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abookgoblin's review against another edition
3.0
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Welp, that was a bummer... My first EARC provided by NetGalley that I DNF'd. Sadly, I couldn't continue this book primarily because of its writing style. I hated the continuous "he did this... then he did this...he picked up this...". I missed internal monologues and diverse sentence structures to create some sort of mystical feel to, not only the forest in which Lander is stuck but also his own character as he is, apparently, a mage of some sort? Or he has some kind of healing power at least.
The reason why I at least gave this book 3 stars despite DNF'ing it is because of the anxiety rep. I did like Lander's character being angsty and needing some kind of "potion" to keep his anxiety under control. However, that's about it. I disliked Yban's character from the gecko. His first conversation with Lander by the fire is just him trying to shut up Lander and shaming him for being too eager to flipping trying to make sense of what's going on? They're talking about this flower when Lander wants to know why it's hanging on everyone's door and all Yban says is "will you let me finish?" GOD, SURE DAD. I don't know. Characters like that always rub me the wrong way.
Is it a "it's not you, it's me" kind of book? I don't know. I guess, considering the other reviews published about this book? Still, I didn't care for it.
Welp, that was a bummer... My first EARC provided by NetGalley that I DNF'd. Sadly, I couldn't continue this book primarily because of its writing style. I hated the continuous "he did this... then he did this...he picked up this...". I missed internal monologues and diverse sentence structures to create some sort of mystical feel to, not only the forest in which Lander is stuck but also his own character as he is, apparently, a mage of some sort? Or he has some kind of healing power at least.
The reason why I at least gave this book 3 stars despite DNF'ing it is because of the anxiety rep. I did like Lander's character being angsty and needing some kind of "potion" to keep his anxiety under control. However, that's about it. I disliked Yban's character from the gecko. His first conversation with Lander by the fire is just him trying to shut up Lander and shaming him for being too eager to flipping trying to make sense of what's going on? They're talking about this flower when Lander wants to know why it's hanging on everyone's door and all Yban says is "will you let me finish?" GOD, SURE DAD. I don't know. Characters like that always rub me the wrong way.
Is it a "it's not you, it's me" kind of book? I don't know. I guess, considering the other reviews published about this book? Still, I didn't care for it.
ellelainey's review
2.0
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR MY READING PLEASURE **
Waking Up the Sun, by Laura Bailo
★★☆☆☆
~
DNF'd at 13%
While there was nothing fundamentally wrong with the story, it wasn't for me. I think this is one of those books that you either love, or you just don't get it, and I was in the latter category. This is my first book by the author, and I don't think their style meshes well with what I like to read. I'd definitely say the majority of my problems came with the execution of the story rather than the content.
The story is told in 3rd person, single character POV (as far as I read) and deals with multiple issues, such as bullying, peer pressure and anxiety/panic attacks, all relating to the main character.
I think that's probably part of the reason I didn't enjoy it. The main character – Lander – was made to be so drastically unwanted, discarded by society and his parents, so “different” and unlike other people, that it was hard to relate to him at all. I get that there's some representation of anxiety and panic attacks, but it didn't feel natural – as someone who has dealt with both, that's my opinion, at least.
The story is also supposed to be fantasy? Urban fantasy? Fairy tale? I couldn't tell. It felt like the story itself didn't even know what it was meant to be. It had been at least two weeks between last reading the blurb and actually reading the book, and when I started I presumed it was a general contemporary story, and this normal teenager would discover a magical wood. That was the vibe I was expecting...but it's not what I got. Even the blurb hints at my expectation, saying nothing about how this was an EXISTING magical world, with magic already abound. Because of that, I found the whole forbidden woods, magical trees aspect to be far less engaging and exciting than I was expecting.
On top of that, it took 3% for us to find out that magic already existed in this world. For a book of 113 pages, that's three whole pages where the story felt like one thing, only to be revealed as another. At the same time, within the first page it's mentioned that there are “men” goading Lander into this dare, and making fun of him. Yet, later it's revealed that these are teenage bullies, not grown men as it was implied. Introducing them as “men” set up a false impression – which was a sense I felt really epitomised my feelings about this book. I was drawn in by false impressions, or left with false impressions of what was promised.
For me, the author tried VERY hard to make Lander an overly sympathetic main character, but it rubbed me up the wrong way. The repetition of how unwanted he was, how mistreated and teased and bullied, the unnecessary overemphasis of his pathetic loser status, and the constant reminders of his panic and anxiety felt far less like casually mentioning an important fact and more like it was being rammed down our throat to say “look how great and brave he is, despite these faults.”
