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matmatmatty's reviews
106 reviews
Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This was fine as a story. There were a few aspects that I didn't enjoy/appreciate though...
This is the story of Alanna who doesn't want the noble-lady life that’s expected of her. Instead, she swaps places with her brother and takes his place learning to become a knight. The story follows Alanna (or Alan) has she starts her journey to become a knight, while hiding her true identity from those around her.
I enjoyed the care taken into Alanna and her motivations - this idea of showing young girls they can do anything they set their minds to is good and I am always happy to see that in books. The story itself was interesting and took a few turns - I felt that Alanna (especially considering she is a child) is a bit OP at times and it feels like she can do things that adults can't and that did take me out of it. But seeing her work hard to improve in what she was bad at was a good touch.
There were a few things I didn't enjoy though:
This is the story of Alanna who doesn't want the noble-lady life that’s expected of her. Instead, she swaps places with her brother and takes his place learning to become a knight. The story follows Alanna (or Alan) has she starts her journey to become a knight, while hiding her true identity from those around her.
I enjoyed the care taken into Alanna and her motivations - this idea of showing young girls they can do anything they set their minds to is good and I am always happy to see that in books. The story itself was interesting and took a few turns - I felt that Alanna (especially considering she is a child) is a bit OP at times and it feels like she can do things that adults can't and that did take me out of it. But seeing her work hard to improve in what she was bad at was a good touch.
There were a few things I didn't enjoy though:
- The worldbuilding - I think this is a really interesting world, but i found it quite difficult at times to understand what was going on. I found the magic system quite confusing tbh.
There's talk about 'gifts' but no explanation about what they do. I understand that the gifts relate to magic but first we're told that the gods will punish those who don't use their gifts and then we hear of multiple people who don't use their gifts. We meet George and he tells us he has a gift, which is why he knew who they were, but we're also told that having a gift protects others from finding out things with their gifts. It was so confusing and I don't understand why there couldn't have been something explaining this. - The pacing - minor point, but it was confusing to see time pass in irregular ways. It was difficult to understand just how much time had passed, because it would feel like it had just been months from the text, but actually it had been years. Specific time markers ('finally winter arrived' or 'It was now Alanna's 13th birthday') were rare and spaced out.
- The Bazhir.
I don't think this was intended but I really didn't like how the Bazhir were portrayed. They're clearly Middle Eastern-coded, and the line about how they hide their women/wives. Jesus. The fact that everyone was like 'they're so weird' or 'I just don't like them' - I don't like perpetuating racist stereotypes, especially with no follow-up on that. Like fair enough if Alanna was like 'they're weird' but then learned more about their culture and said 'they're not weird now that i understand them' (obviously not exactly that but that meaning)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Violence, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Child death and Racism
Minor: Death of parent
The Lily of Ludgate Hill by Mimi Matthews
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Infidelity, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug use and Sexual harassment
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I really enjoyed this one!
Stella is a woman with autism who has been tasked with 'giving her parents grandchildren soon'.
Michael is an escort she hires to help her practise sex and dating so she can be ready for a relationship.
This one was a really sweet story of two people who were made for each other and how they overcome the personal obstacles they've put up in order to be together.
Michael is a very sweet character - I love seeing hot Asian male leads, I think it is so important to showcase that. His relationship with his mum and his sisters is wonderful to see, and he just feels like a walking green flag honestly.
I loved how complex Stella was - she didn't want to be defined by her autism and she challenges herself out of her comfort zone. It was great to see an autistic character that isn't treated like a child, but like the fully grown adult she is.
Stella is a woman with autism who has been tasked with 'giving her parents grandchildren soon'.
Michael is an escort she hires to help her practise sex and dating so she can be ready for a relationship.
This one was a really sweet story of two people who were made for each other and how they overcome the personal obstacles they've put up in order to be together.
Michael is a very sweet character - I love seeing hot Asian male leads, I think it is so important to showcase that. His relationship with his mum and his sisters is wonderful to see, and he just feels like a walking green flag honestly.
I loved how complex Stella was - she didn't want to be defined by her autism and she challenges herself out of her comfort zone. It was great to see an autistic character that isn't treated like a child, but like the fully grown adult she is.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual assault
The Wide Window by Lemony Snicket
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Number 3 in the Series of Unfortunate Events. This one is quite an unfortunate one indeed.
I really like how these books can really help guide you through the mystery without being too hard for children but also still kinda making you feel smart for getting it (especially if you get it before the characters - yes I know I am. fully grown adult being happy at solving a mystery before fictional children, let me have this)
I am still super sad about Uncle Monty though and Aunt Josephine just made me miss him even more.
I really like how these books can really help guide you through the mystery without being too hard for children but also still kinda making you feel smart for getting it (especially if you get it before the characters - yes I know I am. fully grown adult being happy at solving a mystery before fictional children, let me have this)
I am still super sad about Uncle Monty though and Aunt Josephine just made me miss him even more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Suicide and Grief
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
Iris Kelly Doesn't Date by Ashley Herring Blake
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? Yes
4.75
A really lovely conclusion to this trilogy. Would recommend this trilogy for anyone interested in sapphic stories (but make sure you start with Delilah Green Doesn't Care!)
