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632 reviews by:
takarakeireads
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
- library guardians
- Magic books
- Complex family dynamics
- Multiple pov
- Mysterious
- Sprinkle of romance
- Bisexual MC
- Also a cute dog and cat
This was super mysterious especially at the beginning. I really enjoyed the magic and the intertwining povs. A hint of dark academia. Really interesting characters and complicated family dynamics. Funny at parts as well. There was a lot of build up to a main kind of conflict and that felt a bit too easily resolved. But the build up was fascinating and the ending was good after that too
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death of parent
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Violence, Medical content
Minor: Slavery, Colonisation
Medical content: Needles/syringes
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
What a beautiful YA romance!!! Knowing the synopsis of the book going in, I was actually surprised that it was told from Stevie's POV, but I think that really lended well to the development of the story. Nora's letters are devastating to read. A really stunning young adult queer romance!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Homophobia, Racism
Moderate: Physical abuse, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Lots of hockey and college partying still, but I enjoyed the plot a bit more of these years.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Reread 2025 - my previous review stands:
Probably the most romantic book I've ever read.
Probably the most romantic book I've ever read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, War
Moderate: Animal death, Torture
Minor: Confinement, Genocide
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
(Reread on audio) MY GOD THIS BOOK!!!! Helen Hoang I am in your walls.
This is not a lighthearted romance (jail to anyone using that tag here???). Anna deals with a LOT of really hard things throughout the book. But everything that happens, while difficult to read, is handled with such raw realness. Quan is everything and I will protect him bodily forever.
4/5🌶️
This is not a lighthearted romance (jail to anyone using that tag here???). Anna deals with a LOT of really hard things throughout the book. But everything that happens, while difficult to read, is handled with such raw realness. Quan is everything and I will protect him bodily forever.
4/5🌶️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Mental illness, Sexual content, Death of parent
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma
Minor: Racism
I really don't know why 'cancer' has been tagged because Anna's father is unwell due to a stroke... There is a lot of caretaker exhaustion.
Anna is diagnosed as autistic which especially her sister responds poorly to (telling her she's not). She struggles with masking and the diagnosis due to that response. Anna eventually spirals into a severe depression.
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Was a bit too bro-y with the members of the team for my taste, just a lot of college partying etc. Having more of an interest in hockey might’ve helped. Would rec if you’re into slow burn queer hockey graphic novels.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying, Homophobia
Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders
adventurous
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
- Latine pirates!
- Trans MC
- Element magic
- Journey to finding true self
- NARRATED BY VICO ORTIZ
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Blood, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol
Minor: Genocide, Slavery, Colonisation
adventurous
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:
Yes
"good" vs "evil" but the lines are blurred. Medieval plus futuristic, with magic!
Text was a bit small to read. Ending felt a bit abrupt, although I did like the epilogue.
Text was a bit small to read. Ending felt a bit abrupt, although I did like the epilogue.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder
Moderate: Confinement, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent, Abandonment
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The concept and world building is the best part of this book. The world is fascinating - the way qi is used, the Chinese culture is thoroughly infused (even though this is very sci-fi futuristic). Unfortunately I didn't feel like this lived up to my expectations. Our main character Zetian is extremely morally gray and not in like a "I'm rooting for this person" kind of way. I really thought there would be a lot more critique or eschewing of gender roles (I actually thought the MC would be nonbinary or trans). Zetian does almost constantly talk about how women are poorly treated, how there are many contradictions between how women are expected to behave, how generally patriarchal cultures are crap. However, I didn't feel as though Zetian was 'in community' with her fellow women. Instead she actually just blatantly disregards them all.
Apparently this was openly marketed as apolycule book I seem to have missed that marketing, so the romance just gave me whiplash until it finally clicked what was going on.
Because I really enjoyed the world, I will continue the series because I hope that there can be some actual character development in the next book(s).
Apparently this was openly marketed as a
Because I really enjoyed the world, I will continue the series because I hope that there can be some actual character development in the next book(s).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Violence
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Alcohol
Minor: Biphobia, Pedophilia, Rape, Acephobia/Arophobia, Colonisation
emotional
lighthearted
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
Just as adorable as the show. I wish I'd gotten all the books to read immediately.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia
Moderate: Sexual assault