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obscurepages's reviews
374 reviews
Beetle & the Hollowbones by Aliza Layne
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I wanted something short and sweet and wholesome, and this book was exactly it! 😭
The art and the colors in here are AMAZING. I'm in awe every time I turn the page and see a visually stunning scene right in front of me. This doesn't overshadow the main story, too. The storyline is easy to follow, but also exciting and thrilling on its own. I can see why fans of Steven Universe and Adventure Time would love this. I know I did!
This book was about friendship, discovering your potential, and of course magic... and it's just so so good 🥹
Also!! Sapphic romance + friends (to lovers) who write fanfiction together?? Lowkey wishing there's a companion novel for Beetle and Kat's stories 😂
The art and the colors in here are AMAZING. I'm in awe every time I turn the page and see a visually stunning scene right in front of me. This doesn't overshadow the main story, too. The storyline is easy to follow, but also exciting and thrilling on its own. I can see why fans of Steven Universe and Adventure Time would love this. I know I did!
This book was about friendship, discovering your potential, and of course magic... and it's just so so good 🥹
Also!! Sapphic romance + friends (to lovers) who write fanfiction together?? Lowkey wishing there's a companion novel for Beetle and Kat's stories 😂
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Going Bicoastal by Dahlia Adler
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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? No
4.0
OKAY IT'S OFFICIAL. Dahlia Adler is a genius in queer YA romcoms 😭😂
This book is so so good. The two alternate timelines shouldn't have worked, but it did, and it's an incredible thing to witness. Both timelines connected with the MCs character arc well, and the parallels in specific pivotal scenes are so good! In one timeline music is a big part of her life, in the other, it's food. In both timelines we see her fixing her relationship with her mother, and we see her struggle and realize her passion. In both timelines we see her fall in love and discover two different kinds of romance. The author aced the writing styles in both timelines for sure.
Also loved how this book navigated through being queer and religious at the same time. I also learned a lot about Jewish customs and practices here, which I really appreciated!
Overall this book was just fun and wildly entertaining. Did I hope for some magical twist at the end? Maybe?? Like all of it was a dream and only one timeline is real 😂 But if there's anything this book has taught me is that we make our choices and those choices lead us to exactly where we need to be. This book showed that perfectly well.
ALSO WAS THAT A CAMEO WITH AMBER AND JACK FROM HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE?!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Self harm
The Bruising of Qilwa by Naseem Jamnia
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
UHM WOW WOW WOW. I didn't know exactly what to expect in this book, but this blew me away.
I thought this was going to be a complex and compelling fantasy, and while this book is that, it's also so much more?? This book explored nuanced topics of immigration, being oppressed and being the oppressor, gender fluidity, and family. It's engrossing and heartfelt and just so damn good.
I loved that Persian culture is so present here, and the queernormative world in here is just pleasant to read about.
ALSO the author is such a good writer 😭 How they managed to make the biggest plot twist both so obvious and yet so surprising at the same time is beyond me 😭 I really thought I knew what the plot twist was, but I was actually so wrong and it's so good.
Glad to have read this for Pride Month 🥺
I thought this was going to be a complex and compelling fantasy, and while this book is that, it's also so much more?? This book explored nuanced topics of immigration, being oppressed and being the oppressor, gender fluidity, and family. It's engrossing and heartfelt and just so damn good.
I loved that Persian culture is so present here, and the queernormative world in here is just pleasant to read about.
ALSO the author is such a good writer 😭 How they managed to make the biggest plot twist both so obvious and yet so surprising at the same time is beyond me 😭 I really thought I knew what the plot twist was, but I was actually so wrong and it's so good.
Glad to have read this for Pride Month 🥺
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Racism, Dysphoria, War, and Classism
Some Girls Do by Jennifer Dugan
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
3.0
OMG OKAY. I have varying reactions to this. My reading journey went like: 😃🥲🫣🫠🤡🙅♀️🤔🙂
What I liked: The individual MCs, finding community and other queer people, plus lots of nuanced discussions and themes such as activism (big and small actions that counts), internalized homophobia, coming out and being safe, hiding/being the closet again, messy mom/daughter relationship with mom's dreams projecting on her daughter
What I didn't like that much: The romance, MCs keep saying messy things towards one another (and I had to remind myself that they're teens 😆)
I loved Ruby and Morgan as individual characters. But together? Not really. Mainly I feel like the chemistry lacked? It's not that convincing for me as a reader so I didn't feel invested in their relationship. I guess what really hooked me in this is just those nuanced topics, and how the characters navigated those discussions, and how they matured because of those. That I really liked.
