moonyreadsbystarlight's reviews
538 reviews

Until I Love Myself, Vol. 1: The Journey of a Nonbinary Manga Artist by Poppy Pesuyama

reflective

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Eating disorder, Dysphoria, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Misogyny, and Transphobia

A Touch of Ruckus by Ash Van Otterloo

adventurous emotional mysterious

• 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

4.5

This was really fun and adventurous with an interesting mystery, but also hits on some important issues, including mental health and the environment. The condundrum of being the eldest daughter and chronic people pleaser hit a little too close to home, but (being vauge to avoid spoilers) how things ended up and the moral around that was really good and kind of cathartic.

Overall, thus was fun, had a lot of heart, and some important messages. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Child death, and Mental illness

Minor: Animal cruelty

Accidental misgendering

Falling Back in Love with Being Human: Letters to Lost Souls by Kai Cheng Thom

emotional reflective

3.75

Some poems were quite strong, others I had a hard time with. The style was a bit repetitive for the bulk of the poems, but I did like the prompts after each poem - that was interesting and had some that I think I'll revisit and do. I think I'm just a little too jaded to really appreciate this. Maybe I will try it again when I am feeling more optimistic but I had a hard time getting into parts of it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Death, Suicide, Murder, and Physical abuse

What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher

dark mysterious tense

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

5.0

This was so creepy, especially in the last half, I was so jumpy reading it. It was atmospheric, suspenseful, and grotesque. I also really enjoyed the MC and thought some of the secondary characters were quite quirky and charming

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Suicide, War, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Misogyny

The Woods All Black by Lee Mandelo

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.75

The main character, Leslie, is an invert traveling through Kentucky in the 1920s on duty as a nurse, to give vaccines and provide care around childbirth. This begins as more of a historical novel. Leslie is assigned to provide care and vaccines in a small town Appalachian. He receives unprecedented religious pushback in the town, which complicates his job and potentially his livelihood. But there are people he is determined to help before he leaves. 

The horror element slowly builds as the woods are clearly more than they seem. So much of the story culminates towards the end, making this a bit of a slower burn, but trust that it ends with a bang. 

The blurb promises "historical horror, trans romance, and bloodsoaked revenge" and most certainly delivers on all in more ways than I was anticipating (it gets gruesome and spicy, but also I can see where Madelo's writing style was impacted by the time in which he is writing.).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Religious bigotry, Transphobia, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Homophobia, Violence, War, Gore, Abortion, Animal death, and Blood

Moderate: Ableism, Rape, Cannibalism, and Fire/Fire injury

The Tea Dragon Society by K. O'Neill

hopeful inspiring relaxing

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

This is a short story that is so soft. It's about caring and loving and it has adorable art. This was like a warm, comforting cup of tea - but with little floral dragons

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

emotional reflective

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

4.5

This was a sweeping family saga full of twists. There were heavy meditations on personal identity, memory, legacy, and so much more. While the cast of characters was kind of big, it wasn't confusing or overwhelming. While there were parts I'd wanted more from, most of it was really great. It was also interesting to hear about her research process in the author's notes. I listened to this on audiobook and I quite enjoyed it. Sometimes multi-POV can be difficult for me on audio, but this one didn't give me any trouble! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Biphobia, Suicide attempt, Sexism, Murder, Death of parent, Rape, Medical content, Alcoholism, Cancer, Police brutality, Xenophobia, Car accident, Grief, and Death

Moderate: Colonisation

Gambling addiction, being forced to give a child up for adoption, and discussion of impending climate disaster are also CWs I would add.

With A Vengeance by Freydís Moon

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

I did read this but I no longer feel comfortable recommending anything by this author. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Deadnaming, Death of parent, Dysphoria, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence

Moderate: Cultural appropriation, Drug use, and Deportation

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams

reflective tense

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Obviously, lots of details that aged poorly (it's about the south in the 1940s or 50s), plus none of the characters are really supposed to be likable. But this was a really interesting character study and look into family and really the impact of having to live within lies (and how much space lies can take up in certain dynamics)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Racism, Fatphobia, Sexism, Rape, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Pregnancy

Garlic & the Witch by Bree Paulsen

adventurous lighthearted

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death of parent