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ghosthermione's reviews
297 reviews
Damn You, Butch Charming by Genta Sebastian
4.0
Quite enjoyable, although the fake southern accent was, well, painfully obviously fake at times. Still really enjoyed this freebie
Death at Whitechapel by Robin Paige
Did not finish book. Stopped at 7%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 7%.
I enjoyed the other books but Rudyard Kipling was already pushing my limit. Now, I have about zero interest in reading about Winston Churchill and his parentage...
Blades of the Old Empire by Anna Kashina
Did not finish book. Stopped at 5%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 5%.
I could not focus on it. It may be me rather than the book but regardless, DNF
Refusing Compulsory Sexuality: A Black Asexual Lens on Our Sex-Obsessed Culture by Sherronda J. Brown
5.0
I read this back in 2022 as an ARC. I had big plans to review it, as it absolutely blew my mind and I highlighted about 500 sentences that were either impactful or resonated with me.
And then i put so much pressure on myself about doing the book justice that I ended up never writing that review.
The gyst of it is, this book should be compulsory reading. Especially for anyone interested in sexuality, race, gender, and the intersection of the three. It felt like it was articulating things I somehow knew but hadn't quite been able to put words to. And then went deeper than that into aspects I'd not even begun to consider.
And then i put so much pressure on myself about doing the book justice that I ended up never writing that review.
The gyst of it is, this book should be compulsory reading. Especially for anyone interested in sexuality, race, gender, and the intersection of the three. It felt like it was articulating things I somehow knew but hadn't quite been able to put words to. And then went deeper than that into aspects I'd not even begun to consider.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Transphobia, Rape, Acephobia/Arophobia, Racism, Colonisation, Misogyny, and Sexual violence
The Princess Bride by William Goldman
Did not finish book. Stopped at 19%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 19%.
Quite bigoted in a way i did not expect. Feat. fatphobia and misogyny, mainly, and a bad case of "I hate my wife" and "i despise my fat son" that bleeds into the actual narrative when it turns out that all women are good for is being pretty (no really. you catch a bit of leprosy and you have no more value).
Silk & Steel: A Queer Speculative Adventure Anthology by Claire Bartlett, Elizabeth Davis, Jennifer Mace, Alison Tam, Django Wexler, Cara Patterson, Chris Wolfgang, Ellen Kushner, K.A. Doore, Neon Yang, Aliette de Bodard, Ann Leblanc, Yoon Ha Lee, S.K. Terentiev, Freya Marske
5.0
I usually find it hard to rate short story collections, as they're often a mixed bag. Not so with this one! I absolutely loved every single story and wished I could spend more time with their characters. Each deserves a whole novel. There are authors here whose work I already enjoy - Aliette De Bodard, Yoon Ha Lee, Claire Bartlett or Ellen Kushner to name but a few - and some I will definitely look out for in the future!
My Fourth Time, We Drowned by Sally Hayden
It doesn't feel right to give a star rating to this book. What I will say however is that it should be mandatory reading, somehow, somewhere. It's crushing but full of testimonies about the refugee crisis that we - Europeans -have to hear. I knew some of it but could not fathom the extent. And the complacency of the EU and UN is proven over and over again. I tried recommending it to my colleagues but was surprised to find it hasn't been translated into French (yet). Or perhaps not that surprised...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Child death, Rape, Deportation, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Genocide, Xenophobia, Trafficking, Death, War, Violence, Torture, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Racism
Moderate: Homophobia, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Religious bigotry
In addition to the triggers above, please note the book repeatedly deals with malnutrition and food deprivation, denial of medical care, human rights abuses, institutional abuses, and sea drownings
Victoria Marmot and the Meddling Goddess by Virginia McClain
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
4.0
Only one flaw: too short! This was a breeze to read through and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Lots of fun and a dollop of scifi references, and then a good bit of mystery too. I want to know what happens next like, right now immediately!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Sexism, and Stalking