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dannilmp's reviews
63 reviews
Babel by R.F. Kuang
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
Babel is not a book I thought I would find myself picking up this year. Initially I had heard of it in comparison to Donna Tarrt's The Secret History. As I found the second book a struggle to read in places, I did not have much hope for Babel but was pleasantly suprised!
Babel is an engaging read encouraging the reader to reflect on the progression of colonisation from the United Kingdom but with a magical element in the form of translation pairs and the power these posess to accomplish great things. From start to end you can see the detail into research into Language, History, Colonisation and Cultures that Kuang has gone to in order to create this informed book. Personally I think the addition of the explanation footnotes was brilliant otherwise there are many times I wouldn't have really understood certain references or situations.
I personally couldn't find fault with this book aside from the pace feeling slow for the first 3/4 and then the ending feeling quite rapid and rushed in comparison. The ending of this book and the meaning around it are what captivated me the most and has stuck with me since I finished reading this book. I certainly prefered Babel to The Secret History.
Babel is an engaging read encouraging the reader to reflect on the progression of colonisation from the United Kingdom but with a magical element in the form of translation pairs and the power these posess to accomplish great things. From start to end you can see the detail into research into Language, History, Colonisation and Cultures that Kuang has gone to in order to create this informed book. Personally I think the addition of the explanation footnotes was brilliant otherwise there are many times I wouldn't have really understood certain references or situations.
I personally couldn't find fault with this book aside from the pace feeling slow for the first 3/4 and then the ending feeling quite rapid and rushed in comparison. The ending of this book and the meaning around it are what captivated me the most and has stuck with me since I finished reading this book. I certainly prefered Babel to The Secret History.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Violence, Xenophobia, and Colonisation
Moderate: Racial slurs, Suicide, and Death of parent
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
I do love a good magic system themed story and Children of Blood and Bone did not disappoint. A story about journey, self-discovery and a potentially world changing quest to bring back magic. I enjoyed all the character interactions and the growth that they all go through while trying to find themselves and their places in the world and with each other.
The in depth description and detailing of the magic system and how this is inspired by West African mythology has made me want to go and read more material relating to it as well! I feel it is difficult to describe a magic system with just the right amount of detail but Adeyemi nails this beautifully.
However, I feel there were a couple of typical standard sort of romance tropes that honestly, this book just did not need. While watching romance blossom is nice, I don't feel it added any extra level of depth to the storytelling and the story would still have been just as beautiful without. As I didn't dislike the romance, this story still gets 5 stars in my book and I am looking forward to reading the sequel when I have fully processed the book I just finished reading.
The in depth description and detailing of the magic system and how this is inspired by West African mythology has made me want to go and read more material relating to it as well! I feel it is difficult to describe a magic system with just the right amount of detail but Adeyemi nails this beautifully.
However, I feel there were a couple of typical standard sort of romance tropes that honestly, this book just did not need. While watching romance blossom is nice, I don't feel it added any extra level of depth to the storytelling and the story would still have been just as beautiful without. As I didn't dislike the romance, this story still gets 5 stars in my book and I am looking forward to reading the sequel when I have fully processed the book I just finished reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Genocide, Slavery, and War
Cuba: My Revolution by Dean Haspiel, Inverna Lockpez, José Villarrubia
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
3.0
A book I chose for my Storygraph Read Around the World 2023 prompt. I feel the comic style of this novel really helped to get its points across to the reader, especially the use of mainly black and white artwork with little hints of colour here and there. While the book was very straightforward in explaining the author's experiences and giving an insight into the state of Cuba at the time, because of my own lack of knowledge of world history I feel there were some points that I either missed or did not fully grasp. It has sparked my interest to learn more about Cuban history and the revolution.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Torture
Last Lesson by James Goodhand
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book was not what I expected it to be but it turned out to be a relatively quick but great read! Feels like it approached topics of bullying, school troubles, loss and grief and mental illness in a very interesting way, with an emphasis on placing human struggles and decisions at the heart of the story. With an ending that brought about a wide range of emotions and still kept me thinking a long while after finishing the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual assault, and Violence
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This is a book I picked up for the Storygraph reads around the world 2023 challenge, and it was not a disappointing read. A very dark and emotional read, full of a lot of violence, grapic detail and mature themes from the start. I would recommend a thorough checking of trigger warnings beore reading this novel.
We follow a female sorcerer, unusual for the times, as she goes on a journey to discover more about herself in a world who views her as a threat just for the circumstances of her birth. I feel there is a lot to reflect on within this novel about the nature of human beings, the advancements of technology and what we can learn moving forward.
While I thought the overall novel was great, I did get a little bit lost reading the epilogue and trying to figure out what this meant for the ending of the story and how this epilogue fits in. I still haven't come up with a satisfying conclusion days later.
