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lochanreads's reviews
309 reviews
Glory by NoViolet Bulawayo
dark
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I really love and admire this book for its linguistic skill and hopeful message
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Homophobia, Misogyny, and Grief
The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawnie Walton
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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
3.0
The final revival of Opal & Nev is a fictitious biographical novel about the riotous rise to fame of an oddly compelling interracial Afropunk duo. The story imagines the 70s era music industry as it was but with the coupling of Opal & Nev as part of the canon. The narrative has an interesting interview style structure, encompassing several different testimonies from the artists, producers, industry experts, journalists, such as the main narrator and family members. I thought its style and musicality was conceptualised well and it has a loud activist voice, personified through its boldy daring and confident heroine.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent
The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A vividly imagined warrior type fantasy about two races of people, Omehi and Hedeni, locked in a never-ending war until one of them is completely exterminated. Tau Solarin is a commoner born into the unfalteringly classist Omehi tribe and wants nothing to do with the war. That is until he witnesses his father being killed in front of his very eyes by haughty Nobles and in his effort to seek revenge, Tau is thrown into the thick of battle as he strives to become a stronger fighter. Rage of Dragons is darkly magical, beastly and unrelenting.
I thought for what was supposed to be a matriarchy, the writing did convey some typically male-dominant narratives such as when Tau refers to a woman character he meets towards the end of the book as a "child" and continues to infantalise her despite acknowledging that they are about the same age and height, as well as other bits of dialogue throughout. A high level of reverence is given to women in this fantasy but their representation didn't always hit the right notes.
I was however, pulled into the story and the ending lends itself nicely to the sequel.
I thought for what was supposed to be a matriarchy, the writing did convey some typically male-dominant narratives such as when Tau refers to a woman character he meets towards the end of the book as a "child" and continues to infantalise her despite acknowledging that they are about the same age and height, as well as other bits of dialogue throughout. A high level of reverence is given to women in this fantasy but their representation didn't always hit the right notes.
I was however, pulled into the story and the ending lends itself nicely to the sequel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Death of parent, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Colonisation
Bi-Furious by Chelsi Robichaud
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-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
2.0
I was so excited to read this and it ended up being so disappointing. The pacing was all over the place, the plot twist at the end involving the character Melodie didn't work and the book is guilty of the very biphobia it also tries to challenge.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Biphobia and Bullying
Minor: Outing
The Bi-ble: New Testimonials by Ellen Desmond, Lauren Nickodemus
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Outing
All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
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
A heart-wrenching story about channeling anger and grief to overcome adversity. Chilling yet hopeful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Racism, Grief, Medical trauma, and Death of parent
Moderate: Police brutality
Delilah Green Doesn't Care by Ashley Herring Blake
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.0
Emotional, heart-warming and fun with an enticing sapphic romance. I love the humour and the angry, feminist, lesbian/bi energy coupled with its delicate and sentient vulnerability.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Simply brilliant! Detransition Baby is such a mentally stimulating and cognizant read. I loved how it explored the intersections between, motherhood, familymaking and the type of womanhood that has access to these things. A taboo-busting treasure.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage, Physical abuse, and Transphobia
Minor: Outing
You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The narrative was a bit too skeletal, there were unfinished story arcs and I had some issues including the story's use of dialect and the setting of the 'island' where most of the story takes place. Otherwise, this is an absorbing, impactful romance that explores grief with dramatic tension and artistry.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Blood
Minor: Child death
The First Woman by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Set in Uganda, The First Woman is a memorable coming-of-age epic that speaks on the complexities and nuance of womanhood against the backdrop of a violent dictatorship and paternalistic ideals.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Abandonment, and War