Stills glad to have read this for Pride Month tho!
What I liked: The individual MCs, finding community and other queer people, plus lots of nuanced discussions and themes such as activism (big and small actions that counts), internalized homophobia, coming out and being safe, hiding/being the closet again, messy mom/daughter relationship with mom's dreams projecting on her daughter
What I didn't like that much: The romance, MCs keep saying messy things towards one another (and I had to remind myself that they're teens 😆)
I loved Ruby and Morgan as individual characters. But together? Not really. Mainly I feel like the chemistry lacked? It's not that convincing for me as a reader so I didn't feel invested in their relationship. I guess what really hooked me in this is just those nuanced topics, and how the characters navigated those discussions, and how they matured because of those. That I really liked.
Stills glad to have read this for Pride Month tho!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism and Homophobia
Minor: Sexual content and Injury/Injury detail
Witch King by Martha Wells
adventurous
challenging
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-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
3.5
AFTER TWO WEEKS?!? I finally finished a book 😭😂
Okay this was good?? But it wasn't too mind-blowing, but also I wanted more??
I loved the world-building, and I loved the action. But because this is such a plot-driven novel, I feel like the characterization lacked for me? And that's a bit of waste because the characters are awesome and I loved reading about them. Sanja?? Dahin?? Tahren and Zeide?? And the tension or whatever between Bashasa and Kai?? Would have loved to read more about those 😆
Still, this is a solid book, a complex and rich SFF novel. For sure I need to read more from Martha Wells.
Okay this was good?? But it wasn't too mind-blowing, but also I wanted more??
I loved the world-building, and I loved the action. But because this is such a plot-driven novel, I feel like the characterization lacked for me? And that's a bit of waste because the characters are awesome and I loved reading about them. Sanja?? Dahin?? Tahren and Zeide?? And the tension or whatever between Bashasa and Kai?? Would have loved to read more about those 😆
Still, this is a solid book, a complex and rich SFF novel. For sure I need to read more from Martha Wells.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Sing Anyway by Anita Kelly
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Okay this is so good??? Found this on Libby and knew nothing about it, but wow, I am so glad to have discovered it! 🥹
Karaoke love story featuring nonbinary/genderqueer MC + fat heroine?! YES PLEASE
Loved the chemistry between Sam and Lily, I swear. I could almost feel it through the pages??? Loved the conversations about gender and body diversity, too. I could relate to a lot of their struggles and feelings, especially as another fat, genderqueer person.
This was so so precious. Glad to mark this as my first read for Pride Month! 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
Find me elsewhere: <a href="http://www.instagram.com/obscure.pages/">Instagram</a> | <a href="http://www.twitter.com/lxndrnae">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://enthralledbookworm.wordpress.com/">Blog</a>
Marking this book as part of reading challenge: <a href="https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/de133357-4196-421b-8d50-0445bfec4ec3/">#ReadQueerly2023</a>.
Karaoke love story featuring nonbinary/genderqueer MC + fat heroine?! YES PLEASE
Loved the chemistry between Sam and Lily, I swear. I could almost feel it through the pages??? Loved the conversations about gender and body diversity, too. I could relate to a lot of their struggles and feelings, especially as another fat, genderqueer person.
This was so so precious. Glad to mark this as my first read for Pride Month! 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
Find me elsewhere: <a href="http://www.instagram.com/obscure.pages/">Instagram</a> | <a href="http://www.twitter.com/lxndrnae">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://enthralledbookworm.wordpress.com/">Blog</a>
Marking this book as part of reading challenge: <a href="https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/de133357-4196-421b-8d50-0445bfec4ec3/">#ReadQueerly2023</a>.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia and Dysphoria
The Heartbreak Bakery by A.R. Capetta
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This book is so precious and so wonderfully gay?? And somehow, reading it just feels like eating the best cookies ever, or getting a hug from
your favorite person.
A great blend of love, self-discovery, community, and gender identity for sure. 🥹
Find me elsewhere: <a href="http://www.instagram.com/obscure.pages/">Instagram</a> | <a href="http://www.twitter.com/lxndrnae">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://enthralledbookworm.wordpress.com/">Blog</a>
Marking this book as part of reading challenge: <a href="https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/de133357-4196-421b-8d50-0445bfec4ec3/">#ReadQueerly2023</a>.
your favorite person.
