titalindaslibrary's reviews
648 reviews

They Bloom at Night by Trang Thanh Tran

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challenging dark emotional hopeful 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

5.0

The Red Palace by June Hur

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dark mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.0

The God and the Gwisin by Sophie Kim

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adventurous funny mysterious sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Honestly? This was just what I needed to get out of a reading slump. This is sheer entertainment mixed with the perfect amount of angst and mystery! 

While it initially took me some time to stop missing Hani (her banter and mischievous side was so fun!), I was eventually won over by our scholarly Kisa. I think Sophie handled this development really well, and was able to use the reincarnation twist as a way to delve more into Seokga’s character beautifully. My heart! This trickster god really goes through it after Hani’s death, but it becomes clear how necessary that was to carve a path to his future. 

Everything I enjoyed in the first book was here, but with more impact. Sophie’s comedic timing with dialogue has come such a long way, I was in equal turns laughing and making pained “aww!’s” throughout the entire book. This was a perfect balance of lighthearted fun and tension. No one was neglected in this story, with both new side characters and returning faces all getting satisfying development. In conclusion, I admire Sophie's growth as a writer and look forward to whatever she writes next!

Also, if we could PLEASE get a k-drama adaptation of these books, that would be EVERYTHING 
Whiskey When We're Dry by John Larison

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adventurous challenging dark sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

Damn. I'm not a huge Western fan (and this book definitely stays true to that genre), but I have to admit this is a welcome branching out from the stereotypical stories that get told from this era. Jess is an incredibly resilient, tough character that you can't help but root for. I've seen reviewers compare this to "Arya Stark meets True Grit" and I'd have to say that feels accurate. 

Highly recommend listening to this on audio as the narrator does an incredible job and I felt fully immersed. 
The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron

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fast-paced

1.5

Had to read this for work.
Meh.

This is definitely dated and riddled with white women spirituality. It's clear this author is extremely privileged and has no framing for these concepts outside of her own class and race. While I could find some helpful nuggets of advice and understood the intent behind them, in practice a lot of this advice falls flat. 
All Heathens by Marianne Chan

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fast-paced

4.0

Leather & Lark by Brynne Weaver

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dark funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Mmmm…yeah this gave me a couple giggles but the first one was better 🤷🏻‍♀️
The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love by bell hooks

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challenging reflective medium-paced

3.5

This is definitely a product of it's time, but hook's adherence to a strict gender binary just never relented and I kept getting jumpscared by that language. However her core message is certainly one filled with hard truths that I respect and can understand. I think reading this in the year 2025 as an American woman makes this an especially bitter read though. 
These Violent Delights by Micah Nemerever

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challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I will be thinking about this book for quite some time. Now THAT’s how you do a dark academia thriller, cause wtf?? These boys had one hell of a toxic obsession with each other and it was a horrifyingly electric experience. 
Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver

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dark emotional funny tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

You know what? Hell yeah.