Why didn’t I seek this tag out earlier?
So many bloggers did this tag and I had no idea!
I feel a fool. THIS IS MY FAVORITE SERIES.
The other bloggers did creative things with this tag, so check out their posts and then come back here.
CINDER | The cyborg
a book that’s often misunderstood or underappreciated
I get why book bloggers turned on Sally Rooney.
Critics called her a genius; disappointment was inevitable.
Here’s the rub: Rooney writes really well!
After hearing so many negative reviews of Normal People, I surprised myself by loving it.
AND I AM SUPPOSEDLY IMMUNE TO HYPE.
Rooney’s writing reminds me of Anna Burns, another misunderstood, award-winning author.
Neither of them is the Best Writer in the Entire Universe. NO ONE IS.
Ignore the hype. Read their books.
KAI | The prince
a book about royals/royalty
Hm…what literary royals do I know?
How about…MARIE ANTOINETTE, SERIAL KILLER??????
I LOVE this book.
It’s not as ridiculous as you’d expect.
I found it surprisingly soft and insightful. Great friend breakup.
ADRI | The evil stepmother
a book with a horrible/cringe-worthy parent
UUUGHGHGHHG.
I HAAAAAAAAATE strict complementarianism and the mental gymnastics required to force men and women into boxes.
NOTHING. JUSTIFIES. MISTREATING. WOMEN. EVER.
I was so relieved when Quiver called out Libby’s dad for his emotional abuse.
The man’s wife ALMOST DIES OF ECLAMPSIA delivering their SEVENTH CHILD and he CARES MORE ABOUT HER ABILITY TO HAVE MORE CHILDREN THAN HER SURVIVAL.
I know a woman in real life who experienced a hellish pregnancy and a miserable postpartum.
Less than a month after delivering her first child, while she struggled to breastfeed, her husband started talking about baby number two.
TRY CARING MORE FOR YOUR SPOUSE’S WELLBEING THAN YOUR FULL “QUIVER.”
THAT is your job as a partner, not this ridiculous made-up authoritarian man-of-the-house tiebreaker-vote nonsense.
I want to beat someone with a protest sign.
IKO | The spunky sidekick
a book with your favorite happy-go-lucky character
Stargirl’s positive attitude takes a dip in Love, Stargirl.
Don’t worry. She bounces back.
SCARLET | The rescuer
a book with a character on a mission
Ed Kennedy of I Am the Messenger receives mysterious playing cards in the mail…and starts going to the addresses listed?
ED.
PLEASE QUESTION THIS.
He has to rescue his dog at one point.
UNFORGIVABLE.
YOU DON’T THREATEN A PERSON’S PET.
WOLF | The fighter
a book with a brutal fight (with words or fists)
I REALLY despise the trope where characters “have to” hurt their loved ones in order to protect them.
Speaking of Twilight…
Bella, trying to protect her dad Charlie from rogue vampires, says a number of hurtful things to keep him from following her.
It hurts my heart every time.
LEVANA | The villain
a book with the absolute worst villain
I can’t confirm that they’re the WORST villains because I haven’t gotten very far, BUT…
…the creepy siblings in A Darker Shade of Magic are the reason I stopped reading.
I. DON’T. LIKE. THEM.
THORNE | The rascal
a book with the biggest schmoozer
Henry Fitzroy is the most successful seducer I’ve yet read about.
He gets his blood fix, material for his bodice rippers, and a satisfying polycule.
That’s some charm.
CRESS | The hacker
a book about technology or sci-fi
Hey, hey, hey.
Duchess Anastasia in space.
I really hope Heart of Iron is good. The Disasters, my latest sci-fi venture, was not for me.
ERLAND | The doctor
a book with an illness or revolving around medical issues
(CW: self-harm)
Cut won a ton of awards, allegedly.
My friend Jeannie read it, recommended it, and immediately spoiled it?
I have questions about that friendship.
WINTER | The unsound mind
a book with the craziest character you’ve ever read
I don’t like using the term “crazy.”
Not sure if “unsound” or “unwell” is a better alternative.
Perhaps “tormented.”
Anyway, the town priest in Chocolat is…tormented.
He tries to avoid the “sin” of pleasure and ends up bingeing on chocolate during Lent.
JUST EAT THE CHOCOLATE. I don’t see AT ALL how you’re benefiting from asceticism.
JACIN | The soldier
a book with a military theme
Was Legend military-themed?
Were they cops or kid soldiers?
I remember the dead brother and the het teenage Valjean/Javert ship.
The Lunar Chronicles reminds me how much I love soft YA sci-fi.
Maybe I will start Heart of Iron after all.
Narrative Paradise 