A great blend of love, self-discovery, community, and gender identity for sure. 🥹
Find me elsewhere: <a href="http://www.instagram.com/obscure.pages/">Instagram</a> | <a href="http://www.twitter.com/lxndrnae">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://enthralledbookworm.wordpress.com/">Blog</a>
Marking this book as part of reading challenge: <a href="https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/de133357-4196-421b-8d50-0445bfec4ec3/">#ReadQueerly2023</a>.
Flight & Anchor by Nicole Kornher-Stace
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Okay this was both heartbreaking and powerful. 😭 I don't know how but Nicole Kornher-Stace just knows how to balance aspects of dystopia and elements of a deeply human story. She did it with Firebreak, and did it again here in its prequel. 🥹
Thank you so much to Tachyon Publishing for sending an ARC my way! This, of course, did not affect my overall opinion of the book.
Thank you so much to Tachyon Publishing for sending an ARC my way! This, of course, did not affect my overall opinion of the book.
Never Ever Getting Back Together by Sophie Gonzales
challenging
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
SCREAMING. This is reality tv alright. And mind you, I'm not that fond of reality tv shows 😭😂 But the drama? The scripted shenanigans? The ridiculousness of it all? Very spot on.
Also this has the same style and vibe I came to love in a Sophie Gonzales novel. She just knows how to create a story that sucks you right in, characters that stay with you, and plot twists that either hurt you and make you laugh. And I love how everything works out in the end.
Have to say, I did not like girl on girl hate on the first part of the story. But I also understand that this is what the story intended, especially for a "reality tv".
Love Maya and Skye. Though, I wanted to see more chemistry between them. I wish them all the beat tho, wrap them up in a blanket and protect them from the world.
And yes, Jordy fcking Miller is a true as$hole lmaoooo
Exact rating: 3.5
Find me elsewhere: <a href="http://www.instagram.com/obscure.pages/">Instagram</a> | <a href="http://www.twitter.com/lxndrnae">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://enthralledbookworm.wordpress.com/">Blog</a>
Marking this book as part of reading challenge: <a href="https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/de133357-4196-421b-8d50-0445bfec4ec3/">#ReadQueerly2023</a>.
Also this has the same style and vibe I came to love in a Sophie Gonzales novel. She just knows how to create a story that sucks you right in, characters that stay with you, and plot twists that either hurt you and make you laugh. And I love how everything works out in the end.
Have to say, I did not like girl on girl hate on the first part of the story. But I also understand that this is what the story intended, especially for a "reality tv".
Love Maya and Skye. Though, I wanted to see more chemistry between them. I wish them all the beat tho, wrap them up in a blanket and protect them from the world.
And yes, Jordy fcking Miller is a true as$hole lmaoooo
Exact rating: 3.5
Find me elsewhere: <a href="http://www.instagram.com/obscure.pages/">Instagram</a> | <a href="http://www.twitter.com/lxndrnae">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://enthralledbookworm.wordpress.com/">Blog</a>
Marking this book as part of reading challenge: <a href="https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/de133357-4196-421b-8d50-0445bfec4ec3/">#ReadQueerly2023</a>.
Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
HOLY SHT. This is one of the wildest rides I've ever been on.
This part horror, part science fiction is a masterpiece. It takes you on a damned journey to find the truth about about a ship and the creatures that attacked it. But it also takes you on a journey to know more about people, about humans, our environment, and both the known and unknown history and mysteries of our world.
This was just so so good. Atmospheric, poetic, dark, gritty. Also I loved the diversity in the cast.
Mira Grant/Seanan McGuire is a blessing in literature 🤧
Find me elsewhere: <a href="http://www.instagram.com/obscure.pages/">Instagram</a> | <a href="http://www.twitter.com/lxndrnae">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://enthralledbookworm.wordpress.com/">Blog</a>
Marking this book as part of reading challenge: <a href="https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/de133357-4196-421b-8d50-0445bfec4ec3/">#ReadQueerly2023</a>.
This part horror, part science fiction is a masterpiece. It takes you on a damned journey to find the truth about about a ship and the creatures that attacked it. But it also takes you on a journey to know more about people, about humans, our environment, and both the known and unknown history and mysteries of our world.
This was just so so good. Atmospheric, poetic, dark, gritty. Also I loved the diversity in the cast.
Mira Grant/Seanan McGuire is a blessing in literature 🤧
Find me elsewhere: <a href="http://www.instagram.com/obscure.pages/">Instagram</a> | <a href="http://www.twitter.com/lxndrnae">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://enthralledbookworm.wordpress.com/">Blog</a>
Marking this book as part of reading challenge: <a href="https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/de133357-4196-421b-8d50-0445bfec4ec3/">#ReadQueerly2023</a>.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism, Animal death, and Sexual content