sashahc's reviews
169 reviews

The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles by Malka Older

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adventurous emotional mysterious reflective 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

“The Imposition of Unnecesary Obstacles” by Malka Older is a delightful follow-up to “The Mimicking of Known Successes.”  It’s the queer ND space Holmesian mystery we deserve, along with tea and scones.  There is university politics, chisme, and the longing for a home that never was.  Highly recommended.
Perilous Times by Thomas D. Lee

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

“Perilous Times” by Thomas D Lee is what happens when the knights of the round table are awakened to face the peril of..  environmental destruction and a rapidly warming world.  They are ill equipped and outclassed and their grand destiny is seeming less and less grand all the time.  It’s about self reliance vs interdependence and never meeting your heroes.  Funny, quirky, and unexpected.  Not a cozy, but an easy read.
Longshadow by Olivia Atwater

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adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I read “Long Shadow” by Olivia Atwater.  It’s a delightful YA about a young and feisty queer magician in Regency (?) London dealing with faeries and society and a deadly magical mystery.  She is from a workhouse and her adoptive mother has half a faerie’s soul and her father is the Lord Sorcier.  Her adoptive brother is a ghost.  It’s a diverting romp and just what I needed.
The Witchwood Knot by Olivia Atwater

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adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I read "The Witchwood Knot" by Olivia Atwater.  Magician governess tangles with faeries in a gothic manor!  The main character is smart, dry witted, and delightfully competent.  The evil is lurking and mysterious.  The monster in the woods is not what it seems.  Great if you are in the mood for a spooky and mysterious faerie tale. 
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The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown

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adventurous inspiring medium-paced

5.0

Good classic true sports story of unlikely odds, underdogs overcoming adversity, and a win against an enemy (Nazi Germany in this case).  A nice casual read with a happy ending.
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The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch by Melinda Taub

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adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I just finished a fun #book - "The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch" by Melinda Taub.  It's based on Pride and Prejudice, but doesn't spend too much time retreading it.  Instead it's the memoir of youngest sister Lydia, just as selfish and impulsive as she is in P&P, but also a powerful witch having her own adventures.
The Rook by Daniel O'Malley

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adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

What if you woke up with amnesia and surrounded by dead bodies to discover that you were an extremely high level agent in a British government organization managing supernatural affairs?  “The Rook” by Daniel O’Malley is part office comedy, part spy novel, and part paranormal mystery.  It’s super fun, occasionally gross, and I’m very excited it’s already a series.
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VenCo by Cherie Dimaline

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

"VenCo" by Cherie Dimaline is a story of a Métis witch and the coven who has found her, fighting time to come together.  It's part roadtrip, part mystery, and part revenge.  It's view of magic is intuitive and historical and the characters are survivors growing into their own power.  It's not cozy, but you root for the characters and their revenge is righteous.  I'm hoping there's another #book coming.
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So This Is Ever After by F.T. Lukens

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adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

What happens *after* the evil overlord is slain?  “So This is Ever After” by F.T. Lukens follows a band of teenage heroes as they become a reluctant king and his council after whacking off the evil wizard’s head.  They need to re-establish relations with other countries, get the finances in order, and find the king’s fated soulmate, who is definitely NOT his best friend and wizard.  It’s a very fun, queer, and quirky DnD themed romp and romance.  A delightful quick read. 
The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-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

5.0

#book book book.  “The Darkness Outside Us” by Eliot Schrefer is a space voyage mystery of two teens on a rescue mission.  It’s melancholy, intimate, and queer.  It’ll stick in my head for quite a while.