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cyanide_latte's reviews
1670 reviews
I Ship My Rival x Me (The Comic / Manhua) Vol. 1 by Qualia, PEPA
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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
5.0
This manhua is absolutely fascinating to me. I decided to try it on a whim, not having any experience with the novel it's based on, and it's incredibly adorable at its core, no doubt about that! But it's also a really interesting look at idol culture and Real Person Shipping and romance, and how these things intersect in this story.
We watch as Wei Yanzi gets pulled into and engrossed in online fandom that indulges in Real Person Shipping of him and his industry "rival", Gu Yilian, and seeks out the community that ships them as a sort of comfort and for connection as he indulges the illusory fantasy. Meanwhile, Gu Yilian seems to remain utterly oblivious to the shippers, the RPF and the implications of fanart of the two of them together, but appears to be gradually falling for Wei Yanzi himself. And of course, serendipitous misunderstandings and shenanigans ensue.
I'm glad I went in blind, because it is both a fun read and also an interesting one to think on and pick apart. I really enjoyed this first volume and I look forward to the rest!
We watch as Wei Yanzi gets pulled into and engrossed in online fandom that indulges in Real Person Shipping of him and his industry "rival", Gu Yilian, and seeks out the community that ships them as a sort of comfort and for connection as he indulges the illusory fantasy. Meanwhile, Gu Yilian seems to remain utterly oblivious to the shippers, the RPF and the implications of fanart of the two of them together, but appears to be gradually falling for Wei Yanzi himself. And of course, serendipitous misunderstandings and shenanigans ensue.
I'm glad I went in blind, because it is both a fun read and also an interesting one to think on and pick apart. I really enjoyed this first volume and I look forward to the rest!
Dinghai Fusheng Records Vol. 1 by Fei Tian Ye Xiang
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I'm really happy that this manhua adaptation is being released by Seven Seas. I started reading a fan translation of the web novel earlier this year (I'm barely around a quarter of the way through,) so it's nice to see the manhua and be able to read it too! It's paced excellently, the art is beautiful, and I feel like it really helps solidify the characters, especially Chen Xing. I often forget he's really a teenager forced to grow up too fast, but this adaptation really does an excellent job of reminding the reader of that!
The Jade Temptress by Jeannie Lin
Did not finish book. Stopped at 21%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 21%.
DNF'd at 21%. This just isn't holding my interest like I hoped it would, and I genuinely can't believe in the chemistry between these characters.
Black Butler, Vol. 4 by Yana Toboso
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This is genuinely a tough one. I love the character work going on in this volume, but ooohhh boy, the depiction of the British colonization of India and the Indian characters is...hm.
It's interesting. Because it hasn't aged all that well. And yet at the same time it's very clear that Yana Toboso was making a genuine, good faith effort that is rooted in some research and admiration of the culture. It is important to remember this is her earlier work, and she's improved since, but this definitely has caused me a lot of reflexive wincing already. Even for a good faith attempt and the genuineness behind it, this hasn't aged gracefully.
It's interesting. Because it hasn't aged all that well. And yet at the same time it's very clear that Yana Toboso was making a genuine, good faith effort that is rooted in some research and admiration of the culture. It is important to remember this is her earlier work, and she's improved since, but this definitely has caused me a lot of reflexive wincing already. Even for a good faith attempt and the genuineness behind it, this hasn't aged gracefully.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
Minor: Colonisation
X: The Novel by Tim Waggoner
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
The day that I saw Fangoria's article that the X trilogy by Ti West was getting a novelization adaptation, I was thrilled! Even more so when I saw that the writer on deck was Tim Waggoner, as I've enjoyed his writing over the years. I'd almost cancelled my A24 subscription earlier but the moment I read through the article, I held off. Turns out this was a good thing as members of the A24 sub get a small discount off of the paperbacks. And also because, at the time I managed to buy my copy, the A24 store was the only place online where I could find copies available for purchase. The same has proved true with the release of the novelization of Pearl.
I had the opportunity and downtime while at work today to get some reading in, and I brought X with me hoping to at least start it. I ended up devouring it before my shift ended, and I'm so glad I read it. While I have a lot of love and appreciation for and thoughts about the film itself, I do think Waggoner managed to really add more to the characters in this adaptation. They're all fantastic already, but he takes time to get in their heads and flesh them out further, and it makes this a very strong, character-driven novelization. It's a very fast, dark and gory read, and I love the way it was handled. Waggoner was the perfect choice to adapt the film to book, and I'm so glad I picked this up!
