toyajwilliams's reviews
629 reviews

Hold by Claire Kent

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

4.0

I had prepared myself for SA based on the blurb and the opening chapter but I wish there had been content warnings either way. 

I can’t remember where the suggestion to read this came from but I was hesitant. The first time I picked it up, I read one page and was like nahhhhh. But I went back recently to try again - and I reallyyyyy enjoyed this. I don’t quite know why, especially because I don’t do novellas or short stories, I just usually need more emotional investment in my books. But I was so invested in this!! 

I don’t know how Kent got me to care so much about Cain (I wasn’t as fond of Riana but she was easier to empathise with in the beginning) especially in such a messed up situation but by the end I was terrified for him. The smut was a bit weird and I kind of skimmed over it to get to the parts where Cain and Riana actually talked to each other. I’m also just an excessively big believer in hygiene so like…some of the harsh realities of their setting were SO grim and I hated reading about it lool. But I’m aware that’s a ME thing, not a book thing. 

A pleasantly surprising read.
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

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adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0