We follow a female sorcerer, unusual for the times, as she goes on a journey to discover more about herself in a world who views her as a threat just for the circumstances of her birth. I feel there is a lot to reflect on within this novel about the nature of human beings, the advancements of technology and what we can learn moving forward.
While I thought the overall novel was great, I did get a little bit lost reading the epilogue and trying to figure out what this meant for the ending of the story and how this epilogue fits in. I still haven't come up with a satisfying conclusion days later.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Gleanings by Neal Shusterman
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
A collection of short stories that offer insight into the characters we meet and follow along with in the main Arc of A Sycthe triology. I adored all the short stories on offer in this collection, especially the background and information it gave me into the characters thoughts and actions. This book gave me an even greater appreciation for the main series, and I know the next time I re-read the series I will do so with more knowledge in my mind which I suspect may alter my views on certain characters and events.
While I cannot remember the name of the speicifc short story, I have to say the one with the artist competition was my favourite. It is the one that has stuck with me the most because of the beauty in the cruelness.
While I cannot remember the name of the speicifc short story, I have to say the one with the artist competition was my favourite. It is the one that has stuck with me the most because of the beauty in the cruelness.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Death
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Suicide
The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
tense
medium-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
4.0
A book I picked up for Storygraph's read around the world 2023 challenge, featuring an unusual narrator...a humble fig tree. To say this novel is unlike any I've read before is an understatement. Full of historical facts and plant trivia, but there is so much more to learn than just facts. At the heart lies a love story, and not just a romantic one but familial love as well.
I love the way Shafark conveys the story from the tree's point of view, and how the switching between different characters and indeed different time periods is done smootly enough as not to disrupt the flow of the story. The ending was fitting to the story told, and even filled me with hope despite the book's nature.
I love the way Shafark conveys the story from the tree's point of view, and how the switching between different characters and indeed different time periods is done smootly enough as not to disrupt the flow of the story. The ending was fitting to the story told, and even filled me with hope despite the book's nature.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Homophobia, Racism, and Abortion
Minor: Child death and Suicide
Love You to Death by Gina Blaxill
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This is a fast paced mystery/thriller type novel that keeps you on your toes trying to guess who the real bad guy here. I was that engaged with the story that I finished the enitre book in one sitting! Perfect for something quick but darker in nature to read.
While a lot of the book did not use excessively descriptive or flowery language to describe our setting, characters and events, the author did manage to truly capture feelings of fear and paranoia throughout the novel. It left me with a sense of unease while reading but a knowing that I had to see this through to the end.
While a lot of the book did not use excessively descriptive or flowery language to describe our setting, characters and events, the author did manage to truly capture feelings of fear and paranoia throughout the novel. It left me with a sense of unease while reading but a knowing that I had to see this through to the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
The Mermaid of Black Conch by Monique Roffey
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Not a book I would have normally picked up, but chose for Storygraph's read around the world challenge 2023. A story about a mermaid and her encounter with humans on Black Conch. While there were elements of the story I found difficult to read, such as the mermaid's poetry or the way speech dialogue was written; I found these reflected both the mermaid's lack of understanding of language and the speech helped to immerse me into the setting of the story.
While this was a relatively shorter book compared to those I usually read, I felt the pacing of this book to be quite slow and the pages seemed a lot more than what they were. I found myself only being able to read a chapter at a time before needing to take a break. However, there was a beautiful story to be told throughout these pages and one that certainly got me thinking and reflecting on human behaviour, specifically those negative emotions of jealousy and hatred.
Not a book I would reread but it was certainly worth a read to broaden my horizons to the other types of literature out there.
While this was a relatively shorter book compared to those I usually read, I felt the pacing of this book to be quite slow and the pages seemed a lot more than what they were. I found myself only being able to read a chapter at a time before needing to take a break. However, there was a beautiful story to be told throughout these pages and one that certainly got me thinking and reflecting on human behaviour, specifically those negative emotions of jealousy and hatred.
Not a book I would reread but it was certainly worth a read to broaden my horizons to the other types of literature out there.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
The Infinity Courts by Akemi Dawn Bowman
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
An interesting concept for a book to explore both AI and life beyond death and how these could possibly or impossibly interact. A good book to read if you're in the mood for thinking about life in general and what you would do when faced with the situation Nami found herself in at the very beginning of the book.
While this book held promise I feel it didn't quite deliver on the execution side of things. Sometimes Nami's decisions or reasons felt a little flat and two dimmensional, but I appreciate that she stuck to her own set of morals and values throughout the book. The ending caught me off guard with enough plot twists to keep me busy for a week and I am looking forward to reading the sequel.
While this book held promise I feel it didn't quite deliver on the execution side of things. Sometimes Nami's decisions or reasons felt a little flat and two dimmensional, but I appreciate that she stuck to her own set of morals and values throughout the book. The ending caught me off guard with enough plot twists to keep me busy for a week and I am looking forward to reading the sequel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Gun violence, and Kidnapping
Minor: Torture