uprooted by naomi novik

This and Spinning Silver are just the best of the best of discomforting heterosexual romance YA novels. The prose is perfect and timeless. The plotting is spectacular, with all the layers and the loose ends tied up. Plus, the incorporation of cultural elements is very well done. (Note: I didn't think this of Spinning Silver, but for all the actual italicized spells, Uprooted's fantasy lexicon was unimpressive (The Wood. The Wood-Queen. The Heart-Tree. The Tower. The Walkers. The Mantises.)) But the "reylo"-esque romance element is just so gross and bleak to me, beyond what the book needs to do to stay "in character" (traditional folklore.) Either it's too romanticized or not romanticized enough.

hammajang luck by makana yamamoto

Writing 

• Lack of atmosphere - no grunge 
• No cyberpunk aspects or interesting tech, just a contemporary company 
• Writing is boring. Overly expository, like a light novel. Explanation of character's thoughts. A list of details does not suffice as "description". (list of what someone's wearing or physical characteristics. Just a menu, rather than describing the food as actually tasting good. Sex scene play by play) 
• No suspense. 
• No character work. No personalities or unique voices. 

 

Structure 

• Plot wise there are no stakes. Not exciting. No reason to continue reading 
• No lasting repercussions/consequences 
• "interpersonal tension" driven solely by miscommunication, like a bad rom com. No reason to root for the couple. ("chemistry"??) 
• Fails to show why the protagonists actions were necessary or any positive effect 
• "ensemble cast" is very lame and I don't know why the author thought these characters would come across as intriguing or lovable!! 

 

Themes 

• Characters being "good and bad" more simplistic than a children's book
• What was the point to setting it in space? Was the Sci fi just thrown in for marketing purposes? 
• I'm mad bc I got tricked into reading a litrpg "novel". 
• Did the book even manage to say anything about Hawaiian/diasporic culture or identity? 
• Author just thinks oceans 8 is exciting and no deeper thoughts.
• Who is even the target audience?