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adelphiereads's reviews
153 reviews
Remnants of Filth: Yuwu (Novel) Vol. 1 by Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou did it again. She wrote a novel that had me on a choke hold. A novel that brought me on the brink of insanity but reeled me back in every now and then. It was torment, but the good kind. The kind that leaves you with a distinct fleeting feeling of bliss.
The way the main character yearned for the person he loves is a new feeling that I’ve seen in books. Romeo’s yearning for Juliet is nothing compared to this one. He yearned for him. Longed to have his love. But in the end he never did. Or didn’t he?
If you like books who makes you feel a jumble of emotions that it’s about to drive you crazy, then you should definitely read this one.
The only thing I did not particularly like on this volume is the quick passing through on important plot details. But it’s barely noticeable, I think I only noticed it because I can compare it to her other work, The Husky and His White Cat Shizun.
The way the main character yearned for the person he loves is a new feeling that I’ve seen in books. Romeo’s yearning for Juliet is nothing compared to this one. He yearned for him. Longed to have his love. But in the end he never did. Or didn’t he?
If you like books who makes you feel a jumble of emotions that it’s about to drive you crazy, then you should definitely read this one.
The only thing I did not particularly like on this volume is the quick passing through on important plot details. But it’s barely noticeable, I think I only noticed it because I can compare it to her other work, The Husky and His White Cat Shizun.
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
It’s such a captivating book. The nature of the world of the peculiar children coupled with the photographs in the book created the perfect dark mystery that’s somehow intoxicating to the reader. It’s so interesting that I just want to keep reading until the last book in the series. I also commend the author’s storytelling because it kept at the edge of my seat!
But I am not quite happy with some inconsistencies in the dialogue towards the end. It felt like the latter chapter were rushed, especially the big reveal about the hollows and the wights. I wished that the author spent more time on it rather than the weirdly incestuous and borderline grooming love story between Emma and Jacob (remember Emma was over 80 years old and Jacob was 16). I do hope that Emma and Jacob do not end up together, I do not like their love story. It’s strange and icky. If anything I would love for Emma and Millard to get together.
All in all, I am hoping that the next books would only impress me more than this one.
But I am not quite happy with some inconsistencies in the dialogue towards the end. It felt like the latter chapter were rushed, especially the big reveal about the hollows and the wights. I wished that the author spent more time on it rather than the weirdly incestuous and borderline grooming love story between Emma and Jacob (remember Emma was over 80 years old and Jacob was 16). I do hope that Emma and Jacob do not end up together, I do not like their love story. It’s strange and icky. If anything I would love for Emma and Millard to get together.
All in all, I am hoping that the next books would only impress me more than this one.
Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation: Mo Dao Zu Shi (Novel) Vol. 1 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
If you are like me who watched “The Untamed” series first before reading this novel, fair warning, they are completely different from each other. It would be wise to go into this thinking that the Chinese series and the actual novel itself are two separate entities, completely unrelated but maybe a tad bit inspired of one another. Now, to review the novel itself I would say that despite its dark themes, the author managed to keep things light and warm in every chapter. Reading this novel feels like walking in a meadow under a shining full moon, the world around you feels vast and wide as you leisurely walk feeling protected by the warm embrace of the bright moonlight all while being aware that in the edges of your vision, evil lurks in the shadows. This feeling continued from first up until the last volume.
As for my thoughts on this first volume, the author was able to set the mystery aspect of the story really well while maintaining a light tone in the dialogues of the characters. The execution of the questionable background of the main character was commendable and it made the reader hungry for answers about his past actions and motivations. As for the love interest/second main lead of the story, the mystery of his intentions kept the reader at the edge of their seats. All in all, this first volume beautifully introduced the moonlit meadow at which one will find oneself while reading the novel.
As for my thoughts on this first volume, the author was able to set the mystery aspect of the story really well while maintaining a light tone in the dialogues of the characters. The execution of the questionable background of the main character was commendable and it made the reader hungry for answers about his past actions and motivations. As for the love interest/second main lead of the story, the mystery of his intentions kept the reader at the edge of their seats. All in all, this first volume beautifully introduced the moonlit meadow at which one will find oneself while reading the novel.
