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books i've read for the first time this year: a thread
broken throne by victoria aveyard
4.5/5. i love a good short story collection, and i thought all of the stories in here contributed to the red queen universe in a meaningful and fun (except for queen song ouch) way. i NEED more ashe and lyrisa but whatever. not 5, but rly close!
4.5/5. i love a good short story collection, and i thought all of the stories in here contributed to the red queen universe in a meaningful and fun (except for queen song ouch) way. i NEED more ashe and lyrisa but whatever. not 5, but rly close!
dragon pearl by yoon ha lee
3.5/5. good and engaging; both the characters and worldbuilding were pleasant. gladly would've spent more time with them, but overall it just felt slightly too juvenile and simple for me.
3.5/5. good and engaging; both the characters and worldbuilding were pleasant. gladly would've spent more time with them, but overall it just felt slightly too juvenile and simple for me.
spin the dawn by elizabeth lim
3/5. really, really standard as far as ya fantasy romance goes. some nice ideas and writing but i just felt Extremely meh about it overall.
3/5. really, really standard as far as ya fantasy romance goes. some nice ideas and writing but i just felt Extremely meh about it overall.
the end and other beginnings: stories from the future by veronica roth
3.5/5. the transformationist was the only good story in here, and for that i'll add an extra half star bc it almost made me cry that's how good it was. the others ranged from meh to actually bad tho.
3.5/5. the transformationist was the only good story in here, and for that i'll add an extra half star bc it almost made me cry that's how good it was. the others ranged from meh to actually bad tho.
broken stars: contemporary chinese science fiction in translation, edited by ken liu
3/5. the first few stories were really moving and interesting, and then it was literally downhill from there. the last two stories actually made me both disgusted and depressed :\\
3/5. the first few stories were really moving and interesting, and then it was literally downhill from there. the last two stories actually made me both disgusted and depressed :\\
the devouring gray by christine lynn herman
3/5. i Really wanted to like this one bc cool ideas and great bi rep, but the author never delivered on the moody promise of the concept and it just left me so meh yet again
3/5. i Really wanted to like this one bc cool ideas and great bi rep, but the author never delivered on the moody promise of the concept and it just left me so meh yet again
the library at mount char by scott hawkins
5/5. i've never enjoyed a book with so much existential despair in it before, but this was more imaginative and epic than pretty much anything i've ever read, and when joy ends up saving the universe after horrible pain?? period. yes.
5/5. i've never enjoyed a book with so much existential despair in it before, but this was more imaginative and epic than pretty much anything i've ever read, and when joy ends up saving the universe after horrible pain?? period. yes.
cursed by thomas wheeler and frank miller
4/5. a really nice solid fantasy read, with just enough imagination, heart, and good writing to set it above the ranks of meh. i had a lot of fun reading this.
4/5. a really nice solid fantasy read, with just enough imagination, heart, and good writing to set it above the ranks of meh. i had a lot of fun reading this.
from a certain point of view, edited by elizabeth schaefer
4/5. as with all short story collections (especially ones this large), it was of varying quality, but also was quite enjoyable, filled with hope, and had some truly standout moments that i'm really happy are canon now.
4/5. as with all short story collections (especially ones this large), it was of varying quality, but also was quite enjoyable, filled with hope, and had some truly standout moments that i'm really happy are canon now.
revenant gun by yoon ha lee
4.5/5. this was a predictably great conclusion to an amazing trilogy. not perfect, still could do with some more physical details in lee's writing style, but it was twisty, emotional, and surprising, and that's all i was looking for.
4.5/5. this was a predictably great conclusion to an amazing trilogy. not perfect, still could do with some more physical details in lee's writing style, but it was twisty, emotional, and surprising, and that's all i was looking for.
hexarchate stories by yoon ha lee
3/5. now this was a very disappointing read honestly. all the stories were good enough and well-written, but none felt like a necessary addition to canon and i felt nothing after finishing it idk. i expected better.
3/5. now this was a very disappointing read honestly. all the stories were good enough and well-written, but none felt like a necessary addition to canon and i felt nothing after finishing it idk. i expected better.
lifel1k3 by jay kristoff
3/5. kept me guessing through the very last page, and lemon fresh was an iconic character, but eve (the main) just got worse as the book went on (truly the opposite of character growth and i didn't vibe with it). it had juvenile writing as well.
