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camryndaytona's reviews
406 reviews
Other Ever Afters: New Queer Fairy Tales by Melanie Gillman
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Why Are You Like This?: An ArtbyMoga Comic Collection by Meg Adams
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness
Thinking of You (but Not Like in a Weird Creepy Way): A Comic Collection by Beth Evans
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
3.75
Blink #1 by Christopher Sebela
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, and War
Spell Bound by F.T. Lukens
Sun might be my favorite literary character of all time. All three of the above quotes are from them, and literally all from one page of the novel.
I did not know going into the novel that Sun was non-binary, but I loved the way the novel handled them: “They,” I said softly. “When you refer to me later, use ‘they.’”
That was it. Sun gave their pronouns, stated an expectation, and it was never once challenged. I don’t know if homophobia or transphobia exist in the novel’s world, but it never enters the plot and for that I am GRATEFUL. Of course it’s important to address such things, but queer people also deserve to simply have happy books in which none of the things that go wrong have anything to do with queerness.
There are two characters, Fable (they/them) and Antonia(she/her), who absolutely hate each other, and while they do everything they can to offend one another, no one ever gets misgendered. I adore this. 10/10
This hasn’t been confirmed, but personally I’m claiming Sun as both Ace and Autistic. (Sun is, per the author, half-Korean).
Rook (he/him), the other main character, is okay. I liked him well enough and found him compelling. There’s a whole interesting backstory that gets explored (unlike Sun, who gets very little backstory). But I just didn’t connect with Rook the way I did with Sun.
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
“Summer was such a waste of time and effort. Spring was okay. Autumn was the best. Winter wasn’t bad.”
“It was not conducive to my aesthetic of long sleeves and jeans and dark fabric, which I was not about to abandon despite the fact that I felt positively smothered.”
“It was clear though that I was not built for heat or the city. Because aside from the dense warmth, the city had . . . people.”
Sun might be my favorite literary character of all time. All three of the above quotes are from them, and literally all from one page of the novel.
I did not know going into the novel that Sun was non-binary, but I loved the way the novel handled them: “They,” I said softly. “When you refer to me later, use ‘they.’”
That was it. Sun gave their pronouns, stated an expectation, and it was never once challenged. I don’t know if homophobia or transphobia exist in the novel’s world, but it never enters the plot and for that I am GRATEFUL. Of course it’s important to address such things, but queer people also deserve to simply have happy books in which none of the things that go wrong have anything to do with queerness.
There are two characters, Fable (they/them) and Antonia(she/her), who absolutely hate each other, and while they do everything they can to offend one another, no one ever gets misgendered. I adore this. 10/10
This hasn’t been confirmed, but personally I’m claiming Sun as both Ace and Autistic. (Sun is, per the author, half-Korean).
Rook (he/him), the other main character, is okay. I liked him well enough and found him compelling. There’s a whole interesting backstory that gets explored (unlike Sun, who gets very little backstory). But I just didn’t connect with Rook the way I did with Sun.
So This Is Ever After by F.T. Lukens
Cons:
funny
lighthearted
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
3.75
Pros:
- I love any book that’s queer and this book is hella queer. Not just the two main characters, there’s plenty of side characters who just absolutely vibe.
- I genuinely loved the cast of characters. Even though they were all morons, I was still rooting for them and their singular, shared Braincell.
Cons:
- The pining was absurd. I mean, that’s kind of on me for not really paying attention to the summary, but my god sometimes I wanted to kill those boys
- There’s two female (lesbian) characters who are plot-significant (one of them is the princess mentioned in the book’s summary). Despite being so important neither of them are given names and the princess can basically be summed up as “dead gay chick.” I just don’t like when women are treated like that.
The Witches of Silverlake by Simon Curtis
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, and Murder
The Sprite and the Gardener by Rii Abrego, Joe Whitt
inspiring
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Pride and Joy: A Story about Becoming an LGBTQIA+ Ally by Frank J. Sileo, Kate Lum-Potvin
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
(Review of an eARC)
This was an adorable book. I loved the art style (it almost reminded me of children’s art, which I’m sure was intentional). Most of all I appreciated that it has an entire section in the back of the book for adult allys, guiding them on how to make real change. The moral is one that both children AND adults can learn from.
This was an adorable book. I loved the art style (it almost reminded me of children’s art, which I’m sure was intentional). Most of all I appreciated that it has an entire section in the back of the book for adult allys, guiding them on how to make real change. The moral is one that both children AND adults can learn from.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Homophobia
Steam Reverie in Amber by Kuroimori
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I did love this book, although it’s more of an art book than an actual story.