mlfey's reviews
154 reviews

X-Gender, Vol. 2 by Asuka Miyazaki

Go to review page

4.0

The Memory Librarian: And Other Stories of Dirty Computer by Janelle Monáe

Go to review page

emotional sad tense 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? No

3.25

Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin

Go to review page

emotional sad 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? Yes

5.0

I think, despite the decades and vast changes to how queer characters are and can be portrayed today, that this novel remains riveting, painful, and achingly, achingly relevant. 
Pixels of You by Yuko Ota, Ananth Hirsh

Go to review page

emotional reflective fast-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

4.25

The art was stylistically loose in a way that mostly worked (specially when they used its tendency to blend into itself for metaphor), but did have a few rough edges. I loved the use of pure black pages for spacing, even if the black page with single lines about AI ethics felt a bit on the nose--but I am in tech and none of the words were new, so mileage will vary.
Roadqueen: Eternal Roadtrip to Love by Mira Ong Chua

Go to review page

emotional funny 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

4.5

Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal by Mary Roach

Go to review page

funny informative lighthearted fast-paced

5.0

Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa

Go to review page

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

2.0

 I'm not that familiar with the original P&P, but it has a certain rep, and I'm not sure this book lived up to that rep in terms of the characters involved. I appreciate what it was going for, but it wraps up so tidy, and Darcy is ultimately so toothless; the book is building up this question of fitting in vs. being true to oneself, 
but then seems to just let Oliver do both without consequence, which kind of goes against the spirit of things.
Delicious in Dungeon, Vol. 5 by Ryoko Kui

Go to review page

4.5

Beach Read by Emily Henry

Go to review page

emotional funny medium-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

Overall quite liked the book; I don't generally read romance so wasn't sure if I would vibe, but I did. The pacing does get really wonky later in the book--at least twice a chapter ends in the kind of line that could end the book, and more importantly, the final conflicts introduced and resolved make it feel like a roller coaster that went from children to thrill seekers without telling you. Still enjoyed it though.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

Go to review page

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

4.5

I wasn't huge on the original hunger games when I read them as a teen, but this makes me want to give them another go. Well-written, with complex characters and tense events that kept me riveted even as Snow makes terriboe, terrible choices.