Bring me all the speculative fiction. Whose stories have I been missing out on?
Rating system calibration:
1 star - not worth reading 2 stars - worth reading, but has major problems 3 stars - satisfying read, may have minor problems. Most books live here. 4 stars - inspiring read, overshadows any issues 5 stars - life-changing read
Reading log for @infryq@social.wub.site
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I especially like where this magic system is going. Elements of the maw borrowing from a plethora of other media yet asserting a distinct essence. Some suspension of disbelief required regarding the proper treatment of stab wounds, assuming the goal is not to bleed to death. CN for intrigue leaning unnecessarily on suicidal ideation, moderate gore.
The first book: the pacing of worldbuilding is exemplary; the pacing of relationships is sufficiently fucked to bump you out of the story; what a shame
The second book: oh shit, the pacing of relationships was secretly characterization
The third book: oh shit, the pacing of relationships was secretly worldbuilding
If you like Greek and Norse mythology, the bioengineering parts of Vlad Taltos, the biblical parts of Neverwhere, and the military teambonding parts of Peripheral, this book is for you. It is brutal, repeatedly, but incredibly sticky.
Massive, klaxon, wee-ooo CNs for child abuse, sexual assault, medical assault, and chronic emotional manipulation. Also some light gore and body horror in the violent fighting bits but tbh that hardly registered, considering.
Already a sensation around the world, this first book of the Otori Trilogy is a …
A perfectly crystallized setting that manages to convey intense feelings of grief and yearning without becoming mired or miserable. CN misogyny and sexual assault, though they are treated with such a feminist hand that the result is more energizing than defeating.
Content warning Oblique references only, but this book is significantly susceptible to spoilers.
The characters lift off the page and are addictively easy to identify with, which makes it all the more heartbreaking that the rules of the game are so arbitrary and trivialized. It feels like a betrayal; how dare the author subject these people to such thoughtless, disposable treatment. And yet, how hungry to better know them.
The third and final instalment in the breathtaking Half Bad trilogy by Sally Green.
Nathan …
a rough time. a long, exhausted, grinding, tinnitus of grief.
Unabridged audiobook
A story of how fear-driven authoritarianism turns people into monsters, or perhaps how monsters find fear-driven authoritarianism a serviceable tool. Big flashing CNs for dehumanization, gore, child abuse, police violence, sui, and likely a slew of others. Excellent character development and voice, and better pacing and side quest support than they were able to fit into the Netflix adaptation.
Some of Ben Sedgwick’s favorite things:
Solid gay historical romance, extra spicy, takes longer to arrive than KJ Charles but does so with luscious attention to detail. You must be willing to wade through a fair bit of Arranging Matches, Sebastian, but it’s definitely worth it.