Again, my impression only. Totally my opinion, and I know others have loved the book. But, to me, it just felt stuffed full of moments where I was being TOLD and not SHOWN who Lander was, what his situation was, and why it was important. I get that he's on his own for a long time, but there are ways of showing and not telling, even in that situation.
Remember I mentioned that the story didn't know what it wanted to be? It's perfectly shown in the mixed language use. One minute, Lander had “medicine/medication” he takes for his panic attacks, then next it's “a potion”. We all know what a potion is, so there's no need for this mix of language. It felt so much like even the author wasn't sure which choice to pick. But that's the point – pick one and stick to it!
I'm sorry to say that, although I only read 13% of the book, that was just ONE chapter. It felt ENDLESS to read, because there were no scene breaks, no pauses to collect myself or take a breather from the constant barrage of info dumps and repetition. The pacing was super sloooow, and that made the whole story drag on forever.
When I stopped reading, Lander had only just met Yban. Literally, the next page on from where I stopped was their first conversation, and when I skimmed, it still took PAGES for them to introduce themselves to each other. Unfortunately, by this point, I didn't care enough to keep reading.
I didn't connect with Lander. The pacing was glacial. The chapters were needlessly, endlessly long. Nothing had happened. Literally, in that 13%, nothing of interest had happened to Lander except that he got lost in the woods and spent endless pages searching for a way out that didn't exist.
And here's what also bugged me about that...not once in those pages of endlessly giving detailed accounts of Lander's every move did he search for or make a) shelter, b) water, or c) food. So, he literally spent two FULL nights and one entire day in this forest without anything to eat or drink!
…...
Yeah.
Then there were quotes like this:
“It was the second night, which meant he hadn't had his medicine for as long as that.”
and
“It was starting to look as if finding his way out may take him a while.”
Um...you think? I mean, Lander's only been LOST for TWO DAYS. I'm pretty sure that whole 'this might take a while' feeling should have set in around, oh...say, hour three of day one?
~
Sorry, I digress. As you can see, it didn't work for me and these are the reasons why. Maybe if Lander had experienced *anything* of note, while spending those two nights and day in the forest... Maybe if there had been some breathing space, a scene change or a chapter divider, to help me escape that feeling of endless reading... Or maybe if there had been a little more care taken to set up the world-building right from the start... I could have given it more than 13%. Unfortunately, there were too many things that just wore me down.
Waking Up the Sun, by Laura Bailo
★★☆☆☆
~
DNF'd at 13%
While there was nothing fundamentally wrong with the story, it wasn't for me. I think this is one of those books that you either love, or you just don't get it, and I was in the latter category. This is my first book by the author, and I don't think their style meshes well with what I like to read. I'd definitely say the majority of my problems came with the execution of the story rather than the content.
The story is told in 3rd person, single character POV (as far as I read) and deals with multiple issues, such as bullying, peer pressure and anxiety/panic attacks, all relating to the main character.
I think that's probably part of the reason I didn't enjoy it. The main character – Lander – was made to be so drastically unwanted, discarded by society and his parents, so “different” and unlike other people, that it was hard to relate to him at all. I get that there's some representation of anxiety and panic attacks, but it didn't feel natural – as someone who has dealt with both, that's my opinion, at least.
The story is also supposed to be fantasy? Urban fantasy? Fairy tale? I couldn't tell. It felt like the story itself didn't even know what it was meant to be. It had been at least two weeks between last reading the blurb and actually reading the book, and when I started I presumed it was a general contemporary story, and this normal teenager would discover a magical wood. That was the vibe I was expecting...but it's not what I got. Even the blurb hints at my expectation, saying nothing about how this was an EXISTING magical world, with magic already abound. Because of that, I found the whole forbidden woods, magical trees aspect to be far less engaging and exciting than I was expecting.
On top of that, it took 3% for us to find out that magic already existed in this world. For a book of 113 pages, that's three whole pages where the story felt like one thing, only to be revealed as another. At the same time, within the first page it's mentioned that there are “men” goading Lander into this dare, and making fun of him. Yet, later it's revealed that these are teenage bullies, not grown men as it was implied. Introducing them as “men” set up a false impression – which was a sense I felt really epitomised my feelings about this book. I was drawn in by false impressions, or left with false impressions of what was promised.
