unfamiliar with.)
Again, this book had plenty of relatable anxiety moments from Murderbot; two bots working together and trying to pass as human; bots having emotions and protecting people out of their own will; normalised polyamory and nonbinary genders, and plenty of other great stuff. One of my favourite moments was when Murderbot got overwhelmed/stressed out and its bot friend played the soundtrack of its favourite serial to help, but the book is really full of moments like that.
I don't think I can ever get enough of Murderbot's adventures.
Aaaah! I may have been a little let down by Binti, but never by this series. Sunny is awesome and all her world and her spirit face and everything is awesome. I love how her brothers got more involved in this book.
Was the first book this brutal as well and I just forgot? I mean, wow, the parts with the confraternity and the bullying story Sunny told were awful.
My only complaint is that Chichi's treatment of the two guys is just cruel and annoying. When they bonded over music, I briefly hoped for a poly arrangement, but nah, it was just cheating and leading them on, and her refusing to communicate.
Also, I thought this was a duology but apparently there's going to be more?! So yay.
Was the first book this brutal as well and I just forgot? I mean, wow, the parts with the confraternity and the bullying story Sunny told were awful.
My only complaint is that Chichi's treatment of the two guys is just cruel and annoying. When they bonded over music, I briefly hoped for a poly arrangement, but nah, it was just cheating and leading them on, and her refusing to communicate.
Also, I thought this was a duology but apparently there's going to be more?! So yay.
I received a copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I have so many emotions.
This book is about a lesbian couple's miscarriage and moving on, based on the author's own experiences. It is a very heavy topic, but the beautiful illustrations and the use of colours (or lack of colours) blew me away. The gradual healing and learning to live again after the trauma could really be felt and seen in the images. Also, I loved that one of the women wants to be a children's author, and we actually see her get several rejections before getting published.
I have so many emotions.
This book is about a lesbian couple's miscarriage and moving on, based on the author's own experiences. It is a very heavy topic, but the beautiful illustrations and the use of colours (or lack of colours) blew me away. The gradual healing and learning to live again after the trauma could really be felt and seen in the images. Also, I loved that one of the women wants to be a children's author, and we actually see her get several rejections before getting published.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage