Scan barcode
nekoshka's reviews
266 reviews
Смерть Ивана Ильича by Leo Tolstoy
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
If Cats Disappeared from the World by Genki Kawamura
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Terminal illness, and Death of parent
Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racism, Slavery, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Grief, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Sexual content and War
Swordheart by T. Kingfisher
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
slow-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? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Confinement, Misogyny, Sexism, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Torture, Vomit, and War
Double Down, Chapter 10.5 by M. Chandler
TW: this is dubcon at best, straight up rape at worst.
I’m gettin really tired of Simon.
I’m gettin really tired of Simon.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
The Morning Star: Shadow of the Templar by M. Chandler
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Very fun and extremely self indulgent read. If you want smth that feels like a fanfic, this is the book for you.
Character wise, Simon is an asshole (I hope he’ll become a lovable asshole further into the series, but so far it’s mainly irritating). Jeremy is genuinely great, a bit of a Mary Sue, but in a very charming way. The rest of the team are ok, I guess. A bit cliché.
The story is very James Bond-esque, with the whole package of super gadgets and terrorists.
However, there are a few very… unpleasant choices in the character dialogues. A few ableist slurs (literally on the first page, wtf) and a surprising amount of homophobia and homophobic slurs for a m/m book. It might be the book’s age showing, but it still feels weird.
Overall, pretty cute. A trashy read for when you need to turn your brain off.
Character wise, Simon is an asshole (I hope he’ll become a lovable asshole further into the series, but so far it’s mainly irritating). Jeremy is genuinely great, a bit of a Mary Sue, but in a very charming way. The rest of the team are ok, I guess. A bit cliché.
The story is very James Bond-esque, with the whole package of super gadgets and terrorists.
However, there are a few very… unpleasant choices in the character dialogues. A few ableist slurs (literally on the first page, wtf) and a surprising amount of homophobia and homophobic slurs for a m/m book. It might be the book’s age showing, but it still feels weird.
Overall, pretty cute. A trashy read for when you need to turn your brain off.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: Pedophilia, Racism, and Medical content
The Sinister Booksellers of Bath by Garth Nix
adventurous
fast-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
Things We Say in the Dark by Kirsty Logan
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
The Left-Handed Booksellers of London by Garth Nix
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-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
4.25
Omg this was so cute???
It does suffer from the usual YA problems like underdeveloped characters and a predictable plot, but otherwise it’s unexpectedly good.
Susan, the MC, is very much the "chosen one" with special powers and special parentage but it’s not annoying and they don’t make her overpowered. And she’s punk!
Merlin is a delightful love interest. Loved the approach to his gender and how the fact that he’s questioning it doesn’t make him any less attractive, flirty and self-assured. Again, I would have loved a bit more elaboration on this topic, but maybe we’ll get it in the next book.
I thought at first that the constant clothes descriptions would annoy me, but the ended up being a really fun detail.
The worldbuilding is interesting but sparse. Not developed enough.
Overall, very easy and light read.
It does suffer from the usual YA problems like underdeveloped characters and a predictable plot, but otherwise it’s unexpectedly good.
Susan, the MC, is very much the "chosen one" with special powers and special parentage but it’s not annoying and they don’t make her overpowered. And she’s punk!
Merlin is a delightful love interest. Loved the approach to his gender and how the fact that he’s questioning it doesn’t make him any less attractive, flirty and self-assured. Again, I would have loved a bit more elaboration on this topic, but maybe we’ll get it in the next book.
I thought at first that the constant clothes descriptions would annoy me, but the ended up being a really fun detail.
The worldbuilding is interesting but sparse. Not developed enough.
Overall, very easy and light read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Death of parent and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Confinement and Vomit
A House With Good Bones by T. Kingfisher
tense
slow-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
3.5