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sas_lk's reviews
275 reviews
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I think my expectations were a little high. Nothing truly wrong with the novel, I just wasn't really feeling it at all.
It might also be because I struggle to read from the perspectives of teenagers, it usually puts me off a book. Therefore, I think I am going to continue the series when they become young adults.
It might also be because I struggle to read from the perspectives of teenagers, it usually puts me off a book. Therefore, I think I am going to continue the series when they become young adults.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Violence
The Empire of Gold by S.A. Chakraborty
adventurous
dark
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
I'm fascinated by how Chakraborty is able to make you understand the characters so deeply, making you feel sorry and love for even the villains, because even though you might not agree, or their actions are not justifiable, you still understand where the pain comes from and why they believe what they are doing is right.
This is a story about how love and belief can blind us, and even though this was obviously mostly a fictional world, I could relate it all too well to the reality of our world.
Very well done series and characters, it kept me on my toes and I just kept praying everything would be okay when I couldn't think of a way out.
This is a story about how love and belief can blind us, and even though this was obviously mostly a fictional world, I could relate it all too well to the reality of our world.
Very well done series and characters, it kept me on my toes and I just kept praying everything would be okay when I couldn't think of a way out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and War
Moderate: Child death
After Dark by Haruki Murakami
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"You know what I think? That people's memories are maybe the fuel they burn to stay alive."
This was a love letter to the night. This touched a specific place in my heart that I have rarely truly shared with others. This was a story about love, about sisterly love, and simply about life. About the peace one can find in the darker hours when everything feels like it's crashing down.
This was a love letter to the night. This touched a specific place in my heart that I have rarely truly shared with others. This was a story about love, about sisterly love, and simply about life. About the peace one can find in the darker hours when everything feels like it's crashing down.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse
Minor: Blood
Bunny by Mona Awad
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
"Can I just say I loved living in your lines and that's where I want to live now forever?"
Okay so I tried to not like this book, but I just really did. I loved descending into insanity with the characters, I loved questioning reality, I loved being transported into someone else's imagination - the author's and the main character's.
To me this was about love, about loneliness, and about acceptance. Sometimes the world can make us feel like we're going insane - that we're insane in a world of the sane, or that we're the sane in a world of the insane.
The more I think about it, the more I love this novel. I want to write a book like this.
Okay so I tried to not like this book, but I just really did. I loved descending into insanity with the characters, I loved questioning reality, I loved being transported into someone else's imagination - the author's and the main character's.
To me this was about love, about loneliness, and about acceptance. Sometimes the world can make us feel like we're going insane - that we're insane in a world of the sane, or that we're the sane in a world of the insane.
The more I think about it, the more I love this novel. I want to write a book like this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Violence, Murder, and Gaslighting
The Prisoner of Heaven by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
Ruiz Zafon says at the beginning that the books in this series don't need to be read in order, however, I disagree. I think they should be read in order.
I was very happy being back in this world. There's just something about Carlos Ruiz Zafon's writing that just works for me. He just manages to pull me into his worlds and keep me there. I would say though that this book felt more like a filler book for the series, that's why I think it doesn't make sense to read this book if you haven't already read the first too.
This gave more of a back story about other characters and intertwined their stories even more. All the storylines are coming together now. Within the series? Really enjoyed it. As a standalone book? Don't think it holds much weight on its own.
I was very happy being back in this world. There's just something about Carlos Ruiz Zafon's writing that just works for me. He just manages to pull me into his worlds and keep me there. I would say though that this book felt more like a filler book for the series, that's why I think it doesn't make sense to read this book if you haven't already read the first too.
This gave more of a back story about other characters and intertwined their stories even more. All the storylines are coming together now. Within the series? Really enjoyed it. As a standalone book? Don't think it holds much weight on its own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, and Murder
Moderate: Sexism and Torture
Hunting Evil by Chris Carter
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Absolutely brutal, but a very well crafted crime novel. I'm happy Lucien will not be featuring in any other books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Stalking and Fire/Fire injury
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is a dystopian world where violence is everywhere. At first, it seems like such a far-fetched way of living, however, the more I read, the more I realised that this is almost South Africa's reality. Violence, sexual abuse and murder around every corner.
