Scan barcode
apollo0325's reviews
394 reviews
The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Reads like an old mythological story or folktale, which I liked. Sometimes, I got a little lost, so I’ll probably revisit this in print format in the future.
Transmutation: Stories by Alex DiFrancesco
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Really interesting collection of short stories (mostly) centering the transformative experience of transness and queerness. Some I’ll think about after this, but I think many will be forgotten. Sawyer’s story was my favorite as well as the vampire’s.
Go For It, Nakamura! by Syundei
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Really sweet romcom sort of story about a boy obsessed with his classmate. I love that it’s exploring friendship, honesty, and being true to oneself and I really love how Nakamura is trying friendship first before romance. Also, this is just a really funny manga lol
The Apothecary Diaries, Volume 2 by Nekokurage, Itsuki Nanao, Natsu Hyuuga
funny
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I love Maomao and her relationships with consort Gyokuyo and the handmaidens are my favorite 💖
The Apothecary Diaries, Volume 1 by Natsu Hyuuga
funny
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
This manga is genuinely so funny and I love a man that simps so hard for someone. Maomao is a rabid icon 💖 we stan!!
Come Closer by Sara Gran
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I flew through this audiobook because it is so short and was an easy to digest horror. However, I felt the emotional connection to Amanda, Ed, and their overall relationship lackluster as the climax really hits IF you feel an ounce of anything for either of them. Amanda might be possessed, might not be. Ed might be a demanding husband, might just be tired of his wife’s erratic behavior.
I think for this being released in 2003, it was doing stuff other horror authors didn’t want to touch since we had the Exorcist to fill the void of demonic possession stories BUT I think now, something like A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay did the concept better.
I think for this being released in 2003, it was doing stuff other horror authors didn’t want to touch since we had the Exorcist to fill the void of demonic possession stories BUT I think now, something like A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay did the concept better.
Heart, Haunt, Havoc by Freydís Moon
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.
Noting to myself that Freydis Moon racebaited as a trans Latine author when they’re actually white and have done this under multiple pseudonyms. Yellowface wasn’t a manual, bestie 🫡
The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Just finished but going to come back to this review and maybe adjust star ratings (currently a 3)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism and Medical content
There are a lot of potentially triggering material including the description of a hanging (suicide), injury/burn descriptions, child abuse, starvation, death, death of a child (dead child's body described), and as a MAJOR PLOT POINT, dissociative identity disorder (I do not have DID so I cannot speak to the authenticity of it - the author's afterword describes her research on DID). If you're afraid of snakes, one of the narrators has a severe fear of snakes and will constantly describe snakes.
Ignore the Dead by Jay Sizemore
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.
Adding a note to myself because this author wrote r*pe poems about women poets. He also made a burner account burning one of his author arcs of one of his titles and stitched it on his main account to garner sympathy. Absolutely pathetic and disgusting all around. 🤮
The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.
Opting to refuse to read this author as they support Israel. Unfortunate because I was looking forward to reading this one.