cricket_witch's reviews
117 reviews

Saint X by Alexis Schaitkin

Go to review page

dark reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I think I enjoyed reading this book, but I’m genuinely not sure. It was a fascinating and lyric tale, but not fun per se. I highly recommend it, but simultaneously find myself feeling blank after finishing it.
The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton

Go to review page

adventurous funny hopeful 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? No

4.75

This is what the magic school of my youth should have been - bright, complicated, self aware, open to growth. This was such a fun story to read and I’m so glad future kids will have this school to escape to.
Fifty Shades Darker by E.L. James

Go to review page

tense fast-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

1.5

It finally happened, I was finally bored out of my mind by a romance book. Every single page seemed to be the same thing: they get mad at each other, they have sex, they’re not mad anymore. Over and over for 500+ pages. I get that this is the setup for the final book, but the main tension in this one started and ended within 20 pages. There are decent bones in this series, but they are covered up by so much nonsense in book 2.
Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James

Go to review page

challenging dark sad tense fast-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

3.5

This book walked so modern romance could run. You can really tell this is a fanfiction that got a publishing deal. I found myself enjoying reading it, but disappointed by the choices the characters made, which were often confusing and seemingly out of left field. A fun read, for sure, and I’ll read the rest of them, but how much better this book would be with some revisions!
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional hopeful reflective medium-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

5.0

Orson Scott Card may publicly be a bigot, but I think he needs to do some serious self reevaluation. Ender’s Game focuses on all that is horrid in humanity and all that can be beautiful. It is a stark look at how humans interact with one another and the ways in which we must grow to become better. It is a book about the knowledge children hold and the ways adults should listen but don’t. It reminded me of “This Is How You Lose the Time War” and “A Psalm for the Wild-Built.” It is a meditation, told through the eyes of a child who does not believe in hatred.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
I Think Our Son Is Gay, Vol. 05 by Okura

Go to review page

emotional hopeful informative lighthearted reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

Pucking Around by Emily Rath

Go to review page

funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

The perfect vacation book!
A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

Go to review page

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book let me imagine a utopia where we are still looking for purpose. It is ok to not have answers and not know what is next.
Bride by Ali Hazelwood

Go to review page

funny lighthearted relaxing 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

4.75

The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi

Go to review page

adventurous funny lighthearted tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Scalzi writes in the authors note that this is something of a pop song of a novel, and it is exactly that. I want to read it on repeat at summer camp. Highly recommend.