3/5. kept me guessing through the very last page, and lemon fresh was an iconic character, but eve (the main) just got worse as the book went on (truly the opposite of character growth and i didn't vibe with it). it had juvenile writing as well.
empress of all seasons by emiko jean
4/5. another nice solid read. good characters with good growth and well-defined personalities, lovely settings, and an excellently twisty final set of chapters. it did feel pretty by the numbers for the first half or so, however.
4/5. another nice solid read. good characters with good growth and well-defined personalities, lovely settings, and an excellently twisty final set of chapters. it did feel pretty by the numbers for the first half or so, however.
sabriel by garth nix
5/5. hell yeah this rocked so hard!! idk what it is about the worldbuilding but it feels so unique and special, plus the characters were just amazing, so this was a real treat to read. really beautiful at times. sabriel is a queen and touchstone sexy.
5/5. hell yeah this rocked so hard!! idk what it is about the worldbuilding but it feels so unique and special, plus the characters were just amazing, so this was a real treat to read. really beautiful at times. sabriel is a queen and touchstone sexy.
guardians of the galaxy by brian michael bendis omnibus vol. 1
4/5. a great run. not as great as abnett and lanning's, of course, but quite entertaining nonetheless! also more than half of the art slaps so that's good.
4/5. a great run. not as great as abnett and lanning's, of course, but quite entertaining nonetheless! also more than half of the art slaps so that's good.
lirael by garth nix
4.75/5. majestic and beautiful and thrilling just like the first book; so close to perfect. the only problem is that lirael and sam were really annoying for their first 50 pages of existence and then they got better.
4.75/5. majestic and beautiful and thrilling just like the first book; so close to perfect. the only problem is that lirael and sam were really annoying for their first 50 pages of existence and then they got better.
abhorsen by garth nix
5/5. incredible. the rare fantasy conclusion that actually fully delivers on its epic/world-shattering/emotional potential. idk what else to say i just absolutely loved it.
5/5. incredible. the rare fantasy conclusion that actually fully delivers on its epic/world-shattering/emotional potential. idk what else to say i just absolutely loved it.
nicholas sayre and the creature in the case
4/5. i mean honestly this was pretty run of the mill as far as sequel novellas go but damn i was just happy to get nick pov from a non-possessed perspective. non-possessed nick is an icon but wbk
4/5. i mean honestly this was pretty run of the mill as far as sequel novellas go but damn i was just happy to get nick pov from a non-possessed perspective. non-possessed nick is an icon but wbk
newt's emerald by garth nix
4/5. really fun and cute period fantasy romance! of course the characters didn't approach jane austen swoonworthy levels, but they were realistic and i was rooting for them. some very witty moments and a lot was done with very little worldbuilding
4/5. really fun and cute period fantasy romance! of course the characters didn't approach jane austen swoonworthy levels, but they were realistic and i was rooting for them. some very witty moments and a lot was done with very little worldbuilding
autoboyography by christina lauren
4.5/5. this was a v hard read for me, but so worth it. i honestly didn't expect to enjoy it; i thought i'd get either frustrated at the characters or just too sad and have to stop, but i couldn't put it down. tanner and sebastian are so real
4.5/5. this was a v hard read for me, but so worth it. i honestly didn't expect to enjoy it; i thought i'd get either frustrated at the characters or just too sad and have to stop, but i couldn't put it down. tanner and sebastian are so real
light years by kass morgan
4/5. i kept getting annoyed at the characters and the writing wasn't anything special but like. i couldn't put it down?? bc i actually liked the characters or something??? anyways it was discombobulating but overall a positive experience
4/5. i kept getting annoyed at the characters and the writing wasn't anything special but like. i couldn't put it down?? bc i actually liked the characters or something??? anyways it was discombobulating but overall a positive experience
beasts made of night by tochi onyebuchi
4.25/5. when i started this book it felt like 3 stars: kinda boring, some nice ideas. but as the worldbuilding and plot went on it just got better and the last quarter was stunning! rly lovely nigerian-inspired world and truly alive leads
4.25/5. when i started this book it felt like 3 stars: kinda boring, some nice ideas. but as the worldbuilding and plot went on it just got better and the last quarter was stunning! rly lovely nigerian-inspired world and truly alive leads
passenger by alexandra bracken
4.5/5. another book that dragged a just a bit but had incredibly iconic characters. i'm not sure how it dragged tbh bc the plot was so tight and engaging, but it was so good anyway! etta and nicholas have so so much chemistry for a het ya couple??
