_fallinglight_'s reviews
429 reviews

For Every One by Jason Reynolds

hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

How to Pronounce Knife by Souvankham Thammavongsa

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

adventurous dark sad tense fast-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? Yes

3.5

It was massively entertaining (and cringe at points too) and fast but at the same time you can't carry a whole book on just edgelord antics lol

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Torture, Violence, War, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Rape

The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo

adventurous emotional informative lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Death

Moderate: Sexism, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

Minor: Pregnancy

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-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? It's complicated

2.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility, Medical content, Abortion, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Ableism, Fire/Fire injury, Cursing, Classism, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Kidnapping, and Sexual content

The Gypsy Goddess by Meena Kandasamy

challenging dark informative reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Murder, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Police brutality, Rape, Sexual violence, and Classism

The Emperor and the Endless Palace by Justinian Huang

adventurous challenging emotional sad tense medium-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? Yes

5.0

I was so entertained, turned on (it was barely 4% in and the horniness was going off the charts 🥵) and invested with this story! To me, this is a fantastic debut although some things could've been tweaked here and there like a bit further work on character development in a few characters to make pop even more, but overall there's mastery in Justinian Huang's writing and storytelling which made it such a worthwhile read to me regardless. There were some things I personally didn't vibe with the book re: the way hard drugs use is depicted, but it's totally a me thing, no judgement whatsoever to the author. But I really enjoyed this tale of lust, betrayals, revenge, unfinished love stories which turn into obsessions, past lives, and how being a greedy, opportunistic mf steals actual precious things from you.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Drug use, and Sexual content

Moderate: Infidelity and Sexual assault

Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Cursed Bunny by Bora Chung

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Torture, Confinement, Vomit, Misogyny, Gore, Suicide, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Suicide attempt, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, and Medical content

Moderate: Rape, Pregnancy, and Sexual assault

Cold Nights of Childhood by Tezer Özlü

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera

adventurous challenging dark mysterious medium-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

2.5