Scan barcode
rachachisaur's reviews
218 reviews
Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher
slow-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
3.0
Cute and creative but not particularly compelling.
The Daughters of Izdihar by Hadeer Elsbai
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Eh. I gave it 3 stars because there’s nothing specifically bad or wrong with it, and I suspect my biggest issues are with how incorrect the marketing was.
This was marketed as “feminine rage” but it’s a lot of women trying to accomplish things and failing due to utter lack of preparation beforehand. It was also marketed as adventurous, despite nothing really happening at all. Most of the characters don’t develop their powers at all and none of them grows or learns from their mistakes.
Our main characters want women’s rights and equality but rely pretty heavily on the men in their lives to save them and don’t put any effort into educating themselves about their political system or history.
The magic system is lifted straight out of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Some of the characters and smaller plot points are borderline straight out of that show as well.
This was marketed as “feminine rage” but it’s a lot of women trying to accomplish things and failing due to utter lack of preparation beforehand. It was also marketed as adventurous, despite nothing really happening at all. Most of the characters don’t develop their powers at all and none of them grows or learns from their mistakes.
Our main characters want women’s rights and equality but rely pretty heavily on the men in their lives to save them and don’t put any effort into educating themselves about their political system or history.
The magic system is lifted straight out of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Some of the characters and smaller plot points are borderline straight out of that show as well.
The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill by Rowenna Miller
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
This was like watching a train wreck, in that you know the characters actions are going to end in disaster and there’s nothing you can do about it.
The pacing in engaging right up until the last third of the book, when it bogs down and the characters become far less interesting.
The pacing in engaging right up until the last third of the book, when it bogs down and the characters become far less interesting.
When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I’m not sure what the point of this story was. I think the attempt at commentary on women’s oppression and resistance/community in the face of said oppression didn’t quite ring true as it felt very white-centered, especially in the time period it was situated.
Told as a recollection of someone’s life, the characters were all fixed and two-dimensional, and so the lack of plot was even more evident.
Perhaps this is just not a genre I enjoy.
Told as a recollection of someone’s life, the characters were all fixed and two-dimensional, and so the lack of plot was even more evident.
Perhaps this is just not a genre I enjoy.
Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Zuzana and Mik are my favorite couple. They were so critical in adding some levity to an otherwise incredibly heavy book.
While most YA books tend to steer away from the absolute dreary awefulness of war in day to day life, this book really embraces the reality of having no good choices. I do wish Karou had kept the fire and strength that gave her life in the first book, as it would have carried through some of the slower parts a little better.
A lot of people dislike the distance between Akiva and Karou in this one, but I think it was really necessary in taking this story where it’s going.
Once again I absolutely love the author’s sentence-level work and voice, as well as the settings of the book.
While most YA books tend to steer away from the absolute dreary awefulness of war in day to day life, this book really embraces the reality of having no good choices. I do wish Karou had kept the fire and strength that gave her life in the first book, as it would have carried through some of the slower parts a little better.
A lot of people dislike the distance between Akiva and Karou in this one, but I think it was really necessary in taking this story where it’s going.
Once again I absolutely love the author’s sentence-level work and voice, as well as the settings of the book.
A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
adventurous
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
A very cute, studio Ghibli-esque novella about finding our place in life. Very strong Castle in the Sky vibes. Very meandering and gentle.
The City of Stardust by Georgia Summers
Did not finish book. Stopped at 65%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 65%.
Very intriguing concept, but struggled so much in execution. Super bad pacing issues. The characters themseves aren’t really invested in the plot so why would I be?
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Did not finish book. Stopped at 73%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 73%.
The title feels like a bait and switch, considering there was nothing about this book to situate it in Mexican culture. You could have swapped out the main character’s ethnicity and the country it’s set in without impacting the story at all. Which is fine unless you’ve made that ethnicity part of the title.
I made it 3/4 through this book and got just past the big reveal and couldn’t force myself to go any further. The pacing is slow, the creepiness of the house is downplayed by how little Noemi explores or interacts with it, and the cast of characters have very tropey, limited personalities.
For someone who came to make sure her cousin was safe, Noemi interacts with her barely at all and doesn’t seem very concerned about what’s going on.
The pacing is slow and our “strong” female lead repeatedly lets herself get talked out of doing anything effective with very little effort required. The root cause of all the creepiness is heavy-handedly obvious from the very beginning and therefore not much of a mystery to keep you invested.
I also hate gothic horror that revolves around SA as it’s main running theme, so even if everything else had been well done I probably would have DNF’d either way.
I made it 3/4 through this book and got just past the big reveal and couldn’t force myself to go any further. The pacing is slow, the creepiness of the house is downplayed by how little Noemi explores or interacts with it, and the cast of characters have very tropey, limited personalities.
For someone who came to make sure her cousin was safe, Noemi interacts with her barely at all and doesn’t seem very concerned about what’s going on.
The pacing is slow and our “strong” female lead repeatedly lets herself get talked out of doing anything effective with very little effort required. The root cause of all the creepiness is heavy-handedly obvious from the very beginning and therefore not much of a mystery to keep you invested.
I also hate gothic horror that revolves around SA as it’s main running theme, so even if everything else had been well done I probably would have DNF’d either way.
Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
I love the creativity in the magic system of this world, and the twists and turns as we find out Karou’s story, but most of all I love the characters themselves. Vivid and lively and funny, with great chemistry.
This is my second read through, and even knowing the backstory doesn’t take away from how enjoyable and compelling the journey is to get there again.
This is my second read through, and even knowing the backstory doesn’t take away from how enjoyable and compelling the journey is to get there again.
After the Forest by Kell Woods
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A dark, refreshing fairytale retelling. A bit of Hansel & Grettle mixed with Snow White.
The writing is engrossing, wrapping you up in the grim fairytale magic of the forest.
The writing is engrossing, wrapping you up in the grim fairytale magic of the forest.