User Profile

Alex Cabe

CitizenCabe@books.theunseen.city

Joined 2 years, 7 months ago

It's not like I'm a preachy crybaby who can't resist giving overemotional speeches about hope all the time.

This link opens in a pop-up window

Alex Cabe's books

Currently Reading

2025 Reading Goal

53% complete! Alex Cabe has read 16 of 30 books.

reviewed Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games, #0.5)

Suzanne Collins: Sunrise on the Reaping (EBook, 2025, Scholastic Press) 4 stars

When you’ve been set up to lose everything you love, what is there left to …

Worthy, if prequelly, prequel

4 stars

This was a very solid entry that built on the world and fleshed out Haymitch's character. I was invested in the narrative and found Haymitch believable and compelling. Maysilee was a "mean girl" archetype written sympathetically, which was uncommon and enjoyable. Downside here was a bit too much prequel syndrome: trying a little too hard to fit in things from the original books.

I've long thought the the world building parts and the anticipation in the leadup to the games were more interesting than the games themselves, and Collins apparently agrees. The games don't start until halfway through and only take up about 30% of the book. Even then, Haymitch spends the majority of them staying out of the action.

The drumbeat of Haymitch taking on an ally and then watching them die starts to seem repetitive and that he barely gets a chance to know them, but that's kind …

reviewed Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros (The Empyrean, #2)

Rebecca Yarros: Iron Flame (2023, Entangled Publishing, LLC) 3 stars

“The first year is when some of us lose our lives. The second year is …

Had two complete arcs

3 stars

This took me awhile to read as I took breaks for a couple of other books. I feel it could have worked better as two shorter books. There was a clear break in the middle, and the author could have worked in a separate climax.

This had a better handle on the characters than the first one, but didn't feel as propulsive. I wasn't as eager to get to the next chapter. Characters continue to be introduced and killed so quickly that the reader is hesitant to get attached. I liked the development of Adarna.

Claire Keegan: Foster (2010, Faber and Faber) 5 stars

A small girl is sent to live with foster parents on a farm in rural …

Lyrical and Cozy

5 stars

This was very cozy and comforting, but also bittersweet. This is the most on-point narration from a child's point of view that I can remember since Room (the child is older and more aware, here though).

Each character had emotional depth, and it was a joy to see the narrator become more confident.

Listened to as an audiobook in one sitting. Author's voice sounded like how I imagined the character. Definitely a re-listen in the future.

Andrew Joseph White: Hell Followed with Us (2023, Peachtree Publishing Company Inc.) 4 stars

Prepare to die. His kingdom is near.

Sixteen-year-old trans boy Benji is on the run …

Body Horror Book, Not a Cult Book

2 stars

I was excited about this book because I expected it to be primarily about cults, but it was much more of a body horror/monster book.

The thing I look for in a work about cults in some understanding off why people joined the cult. Cults appeal to psychological vulnerabilities, and everyone has them. For, e.g., The People's Temple or Heaven's Gate, I primarily see the grave evil they did while still understanding what they offered and how they convinced people they were improving the world and themselves. The Angels are all stick and no carrot. I don't see what their members get out of it. I don't exactly need their systematic theology, but I need to know more about how they arrived at such an extreme belief and what's in it for the common person in the pews. A simple change here would be to make the Angels the only …

Hannah Gadsby: Ten Steps to Nanette (Hardcover, Allen & Unwin) 3 stars

Gadsby's unique stand-up special Nanette was a viral success that left audiences captivated by her …

Could have used a tighter edit

3 stars

I enjoyed the insight on the comedy writing process, but the long early sections about Hannah's childhood made the book difficult to get into.

I did respect how the author set boundaries and kept the memoir focused on things she wanted to talk about. Some of the repeated bits (Stop! __ time) got tiresome.

I went into this wondering if there would be a sudden twist like in Nanette and there wasn't, which I think was the right call. Don't want to get put into a box.