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sotnasck's reviews
413 reviews
Catalyst: A Rogue One Novel by James Luceno
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Where do I start? I enjoyed this so much.
First, I think is important to say how much I admire the more human side of the rebellion. You know, the side of the story where there is no Jedi and use of the Force. It's what drove me so into it about Rogue One rather than the other stories. And this book is the beginning of what we see in that movie. I love that we have scientists, commanders, smugglers and rebels and that's it. There's mentions of Darth Vader, the Jedi and the Force, as it should have, but here is the ordinary people doing their thing and this is why I like it so much. Now I'd like to say how much this book is interesting on its science, engineering and environmentalists. To read about this side of the Star Wars universe, these things that are mentioned but never explored in the movies, the people behind the curtains. Where did the idea of the Death Star came from? How does it came to be? How does it work? And the lives that were affected by it since its origin, and these lives are so meaningful and important.
I loved to be able to learn more about this particular story, especially considering how much Rogue One means to me.
First, I think is important to say how much I admire the more human side of the rebellion. You know, the side of the story where there is no Jedi and use of the Force. It's what drove me so into it about Rogue One rather than the other stories. And this book is the beginning of what we see in that movie. I love that we have scientists, commanders, smugglers and rebels and that's it. There's mentions of Darth Vader, the Jedi and the Force, as it should have, but here is the ordinary people doing their thing and this is why I like it so much. Now I'd like to say how much this book is interesting on its science, engineering and environmentalists. To read about this side of the Star Wars universe, these things that are mentioned but never explored in the movies, the people behind the curtains. Where did the idea of the Death Star came from? How does it came to be? How does it work? And the lives that were affected by it since its origin, and these lives are so meaningful and important.
I loved to be able to learn more about this particular story, especially considering how much Rogue One means to me.
The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
The thing with this book was that at first I liked everything but the male character, which was a problem considering he was the love interest. I liked the protagonist and I could relate to her, I liked her family and her story and her boss, I really liked her boss. But I haven't felt this exasperated with a male protagonist since I've read Mara Dyer. Oh boy, was this frustrating. And setting aside my dislike for the character, I could talk about his relationship with Lucy, who was such a cool character, that became needy and possessive and that's not the type of romantic relationship I'm here for.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story by Alexander Freed
4.0
Rogue One is not only my favorite Star Wars movie, but is probably my favorite movie period. To me it is all levels of perfect and I was very excited about finally getting my hands in this novelization, and it delivered.
In terms of writing I'd say I liked Catalyst more, I liked that author better. But this one was still pretty good. Loved the missing scenes and the depth we have for the characters and relationships. Something that is there at the movie's surface and in here we can dig deeper.
In terms of writing I'd say I liked Catalyst more, I liked that author better. But this one was still pretty good. Loved the missing scenes and the depth we have for the characters and relationships. Something that is there at the movie's surface and in here we can dig deeper.
A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
Feyre and Rhysand said my mate to each other and other people so many times SO MANY TIMES that by the 400 pages mark I was fucking done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
The Force Awakens by Alan Dean Foster
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Listen, I love The Force Awakens so I don't understand what the fuck happened with this book. Honestly, the writing is painful and I've suffered reading this.
Memórias Póstumas de Brás Cubas by Machado de Assis
4.0
It is surprising, at least to me being brazilian, that I did not read any of Machado's work until now. I remember having lectures about his books in school, the required reads for universities that I never got around to reading, I remember trying to read Esaú e Jacó and giving up. Machado required of me a level of maturity that 17 years old me simply did not have. Forward many years and here we are. Brás Cubas was right, seasons of life are editions that correct the one before. And I get it now.
Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
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
3.0
What I love the most about Stephanie's books is that they're teenagers and it feels like it. One of the things that bothers me when reading about a teenage girl meeting the love of her life in highschool is how it is portrayed. But in Stephanie's stories it feels natural, real and something that you can read and think "of course" because this is what being a teenager or being in love for the first time it's supposed to feel like.
And the characters are so ordinary and true. Like, they can be someone you know, they can do things and remind you of someone real in your life. Also it isn't like "oh my God, my life is so boring but when I met him my life changed and I wanted to die for him" type of love story. Which, honestly, A+.
And the characters are so ordinary and true. Like, they can be someone you know, they can do things and remind you of someone real in your life. Also it isn't like "oh my God, my life is so boring but when I met him my life changed and I wanted to die for him" type of love story. Which, honestly, A+.
Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Maybe I've had high expectations and this is always a problem when said expectations aren't matched, so I take the blame for not enjoying this book as much as the other two in the series. It's not that I didn't liked, because I did. But reading this right after Lola and The Boy Next Door was the problem, because that book is great and this one is just nice.
The writing was just as good and the previous books, and there's no denying that I love Perkins's style and her characters, but something about Isla and Josh and their story didn't clicked for me. And it is not that their story is just rushed, because honestly the only reason why we don't feel this way about the other two couples is because they had someone in the middle of their relationship. Josh and Isla were single and free to be together, it would be weird if they weren't together for whatever reasons (that later came, but it would be nonsense to have issues right from the start), so, no it wasn't that rushed in my opinion. And everything was fine until I realised the problem, the protagonist. I couldn't relate, and this is very personal. And I understand why a lot of girls would relate to her, I'm glad that I don't though. It's not that I'm dripping confidence, but I have a view of romantic relationships that Isla clearly doesn't share. Which, hey, that's okay. But that made me unable to support Isla every time she was bitching and crying over Josh's ex-girlfriend, for example.
Storywise I think this could have been less dramatic. And I missed that family and friends thing going on in the other books. Here is just Isla and Josh most of the time, and when there was family or friends involved, it was a little dramatic too. I missed some other stuff.
The writing was just as good and the previous books, and there's no denying that I love Perkins's style and her characters, but something about Isla and Josh and their story didn't clicked for me. And it is not that their story is just rushed, because honestly the only reason why we don't feel this way about the other two couples is because they had someone in the middle of their relationship. Josh and Isla were single and free to be together, it would be weird if they weren't together for whatever reasons (that later came, but it would be nonsense to have issues right from the start), so, no it wasn't that rushed in my opinion. And everything was fine until I realised the problem, the protagonist. I couldn't relate, and this is very personal. And I understand why a lot of girls would relate to her, I'm glad that I don't though. It's not that I'm dripping confidence, but I have a view of romantic relationships that Isla clearly doesn't share. Which, hey, that's okay. But that made me unable to support Isla every time she was bitching and crying over Josh's ex-girlfriend, for example.
Storywise I think this could have been less dramatic. And I missed that family and friends thing going on in the other books. Here is just Isla and Josh most of the time, and when there was family or friends involved, it was a little dramatic too. I missed some other stuff.
The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger
slow-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
1.0
Definitely not as good as the movie, and it is not something that normally happens. But it was the case of this book. The thing is, it could be better if it had 200 pages less. I felt like the story was dragging itself and too slow for my liking, even though the plot seemed nice. The only moment I truly enjoyed was in the last few chapters of the book.
Paper Towns by John Green
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
What's up with Quentin? Just what is his problem? He's so annoying and boring. I also did not liked Margo, but that was not her fault. It was Quentin's and his incredibly annoying obsession with her. We've all done that and this is the only thing I liked about this book: the realistic portrayal of teenage infatuations in highschool, which is mostly not real and exaggerated.