sophiebillekens's reviews
1115 reviews

Ten Planets: Stories by Yuri Herrera

Go to review page

mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? N/A
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

2.0

The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez

Go to review page

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense 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

This book is a RIDE!
It is told through 3 interconnecting narrative strands - a 2nd-person POV listening to her grandmother's stories, that same POV watching a theater performance, and the 'regular' 3rd-person fantasy about the Moon Throne - and somehow Simon Jimenez never once had me confused about where I was in the story. In fact, moving so seamlessly back and forth through these layers drew me deeper into the book, Inception-style.
As for the story, it’s a timeless tale of corrupted power, godlike royals, the Moon and the Water, survival, war, and deep, yearning, devoted Love. It ebbs and flows. The characters are whole and broken, and I will remember and honor them. I don’t think I’ve ever read a first 100-150 pages that blew me away as much as these ones did, and I’m impressed the story kept being able to build itself back up after each climactic event.

The Body Keeps the Score: Mind, Brain and Body in the Transformation of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

4.0

The Night Eaters: Her Little Reapers by Marjorie Liu

Go to review page

dark funny mysterious tense 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

4.25

The Story of Art without Men by Katy Hessel

Go to review page

informative inspiring medium-paced

4.5

Monumental! So many women and non-binary folks given a spotlight, and still I get the feeling there are at least another three books of similar sizes that could still be written on the same subject. Let’s hope they get written too, with as much love and passion and attention.

The Night Eaters: She Eats the Night by Marjorie Liu

Go to review page

dark mysterious medium-paced