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caseythereader's reviews
1744 reviews
The Absinthe Underground by Jamie Pacton
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Sheine Lende by Darcie Little Badger
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment and Colonisation
Moderate: Death and Racism
All This and More by Peng Shepherd
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Thanks to William Morrow Books for the free copy of this book.
- ALL THIS AND MORE has such a fabulous premise. What if you could go back to the road not taken? Could you make your life absolutely perfect in every way?
- However, I think this book would have been better in a linear narrative format rather than the choose your own adventure style. Things got repetitive fast since we had to be sure we didn’t miss important plot points on any particular path. At one point I even got looped around to chapters I’d already read.
- The format also meant Marsh’s character growth kind of came out of nowhere. Instead of actually learning things, she just suddenly was a more take charge person because the plot needed it to move.
- The rules and mechanics of the quantum bubble also weren’t really cohesive. I’m not a stickler for explaining all the science in sci-fi, but it didn’t follow its own logic.
- ALL THIS AND MORE has such a fabulous premise. What if you could go back to the road not taken? Could you make your life absolutely perfect in every way?
- However, I think this book would have been better in a linear narrative format rather than the choose your own adventure style. Things got repetitive fast since we had to be sure we didn’t miss important plot points on any particular path. At one point I even got looped around to chapters I’d already read.
- The format also meant Marsh’s character growth kind of came out of nowhere. Instead of actually learning things, she just suddenly was a more take charge person because the plot needed it to move.
- The rules and mechanics of the quantum bubble also weren’t really cohesive. I’m not a stickler for explaining all the science in sci-fi, but it didn’t follow its own logic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Infidelity, and Alcohol
The Villain Edit by Laurie Devore
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Thanks to Avon Books for the free copy of this book.
- I just can’t pass up a reality dating show novel, and THE VILLAIN EDIT is probably the juiciest one I’ve read yet.
- I didn’t think a lot of the plot made sense - How is “failed author” going to make you a beloved contestant? Could you really not see that everyone hated you? Did you think the cameras were really gone? Why would they let you talk openly about producer machinations on air? Etc. Maybe I just watch too much Bachelor, though.
- However, despite or maybe because of all that, I couldn’t put it down because I needed to know what would happen next.
- I just can’t pass up a reality dating show novel, and THE VILLAIN EDIT is probably the juiciest one I’ve read yet.
- I didn’t think a lot of the plot made sense - How is “failed author” going to make you a beloved contestant? Could you really not see that everyone hated you? Did you think the cameras were really gone? Why would they let you talk openly about producer machinations on air? Etc. Maybe I just watch too much Bachelor, though.
- However, despite or maybe because of all that, I couldn’t put it down because I needed to know what would happen next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Suicide attempt and Pregnancy
Masquerade by O.O. Sangoyomi
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Thanks to Forge Books for the free copy of this book.
- MASQUERADE is a gorgeously rich story. A loose Persephone and Hades retelling set in precolonial West Africa, the world of this story drew me in immediately and the beautiful writing kept me hooked.
- I took some issue with characterization in this book. Òdòdó didn’t have a very solid personality, and she veered between naive and smarter than a room full of generals depending on what the story needed.
- I did love how it was entirely women that drove the plot forward. Women who were trying to break out of the confined roles they were given, and each choosing different ways to try to do it.
- MASQUERADE is a gorgeously rich story. A loose Persephone and Hades retelling set in precolonial West Africa, the world of this story drew me in immediately and the beautiful writing kept me hooked.
- I took some issue with characterization in this book. Òdòdó didn’t have a very solid personality, and she veered between naive and smarter than a room full of generals depending on what the story needed.
- I did love how it was entirely women that drove the plot forward. Women who were trying to break out of the confined roles they were given, and each choosing different ways to try to do it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gore, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Sexual violence
Minor: Sexual content
His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Gun violence
Out On a Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
Moderate: Ableism, Cancer, and Death of parent
Minor: Suicide and Vomit
The God and the Gumiho by Sophie Kim
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Alcohol
Cash Delgado Is Living the Dream by Tehlor Kay Mejia
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Thanks to Dell Romance for the free copy of this book.
- Tehlor Kay Mejia is lowkey one of the best romance writers out there. Their books are brimming with love and hope and queerness and I want to scoop everyone up into a big hug.
- CASH DELGADO IS LIVING THE DREAM deals with a later in life queer awakening, and I am so so glad it exists. I think regardless of when you come out, you’ll relate to a lot of Cash’s confusion, justifications, and ultimately feelings of freedom.
- Plus, Sammy from SAMMY ESPINOZA’S LAST REVIEW plays a key role in this book, which I loved!
- Tehlor Kay Mejia is lowkey one of the best romance writers out there. Their books are brimming with love and hope and queerness and I want to scoop everyone up into a big hug.
- CASH DELGADO IS LIVING THE DREAM deals with a later in life queer awakening, and I am so so glad it exists. I think regardless of when you come out, you’ll relate to a lot of Cash’s confusion, justifications, and ultimately feelings of freedom.
- Plus, Sammy from SAMMY ESPINOZA’S LAST REVIEW plays a key role in this book, which I loved!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Lesbophobia, and Alcohol
System Collapse by Martha Wells
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Gun violence, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Trafficking