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kimschouwenaar's reviews
340 reviews
Lapidary by Tayla Jean Grossberg
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
review to come !
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Suicide, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
Minor: Sexual content and Suicide
warning: there’s a graphic scene where the main character tries to commit suicide by violently cutting her wrists with a piece of broken glass.
FAQ Gender by Thorn de Vries, Mandy Woelkens
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.5
Een (h)eerlijk informatief boek uit het perspectief van een non-binair persoon en hun cis-gendered partner! Ik raad deze voornamelijk aan aan mensen die er nog niet zoveel over weten of mensen die aan hun genderidentiteit aan het twijfelen zijn. Dit boek opent het gesprek over gender, genderidentiteit en genderexpressie!
PS: voor mij wel een heerlijk validerend gevoel toen ik het hoofdstuk over sex aan het lezen was. Ik ben namelijk aseksueel en het gezicht wat ik trok tijdens het lezen kan niets anders dan komisch zijn geweest, haha!
PS: voor mij wel een heerlijk validerend gevoel toen ik het hoofdstuk over sex aan het lezen was. Ik ben namelijk aseksueel en het gezicht wat ik trok tijdens het lezen kan niets anders dan komisch zijn geweest, haha!
A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
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? Yes
3.25
Is the story plausible? Not exactly.
Is it historically accurate? Probably not.
Is it enjoyable? Yes, but I will not be re-reading, and this has not become one of my favourite reads.
Besides the fact that I just could not connect to the two main characters, the pacing is off. Some scattered moments were exciting, but overall I was a little bored. Then there is the wording and dialogue, which was a peculiar mix of historical and modern speech. For some it might work, but for me it was confusing.
Additionally, I simply do not understand why in such a seemingly modern and advanced society, there is such an ignorance towards mental health issues. There are multiple characters using neo-pronouns (a fact I absolutely ADORE), they seem to have equal rights for men and women, and the sultan is a woman with a new-born (!!!!) (Zeliha and Eyne were an absolutely delightful addition to the story). Also, there was an aro-ace character that uses çe/çem/çir!
It could have been great, but to me it wasn’t.
Is it historically accurate? Probably not.
Is it enjoyable? Yes, but I will not be re-reading, and this has not become one of my favourite reads.
Besides the fact that I just could not connect to the two main characters, the pacing is off. Some scattered moments were exciting, but overall I was a little bored. Then there is the wording and dialogue, which was a peculiar mix of historical and modern speech. For some it might work, but for me it was confusing.
Additionally, I simply do not understand why in such a seemingly modern and advanced society, there is such an ignorance towards mental health issues. There are multiple characters using neo-pronouns (a fact I absolutely ADORE), they seem to have equal rights for men and women, and the sultan is a woman with a new-born (!!!!) (Zeliha and Eyne were an absolutely delightful addition to the story). Also, there was an aro-ace character that uses çe/çem/çir!
It could have been great, but to me it wasn’t.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Sexual content, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.75
Nick and Charlie by Alice Oseman
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? Yes
4.5
read in a few hours. too good to put down <3
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
challenging
funny
mysterious
tense
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
3.75
This book had no business being so addicting. It doesn't do anything new, took me over 100 pages to really get in to, and has a relatively predictable plot twist/betrayal. That being said, I absolutely loved reading this and cannot wait to get my grabby hands on the sequel that's coming out later this year.
The bullying element is extremely cringe. I really could not accept the extremely cringe nickname. Dain is the new Tamlin. There is no reason for me to like this book.
And yet.
I do not know what happened after 100 pages, but holy shit. Rebecca Yarros dragged me into a steamy slow burn, telepathic mated dragons, and another plot twist that I genuinely DID NOT SEE COMING. It's got queer rep, BiPOC rep, hot-and-dangerous-men-and-women rep. My queer, asexual ass has no business being this attracted to Xaden. Violet gave me a hard time in the beginning, but I do love a violent woman who knows how to throw daggers and fight while probably looking sexy and rugged af.
The sequel should have been published yesterday, but, alas, I need to wait until November 7 (dad, my apologies in advance, but I will be reading all the way to Luxembourg <3).
The bullying element is extremely cringe. I really could not accept the extremely cringe nickname. Dain is the new Tamlin. There is no reason for me to like this book.
And yet.
I do not know what happened after 100 pages, but holy shit. Rebecca Yarros dragged me into a steamy slow burn, telepathic mated dragons, and another plot twist that I genuinely DID NOT SEE COMING. It's got queer rep, BiPOC rep, hot-and-dangerous-men-and-women rep. My queer, asexual ass has no business being this attracted to Xaden. Violet gave me a hard time in the beginning, but I do love a violent woman who knows how to throw daggers and fight while probably looking sexy and rugged af.
The sequel should have been published yesterday, but, alas, I need to wait until November 7 (dad, my apologies in advance, but I will be reading all the way to Luxembourg <3).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Does dragon death count as animal death? In this case, it does.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Cancer, Drug use, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston
Casey McQuiston does it again!
I was very reluctant to start this, since I loved RWRB, but OLS was a little disappointing.
However.
I Kissed Shara Wheeler delivered. It's funny, it's romantic, it's about realising you're queer in an environment that will do anything to stop you from exactly that. It's about senior year stress. And it's about realising that high school and who you are in high school both aren't eternal.
The Shakespeare and Phantom references and allusions were a brilliant addition, particularly because I understand them all now lol.
It's full of teenage angst and exactly the escape I was looking forward to.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I can't even explain how I feel, and it feels wrong to say it without the right words, so I don't say it at all, but then nobody knows, and I'm mad that nobody knows, even though I don't even want them to know.
Casey McQuiston does it again!
I was very reluctant to start this, since I loved RWRB, but OLS was a little disappointing.
However.
I Kissed Shara Wheeler delivered. It's funny, it's romantic, it's about realising you're queer in an environment that will do anything to stop you from exactly that. It's about senior year stress. And it's about realising that high school and who you are in high school both aren't eternal.
The Shakespeare and Phantom references and allusions were a brilliant addition, particularly because I understand them all now lol.
You're allowed to exist. Even if it means existing somewhere else.
It's full of teenage angst and exactly the escape I was looking forward to.
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5