“To enter the secular world for the sake of one person—should you leave, I too shall leave, this life shall not remain in the world—”
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is the kind of book that I could talk about for hours and it still wouldn’t be enough. I feel like Donna Tart could write five more books retelling the story from each of the Greek kids' perspectives and I would still read it, no— devour it, get lost in it, and constantly think about it even after reading them. It’s the kind of book that I would love to read it for the first time again because it’s just that good.
This book talks about elitism. All forms of it. It justified murder and cruelty. It paints the perpetrators of evil as victims of the world. And it’s told in the perspective of an unreliable narrator. So in essence, yes it is like Crime and Punishment but also it’s not because of some elements in that great work that was omitted in this one for the sake of aesthetics. It truly is a great depiction of Dark Academia.
Basically…it’s a book about a bunch of young privileged people who read a lot and wanted the books they’ve read to be very much like their reality, to the extent that they exerted great effort to make it so but of course since that’s not possible, they got what is coming for them…or did they?
If you’re interested in my non-spoiler-free review of the book here’s a link to a Google docs (I am still editing it as time passes, I believe I will be writing on it for days): https://docs.google.com/document/d/1S7H7sngXGufWGDjYXNRlV5yGVmhlY_T1VoxqCUFW53M/edit?usp=sharing
Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Despite it’s dark themes such as murder, death and abuse, I still see this book as a cozy fantasy novel. I think it’s probably because the entire plot of the book is focused on a single quest and things such as romance, character building and social relevance were placed on the background. Not neglected, just not given too much attention but it was still there. It’s like you wouldn’t be able to get to know the characters so much that you have no choice but be so drastically attached to them, still that doesn’t mean that you wouldn’t be able to relate with them or somehow see yourself in one of them.
To put it simply, this book reads like a Studio Ghibli movie but with more adult themes (not spicy ones). It’s like if Studio Ghibli made a movie for adults in their 20s, this would be the result.
Anyone who is into fantasy Studio Ghibli movies or simply just quest-type & found-family trope stories would love this book.
“Nothing is fair, except that we try to make it so. That’s the point of humans, maybe, to fix things the gods haven’t managed.”
Manacled by SenLinYu
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
For non-book records, review text and ratings are hidden. Only mood, pace, and content warnings are visible.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Suicide attempt, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
If Cats Disappeared From The World by Genki Kawamura
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Despite being a short book, this one was thought-provoking and insightful. Especially during the first chapters, the author really made me reflect on the world around me and how I am currently living my life. It made me realize that I should know which things are really important and what I should do about them. However, I did not like how I the narrator/main character would go on a tangent about something insightful or heavy topic but then he would digress into mundane stuff out of nowhere. The book had so much potential. It could’ve talked about the topics it had happened more instead of just leaving them up in the air and letting the readers think about it. The last chapters were confusing and anticlimactic as well. Still, I did like how this book made me feel so it wasn’t at all bad. I would still recommend this to others, just so they could have food for thought about life too.
Never Lie by Freida McFadden
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
One thing's for sure, I did not see that coming. I thought it was the other thing but I was so wrong. The plot twist in this book was so shocking that I literally had to pause to compose myself. If you like psychological thrillers but not the kind that makes you sick to the stomach just disturbed in the mind, then this book is perfect for you.
The review below is a full-on spoiler of the book. Don't read it if you haven't read the book! Or if you don't want to get spoiled!!
I thought Ethan was EJ the entire time and I didn't even suspect that Tricia was PL and that she is more dark and sinister than EJ and the doctor.
I really love unreliable narrators.
The review below is a full-on spoiler of the book. Don't read it if you haven't read the book! Or if you don't want to get spoiled!!
I thought Ethan was EJ the entire time and I didn't even suspect that Tricia was PL and that she is more dark and sinister than EJ and the doctor.
I really love unreliable narrators.