Big trigger warnings, make sure you know what you're getting into.
Big trigger warnings, make sure you know what you're getting into.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, and Murder
Moderate: Vomit
The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This was definitely my favourite of the entire series. Anna and Quan felt so real to me, and their problems felt like they were my own, even though I can't really relate much to either.
In this novel, Hoang discusses something that I very rarely see discussed in books and that is being diagnosed and coming to terms with it. Most books I read, the characters usually already have the diagnosis and most people around them know about it already. But in this novel, Anna has no idea in the beginning, and you follow her coming to terms with it and having to "come out" to her family and friends. Big trigger warning for the discreditation of one's own experience and diagnosis.
Hoang also touches on sexual insecurities and coming to terms with your own body and loving it as it is after sickness, as Quan is.
Helen Hoang is a very good writer and she's been a big part of my understanding of the autism spectrum - specifically autism with low support needs. Although I know that everyone on the autism spectrum is different, Hoang truly makes you feel like you are in their heads, and feeling their emotions.
These topics were so important and I highly recommend this series if you're looking for a romance with heavier topics.
In this novel, Hoang discusses something that I very rarely see discussed in books and that is being diagnosed and coming to terms with it. Most books I read, the characters usually already have the diagnosis and most people around them know about it already. But in this novel, Anna has no idea in the beginning, and you follow her coming to terms with it and having to "come out" to her family and friends. Big trigger warning for the discreditation of one's own experience and diagnosis.
Hoang also touches on sexual insecurities and coming to terms with your own body and loving it as it is after sickness, as Quan is.
Helen Hoang is a very good writer and she's been a big part of my understanding of the autism spectrum - specifically autism with low support needs. Although I know that everyone on the autism spectrum is different, Hoang truly makes you feel like you are in their heads, and feeling their emotions.
These topics were so important and I highly recommend this series if you're looking for a romance with heavier topics.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Body shaming and Cancer
Dracula by Bram Stoker
dark
slow-paced
2.0
Idk if my expectations were too high or if this was truly just meh...
But my god this book draaggeddd. I was 50 pages in and I couldn't wait for it to be over. I ended up swtiching to the audiobook, hoping it would help me be a bit more interested, but no. Could not enjoy it, I probably should've dnfed it.
But my god this book draaggeddd. I was 50 pages in and I couldn't wait for it to be over. I ended up swtiching to the audiobook, hoping it would help me be a bit more interested, but no. Could not enjoy it, I probably should've dnfed it.
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Hm. This is one of those books that you really enjoy, but for some reason you don't love it. Does that even make sense?
I couldn't really tell you what exactly isn't making me give it a higher rating, except the fighting scenes. This is definitely one of those books where one only understands half of it, but you're still able to enjoy it. However, because of this, when it came to the fighting/action scenes, I completely lost interest because I simply could not picture what was happening, it made me want to skip pages at times - especially the big fight scene (iykyk), which is arguably the part where I should have been the most hooked.
I think that this made me lose a little bit of interest, which is why it is not a higher rating. And as much as I loved the twists and reveals, it felt at times that the book relied too heavily on shock factor.
However, I will be continuing the series, and hopefully it just gets better from here.
I couldn't really tell you what exactly isn't making me give it a higher rating, except the fighting scenes. This is definitely one of those books where one only understands half of it, but you're still able to enjoy it. However, because of this, when it came to the fighting/action scenes, I completely lost interest because I simply could not picture what was happening, it made me want to skip pages at times - especially the big fight scene (iykyk), which is arguably the part where I should have been the most hooked.
I think that this made me lose a little bit of interest, which is why it is not a higher rating. And as much as I loved the twists and reveals, it felt at times that the book relied too heavily on shock factor.
However, I will be continuing the series, and hopefully it just gets better from here.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death