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hrtlss_grl's reviews
112 reviews
Artifact by Gigi Pandian
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
This is a COZY mystery. Do not expect a psychological thriller or a police procedural. Expect it to be cheesy and lighthearted, and you won't be disappointed. It was good, cute and a bit predictable, with one twist that did actually surprise me, just not the main plot twist: that was predictable. Overall well written, with one exception. This story is steeped in Indian history, and it makes a huge error. It claims that Jahangir was the son of Shah Jahan, which is in fact the opposite. My guess is that the whole conversation feels like a paragraph was left out, and that the sentence 'Jahangir was his son" was actually meant about Akbar whom they discuss in the next paragraph. Whatever it was, it made me stop, squint, shake my head and go, 'whatnow?' But otherwise this book is pretty enjoyable. Will definitely be picking up book 2.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Racism, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
A cute fun, cotton candy (candy floss) type read that has little to no seriousness. I mean there are some serious topics that are underlying the whole story, but it is handled well and thoughtfully and without any kind of malice. I really enjoyed this quick read. It is sickly sweet at times, but ALWAYS ALWAYS fun.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Slavery, Xenophobia, Blood, Religious bigotry, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body shaming, Child death, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, and Sexual harassment
Blue Moon Rising by Simon R. Green
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Alexander Outland: Space Pirate by G.J. Koch
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
95% of this book is dialogue, and while Gini Koch is great at writing dialogue, there is nothing else there. I could not tell you a single detail of their ship barring its name. Character descriptions are extremely brief if female, and non-existent if they are male. The plot is barely there and pretty standard. The big "twist" was pretty self explanatory and obvious from the beginning. Clearly wanting to be Firefly, this book feels lile it was written as a script that never panned out and was 'transformed' albeit barely, into a book. If you want something with snappy dialogue try her Alien series. It's still about 65-70% dialogue but at least I could tell you what the characters looked like, how they acted and what they did.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
Moderate: Toxic friendship and Sexual harassment
Last Duke Standing by Julia London
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and Classism
Moderate: Bullying and Sexual content
Minor: Fatphobia, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Servant: The Awakening by Lori Foster, L. L. Foster
Did not finish book. Stopped at 42%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 42%.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Cursing, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death of parent
1. Feels like it was written and then an editor or the author just used a thesaurus to change out a bunch of the words to make it seem better written than it actually is. Almost feels like it was written by multiple authors.
2. No real explanations on how her "gift" works, just the vague assurance from some priest
3. Soooooo much God this and God that
4. Cross is named CROSS and is lauded as being wholly good and pure
5. Cross literally sexually assaults her by groping her breast and she fights back but then still believes he is 100% pure the next sentence.
6. Cross' POV describes women almost solely on their appearance like his cop partner's perky ass.
7. Cross comes off as very creepy and overly sexually forward with a woman he literally watched get harassed and groped by a group of drunks.
8. Gaby is very abusive to Mort.
9. Toxic Masculinity reigns supreme in everyone's treatment of Mort because he cries. Just wow.
10. Comics written about as immature and negative by someone who clearly doesn't read them.
11. Cross puts his hands on her, and refuses to let go despite her telling him to let go multiple times and then gets pissed at her when she makes him let go. But he's still pure and good. Of course.
12. Nerds and geeks are all sad, pathetic, unwashed babies who need to grow up. Even the author's narration is heavily biased against them.
13. Cross is misogynistic.
14. Cross dangles friendship to a very lonely and depressed young man just to use him to get the girl and toss him away.
15. Cross literally tells Gaby no one will believe her that he assaulted her if he arrested her for assaulting an officer, but he is supposedly good and pure!
Lady Bridget's Diary by Maya Rodale
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.25
This book tries so hard to be Pride and Prejudice. This book tries to be Bridget Jones Diary. This book tries to be Mean Girls. This book has no idea who it is and it shows. Entire passages were ripped straight from Austen with a few minor word changes, but not enough to do anything other than make it feel like terribly bad fan fiction written by a thirteen year old. I actually felt dirty and twitchy reading the passages lifted from P&P. Please, just read Austen and watch Mean Girls. It would be a much better use of your time.
Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
Moderate: Chronic illness, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Classism
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
The Feast of Roses by Indu Sundaresan
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
The Twentieth Wife by Indu Sundaresan
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75