For me, the author tried VERY hard to make Lander an overly sympathetic main character, but it rubbed me up the wrong way. The repetition of how unwanted he was, how mistreated and teased and bullied, the unnecessary overemphasis of his pathetic loser status, and the constant reminders of his panic and anxiety felt far less like casually mentioning an important fact and more like it was being rammed down our throat to say “look how great and brave he is, despite these faults.”
Again, my impression only. Totally my opinion, and I know others have loved the book. But, to me, it just felt stuffed full of moments where I was being TOLD and not SHOWN who Lander was, what his situation was, and why it was important. I get that he's on his own for a long time, but there are ways of showing and not telling, even in that situation.
Remember I mentioned that the story didn't know what it wanted to be? It's perfectly shown in the mixed language use. One minute, Lander had “medicine/medication” he takes for his panic attacks, then next it's “a potion”. We all know what a potion is, so there's no need for this mix of language. It felt so much like even the author wasn't sure which choice to pick. But that's the point – pick one and stick to it!
I'm sorry to say that, although I only read 13% of the book, that was just ONE chapter. It felt ENDLESS to read, because there were no scene breaks, no pauses to collect myself or take a breather from the constant barrage of info dumps and repetition. The pacing was super sloooow, and that made the whole story drag on forever.
When I stopped reading, Lander had only just met Yban. Literally, the next page on from where I stopped was their first conversation, and when I skimmed, it still took PAGES for them to introduce themselves to each other. Unfortunately, by this point, I didn't care enough to keep reading.
I didn't connect with Lander. The pacing was glacial. The chapters were needlessly, endlessly long. Nothing had happened. Literally, in that 13%, nothing of interest had happened to Lander except that he got lost in the woods and spent endless pages searching for a way out that didn't exist.
And here's what also bugged me about that...not once in those pages of endlessly giving detailed accounts of Lander's every move did he search for or make a) shelter, b) water, or c) food. So, he literally spent two FULL nights and one entire day in this forest without anything to eat or drink!
…...
Yeah.
Then there were quotes like this:
“It was the second night, which meant he hadn't had his medicine for as long as that.”
and
“It was starting to look as if finding his way out may take him a while.”
Um...you think? I mean, Lander's only been LOST for TWO DAYS. I'm pretty sure that whole 'this might take a while' feeling should have set in around, oh...say, hour three of day one?
~
Sorry, I digress. As you can see, it didn't work for me and these are the reasons why. Maybe if Lander had experienced *anything* of note, while spending those two nights and day in the forest... Maybe if there had been some breathing space, a scene change or a chapter divider, to help me escape that feeling of endless reading... Or maybe if there had been a little more care taken to set up the world-building right from the start... I could have given it more than 13%. Unfortunately, there were too many things that just wore me down.
kovost's review against another edition
2.0
This honestly bored me a lot. Where the premise is interesting and I’m all for indulging in LGBT+ literature, everything about this was like trying to swallow a pack of saltines to me. I don’t know if it was because of the pacing or the fact that I couldn’t connect to the characters in any way, it just didn’t work for me.
TL;DR — eighteen-year-old Lander goes into a magical forest on a dare and can’t find his way out. Eventually, he meets Yban, who has also been stuck in the forest for twenty years without aging (which is a little strange regarding the weird? age gap thing? I don’t know, maybe that’s just me). With time, they start to fall in love with each other and learn to overcome their circumstances. The shebang.
In theory, it’s an intriguing book because it’s written like a fairy tale so it’s whimsical and the imagery is actually great. In practice, something just. Fell flat for me. It’s delivered in massive paragraphs and the pacing is turtle speed and it really just didn’t keep my interest in any way. I found myself constantly putting it down and not coming back to it unless I forced myself because I hate DNF’ing ARCS.
I’m definitely not saying that it’s not for someone because I’m more than aware that there’s a lot of great reviews. It has good anxiety rep and although not flat out said, I’m pretty sure one of the characters was at least demisexual. I’m not saying it’s a bad book at all. I’m just saying it wasn’t for me. Which could be my overall impatience because that is just who I am as a person now, in all fairness, so take everything I say with a grain of salt because I give my reviews so value.
So anyway yes! I would recommend it to anyone that’s looking for something magical and reads like a fairy tale with a slow burn relationship and low angst and GAY.
I received a free ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
TL;DR — eighteen-year-old Lander goes into a magical forest on a dare and can’t find his way out. Eventually, he meets Yban, who has also been stuck in the forest for twenty years without aging (which is a little strange regarding the weird? age gap thing? I don’t know, maybe that’s just me). With time, they start to fall in love with each other and learn to overcome their circumstances. The shebang.
