3.5 stars. Two autistic MCs, age gap. Very sweet and enjoyable short story, but unfortunately it came after I’d already read a superb story by this au3.5 stars. Two autistic MCs, age gap. Very sweet and enjoyable short story, but unfortunately it came after I’d already read a superb story by this author, so I couldn’t help but compare them. This one is closed door. ...more
These two are so hot together, but the plot is too slow/cozy for me. There can’t be much tension when they get together at 17%. That’s too soon for meThese two are so hot together, but the plot is too slow/cozy for me. There can’t be much tension when they get together at 17%. That’s too soon for me. Reminds me of In the Weeds by BK Borison, which I felt the same way about. And Rome is way too perfect for me, like with the MMCs in Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez and The Right Move by Liz Tomforde. They don’t seem real. It’s distracting and boring. When I’m reading contemporary romance, I like my MMCs flawed enough to feel like they could be someone you could actually meet, not wish fulfillment book boyfriends who could never leave the pages.
The last 25% of the book was 4 stars, all the messy drama coming to a head. So fun.
The majority of the book was just too slow and boring. Lacked plot, tension, and movement. It was still good, just not much going on since they got together so soon....more
Eh. Disappointing. I thought it would be better. I was bored.
Also, I agree with the political opinions, I just don’t like real life politics in my booEh. Disappointing. I thought it would be better. I was bored.
Also, I agree with the political opinions, I just don’t like real life politics in my books. I read as an escape, and I really don’t want the stress of thinking about our current situation while reading for fun. It’s a trigger for me right now because it's overwhelming and depressing and scary. ...more
4.5 stars. Love it! Such a great Valentine’s shorty. I highlighted a lot. Makes me excited to read more from the author. Like immediately.
Two things 4.5 stars. Love it! Such a great Valentine’s shorty. I highlighted a lot. Makes me excited to read more from the author. Like immediately.
Two things kept this from a 5-star rating: 1. What’s with all the question marks? I get it for tone, but also, it’s annoying. 2. I don’t think it’s funny to have a dirty grandpa/dirty grandma character. It wouldn’t be funny if a regular adult or a child said “she was a whore,� so why is it funny when an old person does? Same with them being “very grabby�....more
I’ve been wanting to try a full novel by Debbie Cassidy ever since I read a novelette by her in the Midsummer Nights Anthology. This series caught my I’ve been wanting to try a full novel by Debbie Cassidy ever since I read a novelette by her in the Midsummer Nights Anthology. This series caught my attention first because of the dystopian/post apocalyptic setting.
I loved it! Haven’t read something like this in a while. So fun, but also tense and dark.
Side note: I tandem read the ebook with the audio, and the audiobook narrator’s voice is so hot. This woman should do more. I looked her up and she’s hardly done anything....more
I was a little reluctant to read this because I’ve had my own experience with what I assume is a form of sleep paralysis.
Side story about that: A few I was a little reluctant to read this because I’ve had my own experience with what I assume is a form of sleep paralysis.
Side story about that: A few years ago, my brother and I were home for Christmas and we had stayed up really late and had to be up super early to do gifts with our nieces and nephews. We both took a melatonin at the same time, and he slept in his old room upstairs and I slept in mine downstairs almost directly below his room. That night, I woke up and had to pee, but when I opened my eyes I couldn’t see anything. Like pitch black, no shadows, nothing. I like the dark, but there was a light on the floor fan that stayed on in my old room, and I couldn’t see it. I kept poking myself in the eye thinking my eyes weren’t really open. I slid out of bed and onto the floor because my body felt oddly heavy and trapped. I then spent over an hour on the floor, desperately moving around in circles and feeling around, somehow lost and unable to move more than a half foot in any direction, as if I was in a box, but that’s not entirely how it felt. I couldn’t stand up, but I could move small amounts. I couldn’t speak either, I kept trying to yell and I couldn’t hear anything.
Remember, I had to pee when I woke up, and I was basically a sobbing wreck by the time I found the side of the bed and managed to haul myself half up and wake up my partner. I’d somehow managed to get to the foot of the bed, but still couldn’t move much, so I clawed at his feet until he woke up.
Seriously the most terrifying sleep experience ever. The next morning my brother came down and was like “the most fucked up thing happened last night,� and went on to describe almost the exact same thing as what I went through. At the same time. So either my mom’s house is haunted or we both have a very strange allergy to melatonin.
Anyway. That’s why I was hesitant to read this book. Thought it would scare me, and it did. I’m going to rate it objectively instead of subjectively though. ...more
This is technically my second time in this world (specifically the planet Vitality), but my first full length nov3.5 stars for its addictive quality.
This is technically my second time in this world (specifically the planet Vitality), but my first full length novel by Feener.
Love the anxiety rep. Very relatable, personally. Also love that the main character plays an instrument, a super cool alien one. Lastly, I love the world and the foundation of characters—not so much their growth.
But then there’s quite a bit I didn’t like.
- Noncon. Not a fan, but the author did warn us in her note at the beginning of the book. Don't know what I was expecting.
- Way too long. Like needs to be cut in half. Too much inner monologuing and repeat stuff is part of the problem.
- Reads like wattpad fic most of the time. The author will mention something feeling like Christmas, then realize she’s messed up because this is a different planet with aliens, but instead of changing that line to say something other than Christmas she just says something like, “weird I thought about Christmas since we don’t even have that holiday here.� ...more
The art is great. The story could be great. But� I was very confused from start to finish. It feels like there should be footnotes everywhere, and we The art is great. The story could be great. But� I was very confused from start to finish. It feels like there should be footnotes everywhere, and we should have gotten a prologue or some sort of background story. There’s definitely something great here, it was just hard to find it. It was almost a struggle to get through. Like work instead of entertainment.
For example, the following pages would have been super helpful in the beginning instead of pages 172 and 201 (the very last page). [image] [image]
Another negative was that I didn’t connect with a single character. Honestly, at this point I don’t feel like I would care if any of them were suddenly killed off. Maybe the two-tailed cat, but I obviously didn't like him enough to remember his name I guess.
This story reminded me a bit of a very dark LOTR, with the whole “you alone must carry the dark burden� thing, and Maiko is kind of like Golem in a way. The monster talks to her and tells her to do things to keep it safe.
“The prophets have seen your face. They have told the gathering that you carry a power that will reshape the world. For better or worse. They prophesize that without your power, the Dusk Court will fall.�
But not as interesting without the amazing lineup of Frodo, Sam, Gandalf, Legolas, Gimlee, Aragorn, etc. The Monstress characters just weren't lovable. *That reminds me, why was this called Monstress and not Monstrum?
Moving on. I know a lot of people hate all things steampunk, but I actually enjoy it. So this was something I was really excited about. But, unfortunately, I didn’t get a steampunk vibe at all. It was overshadowed by all of the other elements, and I really wouldn’t have even thought to classify this work as such if I hadn’t read the summary. Art Deco, sure. Steampunk, not so much. Only slightly noticeable. And when presented along with all of the other elements, it’s just pushed into the background.
Another complaint: What’s up with the dialogue between female friends? Specifically the Cumaea? They refer to each other as “bitch,� sometimes even in a seemingly loving way, like modern day reality shows. Actually, the word "bitch" is used a lot, like when Maiko is insulting the baddie. It felt cheap and really took me out of the story. This is supposed to be a fantasy world, and the “modern� bits didn’t fit at all. Even the relationship between Tuya and our leading lady Maika seems� weird. Not organic. I’m pretty disappointed because this series looked like it would my flavor, with the darkness, the magic, female lead, talking animals, curses, monsters� alas, it was not to be. At least not for volume one.
Around page 160/161 we meet a character who I was somewhat able to connect to, but I was so confused by the interaction that I don't even know if it was real. (view spoiler)[Are there people on the inside who are trying to secretly help the arcanics? A double agent? Or what? Who are these people? An organization fighting for peace, or for the arcanics? I really don't know what's going on. Because they were definitely torturing/allowing the arcanics to be tortured by helping the witches in the beginning of the book... was that all for "show"? I don't get it. Torture is torture. Guess I'll find out if I read the next issues. (hide spoiler)]
One big pro is the ending. I appreciate the closure of volume one. The cliffhanger is satisfying, not infuriating like the last page of most graphic novels. Another pro is the map...also at the end for some reason. This map would have been SPECTACULAR on the very first page. Not sure why they chose to put it after the author/artist bios at the very end of the book, but I feel like it would have made the reading much more interesting for me if I had access to it from page one. I love it when books include maps! Who doesn't? But it kind of defeats the point when you see the map AFTER you've finished reading the book.
This first volume was also longer than I’m used to, which I would usually appreciate (let the good times roll), but I was ready for this one to conclude about 150 pages in, and it just kept going. I’d give this 5 stars for the illustrations alone, but it just wasn’t enough to save this one for me. I may or may not check out the second volume.
P.S. I just have to add this image. [image]If you can't read it, he says, "We survived. Incredible," from inside a trunk. After a giant explosion demolishes an entire temple. And the trunk is literally the only thing left in the entire place. Incredible indeed. How very Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull of you. Might as well have been hiding in a fridge in a nuclear test site. This must be an ad from that arcanic antique trunk salesman... *and no, this scene is not meant to be comedic. There is no humor in this comic.
Merged review:
The art is great. The story could be great. But� I was very confused from start to finish. It feels like there should be footnotes everywhere, and we should have gotten a prologue or some sort of background story. There’s definitely something great here, it was just hard to find it. It was almost a struggle to get through. Like work instead of entertainment.
For example, the following pages would have been super helpful in the beginning instead of pages 172 and 201 (the very last page). [image] [image]
Another negative was that I didn’t connect with a single character. Honestly, at this point I don’t feel like I would care if any of them were suddenly killed off. Maybe the two-tailed cat, but I obviously didn't like him enough to remember his name I guess.
This story reminded me a bit of a very dark LOTR, with the whole “you alone must carry the dark burden� thing, and Maiko is kind of like Golem in a way. The monster talks to her and tells her to do things to keep it safe.
“The prophets have seen your face. They have told the gathering that you carry a power that will reshape the world. For better or worse. They prophesize that without your power, the Dusk Court will fall.�
But not as interesting without the amazing lineup of Frodo, Sam, Gandalf, Legolas, Gimlee, Aragorn, etc. The Monstress characters just weren't lovable. *That reminds me, why was this called Monstress and not Monstrum?
Moving on. I know a lot of people hate all things steampunk, but I actually enjoy it. So this was something I was really excited about. But, unfortunately, I didn’t get a steampunk vibe at all. It was overshadowed by all of the other elements, and I really wouldn’t have even thought to classify this work as such if I hadn’t read the summary. Art Deco, sure. Steampunk, not so much. Only slightly noticeable. And when presented along with all of the other elements, it’s just pushed into the background.
Another complaint: What’s up with the dialogue between female friends? Specifically the Cumaea? They refer to each other as “bitch,� sometimes even in a seemingly loving way, like modern day reality shows. Actually, the word "bitch" is used a lot, like when Maiko is insulting the baddie. It felt cheap and really took me out of the story. This is supposed to be a fantasy world, and the “modern� bits didn’t fit at all. Even the relationship between Tuya and our leading lady Maika seems� weird. Not organic. I’m pretty disappointed because this series looked like it would my flavor, with the darkness, the magic, female lead, talking animals, curses, monsters� alas, it was not to be. At least not for volume one.
Around page 160/161 we meet a character who I was somewhat able to connect to, but I was so confused by the interaction that I don't even know if it was real. (view spoiler)[Are there people on the inside who are trying to secretly help the arcanics? A double agent? Or what? Who are these people? An organization fighting for peace, or for the arcanics? I really don't know what's going on. Because they were definitely torturing/allowing the arcanics to be tortured by helping the witches in the beginning of the book... was that all for "show"? I don't get it. Torture is torture. Guess I'll find out if I read the next issues. (hide spoiler)]
One big pro is the ending. I appreciate the closure of volume one. The cliffhanger is satisfying, not infuriating like the last page of most graphic novels. Another pro is the map...also at the end for some reason. This map would have been SPECTACULAR on the very first page. Not sure why they chose to put it after the author/artist bios at the very end of the book, but I feel like it would have made the reading much more interesting for me if I had access to it from page one. I love it when books include maps! Who doesn't? But it kind of defeats the point when you see the map AFTER you've finished reading the book.
This first volume was also longer than I’m used to, which I would usually appreciate (let the good times roll), but I was ready for this one to conclude about 150 pages in, and it just kept going. I’d give this 5 stars for the illustrations alone, but it just wasn’t enough to save this one for me. I may or may not check out the second volume.
P.S. I just have to add this image. [image]If you can't read it, he says, "We survived. Incredible," from inside a trunk. After a giant explosion demolishes an entire temple. And the trunk is literally the only thing left in the entire place. Incredible indeed. How very Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull of you. Might as well have been hiding in a fridge in a nuclear test site. This must be an ad from that arcanic antique trunk salesman... *and no, this scene is not meant to be comedic. There is no humor in this comic....more
3.5 stars, although I'm not entirely sure how I should rate this one.
Beautiful writing, and that is reason enough to read this story. It's a strange 3.5 stars, although I'm not entirely sure how I should rate this one.
Beautiful writing, and that is reason enough to read this story. It's a strange one, because it feels like something is off the whole time (and I don't mean the obvious dead-bodies-abound bit). It seems absurd, almost dream(or nightmare)-like, the way the two main characters interact.
The writing is very on-the-nose at times, it'll raise eyebrows, and the "moral of the story" is basically waving in your face, so those are either negatives or positives depending on the type of reader you are. The story takes an odd turn. Two odd turns, really. The last two pages are not fun or easy to read.
I think the fact that this was written in 1920 makes it work. Somehow. This would make a good Twilight Zone episode. It's weird, and I like weird....more
A great soft horror sci-fi story, with a little lady love on the side. I loved it.
I'm really enjoying the show The Last of Us, and I knew this story A great soft horror sci-fi story, with a little lady love on the side. I loved it.
I'm really enjoying the show The Last of Us, and I knew this story would have some things in common with it. It did, but Fruiting Bodies has an air of light confusion that I tend to like. It really works here. Kind of reminds me of Nnedi Okorafor's writing style. I'll definitely read more from this author.
Simple short and sweet, second-chance, slice-of-life, contemporary romance. No drama, just a story about a healthy relationship that feels very real. Simple short and sweet, second-chance, slice-of-life, contemporary romance. No drama, just a story about a healthy relationship that feels very real. Not my favorite genre, but this book is good for what it is. I would've gotten too bored to continue if this wasn't a novella, but the length was just right. The familiar writing style is easy to get sucked into, so I'll definitely try more Kennedy Ryan in the future when I'm in the mood for spicy contemporary romance again.
The audio narrators were fantastic, by the way....more
I'm not sure Nghi Vo is for me, but to be fair, medium/ghosty stuff isn't something I ever enjoy. I didn't have any strong feelings about her novella I'm not sure Nghi Vo is for me, but to be fair, medium/ghosty stuff isn't something I ever enjoy. I didn't have any strong feelings about her novella The Empress of Salt and Fortune, and I feel similar with this story. Vo writes beautifully, but her plots are very mid for me. This story was fine in the beginning, great in the middle, and fine at the end, so it's getting 3.5 stars. ...more
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