I had the opportunity and downtime while at work today to get some reading in, and I brought X with me hoping to at least start it. I ended up devouring it before my shift ended, and I'm so glad I read it. While I have a lot of love and appreciation for and thoughts about the film itself, I do think Waggoner managed to really add more to the characters in this adaptation. They're all fantastic already, but he takes time to get in their heads and flesh them out further, and it makes this a very strong, character-driven novelization. It's a very fast, dark and gory read, and I love the way it was handled. Waggoner was the perfect choice to adapt the film to book, and I'm so glad I picked this up!
Alice in the Country of Clover: Cheshire Cat Waltz, Vol. 07 by Mamenosuke Fujimaru, QuinRose
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I'm glad that I finally managed to get my hands on a copy of volume 7 and read it, and I got to see the ending to Cheshire Cat Waltz. I can't give this a full five stars because it does feel somewhat rushed and not as climatic as it could be, but it was still a decent ending to this particular story and a fun ride all around. Still not sure how much I can get behind Boris and Alice as a ship, but this story really does help make them a cute couple and showcases nice character growth for Boris throughout all the volumes, which is appreciated!
The Apothecary Diaries, Volume 2 by Natsu Hyuuga
emotional
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
There is a LOT that goes on in this installment, and presently I'm a bit too tired to try to cover it all in a review, but this was excellent! I'm more glad than before that I started this series!
Heart of Midnight by J. Robert King
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I borrowed a copy of this book from a friend of mine who told me that it was worth the read, particularly for over of the older Ravenloft setting books. To my understanding, these are incredibly hard to get ahold of, so I'm extremely grateful as well that my friend was willing to let me borrow their copy. I can't even think of the last time I saw a Ravenloft paperback novel anywhere, it's been so long.
This has been an excellent exercise in trying to recall the way that various lore was set up in this earlier edition of the setting, back at the time this book was written. There were a few twists and turns that I had predicted and others that I hadn't, and I really appreciate this book's focus on trying to truly explore the bardic aspect of Kartakass and Harkon Lukas, and all the characters that take part in the competition that drives the earliest portion of the book. J. Robert King understood the assignment and rose to the challenge beautifully; perhaps it's simply a sign of the changing understanding of bards within fantasy within pop culture, but Heart of Midnight really goes the extra mile to explore the original concept of bards beyond just "can sing and recite songs" with the challenges in the competition. Beyond this, the story is very well-crafted and when you boil it down beyond the Ravenloft setting, it's an excellent look at a somewhat classic sort of horror story with a unique set dressing.
None of that is to say that it doesn't have its faults. True, there are elements of the book that didn't exactly age well, but I expected that. Moreso, my frustration with it is that at times it really moved slowly, and could leave me feeling like it was starting to slog. Overall it didn't do that, but it had those less engaging moments more often than I liked. But all the same, I enjoyed my time with this, and it was fascinating to read, especially given how significant a role Harkon Lukas plays in this book!
This has been an excellent exercise in trying to recall the way that various lore was set up in this earlier edition of the setting, back at the time this book was written. There were a few twists and turns that I had predicted and others that I hadn't, and I really appreciate this book's focus on trying to truly explore the bardic aspect of Kartakass and Harkon Lukas, and all the characters that take part in the competition that drives the earliest portion of the book. J. Robert King understood the assignment and rose to the challenge beautifully; perhaps it's simply a sign of the changing understanding of bards within fantasy within pop culture, but Heart of Midnight really goes the extra mile to explore the original concept of bards beyond just "can sing and recite songs" with the challenges in the competition. Beyond this, the story is very well-crafted and when you boil it down beyond the Ravenloft setting, it's an excellent look at a somewhat classic sort of horror story with a unique set dressing.
None of that is to say that it doesn't have its faults. True, there are elements of the book that didn't exactly age well, but I expected that. Moreso, my frustration with it is that at times it really moved slowly, and could leave me feeling like it was starting to slog. Overall it didn't do that, but it had those less engaging moments more often than I liked. But all the same, I enjoyed my time with this, and it was fascinating to read, especially given how significant a role Harkon Lukas plays in this book!
What the Dead Know by Nghi Vo
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Very chilling! I'm glad I took the chance to read this one and see what the mystery and the horror behind it was! Not much else to say, but if you're looking for a fast, intense little horror short story, this one is worth going through at least once!