metalballwheatley's reviews
26 reviews

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

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

5.0

This book is like if mean girls and the cask of amontillado had a baby and that baby was in the publishing industry.

Also "F*** Athena. We all hated that b****. This is for me." iconic. 
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Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar

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emotional hopeful 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

5.0

I may be biased but I love a book with two queer bengali girls falling for each other.
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Slaying the Vampire Conqueror by Carissa Broadbent

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adventurous dark medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

It got bumped to a 4 stars because of the second last chapter with Nero. It's a good novel but the romance is like one of its weaker points. I would say to read this book if you're looking for good fantasy book with worldbuilding and high stakes. 

Also I wish there was some god-slaying in this
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Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

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challenging dark funny mysterious 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

The first act is a bit confusing but it gets interesting from the second act onwards. I rated it 5 stars just because the last two acts blew my mind. 
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The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar

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

4.0

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

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adventurous dark reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This book was so wild and fun, but I wouldn't say that it was perfect. It got kind of cheesy and hammy at times but I still enjoyed it. 

I loved the three main characters and how the two boys were equally supportive towards Zetian despite her being mean to them at times. (Though rightfully so because she doesn't owe them politeness) I also loved the combination of futuristic tech with Tang dynasty aesthetics (I think it's Tang dynasty because that's around the time Wu Zetian was alive). And the mechas! The whole thing with how the mechas worked was so cool and interesting!

I could see how people had problems with the worldbuilding not being explained enough, but I honestly didn't have a problem with it because I'm usually just more focused on the plot. (Worldbuilding isn't really fun if you don't have an interesting plot) My only complaint is that I wish we got to see Shimin and Yizhi interact more so that we could root for their relationship just as we rooted for Shimin and Zetian (I love Yizhi but idk if I rooted for Yizhi and Zetian
since they already liked each other in the beginning
).
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