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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
slow-paced
i was initially a little bored, but also curious at the same time (curious about the different elements thrown together and what the xianxia elements were) due to the slower pacing in the beginning. i think this might be one of those books that takes its time in introducing the characters' inner thoughts and in revealing the conflict.
i loved all the little bits of language thrown in (and the author's note that ruminates on the author's intentional choices to highlight language and code-switching). there's so much care that went into worldbuilding that you might miss if you're just looking ahead ahead ahead at plot development. so take your time with this book.
characters-wise, i loved the sphinx as a character (rather than a godly figure) and i also (eventually) loved tony's siblingship with elle. they argue so much with each other (true siblings), but will also sacrifice anything for the safety and well-being of each other. i <3 them.
luc was probably the character i was least drawn to, but he was also interesting in his own way, and had his own conflicts that threw him constantly into moral quandaries. poor half-elven dude. he just wants to quietly live his life with elle, gdi!!!
this was a multi-day read, partially because of the slower pace...and partially bc real life has been knocking on my door for the past week. but i enjoyed the story as a whole!
i loved all the little bits of language thrown in (and the author's note that ruminates on the author's intentional choices to highlight language and code-switching). there's so much care that went into worldbuilding that you might miss if you're just looking ahead ahead ahead at plot development. so take your time with this book.
characters-wise, i loved the sphinx as a character (rather than a godly figure) and i also (eventually) loved tony's siblingship with elle. they argue so much with each other (true siblings), but will also sacrifice anything for the safety and well-being of each other. i <3 them.
luc was probably the character i was least drawn to, but he was also interesting in his own way, and had his own conflicts that threw him constantly into moral quandaries. poor half-elven dude. he just wants to quietly live his life with elle, gdi!!!
this was a multi-day read, partially because of the slower pace...and partially bc real life has been knocking on my door for the past week. but i enjoyed the story as a whole!
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
So good! Great characterization. Elle and Luc's internal narratives felt very real. Loved the side characters, especially Tony. The stages of his life, his guilt, etc is very complex. This baby packs so much intergenerational trauma and healing from said trauma into it! Very cathartic. I flagged a bit about 2/3 of the way into the book, but picked it up again and devoured the rest. The magic system is so cool and very beautifully described. I feel like I needed a bit more closure with Yìwú, but sometimes dealing with family is not getting enough closure. I loved the rest of the ending.
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The last book that had me staying up way past my bedtime because I couldn't put it down was Bitter Medicine by Mia Tsai !❣️✨ I accidentally came across this one on Goodreads the other day and I immediately picked this one up and I'm so glad I did! This was such a wonderful and surprising(in more ways than one!) debut urban fantasy+romance and it's probably one of my favorite reads from this month!
Not only do we have a unique setting with a mix of Eastern and Western fantasy(kinda like xianxia meets fae mythology), but also with characters that shine even in their weakest moments! In Bitter Medicine, we meet Elle, a talented descendant of the Chinese medicine god with a gift for creating glyphs(like talismans?) that are multipurpose and very powerful. But she's been lying low with basically no social life because of *ahem* family issues - she and her older brother Tony were almost killed by their younger bro and then they faked their deaths - but there's more to it than that. A nice change in her mundane life is when Luc - her half-elf client/crush who's also the top Fixer at a supernatural agency - shows up at her shop to buy something. And Luc would say that it's the highlight of his day too(the mutual pining is too cute y'all☺️)
And when Luc's latest assignment has him hunting down Elle's younger brother who is searching for her and Tony again, it puts them in each other's paths directly and has them facing the things that they'd been avoiding for a while.