In theory, it’s an intriguing book because it’s written like a fairy tale so it’s whimsical and the imagery is actually great. In practice, something just. Fell flat for me. It’s delivered in massive paragraphs and the pacing is turtle speed and it really just didn’t keep my interest in any way. I found myself constantly putting it down and not coming back to it unless I forced myself because I hate DNF’ing ARCS.
I’m definitely not saying that it’s not for someone because I’m more than aware that there’s a lot of great reviews. It has good anxiety rep and although not flat out said, I’m pretty sure one of the characters was at least demisexual. I’m not saying it’s a bad book at all. I’m just saying it wasn’t for me. Which could be my overall impatience because that is just who I am as a person now, in all fairness, so take everything I say with a grain of salt because I give my reviews so value.
So anyway yes! I would recommend it to anyone that’s looking for something magical and reads like a fairy tale with a slow burn relationship and low angst and GAY.
I received a free ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
inkorkeys's review
2.0
This is going to be a short review, because I don’t have a lot to say about this one.
I just...don’t think this was for me, which is disappointing because I thought I would be THE target audience. I mean the pitch was queer MCs, romance, with a fantasy element; what more could I possibly want?!
Unfortunately I didn’t find the beginning compelling. The characters were a bit ‘whatever’ and the writing itself wasn’t for me. It read a little too young for me. Overall, it was all just a little too average and with so many amazing books out there waiting to be read, I don’t know that this one is should worth the time...
I was given an ARC copy of Waking up the Sun via Netgalley for an honest review.
Overall rating: ⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Connect with me
Instagram: @inkorkeys
Goodreads: H. Taylor
I just...don’t think this was for me, which is disappointing because I thought I would be THE target audience. I mean the pitch was queer MCs, romance, with a fantasy element; what more could I possibly want?!
Unfortunately I didn’t find the beginning compelling. The characters were a bit ‘whatever’ and the writing itself wasn’t for me. It read a little too young for me. Overall, it was all just a little too average and with so many amazing books out there waiting to be read, I don’t know that this one is should worth the time...
I was given an ARC copy of Waking up the Sun via Netgalley for an honest review.
Overall rating: ⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Connect with me
Instagram: @inkorkeys
Goodreads: H. Taylor
kelbee's review
4.0
3.75 Stars
Sweet and low angst story. Kind of simple, but sometimes that’s refreshing. I enjoyed watching the blossoming slow-burn relationship between Lander and Yban and learning more about the mythical history of the forest. Also really enjoyed the representation of someone with anxiety and someone who (though not specifically stated) appears to be demi-sexual.
If you’re looking for an earnest and straightforward romance with a magical element definitely give this one a chance.
*ARC kindle provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review*
Sweet and low angst story. Kind of simple, but sometimes that’s refreshing. I enjoyed watching the blossoming slow-burn relationship between Lander and Yban and learning more about the mythical history of the forest. Also really enjoyed the representation of someone with anxiety and someone who (though not specifically stated) appears to be demi-sexual.
If you’re looking for an earnest and straightforward romance with a magical element definitely give this one a chance.
*ARC kindle provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review*
jjcrafts's review
4.0
A quiet stakes sweet m/m fantasy romance novella that was an easy and cosy read. Lander enters the forest near where he lives on a dare but when he turns around the tree line is nowhere in sight. Trapped inside the magical forest that refuses to let him leave he meets Yban who is keeping secrets about the creatures living there. I did think the start where Lander was getting lost felt a bit…. Meandering. I didn't really feel the intense emotions he was feeling while it was happening that would have made it more interesting. But once he meets Yban this novella becomes such a heartwarming and fluffy read that I really enjoyed. The slower softer pace of them getting to know each other was really well done and it has great discussions about Landers anxiety and Yban being demisexual (it's always great when it's stated explicitly in the text). I also loved how Lander was aware of his thoughts and anxiety in general. He knows how to look after himself, he was clever even in the midst of a stressful situation and he stood up for himself too.
Rep: m/m, anxiety and panic attacks, demisexual, trans female side character.
TW: bullying, transphobia
Rep: m/m, anxiety and panic attacks, demisexual, trans female side character.
TW: bullying, transphobia
charkinzie's review
3.0
Waking Up The Sun reads like a fairy tale or a parable. It’s a fairly simplistic plot (it’s less than a hundred pages), but what it lacks in complexity it makes up for with sensitivity and diversity. Lander is a lovely young man who has been bullied in his home town. It’s bullying that leads him to accept a dare that sends him into the woods.
