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weathersreadsgarbage's reviews
240 reviews
Happiness, Vol. 2 by Shuzo Oshimi
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is going at such a slow pace so far, but I think all of the important players are introduced and the basic gist of what’s going on has finally hit. I’m excited to read more about this interpretation of vampires. And that last panel! Ugh, an actual nightmare.
This gets the dubious honor of actually freaking me out a little bit. The art is very stylized in parts and it just feels wrong.
This gets the dubious honor of actually freaking me out a little bit. The art is very stylized in parts and it just feels wrong.
Take My Body by K.A. Merikan
dark
fast-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
I think body swaps just aren’t for me, but I don’t necessarily think this is bad.
Caspian has nice development and I love Gunner as a feral twink. I also loved seeing just a tiny bit of Roach and Zane. I missed them and didn’t even realize how much until they were dangled in front of me.
I think there were just a few too many loose ends that really didn’t work for me. There were threats that weren’t resolved. I also found the third act to drag a bit - this could and should have been about 100 pages shorter and been significantly more succinct.
Caspian has nice development and I love Gunner as a feral twink. I also loved seeing just a tiny bit of Roach and Zane. I missed them and didn’t even realize how much until they were dangled in front of me.
I think there were just a few too many loose ends that really didn’t work for me. There were threats that weren’t resolved. I also found the third act to drag a bit - this could and should have been about 100 pages shorter and been significantly more succinct.
Chef's Kiss by Jarrett Melendez
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
5.0
This was honestly one of the cutest things I’ve read in a long time.
I really liked the cooking trials (which seemed like good structure for the story), the art, and of course Watson the pig. It was overall very wholesome and easy going in a way that makes me think of slice of life anime? I wouldn’t really call it a romcom though and I’m confused by why it’s pitched as such.
I’d have loved more - maybe an entire series? There were a lot of side characters that I’d have liked to see more of. No justice for Vlad the inhaler.
I really liked the cooking trials (which seemed like good structure for the story), the art, and of course Watson the pig. It was overall very wholesome and easy going in a way that makes me think of slice of life anime? I wouldn’t really call it a romcom though and I’m confused by why it’s pitched as such.
I’d have loved more - maybe an entire series? There were a lot of side characters that I’d have liked to see more of. No justice for Vlad the inhaler.
Twentieth Anniversary Screening by Jeff Strand
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
An absolute gem.
I love the format of this story - a deep dive into events really makes this shine and keeps it funnier than it would be otherwise. I especially loved the synopsis of The Roofer which I wish was real. It sounds absolutely ghastly.
I wouldn’t necessarily call this mean spirited but considering the subject matter I think it might be too much for some audiences? If you can envision it as a very dark sided farce I think it works in the same way Seed of Chucky works.
I love the format of this story - a deep dive into events really makes this shine and keeps it funnier than it would be otherwise. I especially loved the synopsis of The Roofer which I wish was real. It sounds absolutely ghastly.
I wouldn’t necessarily call this mean spirited but considering the subject matter I think it might be too much for some audiences? If you can envision it as a very dark sided farce I think it works in the same way Seed of Chucky works.
Elken: A Folk Horror Story by Jay Alexander
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I think a lot of folk horror is more about vibes than scares and this is a pretty good example of it: There’s something deeply fucked in these woods and there’s a sense of inevitability to it all. The gore is pretty good too, the author does a great job of giving you just enough details to ruin your dinner.
While I do wish there had been more suspense to it I understand that we’d working with essentially a short story. Still, this was a great taste of the author’s work and I’ll be checking out more of his folk horror.
While I do wish there had been more suspense to it I understand that we’d working with essentially a short story. Still, this was a great taste of the author’s work and I’ll be checking out more of his folk horror.
Cheer Up! Love and Pompoms by Crystal Frasier, Val Wise
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
The art style is super cute here - I love how every single character (and there’s a lot) looks super different. Just a really vast array of styles and body types and sizes.
I also find the story to be adorably earnest and something I would have loved to have as a teen. It’s a bunch of fluff, not a hard hitting piece, and that makes it all the more appealing. Sometimes it’s nice to just see trans people get to exist, you know? Annie and BeeBee have such a fun dynamic for those who are into the opposites attract trope.
I’d love to see more done in this world.
I also find the story to be adorably earnest and something I would have loved to have as a teen. It’s a bunch of fluff, not a hard hitting piece, and that makes it all the more appealing. Sometimes it’s nice to just see trans people get to exist, you know? Annie and BeeBee have such a fun dynamic for those who are into the opposites attract trope.
I’d love to see more done in this world.
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
4.5
Rereading this as an adult was such an interesting experience.
While I’m sure that the themes that were intended were very different back when it was published I was surprised by how much of a focus there was on Charlie being frustrated when he realized that people didn’t view him as a human being. Like he wasn’t real until he hit an acceptable IQ. The idea that people deserve to be treated as human beings because they’re human beings is something that gets push back even now. I don’t know, it was before it’s time. I also enjoyed how while Charlie was very well educated he was emotionally so very stunted. It was interesting to see how those two things are so separate. And the topic of consent! So many things you could really delve into there and I’m sure I’ll be considering it for a while.
While I’m sure that the themes that were intended were very different back when it was published I was surprised by how much of a focus there was on Charlie being frustrated when he realized that people didn’t view him as a human being. Like he wasn’t real until he hit an acceptable IQ. The idea that people deserve to be treated as human beings because they’re human beings is something that gets push back even now. I don’t know, it was before it’s time. I also enjoyed how while Charlie was very well educated he was emotionally so very stunted. It was interesting to see how those two things are so separate. And the topic of consent! So many things you could really delve into there and I’m sure I’ll be considering it for a while.
Loki's New Job by K.A. Merikan
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I don’t really understand why this was needed to be honest. I’m still unsatisfied with Jack and Loki’s story and this focused on the wrong things for me.
It did a good job of leaving me in suspense though and the octopus sausages were cute.
It did a good job of leaving me in suspense though and the octopus sausages were cute.
Red Hot by K.A. Merikan
emotional
medium-paced
3.75
It was lovely to be back with the Coffin Nails (and so cute to see Sam and Candy in domestic bliss) but this was probably the hardest of this series for me to get into? I love the concept of it and Loki was hilariously unhinged from the start but Jack was… the worst. I’d have DNFed had it been any other author.
While Jack did grow on me somewhat and I found certain moments sweet it wasn’t quite there for me. Maybe because it doesn’t feel like a real HEA or HFN?
While Jack did grow on me somewhat and I found certain moments sweet it wasn’t quite there for me. Maybe because it doesn’t feel like a real HEA or HFN?
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
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
5.0