HORRIBLE plot devices, terrible parents, weak stardust dragons and other books i read in august... 😖 | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

A booktuber discusses the books she read in August, including a sapphic romance, a fantasy epic, and a graphic novel.

Key Insights

• 👏 The Priory of the Orange Tree received praise for its romance and character development, but the dragon lore and world-building felt lacking.
• 😮 Mariana Zapata's From Lukov with Love was a pleasant surprise, while The Wall of Winnipeg and Me fell flat for the booktuber.
• 😥 Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman disappointed with underdeveloped themes and triggering content.
• ❓ The Final Girl Support Group had enjoyable moments but suffered from problematic elements and a disappointing last third.
• ✍️ The Last Wish was highly recommended for its intricate world-building, characters, and lyrical writing.
• 😉 The Way of Kings, although immersive and well-written, contributed to a reading slump due to its length and complexity.

Transcript

i am saying it right here this book was a two-star if you actually made them talk like grown adults which they were we're also going to ignore the fact that i am currently in a little bit of a slump hello greeting friends welcome back to my channel or welcome if you're new my name is mel and today i bring you all the books that i read in august als... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: Did you enjoy "The Priory of the Orange Tree"?

Yes, I loved it overall, although I wished for more detailed dragon lore and world-building. The romance and character development were strong.

Q: What were your thoughts on Mariana Zapata's books?

"From Lukov with Love" was a pleasant surprise, while "The Wall of Winnipeg and Me" fell flat for me. I didn't connect with the characters and found some aspects frustrating.

Q: Why were you disappointed with "Starfish"?

"Starfish" lacked depth and failed to address sensitive topics, such as alcoholism and body shaming, adequately. It seemed like important issues were used as plot devices without proper development.

Q: What did you think of "The Final Girl Support Group"?

While I enjoyed parts of it, especially the representation of anxiety and trauma, the last third of the book felt lackluster and resembled a lesser version of "Scream 4." Some elements were problematic too.

Q: Was "The Last Wish" worth reading?

Absolutely! The world-building, characters, and writing were all amazing. It exceeded my expectations, and I highly recommend it, especially if you enjoy intricate fantasy stories.

Q: How did "The Way of Kings" affect your reading slump?

Although I loved it, the complexity and length of the book put me in a reading slump. It's an immersive and well-written epic fantasy, but it requires time and focus.

Q: What did you think of "The Girl from the Sea"?

It was a cute and quick read, perfect for a pick-me-up. The art style was beautiful, and the story explored embracing one's sexuality and finding love without boundaries.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The booktuber read a total of nine books in August, experiencing a reading slump in the second half of the month.

• She enjoyed "The Priory of the Orange Tree" by Samantha Shannon but felt that the dragon lore and world-building could have been more detailed.

• Mariana Zapata's "From Lukov with Love" was a surprising and enjoyable romance read, while "The Wall of Winnipeg and Me" was not as compelling for her.

• She was disappointed with "Starfish" by Akemi Dawn Bowman, finding it underdeveloped and triggering, with loose ends and unsatisfactory explanations.

• "The Final Girl Support Group" by Grady Hendrix was a three-star read for her, with enjoyable moments but some problematic elements and a disappointing last third.

• She gave five stars to "The Last Wish" by Andrzej Sapkowski, the first novella in the Witcher series, praising the intricate world-building, compelling characters, and lyrical writing.

• The book that put her in a reading slump was "The Way of Kings" by Brandon Sanderson, which she found immersive and well-written, but its length and complexity affected her reading mood.

• She ended the month with the sapphic graphic novel "The Girl from the Sea," which she found cute and a nice pick-me-up after the long epic fantasy.