As a middle child, Elle has been the peacemaker throughout her life and though she loves her siblings she's had to make some tough choices too. I loved the fact that all of the characters were flawed but strong in their own ways. Tony might have been a bit selfish but it was hard not to love him - he's so hilarious and sarcastic haha
Not only do we have a unique setting with a mix of Eastern and Western fantasy(kinda like xianxia meets fae mythology), but also with characters that shine even in their weakest moments! In Bitter Medicine, we meet Elle, a talented descendant of the Chinese medicine god with a gift for creating glyphs(like talismans?) that are multipurpose and very powerful. But she's been lying low with basically no social life because of *ahem* family issues - she and her older brother Tony were almost killed by their younger bro and then they faked their deaths - but there's more to it than that. A nice change in her mundane life is when Luc - her half-elf client/crush who's also the top Fixer at a supernatural agency - shows up at her shop to buy something. And Luc would say that it's the highlight of his day too(the mutual pining is too cute y'all☺️)
And when Luc's latest assignment has him hunting down Elle's younger brother who is searching for her and Tony again, it puts them in each other's paths directly and has them facing the things that they'd been avoiding for a while.
As a middle child, Elle has been the peacemaker throughout her life and though she loves her siblings she's had to make some tough choices too. I loved the fact that all of the characters were flawed but strong in their own ways. Tony might have been a bit selfish but it was hard not to love him - he's so hilarious and sarcastic haha
Really enjoyed the world building and complicated relationships between magical communities! It has a strong romance ties, and some delightfully sexy scenes.
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Top cross genre (fantasy) romance of 2023
As a descendant of the Chinese god of medicine, Elle was destined to be a powerful healer, but after a conflict with her two brothers left her and her brother Tony assumed dead, she has hidden her power while creating average-level protection glyphs as a magical calligrapher. She saves her best and most powerful work for one special and secretive client: Luc, a half-elven security agent for the mysterious Bureau. Their mutual pining fails to progress to anything overt because both carry painful secrets that make them feel unworthy. But when Luc is assigned to track down Elle's brother Yiwu, their worlds and secrets begin to weave together in ways that prove irresistible.
I was initially captivated by the idea of "magical calligraphy" and didn't really pay too much attention to the rest of the book's summary, so I started reading with no clear idea as to what I might find. This fantasy romance set in the modern world with immortal creatures and a wide variety of magical skills hooked me from the first mesmerizing lines and never let me go. Elle and Luc might be immortal, but their struggles and yearnings are wholly relatable and humanizing. Other characters are intriguing from the first as well: Elle's co-worker Lira and brother Tony hold their own on the page, and Luc's friction with his team members highlights the various personalities among them.
The story flowed smoothly, gradually ratcheting up the tension with multiple conflicts (Elle and Luc's budding relationship, Luc's mission, etc.) all the way to a powerful ending that really worked for me.
I'll also point out that the author's note at the end explained her purpose in using phrases in multiple languages (without translation) throughout the book as a deliberate way of making space for other cultures in a reading world heavily slanted towards the dominance of English. Well done.
Thank you, Tachyon Publications and NetGalley, for providing an eARC of this book. Opinions expressed here are solely my own.
I was initially captivated by the idea of "magical calligraphy" and didn't really pay too much attention to the rest of the book's summary, so I started reading with no clear idea as to what I might find. This fantasy romance set in the modern world with immortal creatures and a wide variety of magical skills hooked me from the first mesmerizing lines and never let me go. Elle and Luc might be immortal, but their struggles and yearnings are wholly relatable and humanizing. Other characters are intriguing from the first as well: Elle's co-worker Lira and brother Tony hold their own on the page, and Luc's friction with his team members highlights the various personalities among them.
The story flowed smoothly, gradually ratcheting up the tension with multiple conflicts (Elle and Luc's budding relationship, Luc's mission, etc.) all the way to a powerful ending that really worked for me.
I'll also point out that the author's note at the end explained her purpose in using phrases in multiple languages (without translation) throughout the book as a deliberate way of making space for other cultures in a reading world heavily slanted towards the dominance of English. Well done.
Thank you, Tachyon Publications and NetGalley, for providing an eARC of this book. Opinions expressed here are solely my own.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes