Critiquing the Books I Read
To Kill A Kingdom provides an interesting and engaging story, with enough references to the original tale to keep things familiar. However, the writing is unnecessarily convoluted, and the characters not very fleshed out. ⭐⭐⭐ ✨
Just another example of white mediocrity being lauded for no apparent reason. I might have thought this book interesting when I was a teenager, but even back then I'd have been suspicious of it. Ugh. ⭐
It's like Christopher's voice has been aged down - which is, again, probably a result of the author's misconceptions about autism more than anything else. At best, I got the impression of reading about a 10 year old. In so many ways. The Curious Incident of the Dog In the Night Time is, in short, a hot mess. 1.5 stars. ⭐✨
The Subtle Knife is thought provoking and soul stirring, and above all, relies on its greatest strength - an authentic sketch of childlike innocence, framed by the dangers that seek to harm it, and the powers that step in to protect it.
The adventure is fast paced, and the characters extremely likeable and intriguing. Three stars for a warm, solid read. ⭐⭐⭐
A book that came out in 1968 that had a protagonist of colour (!!!) Wizard of Earthsea certainly features many exciting and diverse adventures, but it reads more as a spiritual journey than anything else. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Anne's voice is fresh, frank and confident, and she has a knack for slipping humour into the mundane. And if you're thinking that you can give this one a miss simply because you've already read the other edition - I promise you you're missing out.
The Winter Duke tells a lovely story, featuring a beautiful romance and an exciting world. Unfortunately, it drags on in repetitive patterns until two-thirds of the book is done. A book that had great potential in all senses of the term, but finally ends on an unsatisfying and anti-climactic note.
Ruin and Rising sheds a lot of the dead weight and moves quickly, but even this book cannot escape the absolute piece of work that is its protagonist.
Princess Diaries may be a little outdated, but it still has the potential to make us laugh out loud - sometimes with Mia, but mostly at her. Five stars for the nostalgia!!!
Much like Cross Her Heart (again) Right Behind Her gets bogged down with romance even as the rest of the plot flails wildly.
The Golden Compass is the first part of a massive spiritual exploration. It is also a fantastic adventure that most realistically encapsulates the voice of childhood, of all the books I've read.
Speak is a raw, compelling, front-row seat to how trauma shapes and affects our lives. But what I love most about this book is how Melinda's dry, sarcastic sense of humour breaks up the bleakness. It shows us a little girl who continues to live each day preserving as much of her self as she can, even in the face of unspeakable horror.
It's not that all of the criticism levelled at the series or its author isn't valid. Each critique is absolutely on point. The problem is that I'm way too brainwashed to be able to change how I feel about the book now.
The book was a little on the long side, but so eventful that the pages turn swiftly. The plot doesn't as much twist as delays gratification, making the resolutions all the more sweeter because we feel they've been hard won.
Good Omens is imagination run riot in the most enjoyable and humorous way - twisting the literal into the metaphorical and vice versa. Three stars for being a great book that was ruined by a few unwise turns of phrase.
If you have the patience to sit through immense amounts of world building and character foundations, The Way of Kings will reward you with a rich mythology and vibrant characters that stand out in any multitude. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Juggling seven different perspectives - turning them into a seamless tapestry of emotions, epic fights, and romance. This means twice or thrice the usual amount of action, more quests, more villains, more godly encounters (and more Percabeth).
Plague Arcanist expands our knowledge of the Frith Chronicles universe effortlessly, while improving on the general writing style. And as always, it provides an engrossing, fast-paced adventure that gets you to overlook all of its faults.
Felix Ever After is warm and healing; a beautiful, light read that evokes everything we want LGBTQ romances and teen novels to be.
Feminist Quill 