totallyshelfaware's Reviews (1.07k)

Winterkeep

Kristin Cashore

4.0

adventurous emotional 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

Content Warnings

Bitterblue

Kristin Cashore

5.0

adventurous dark emotional 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: Complicated

Content Warnings

Fire

Kristin Cashore

4.0

adventurous emotional 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: Complicated

Content Warnings

In the Serpent's Wake

Rachel Hartman

4.5

adventurous challenging emotional slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating

Adiba Jaigirdar

4.0

emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Content Warnings

I'll admit: the comparison to Good Omens and The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet got to me. I'm a huge fan of how Pratchett and Becky Chambers cradle your heart in their hands and inject it with a massive dose of hope and kindness. So when you advertise a book as an intersection of both of my favourite authors? I'm going to pick it up, eager to discover a new favourite.

Alas, I've tried reading this three times now and have to admit that it just isn't the book for me. It's got all the elements I gravitate towards, but topped off with so much queer trauma and abuse that it made it extremely difficult to read.

I might revisit this again at some point, but only when I'm better armed against the pain this book puts its characters through.

Content Warnings

Starfell: Willow Moss & the Lost Day

Dominique Valente

3.25

adventurous fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Content Warnings

Snapdragon

Kat Leyh

5.0

emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Snapdragon is an utterly delightful celebration of queerness that made my heart SING and put the biggest smile on my face.

If you adore the found family trope and feel like a little gremlin struggling to do your best on most days? This is the perfect book for you. It is an unabashedly joyful exploration of friendship, love, and family and how the bonds you treasure give you the strength to hope.

Content Warnings