hey guys, does anyone have any recs for books that feature the ocean deeper than just being about pirates or including one scene where the main characters' boat is attacked by a sea monster?

I'm looking for stories that spend a considerable amount of time fleshing out ocean environments and its creatures. Is this too niche? I feel like it's kinda difficult to find books like this. I'm open to any genres but I specifically love Fantasy and Sci-fi 🐙

So today I was talking with a bookclub I was going to join, but decided against it because unfortunately I was very very different from them and they just wouldn't have a good time since I don't fit in at all. (Womp womp for me. Maybe next time!!)

For a moment, we actually almost started an argument. They brought up the last book they read, and I meantioned that I also read it and unfortunately didn't like it... I know I shouldn't have said this, I was just nervous and blurted it out!! But the conversation basically turned into an argument that hate-reviews and/or overly negative reviews should not be public if they aren't constructive because the author spent a lot of time on their book and it won't change now that it's published, that if you aren't an editor or author yourself you don't have the credentials to offer such criticism, and that all reviews should offer some kind of constructive criticism to help the author grow for their next work...

And more, but... I didn't really feel like retelling how a group of people yelled at me... 😭

So. I write pretty negative things about a lot of books. Unfortunately I am very fussy and picky with books most of the time, and I have definitely written a hate-review(?) or two before. But I NEVER tag authors or insult them as a person. I always thought that if you buy a product, you are open to criticize and dislike it, because reviews aren't for the one that made the product... but for people looking to buy said product.

The whole thing made me feel some type of way, and I'm not sure if I'm just being sensitive because they called me out but I just wanted to know what other people think and how you guys write your reviews! Do you think authors belong in reader/review spaces? How do you go about writing your reviews? I'm very curious and I want to do better with my own reviews.. 🦭

Anyone have any book recommendations I can add to my never-ending TBR? I’m looking for some 4 or 5-star reads, as most of the books I’ve read this year have disappointed. Any genre is fine. Also, do I have any birthday twins out there in the nether?

I was wondering if any of you guys have books that remind you of/give the same vibes as video games you have played?

I feel like a lot of the RPGs, cozy games, and visual novels I play have a lot in common with the books I read, so I was wondering if anyone else felt the same.

I am so excited that T. Kingfisher is writing the Astarion prequel novel. I am a huge fan of Kingfisher, and I am a huge player of D&D and BG3, so I am the exact target audience. I have also made comments in the past that a lot of her books, especially the Paladin series and Nettle and Bone, give off D&D campaign vibes, and I would love to play a campaign set in one of her worlds. I love a good questing party. So I think she is the perfect author.

I recently read Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous by Autumn K England, which was marketed as Stardew Valley vibes, and I heavily agree.

I also read The Sword of Kaigen a while back, and it reminded me so, so, so much of Fire Emblem: Three Houses (if anyone is a fan of FE3H pls say so, it's my favorite game of all time!). Obviously, there are the military and school aspects, but the clans and their inherited powers reminded me so much of the Crest system and the pressures that came with it. And Mamoru and Hiroshi remind me a lot of Glenn and Felix :(