Once Lander is alone in the forest he’s heard so much about, the reader is made aware that he lives with panic and anxiety. Bailo does a great job of describing the sense of impending doom with no real cause that can be a symptom of panic and anxiety disorders. I loved the author’s description of the beginning of one of Lander’s attacks as his body reacting as though something is wrong even when there’s nothing there to be afraid of.
The diversity in this story is great! Lander is a young gay man who has always perceived himself to be different from other men. Lander is primarily raised by his Aunt who is a trans woman. She has experienced transphobia but is the person closest to Lander. Yban is demisexual and it is explained in a very sensitive and gentle way.
Ultimately, this story has a great message about using your talents and skills to be yourself. If you are yourself, you will find the path that you are meant to be on. This is a warm and emotional happy-ever-after. It has some very spicy sex scenes too!
Once Lander is alone in the forest he’s heard so much about, the reader is made aware that he lives with panic and anxiety. Bailo does a great job of describing the sense of impending doom with no real cause that can be a symptom of panic and anxiety disorders. I loved the author’s description of the beginning of one of Lander’s attacks as his body reacting as though something is wrong even when there’s nothing there to be afraid of.
The diversity in this story is great! Lander is a young gay man who has always perceived himself to be different from other men. Lander is primarily raised by his Aunt who is a trans woman. She has experienced transphobia but is the person closest to Lander. Yban is demisexual and it is explained in a very sensitive and gentle way.
Ultimately, this story has a great message about using your talents and skills to be yourself. If you are yourself, you will find the path that you are meant to be on. This is a warm and emotional happy-ever-after. It has some very spicy sex scenes too!
solly's review
3.0
I had a hard time figuring out if I liked this book or not. To be honest, I'm still not sure.
I liked the world and the premise, but it didn't live up to my expectations. The casual fantasy/magic, the magic forest, the creatures that inhabit it: everything was great. I actually wanted more of that strange forest and more creatures, but it wasn't the focus of the story (and that's okay).
I liked the rep, too. I loved how important Lander's anxiety was. Important might not be the word, but what I mean is that it was always there in the background, and Lander spends quite some time trying to make his medicine again to help him deal with his anxious brain. It was really great. Same with the demisexuality rep, the discussion around Yban's sexuality was nice, and it made his demisexuality quite explicit.
I have nothing against low-stakes, sweet stories, so I don't think that's what held me back. I didn't really connect to the characters, though, which doesn't happen to me very often but almost always spoils my reading experience. It *might* also have to do with me being in a period where romance doesn't sit well with me (I'm aro, my receptiveness to romance tends to fluctuate wildly).
One of my other problems was the writing style that felt monotonous, especially at the beginning. I'm not too mad about this, though, because I'm pretty sure the author is bilingual like me and I know how hard writing in your second language can be, but I still wasn't in love with the writing.
The story did have its interesting parts, and I loved the world (even if I wanted more of it) and the rep (anxiety and also a side character is trans). But I didn't love the characters and characters really tend to make or break a book for me.
TW: explicit sex, anxiety & panic attacks, mentions of transphobia, bullying and emotional abuse/neglect, mention of minor violence.
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
I liked the world and the premise, but it didn't live up to my expectations. The casual fantasy/magic, the magic forest, the creatures that inhabit it: everything was great. I actually wanted more of that strange forest and more creatures, but it wasn't the focus of the story (and that's okay).
I liked the rep, too. I loved how important Lander's anxiety was. Important might not be the word, but what I mean is that it was always there in the background, and Lander spends quite some time trying to make his medicine again to help him deal with his anxious brain. It was really great. Same with the demisexuality rep, the discussion around Yban's sexuality was nice, and it made his demisexuality quite explicit.
I have nothing against low-stakes, sweet stories, so I don't think that's what held me back. I didn't really connect to the characters, though, which doesn't happen to me very often but almost always spoils my reading experience. It *might* also have to do with me being in a period where romance doesn't sit well with me (I'm aro, my receptiveness to romance tends to fluctuate wildly).
One of my other problems was the writing style that felt monotonous, especially at the beginning. I'm not too mad about this, though, because I'm pretty sure the author is bilingual like me and I know how hard writing in your second language can be, but I still wasn't in love with the writing.
The story did have its interesting parts, and I loved the world (even if I wanted more of it) and the rep (anxiety and also a side character is trans). But I didn't love the characters and characters really tend to make or break a book for me.
TW: explicit sex, anxiety & panic attacks, mentions of transphobia, bullying and emotional abuse/neglect, mention of minor violence.
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
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