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the_bookish_chimera 's review for:
A Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe
by C.B. Lee
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
“As the use of Western pre-made spells rose exponentially, original spell development around the world decreased.”
I had such a great time with Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe! The book is deliciously geeky and cozy –and queer– but it’s also so much more than that!
I loved the many references to geek culture, from Doctor Who to DnD, and how the universe was built around that but also completely original. How the author uses earthquakes as a major element was super interesting, as much as their interpretation of “Magic is everywhere”. As an example “The” scene in Target might be among my fav’ scenes… ever. That created a mirror effect between both words in the book (which book is its own AU? This one!), but also between the book –and, more generally– pop culture and our reality. All the parallels and interconnections are fun and never ending, always full of clever findings.
Both characters are complete opposites, yet they get lost into each other at first sight. I loved their evolutions, who they reassess their lives, goals and prejudices during the whole story. I don’t want to go too in depth about the MCs or their relationship to avoid spoilers, but I truly enjoyed that part. I also loved Brenda’s friends, how supportive they were, and their full geek-attitude.
But this book also introduces more deep subjects, like the cultural erasing at the benefit of a globalized hegemony, to enrich only a few at the detriment of the majority. I loved how the author presented that and integrated it to their magical system and politics, and how they used all the mystery elements to keep the reader engaged.
Thank you to the author, Feiwel & Friends and Colored Pages PR for the access to the eARC on NetGalley. My opinions are my own.
I had such a great time with Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe! The book is deliciously geeky and cozy –and queer– but it’s also so much more than that!
I loved the many references to geek culture, from Doctor Who to DnD, and how the universe was built around that but also completely original. How the author uses earthquakes as a major element was super interesting, as much as their interpretation of “Magic is everywhere”. As an example “The” scene in Target might be among my fav’ scenes… ever. That created a mirror effect between both words in the book (which book is its own AU? This one!), but also between the book –and, more generally– pop culture and our reality. All the parallels and interconnections are fun and never ending, always full of clever findings.
Both characters are complete opposites, yet they get lost into each other at first sight. I loved their evolutions, who they reassess their lives, goals and prejudices during the whole story. I don’t want to go too in depth about the MCs or their relationship to avoid spoilers, but I truly enjoyed that part. I also loved Brenda’s friends, how supportive they were, and their full geek-attitude.
But this book also introduces more deep subjects, like the cultural erasing at the benefit of a globalized hegemony, to enrich only a few at the detriment of the majority. I loved how the author presented that and integrated it to their magical system and politics, and how they used all the mystery elements to keep the reader engaged.
Thank you to the author, Feiwel & Friends and Colored Pages PR for the access to the eARC on NetGalley. My opinions are my own.