Wrap up: August 2021

This month I didn’t read as much as I hoped because things got SOOOO BUSY. However I am still a bit ahead to finish my goodreads goal this year, which has actually never happened (so fingers crossed). I’m hoping with all the time I spend waiting for the bus to and from campus I’ll get lots of reading in this month. Now onto the wrap up!

1. Verity

I was really disappointed with this book, and my realization that CoHo’s works are just no longer for me. It was very dark/disturbing, so not what I would call an enjoyable read. I couldn’t even give it a rating!

Pacing: medium
Intended audience: Adult
Content warnings: graphic child abuse, attempted murder, murder, drowning, car accident, death of a loved one, cancer, adultery

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2. Iron Widow

Now on the other hand, this book was everything I could have hoped for! There was an amazing (and poly!!) romance, awesome sci-fi robot machine fighter things controlled by Qi, and a very important commentary on the power and treatment of women in China. What more could you ask for??

Rating: 5/5
Pacing: medium-fast
Intended audience: older YA
Content warnings: physical abuse, discussions of sexual assault, murder, torture, misogyny

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3. Reclaimed

Another important book that talks about women’s place in society, this time set on a futuristic space station/moon where humans have developed the power of erasing memories. Although I appreciated the message that women’s voices are frequently erased by men of power, I didn’t love the execution of this one as much.

Rating: 3.5/5
Pacing: slow-medium
Intendedaudience: Adult
Contentwarnings: sexual assault, assault, death of a loved one, cults, stalking, manipulation

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4. Carmilla

I’ve never read Dracula, but was super curious when I heard there was a sapphic vampire book that inspired it. I loved the atmospheric writing that was surprising fast to get through for a classic. However, I wasn’t as thrilled with the fact that such an influential sapphic work was not actually written by a wlw, and got the impression of a “lesbians are evil and will seduce and steal the life of innocent young women” kinda message. But hey, I could be reading too much into this.

Rating: 3.5/5
Pacing: medium
Intended audience: adult
Content warnings: death of a loved one, murder

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So there is my very small August wrap-up! What did you guys read this month? Are any of these on your list?

Happy reading!

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