4.5/5. another book that dragged a just a bit but had incredibly iconic characters. i'm not sure how it dragged tbh bc the plot was so tight and engaging, but it was so good anyway! etta and nicholas have so so much chemistry for a het ya couple??
the wrath and the dawn by renée ahdieh
4/5. i hate that i'm giving this 4 stars bc the writing was bad, the romance makes no sense, and it's a mess overall. yet i couldn't put it down, and somehow genuinely cared about the main pairing by the end even tho they're a terrible idea
4/5. i hate that i'm giving this 4 stars bc the writing was bad, the romance makes no sense, and it's a mess overall. yet i couldn't put it down, and somehow genuinely cared about the main pairing by the end even tho they're a terrible idea
a blade so black by l.l. mckinney
4.25/5. it dragged and took me a hot sec to get really into it, but once i was into it, i was invested af. the characters are all so fun and lovable and god the world-building was lovely. really really pretty stuff with a solid emotional core
4.25/5. it dragged and took me a hot sec to get really into it, but once i was into it, i was invested af. the characters are all so fun and lovable and god the world-building was lovely. really really pretty stuff with a solid emotional core
les fiancés de l'hiver [a winter's promise] by christelle dabos, translated by hildegarde serle
4/5. dragged at the beginning, but once things got going, they never stopped. it was exhausting yet exhilarating. rly uniquely-flavored world, and i liked the mc a whole lot
![les fiancés de l'hiver [a winter's promise] by christelle dabos, translated by hildegarde serle4/5. dragged at the beginning, but once things got going, they never stopped. it was exhausting yet exhilarating. rly uniquely-flavored world, and i liked the mc a whole lot](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EWzoUTOXYAUVWmo.jpg "les fiancés de l'hiver [a winter's promise] by christelle dabos, translated by hildegarde serle4/5. dragged at the beginning, but once things got going, they never stopped. it was exhausting yet exhilarating. rly uniquely-flavored world, and i liked the mc a whole lot")
4/5. dragged at the beginning, but once things got going, they never stopped. it was exhausting yet exhilarating. rly uniquely-flavored world, and i liked the mc a whole lot
also adding that saying this book is misogynistic bc all the ladies aside from ophelia are unpleasant is a) untrue (aunt rosaline and gail??) and b) pointless bc the men are certainly awful too. it's a sad world and ophelia is a great mc bc she refuses to let that compromise her
the impossible lives of greta wells by andrew sean greer
4.25/5. what a beautiful book. tbf i'm not sure what the author was trying to say bc i thought he was saying something else at first but the ending changed that perception, but even so it was so moving. a book for sad ppl
4.25/5. what a beautiful book. tbf i'm not sure what the author was trying to say bc i thought he was saying something else at first but the ending changed that perception, but even so it was so moving. a book for sad ppl
the search for wondla by tony diterlizzi
4.5/5. cute!! i love middle grade fantasy/sci-fi bc u can find some real gems there. the aesthetic of this world was unparalleled (helped by the GORGEOUS illustrations), and i just had a lot of fun reading this book :D
4.5/5. cute!! i love middle grade fantasy/sci-fi bc u can find some real gems there. the aesthetic of this world was unparalleled (helped by the GORGEOUS illustrations), and i just had a lot of fun reading this book :D
pumpkinheads by rainbow rowell and faith erin hicks
4.75/5. as perfectly precious and soothing and adorable as i expected from these two authors :33 dialogue was so heartwarming, the art couldn't have been better for the story etc. basically perfect i just wanted it to be longer
4.75/5. as perfectly precious and soothing and adorable as i expected from these two authors :33 dialogue was so heartwarming, the art couldn't have been better for the story etc. basically perfect i just wanted it to be longer
dune by frank herbert
4.75/5. yep there's a reason this is a classic! so layered and fascinating; it's obvious the author had complete control over story and world. rly as unique as everyone says it is. 4.75 bc i didn't fully connect with most of the characters but it's so good
4.75/5. yep there's a reason this is a classic! so layered and fascinating; it's obvious the author had complete control over story and world. rly as unique as everyone says it is. 4.75 bc i didn't fully connect with most of the characters but it's so good
alright i know i said this was a "first time" reading thread but i'm just going to dump my re-reads in this thread too just bc
a conjuring of light by v.e. schwab
4.75/5 (re-read)
4.75/5 (re-read)
dragons of a fallen sun by margaret weis and tracy hickman
4/5 (re-read)
4/5 (re-read)