I really enjoyed this but I will say that I really loved Astrid's story and I don't think this tops that for me. That being said, this was a really interesting story and I loved seeing Stevie and Iris come together like this..
Stevie was very relatable to me, as someone who has anxiety (and sucks at relationships) and I really enjoyed the set-up between these two.
I really enjoyed listening to this and I think I might try them all again as physical reads soon.
I really enjoyed this but I will say that I really loved Astrid's story and I don't think this tops that for me. That being said, this was a really interesting story and I loved seeing Stevie and Iris come together like this..
Stevie was very relatable to me, as someone who has anxiety (and sucks at relationships) and I really enjoyed the set-up between these two.
I really enjoyed listening to this and I think I might try them all again as physical reads soon.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Infidelity
The Rainfall Market by You Yeong-Gwang
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Circe by Madeline Miller
adventurous
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was such a beautiful book covering the life of an immortal goddess who is an outcast herself.
I think the best way to describe this is as 'the story of a woman learning to live in a world ruled by men and gods'. Its about Circe finding her place when she has no one, and finding her own strength when she is powerless.
I really enjoyed it. And I can't believe it took me this long to read it.
I think the best way to describe this is as 'the story of a woman learning to live in a world ruled by men and gods'. Its about Circe finding her place when she has no one, and finding her own strength when she is powerless.
I really enjoyed it. And I can't believe it took me this long to read it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Murder, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Child death, Death, Blood, and War
Minor: Bullying and Alcohol
The Formidable Miss Cassidy by Meihan Boey
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
This is an enjoyable story - for those familiar with anime, it almost reads like an anime season (an overarching storyline with other stories popping up that may or may not be related to the big story)
I enjoyed the historical setting in Singapore - I like Victorian stories and seeing "one of the colonies" as the setting was interesting. I learnt a bit about Singapore and I really appreciate that.
There were a couple of times where the story lost my attention a little bit, but overall i enjoyed it. If you like historical fantasy and like learning about other cultures, then give this one a try (especially if you like mysteries!)
I enjoyed the historical setting in Singapore - I like Victorian stories and seeing "one of the colonies" as the setting was interesting. I learnt a bit about Singapore and I really appreciate that.
There were a couple of times where the story lost my attention a little bit, but overall i enjoyed it. If you like historical fantasy and like learning about other cultures, then give this one a try (especially if you like mysteries!)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage and Violence
Moderate: Child death, Death, and Racism
Minor: Colonisation
More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa
emotional
lighthearted
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
This was a nice (but emotional) read. I wouldn't recommend reading this without reading Days at the Morisaki Bookshop first, since this is a direct sequel.
I didn't feel the same pull at the start as I did with DatMB - i felt that the first book really spoke to me with Takako's situation and her discovery of books, and this books didn't have that same pull at the beginning. But as I kept going, I really got into it and struggled to put it down.
Very emotional for me, but well worth the read imo
I didn't feel the same pull at the start as I did with DatMB - i felt that the first book really spoke to me with Takako's situation and her discovery of books, and this books didn't have that same pull at the beginning. But as I kept going, I really got into it and struggled to put it down.
Very emotional for me, but well worth the read imo
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, and Grief
Minor: Infidelity and Blood
Black and British: A Forgotten History by David Olusoga
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
This should be essential reading for every British person (and also many Americans).
I have a personal passion about black history, as a black brit myself, and so wanted to read this, and I am genuinely surprised by just how moving and emotional this made me. Not because of the depictions of terrible things but by the amount of history that I was unaware of and just how connected I now feel to this history.
This book covers the history of black people in Britain, starting from Roman Britain, up to present day, explaining in detail the context of views and decisions from those periods of time.
This is an important work for everyone to read, to fully understand the place that Black people have in this country, not as 'recent invaders' as so many like to think, but rather as people who have been here since before England was even established.
David Olusoga, if you end up reading this, I just want to thank you for providing such a fantastic account of the history of my nation, and allowing me to learn more about my place here, and about my culture.
I have a personal passion about black history, as a black brit myself, and so wanted to read this, and I am genuinely surprised by just how moving and emotional this made me. Not because of the depictions of terrible things but by the amount of history that I was unaware of and just how connected I now feel to this history.
This book covers the history of black people in Britain, starting from Roman Britain, up to present day, explaining in detail the context of views and decisions from those periods of time.
This is an important work for everyone to read, to fully understand the place that Black people have in this country, not as 'recent invaders' as so many like to think, but rather as people who have been here since before England was even established.
David Olusoga, if you end up reading this, I just want to thank you for providing such a fantastic account of the history of my nation, and allowing me to learn more about my place here, and about my culture.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Trafficking, and Murder
Moderate: Suicide, War, and Injury/Injury detail